Topic: Nintendo Switch --OT--

Aside from the long initial load time (why does it take, like, ten seconds to boot up the new Zelda, but over a minute to boot up a game that looks like something I might've played on the SNES?), Stardew Valley is absolutely fantastic on the Switch. I just feels right as a portable game. Wouldn't want to play it any other way.

@Tasuki I get the sense that the Switch will see more and more multiplats as it continues to sell well. Especially on the Japanese side.

I got Golf Story today. Fore!

Doom on Switch... An indication of how Wolfenstein may 'run'. Seems its not even 720p for much of the game - when docked!

Would you still buy? I assume just for portability...

If I was a big portable gamer I would buy DOOM on the Switch, especially since FPS games on portable systems have pretty much always sucked until now, and impressions of the Switch version have been largely positive. However, my Switch almost never leaves the dock, so it wouldn't make sense for me to buy it there.

@KirbyTheVampire That's how I feel about Doom especially since I have already played and beat it on PS4. Maybe when it drops to $19.99 but $59.99 for a game that's a year old and cheaper on other consoles.

I watched some videos today and it looks a lot better than I thought it would. I absolutely loved it on PS4 but can't justify that price tag for a game I already own. But as above ill get it when it drops in price.

I do find it funny that people go on and on about 60fps - especially in a fast paced shooter and 'Doom' was built specifically to be as mobile as possible rather than as a 'cover' shooter. Complaints about 'Destiny' and that running at (a locked) 30fps being not 'good enough' for the modern era. As soon as Doom is ported to Switch, significantly reducing the visual quality as well as halving the frame rate, removing the Map Editor too, 30fps is 'acceptable' for this because its 'handheld' potential.

I am not criticising but it does amaze me how peoples attitudes can 'differ' depending on game, platform etc. I bet if Doom was 30fps on PS4/XB1, people would be very critical and not buy yet its acceptable on a port to a 'weak' system because that system also offers handheld functionality. I certainly wasn't interested in Doom (or Switch) on the Switch but I always watch DF video's as I find them interesting. Not just about games/platforms I own or looking to buy.

I still think its incredible what Nintendo have achieved with something so small - but things like this video, show how far behind it is in the 'console' specs. To me, it reinforces what I believe the Switch is - a handheld that can become a console - rather than the other way round. It shows how much Nintendo had to sacrifice to build this 'handheld'. I am sure if it was a 'Console' first and foremost, the Dock would have had some extra 'resources' to tap into or something. Its not a criticism but its really not that much of an upgrade (spec wise) than a WiiU but like the Vita was astonishing for what it crammed inside its small form, so this is too. I know its a different situation as the Vita wasn't meant to replace the current console. Point is though, that people seem more accepting of 'poor' performance, visuals etc because it makes it playable on the go.

I wonder if people would be happy if a game released on the PS4 that runs at 600p and barely runs at 30fps. I know people say visuals don't matter too much but I know that is BS - look at the hate Watchdogs got for its 'visual' downgrading when it finally released. I know that people also go on about 60fps and how that should be the minimum for gaming. Yet almost all of the biggest games and Game of the Year winners are 30fps (on console). I bet the majority of the biggest games people are looking forward to are 30fps - games like RDR2, Days Gone, God of War, Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, Detroit, Last of Us 2, Death Stranding etc.

It will be interesting to see how well it does on Switch - see if the portability factor is enough of a unique selling point. From my perspective, Doom wouldn't make sense. I have a Pro/Project Scorpio (Doom is expected to get enhanced on Xbox - 4k HDR) and played it through on Pro so if I were to buy it again, it would have to be the Xbox version. I don't game on the go so portability is no draw. The fact I can probably get the Xbox version a fraction of the price and get 4k HDR visuals and 60fps is more of a draw.

I thought the video was interesting though as it shows the sacrifices that are needed to port these games to Switch. It also shows how scaleable games are and what those 'specs' of each device can achieve. Considering the Switch is less than a quarter of the 'specs' of the PS4, this is what that means in context of gaming. Again - not criticising (before any Switch fans have a go). Its amazing what they have achieved with Doom to get it running at all

@BAMozzy Given the option, I prefer 60fps. But for the people that don't own a gaming PC or any other console, it's either 30fps on the Switch or no DOOM at all.

@BAMozzy of course I'd prefer 60fps but I don't think it's amazing to see people's attitudes differ or that they are being hypocritical. It just shows they understand the capabilities of the different consoles. If the Switch was the same spec as a PS4 and only delivered 30fps i think we'd all have something to say about that!

@BAMozzy I bought it on Switch even though I platinumed it on PS4 and yes mainly so I can play on the go especially at work on my break. Having said that I have spent a fair bit of time with it on the same 4K screen I played on PS4 with and it holds up much better than Digital Foundry suggest, it does have a much softer image but after a couple of minutes I didn't notice that or the difference in frame rate and It looks excellent on the small screen. It still feels very fast and smooth, owing to some good motion blur and I can't say I miss the PS4 version as I'm enjoying it just as much as I did first time around. It's actually convinced me to wait for the Switch port of Wolfenstein 2 as I don't get as much time to play on the TV as I used to.

