Shortages and launch titles could spell doom for the Switch

George Foster from NerdHub writes:
The reveal of the Switch launch lineup bought down what was otherwise a fantastic reveal. Can Nintendo avoid their infamous supply and demand problem?

[alexgibson]

I thought the reveal was pretty dire.

[Maybay]

It was anticlimactic, and now we have to pay for online multiplayer? GTFO Nintendo.

[Zikax]

yea pay for online multiplayer? f... that nintendo... i go and play call uf duty online on my xbox...

[Next_gen_2015]

@Maybay

Its just unacceptable...unless sony are doing it

[fromchildren]

Their fanbase has grown up and has more disposable income now. So there is not problem.

[OrangePowerz]

Zikax, you want to compare the Nintendo online service with other two online services? Infrastructure to run online costs money so I'm not opposed to the general idea of getting charged, but out of the three Nintendo was always the worst. On top you get one NES or SNES game? That's like if PSN+ on PS3 would have gotten you only one PS1 game. Since they won't go for the paid service until autumn they should have some small Switch games by that time to give away unless of course their software support will be on the level of WiiU.

If their online service is great than fine, but nothing so far would indicate that that's the case.

[Erik7357]

Ohhhh shortage in spring and summer ohhhhhh not winter and fall but spring and summer? That's what will be bad right? Having a shortage in those times is worse than having a shortage at Christmas time judging by this title.

[FallenAngel1984]

Nintendo CEO Tatsumi Kimishima already confirmed they were shipping less Switch units at launch than Wii U.

http://m.ign.com/articles/2...

Some things never change

[_-EDMIX-_]

Really,?

If that's the case then clearly Nintendo knows something that we don't and even they are anticipating less people purchasing this, this might actually mean this very much could possibly be the last Nintendo Hardware they ever roll out

[MrsNesbitt]

Well, the uhhh price is pretty reasonable. Is that it?

Edit: ha being downvoted. Sense the tone.

[Blu3_Berry]

The launch titles shown so far weren't that great. The only one obviously is Zelda, and while I'm sure Splatoon 2 will be great (launching in the summer), I feel it is a bit too soon for that. Other than that, there isn't much until holiday 2017 for Super Mario Odyssey. Kinda meh overall. I really don't see much reason to pick one up right away.

[Fishy Fingers]

Generally the novelty of a new the system is the driving force behind day one purchases.
I guess PS4/XB had battlefield 4 and COD but other than that I don't think Knack or Ryse had people rushing to hand over £350.

[Wallstreet37]

If those are the only games you wish to remember lol sure keep telling yourself that lol

[Fishy Fingers]

Just giving a few examples of some of their exclusives. Feel free to look for yourself and come back with a list of must have titles they had at launch. Anything worth having was largely multiplats we get year in year out, BF, COD, FIFA etc which where also on PS3/360

Did you genuinely 'laugh out loud' at what you wrote...? Strange.

[Wallstreet37]

I don't need to come back lol I happily own a ps4 and remember enjoying games like Infamous, Killzone mp and resogun. Also a good amount of free games offered like Warframe.

What Nintendo is offering besides a game that was suppose to be on Wiiu is embarrassing.

And no Fishy I smirked and smiled at your frivolous narrative :) Is that better fishy lol (yes now I did laugh out loud although its late here)

What's strange is your peculiar way of committing launch games on PS4 to push your false narrative to defend a less than mediocre reveal lol

Fishy by the way I agree most have weak launch titles but you mentioned multiplats and committed the exclusives PS4 did have at launch or launch window.

[arkard]

I bought a ps4 at launch and he's right. It was mostly multiplats that looked better than there ps3 counterpart. I actually played more of my ps3 than ps4 for the first 6 months of launch.

[Fishy Fingers]

Infamous wasn't a launch title (maybe you should go back and look after all), KZ shadow fall was the worst in the franchise, resogun was great though, my most played PS4 launch title (that in itself should show something)

Not defending anything, I haven't owned a Nintendo system since the GameCube, never even played a Zelda game. Just trying to bring some objectivity to the thread by questioning where these high launch title expectations are coming from? Simply trying to point out most system launchs have initially weak software line ups.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Yeah please stop trying to exaggerate that launch as only having a few games, I would say PlayStation 4 and Xbox One might have had the most packed launch in the history of gaming and it's starting to look like that's probably going to remain until PlayStation 5 in the next Xbox.

There was for a fact a historic number of games released for those two platforms at launch.

I remember having a pretty significant list of games to choose from for launch. Like.....A lot.

[Fishy Fingers]

I never said they didn't have games. The point I was making is multiplats carried the launch for XB/PS4 with higher resolution versions of games also releasing on the PS3/360, the novelty of the system (more pixels) was the driver not the software (it was the same games). The exclusives were rather weak and largely the worst in their respective franchises (KZ, Forza etc). Switch is releasing with what appears to be a limited number of games (mainly 3rd party) but has a few heavy hitters in its launch window that their core fans will be clambering to play, that to me is their initial target audience.

