GameDadGrant

Not really a "new" Switch, just a slightly updated build of the original hardware. The better battery life is intriguing. I might get this (along with the Lite) but likely not right away. With the hardware revisions we've seen already, I wonder how soon it will be before we see a "Switch Lite Pro" (or whatever) that is the same form factor of the Lite but is also dockable.

@AbsolutSurgen Interesting thoughts! I feel that, in concerns to there not being enough buttons/buttons aren't easy enough to reach, a controller redesign could easily fix. The Wiimote and Move were literally the "first pass" at that kind of control scheme. With some more R & D behind it and the constantly evolving technology that is developed over time...who is to say your concerns couldn't be allayed? I mean, even the Wiimote and Move could handle games that need that many commands/inputs. In fact, it is kind of funny that you mention Far Cry specifically as a game too complicated for a two-handed controller...since Far Cry: Vengeance was actually on Wii, lol. And functionally, it all worked. (though it was a crap port with terrible A.I. and filled with bugs/glitches...so maybe not the best example, haha) I think we'll have to agree to disagree about speed/precision for online games like DOOM or Call of Duty since playing those with a Wiimote basically made the player over powered compared to dual analog players. I've actually experienced this a bit first-hand myself. I was recently playing my son (local multiplayer) and I was using the Wiimote and he was using a Pro Controller...and he was baffled at how quickly and easily I was taking him down. And he's young, but he's no stranger to shooters. He mops the floor with me in Fortnite and other games of that ilk. But in a game where I get to use the ease and intuitiveness of IR aiming? Oh man it's a completely different story. And yeah, while I'm no stranger to shooters (I try a lot of them out) it's definitely NOT my favorite genre. Not by a long shot (er...no pun intended?). And I like *turn-based* strategy games. Real-time ones (like, Starcraft or something) I don't have much experience with. I suspect with a keyboard it might make having enough functioning buttons a complete non-issue, so I definitely see the advantage there. But for shooters....I dunno. I MUST be doing something wrong because I often find myself trying to aim or turn or whatever, but running out of real estate on the mousepad/desk/table that I'm playing on. The set up is very uncomfortable to me as well - I feel like I have tendonitis or something after having played a PC game for more than 30 minutes, lol. In any case, I suppose its moot point since it seems the mentality of gamers (and developers) have clearly made their choice, and dual analog is here to stay. Which...I mean, is fine. Dual analog was never broken or unusable or anything like that. But I personally can't shake the feeling that IR aiming could have been the future for the shooter genre. In my mind, it's almost like IR aiming was the equivalent to the introduction of the analog stick back in the mid '90s. But instead of embracing this new control input, everyone was like, "NO! The d-pad is fine, we don't want a new way to control our games!" And the industry just went on, playing 3D games with a digital cross pad, unwilling or unable to accept the fact that a far better control option was available to them. But was rejected and forgotten over time. Think about how terrible modern gaming would be if that had happened...!

Cool cool. I always wanted to try Move but for whatever reason it never happened for me. Glad it’s basically getting a second life with VR...something else I’ve been meaning to try but haven’t gotten around to yet. But yeah, many of the drawbacks you mentioned before are alleviated by the Wiimote + Nunchuck...it’s basically a full controller (12 buttons, analog stick, IR aiming, plus motion/gyro) so *nearly* any kind of game can be played with it (I wouldn’t recommend traditional fighting games with it, lol). Developers figured out the “dead area” so turning is quick and easy (games like The Conduit and others actually let you customize this aspect), and arms don’t really get tired since you can just have your hands at your side, on your lap, or resting on the couch/chair or armrest. The IR aiming doesn’t take much movement to be effective. (As this old Penny-Arcade comic demonstrates:) Even in a game where switching from a shooting to driving a vehicle was made easy (thanks to the analog stick, mostly)...check out Battalion Wars 2 for proof of that. That had been my experience with Wii controls, anyway. YMMV, of course. Someday I need to really sit down and learn keyboard/mouse controls. I’ve heard people swear by it (including my IRL friends) but I never wrapped my brain around those inputs.

Yeah, IR = Infared...it was how the Wii was able to track where the Wiimote was pointed at. (And required us to have that damn sensor bar on top of our TV sets, bah) Have you...not played many games on Wii? I only ask because your complaints about using the Move Gun didn’t really apply when using the Wiimote + Nunchuck control scheme. At least, in my experience.

