On Oct. 20, Nintendo announced their new gaming system. Unlike its competitors, Nintendo is known for its unique consoles, which have varied in shape, size and gameplay method over the years. Some examples of variety are 3D options, handheld devices, motion controls and second screens. The wide range of innovation is creating real hype among the gaming community for the 2017, Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch is made up of a tablet with detachable controllers. It can be played in a portable setting and is also TV compatible, when the tablet is placed into the console’s docking station. The versatility of this new game system is said to have at least 6 different types of gameplay. Another addition is increased third party support from other game developers.
Epic Games, FromSoftware and Bethesda Software are some of dozens of companies who will be developing games for the console. This means that games like “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” will be available on Nintendo Switch, which is something that was not available on previous consoles.
There was a significant amount of backlash for the Wii U, Nintendo’s last console that came out in 2012. Critics showed concern over the clunky controller, battery life and lack of third party support. Nintendo seems to be addressing these concerns with the Nintendo Switch, however, with little information it is too early to tell at this point.
I myself am a Nintendo fangirl. I have owned several of their consoles from the 1996 Nintendo 64, which was dubbed as a Nintendo classic, to the Wii U, which harbored a lot of criticism but was the first HD console put out by Nintendo. I, like many other cult followers, hold high loyalty to the system because of nostalgia and its continuous effort to enhance the gaming experience.
Nintendo has traditionally been successful because of its exclusive IPs, like “Super Mario Bros,” “Pokémon” and “The Legend of Zelda.” The games have a balance of challenge and simplicity that ensures a broad target audience, making it accessible for anyone.
Although it is too soon to make any assumptions about the new gaming system, it will be interesting to see how the Nintendo Switch attributes to the Nintendo legacy.