We're allowed to have different opinions, it's ok. I was just trying to establish why people had such high expectations when in my experience (and my opinion) most launchs are lacking.

Im sure other than myself, everyone thought the PS4/XB launch windows was the greatest in history and bought every single game that was available... better?

[fromchildren]

One Pokémon reveal will allow the system to grow in sales legs in sales.
Nothing to worry about, I'm sure they know what they are doing.

[Fishy Fingers]

Seems a little thin on the ground but Zelda is likely to be one of the best first party launch titles on any system. They've got a few heavy hitters that IMO are worth more than a bunch of launch titles no one really wants.

[Wallstreet37]

No Nintendo being Nintendo is spelling doom. Hiding specs to sell us weak over priced hardware. Bringing up games like old "Skyrim" to wow consumers (are they serious?) and giving us a myriad of ports but if course no new identifying IPS.

This whole presentation was a joke IMO. No more free passes to them. This is definitely Wiiu allllll over again.

[Elda]

Imo the only folks buying this at launch are diehards,they are the only ones that'll worry about shortages.

[Wallstreet37]

If anyone wants to know amazon pre order is up cones out to 326

[_-EDMIX-_]

This is seriously looking like deja vu like their previous launches and it is definitely worrisome to see them continuing the same type of attitude.

So when exactly is this company going to feel the need to start investing in more Studios because this launch is bone dry?

[Ristul]

Not only that, but we got almost no information on third party developers - maybe there are really that few who supports them? EA talked about one game, FIFA and they didn't even show that besides the game reel.

[Zikax]

what are u talkin about... Zelda at launch? bessst start ever

[OrangePowerz]

Didn't the Wii also have Zelda for launch after they pulled the same stunt with delaying the game on the GameCube just so they have a new Zelda for launch?

[FreeSpeech69]

yeah and Wii Sold more than any other Nintendo console, so not really a bad idea. Problem is, people don't care about Zelda as much as they did in 2006 (Skyward Sword sold less than Uncharted games).

[OrangePowerz]

I doubt that was the reason why the Wii sold much in the first place. It surely drove some sales, but probably not that hugely. :)

Besides of being very cheap it offered a unique gaming experience that everyone could pick up and play right away and with Wii Sports it did have a showcase game that was include with every console and by the looks of it 1 - 2 isn't free with the console. The Switch is neither cheap (in Europe here you can get easily a PS4 or X1 new with a free game for less), it's not really that unique as the standard gameplay is like any other console/handheld and the motion control area is done and over and the battery life is horrible for a mobile device. The hardware isn't anywhere near the other consoles either and apparently Zelda runs in 900p on TV? The game that was designed for the WiiU. How are they supposed to get all the third party games? With that price they need them, because unlike the Wii that's not going to be the second console in the household because it sells for the same price as the other consoles and if Nintendo likes it or not they do compete with the other two. It also seems that everything that isn't a third party multiplatform game is all cartoony and that's fine if you have a few games here and there, but if most of your games have that aesthetic it's not really that great.

It's too early to say if it will completely fail, but right now there isn't that much that gives me too much hope because it's somewhere in between a handheld and a home console and does neither of it perfect but costs more than the current consoles. It tries to be a jack of all trades and ends up as a master of none. For a home console underpowered, for a handheld too bulky and too short battery life and on top of that they thought it's necessary to throw in motion controls.

[PizzaSteve]

Was gonna get Switch on release but I'd wait. Zelda and Mario the only games worth playing to me so far. I just wish they would have made a normal console. I think the motion gaming trend has end its phase.

[Miss_Weeboo]

I'm intrigued... many things I did like. But yeah, at the end of the day is all about games... They need more games at launch. Idk I was expecting a Metroid...

[evilbart]

As a fan of all systems this reveal was a big let down.The price in Europe is €350 add a large sd card a game and an extra joycon controller and now the system is over €500 to get started.After the initial release hype this system will die off very quickly and will put the final nail in nintendos coffin unfortunately :-(

[OrangePowerz]

Otherwise a fantastic reveal? A horrible price, paid online (we all know how "good" Nintendos online services are) with a free NES or SNES game you only get for a month, battery life that is abysmal. It's like they just ignored every mistake from the 3 consoles manufacturers in the last 2 generations. But sure let's pretend it's a hardware shortage that could spell doom.

[fromchildren]

It will do fine.

[andrewsquall]

The same way "shortages" of Xbones back in 2013 was the reason the PS4 went on to sell at over double the rate?

[NotAfanBoyy]

#NESClassicWhen

[PGRfox]

The need shortages to hype it up. The launch is one of the weakest I've ever seen. I was going to preorder but decided to wait for better and more games.