Nintendo Switch 2: Thread 01

[Asura]

Admittedly, while the Switch 1's adverts weren't great in and of themselves, they at least did the thing the WiiU struggled to do - they explained, in about 10 seconds, what the the doodad was, why the doodad was different and why you might wanna buy the doodad.

Half of that was just the Switch being a better-designed product that's easier to explain, but in fairness to the marketing people, they did their bit. That one with a bloke on a plane playing Zelda, then going home and slotting it into the doc and continuing right away on the TV, it got the idea across quickly.

If Nintendo are leading in Japan with things like the mouse functionality, I'd argue that's a real misstep. They should only lead with that if they've got a game which uses it really well from-the-off.

[Neon Ignition]

I think they just want to try and point out something new with the mouse function, I still think the world will forget it exists within the first quarter of the systems launch.

The ad is low effort but like Playstation, the number at the end of the name does all the communication they'll ever need

[wakka]

Admittedly, while the Switch 1's adverts weren't great in and of themselves, they at least did the thing the WiiU struggled to do - they explained, in about 10 seconds, what the the doodad was, why the doodad was different and why you might wanna buy the doodad.

Half of that was just the Switch being a better-designed product that's easier to explain, but in fairness to the marketing people, they did their bit. That one with a bloke on a plane playing Zelda, then going home and slotting it into the doc and continuing right away on the TV, it got the idea across quickly.

If Nintendo are leading in Japan with things like the mouse functionality, I'd argue that's a real misstep. They should only lead with that if they've got a game which uses it really well from-the-off.

The advertising in general is leading heavily with the camera, which is in some ways a strange choice considering it's not even included and doesn't really do a whole lot other than videochat (and even then only in docked mode).

But without showing that - and the mouse functionality - it does just kind of look exactly like a Switch 1. Except in a different colour. So I can sympathise with why this kind of mass marketing on linear TV is focusing on the features which are most visual and most obviously different to the Switch 1.

Some of the best Nintendo adverts for me weren't nearly as sexy as Sony's 90s era stuff, but proved lethally effective - when they recruited 'everyman' celebrity families like the Redknapps for ads showing them all gathered round playing Wii Sports together. I'm assuming they probably duplicated that approach in multiple territories with well known families. It really made the Wii seem like a thing everyone was getting into, not some geeky thing or Japanese thing or something for kids but something for every family to play together.

[Asura]

I'm assuming they probably duplicated that approach in multiple territories with well known families. It really made the Wii seem like a thing everyone was getting into, not some geeky thing or Japanese thing or something for kids but something for every family to play together.

Yeah; they did music groups in various territories. Pretty sure they did idol bands in Japan.

[randombs]

I haven’t noticed the advert on TV (we usually DVR everything and skip the ads) but I see it a lot on the train.

They've got 30 seconds to get across what’s new, and it definitely manages that.

[wakka]

Yeah; they did music groups in various territories. Pretty sure they did idol bands in Japan.

Interesting. I actually prefer the approach used in the UK where it was a multi-generational family. That was an improvement over using, idk, Girls Aloud or something. But to show it in play like that among a group of people who were not explicitly gamers was just a v good idea regardless. Also the use of specifically regional celebrities rather than generic actors. Great ideas.

They've got 30 seconds to get across what’s new, and it definitely manages that.

That is pretty much the size of it. There's really no point being vague or enigmatic so close to launch. You want to say, this is it, this is what it is, this is what it does, it's coming on X date. Especially for something which is a very direct sequel to a product that the majority of potential buyers will be at least to some degree familiar with already.

[CMcK]

Wii to WiiU, DVD to HD-DVD, Blu-Ray to UHD Blu-Ray, CD to any other of the multitude of slightly differently named 5” CD based audio formats all failed. Parents will just see a very similar looking device and not see the point. After the massive success of the Wii I only knew one person with a WiiU. And he’s a hardcore gamer.
I’m not predicting the Switch 2 will flop but the high price will put people off and I can’t see it repeating the success of its forebear.

[Asura]

Girls Aloud or something

Wasn't one of the UK ads actually Girls Aloud? I'm sure one of them was a girl-band.

[wakka]

I think it actually was, you know I was thinking that after I published as well!!

Wii to WiiU, DVD to HD-DVD, Blu-Ray to UHD Blu-Ray, CD to any other of the multitude of slightly differently named 5” CD based audio formats all failed. Parents will just see a very similar looking device and not see the point. After the massive success of the Wii I only knew one person with a WiiU. And he’s a hardcore gamer.
I’m not predicting the Switch 2 will flop but the high price will put people off and I can’t see it repeating the success of its forebear.

Totally agree.

Which doesn't diminish that it will surely be a v nice piece of hardware and play host to some superb games. But yeah sales-wise, can't see it repeating the trick of Switch 1.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I think it actually was, you know I was thinking that after I published as well!!

Totally agree.

Which doesn't diminish that it will surely be a v nice piece of hardware and play host to some superb games. But yeah sales-wise, can't see it repeating the trick of Switch 1.

I can't see it selling 150m+ either, but will it need to?

Nintendo seemed to do alright despite continuously ever decreasing sales from NES to GC.

[wakka]

I can't see it selling 150m+ either, but will it need to?

Nintendo seemed to do alright despite continuously ever decreasing sales from NES to GC.

Yeah, they’ll be absolutely fine if it doesn’t.

In the end, though, they will need to come up with some clever wizardry for another hardware smash before too long. Or the calculation will simply be that the same one MS are now making - that they will make more selling their games multiplat than to an ever declining exclusive audience.

I’m an optimist, though, and reckon that’s exactly what will happen. The Switch 2 is just the next in a procession of their slightly dull sequel consoles - like 3DS and WiiU - before they do something interesting again.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Heads-up!

At exact time of writing, Switch 2 MKW bundles are back up for pre-order @ The House of Bezos. No price rise or cut (sadly).

EDIT: Gone.

[Neon Ignition]

Given Sony's trajectory I don't feel they'll circle the drain like MS. Xbox is in decline less because people won't buy consoles and more because it's been ineptly handled and is now toxic as a hardware brand.

I really don't think Nintendo needs to come up with a gimmick, same way Sony doesn't. One of the big failings of the WiiU was the forced attempt to gimmick a new system.

The lack of Xbox as a rival platform should bolster the chances of Switch 2 reaching the sales figures of the Switch 1 if anything. I think the price tag will sit very differently with consumers in a few months too when it's reflected in the eyes of $700 Xbox Series X's and near $1000 PS5 Pro's.

I guess they finally know their audience doesn't actually expect as much as core gamers do. The Switch ads seem impressive but really... they're the same as Wii ads

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1kgxjgv/geekerwan_got_a_switch_2_motherboard_early_and/?utm_source=embedv2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=post_body

Die shot analysis of the T239 chip in the Switch 2

[Neon Ignition]

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