I've been curious to see how well it sells and on the eshop its already up to the top 4 (apparently this chart is the last 2 weeks sales), which Mario obviously tops but it's ahead of Sonic Forces with 3 days less sales and the evergreen Mario Kart 8

@BAMozzy Well, of course people would complain about Destiny when it's at 30 FPS on the PS4 and Xbone. On the Switch, it's much more understandable for a game to run at 30 FPS.

Allow me to explain something.

This is a game that on Switch isnt for repeat buyers or those with better options. For someone without the other options? Now you have DOOM. For someone who wants a portable FPS? Now you have DOOM.

As for the price point, Im amazed people think an outsourced port with more development staff, time put into it, wages to pay, with its own advertising, paying for dev kits, licensing and testing plus submissions fees...should release for the price it currently is elsewhere.

Fun fact about business: when deciding your starting price for any good and or service you factor in the investment, across your expected sales, to make a satisfactory RoI.

There was fees here. Investment required. Wages to pay. Im sure we would love it for £15 but lets be real, we want these people to keep their jobs too.

@BLP_Software thanks for explaining all that buddy in a way us simpletons can understand we were all in the dark there :')

@KratosMD No it doesnt cost as much. I never said it did. I said it still cost investment especially when outsourced.

And evidently they priced sccording to expected sales and the money put in to making the project happen.

Truth be told, if a game is ported to a system late, whst price does it take? Whst price was GTAV when it hit PC? It wasnt the discounted price. Arkham Knight when that arrived?

What about games between regions, say a game that has been out in Japan for a long time but comes West over a year later. The game will be heavily discounted in Japan, why not use that price when going west?

I tried DOOM out on a friend's Switch. My only problem with it is the same problem I had when I played the demo on my PS4: aiming in first person shooters just isn't fantastic with analog sticks. It's why so many people are disappointed by the lack of gyro controls.

@BAMozzy There should be nothing surprising about how peoples' attitudes differ. A portable console is constrained by a ton of factors that don't matter for home consoles. As such, it makes sense to simultaneously hold that DOOM running around 30 fps on a small gaming tablet is AMAZING and that it's embarrassing for home console shooters to run at the same framerate.

@KirbyTheVampire Yep, there is zero reason to buy the Switch version of DOOM if it never leaves the dock, considering how compromised it is in comparison to versions on stationary platforms.

If you want a good portable shooter, though? Whooo, boy, this is the cream of the crop!

This might sound controversial to say being a new Switch owner, but being a hybrid it kind of fails being a handheld or a console for me.
Don't get me wrong I'm loving my time with the Switch, but my time with it is very limited due to my lifestyle.

It's too big to take to work with me, hence why my Vita still sees use. As a console it lacks power. Why would I play multiplats on Switch when they often cost more and perform worse than their PS4 counterparts?

I'm not convinced by the third party support the Switch will receive. If it has to make so many sacrifices to get 2016 Doom to run, what will the 2019 games look and perform like?

When I made my purchase I knew what I was buying- a Nintendo exclusives machine.
There are exceptions to the rule, because some games lend themselves better to being portable or feel at home on a Nintendo console (Sonic Mania & Rime for me).

Might be a rather critical post, but I don't regret my purchase.
The exclusives more than make up for it's shortcomings.
I'm super excited for Ace Attorney on Switch!

@KratosMD I haven't played any of them, but a streamer I follow did a full playthrough of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Really enjoyed what I saw, so I'm glad Capcom are bringing these games over to Switch.
Seems like the perfect game to play in bed.

@KratosMD Yes, I meant they are bringing the series to Switch with a new game. Although, I fully expect Capcom to port the other titles over eventually after the success of Ultra Street Fighter 2.
I'd buy a collection in a heartbeat. Really great games I missed out on it seems and I don't think I'll buy a 3DS at this point.

@Fight_Teza_Fight it's always a worry regarding ongoing support but year one sales have been great and they are ramping up production next year to 30 million. If they manage to sell through that many the install base will be significant and you'd expect that developers and publishers will go out of their way to make games for the system, whether that be ports or games specific to the Switch. This isn't like the Wii U, where the install base just didn't exist - I understand Switch is close to overtaking it already.

I do agree it's not a great portable in terms of size but for me I still love being able to play it without hogging the TV or while in bed. It will very rarely leave my house but I still enjoy the portable nature of it.

@kyleforrester87 I think the Switch will sell very well. My issue with third party support has only been in terms of power. There's only so many downgrades they can apply to a game, to get it to run and even then it'll likely be a shell of itself.
Guess we'll have to wait and see. Maybe Nintendo come out with a souped-up Switch in a couple of years.