Motion controls can be hit or miss, depending on the kind of game/talent of the developer. But I’ll tell ya what was no joke; IR aiming. Aiming with IR controls in the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 is pretty much the best way to play that game. Aiming was so quick and natural-feeling...it’s hard going back to traditional controls. It feels archaic in comparison. Honestly I think the same could be said about nearly any FPS game as well. Playing the Goldeneye 007 remake with the Wiimote against players that used the dual analog controller was almost unfair. The speed and accuracy of IR aiming made dual analog players basically fish in a barrel, lol. Enemies could be picked off and destroyed so much easier in Quake and Dead Space. Same thing applied to Call of Duty titles, and for games specifically built with those controls in mind, like Red Steel 2 and Sin & Punishment: Star Successor. Motion is okay in limited quantities, but never as a substitution for a button press or analog stick tilt. I’ve found gyro aiming in games like Ocarina of Time 3D or Splatoon to work well in conjunction with traditional controls. Set up your shot with analog, then tilt just a bit to get that precision target. But other than that...motion (and traditional dual analog) ain’t got nothin’ on IR. Kinda wish more games were developed with those controls. Would be interesting to see what devs could come up with now. Or how the technology would have improved (which I assume it would, since we have seen advancements in motion controls). Oh well. What could have been...!

I’m always wary of things like this. Thankfully I haven’t experienced the drift *knocks on wood* but if this happens on the Lite, I’d be pretty disappointed/ pissed.

No Switch version, no buy.

Oh gawd that freakin’ game. My son has that on nearly every modern device in my house that plays games. Switch, iPhone, iPad, Playstation 4...pretty sure if the microwave could play Fortnite he’d download it there, too.

Actually, yes. With the Nintendo Switch Online service, your cloud games/saves can be accessed on a different Switch just by logging into your account. You can do that with any Switch, now. More info on Nintendo's official website on the topic. CLICK!

Hm, alright. By the way, you can play Pokémon Let's Go in handheld mode, so it seems you can still play it on the Lite.

@Xbob42 So are you getting one at launch, or getting one after a sale/price drop?

Actually, it will appear sharper with a smaller screen. Compare image quality appearance between an OG 3DS versus a 3DS XL. Or a DS Lite compared to a DSiXL. Or the GBA SP(+) to the Gameboy Micro. Small appears sharper. No, it doesn’t make sense on paper. But that’s the reality of it. At least, in my experience.

Yeah...for better or worse.

Whatever they do, hopefully it doesn’t fragment the user base at all (or not that much).

Well, that’s just what I’ve learned in my experience - handheld play is far superior to playing on a TV. And I feel I’ve explained my reasoning behind that opinion. But others have posted in this thread explaining why they feel playing on a TV is preferred, so...even though it doesn’t jive with me, then we simply have a difference of opinion. If that’s how they like to play games, then...hey. More power to them. Hopefully nobody was offended by my preference to play games. You jest, but it’s true! It’s actually how VR works as well. Compare the Switch’s Labo VR to Playstation VR. Which looks sharper? And which has smaller screens? Eh? Eh? Flawless, airtight logic. Completely irrefutable. I’ll take my Nobel Prize now. Please and thank you.

Hmm. I am both disappointed and perturbed that THIS is how I am perceived on these boards. I can honestly tell you (and everyone) I never intend to troll. Because that behavior is obnoxious. I just like talking about video games. Not sure how I’m coming off as trolling? I’ll be more cognizant of my posting from here on out. Thanks for the info on Xenoblade. I appreciate it.

I know. I said it will APPEAR sharper. It won’t actually be, but the smaller surface area of the screen will trick the human eye into thinking it is. I think others should actually take this advice. And I get others have different priorities, I’m just stating my stance on the subject. Hence my “IMO” at the end of my post. How bad is it? I haven’t started Xenoblade Chronicles 2 yet. Is it just sub-optimal, or like...legit terrible? Actually, never mind why am I asking this forum? Most of y’all think that if a game isn’t running at like 50K with 3500 mega dura flop hertz (or whatever) and going 120 frames per second, the graphics are garbage, lol.

I’m not sure I deserve this.

Why would you purposely tether yourself to your TV when playing games, when you could instead relax ANYWHERE and play your games on that super sweet screen right in your hands? This Lite version will have an even smaller screen and will make the images appear even sharper. You lose touch screen functionality when playing docked, which sucks for Super Mario Maker 2, World of Goo, and other games like that. Handheld mode also allows use of headphones/earbuds which is an optimal way to hear game audio. At least, in my experience. Not too many advantages to playing on a TV, IMO.

I am both surprised and not surprised at the same time, reading different reactions to this announcement here. It’s amusing. In any case, this is a Day One Purchase for me. I never use the Switch docked (why in the world would anyone dock it, ever?!) and the lower price point make this an easy decision. Making it smaller (and thus more portable) is just the cherry on top. This is 100% up my alley. Can’t wait to get it. Probably gonna get the Pokémon version. Those colors are BOSS.

I’m gonna buy this SO HARD.

Playing through Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and I'm really digging it. Looking forward to the upcoming patches and such so it runs better (it plays fine in my experience, but sometimes it takes a minute to load between areas) but in the meantime it's a great new addition to the IGAvania games!

@maddux4163 @Brolic Gaoler I legit don’t remember either of you, but welcome back anyway!

FTFY!