Nexus Special #50: Nintendo Switch Reveal

Savannah Haslow and Ian R Buck sit down to talk about all the details Nintendo revealed about the Switch, and what it means for the system's potential.

Savannah Haslow and Ian R Buck sit down to talk about all the details Nintendo revealed about the Switch, and what it means for the system's potential.


Index

00:01:34 | Our personal histories with Nintendo
00:04:24 | Nintendo’s history
00:07:44 | Switch Hardware
00:42:38 | Switch Games
00:55:02 | Switch Online Services
01:09:05 | Comparing the Switch to its Competitors

Links

Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 – YouTube
First Look at Nintendo Switch – YouTube
Nintendo Switch – Wikipedia
Buy now – Nintendo Switch Official Site – What’s included, options, bundles
Switch and Play events – Nintendo Switch Official site – Nintendo Switch preview, Demo events
Nintendo Switch sold out at GameStop; good luck finding it elsewhere – Polygon
Nintendo Switch online service – Nintendo Switch Official site – Online gaming, multiplayer, voice chat

Notes

Hardware

Switch console

6.2” 1280×720 tablet
Has a little kickstand
Charges via USB-C (on bottom)
2.5-6.5 hour battery (4310mAh)
Capacitive touchscreen
Can create ad-hoc networks with other Switches for multiplayer
32GB of storage, expandable via microSD cards (supports up to 2TB, currently 512GB is largest on the market)
Unclear whether or not the USB-C port allows you to connect external hard drives
Can get games as digital downloads or on cartridge
Not backwards compatible with 3DS or Wii U cartridges
Processor: unspecified Nvidia Tegra

Switch dock

Plugs into TV via HDMI (supports resolutions up to 1080p)
1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0 (not sure if they are USB-A or USB-C)
Ethernet
An extra one costs $90

Joy-Con

Grip
Left
Right
Can be clipped onto grip or console, or used independently
NFC for Amiibo shit
Color options: grey, red, blue
Wrist strap attachment
Rumble can give you the sense of ice cubes in a glass?
Switch supports up to 8 Joy-Con connections at once
$80 to get extras ($50 if you just want a left or a right)
Charging Grip is $30

Pro contoller

Pretty standard gamepad
Doesn’t come with the console, costs $70

Joy-Con wheels (set of 2) $15

Launch Date: March 3rd
Launch price: $300
There are several events in North America where people can go try out the Switch before launch
GameStop has already sold out of their launch allotment
Online Services

Stuff for free

Nintendo eShop
Manage friends
Share screenshots
Parental Controls app

Stuff for monthly subscription

Online gameplay
Online lobby and voice chat app
A free NES or SNES title each month. After that month, you have to buy it.
Exclusive deals

No region locking
Games

1-2 Switch

Uses the Joy-Cons independently
You face your opponent instead of facing a screen

ARMS

How do I even describe
Like boxing, but your arms are long springs
You use the two Joy-Cons

Splatoon 2

Summer 2017
New weapons
In-game events planned after launch

Super Mario Odyssey

He throws his hat now, it boomerangs back
Hat has eyes. Is it alive?
Sandbox game
Mario is no longer in mushroom kingdom
Some levels are in a normal, human city. Mario appears to be some sort of hobbit

Skyrim
FIFA
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

March 3rd

Games will retail for $60
No bundled games, they wanted to keep the launch price as low as possible

Attributions

Fuelship by Syphus

This episode of Nexus Special has a Fringe episode. You should really listen to The Fringe #414: NS #50 — I Wake Up With My Wrist!

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