Transcript of the video:
Hello everybody, Kris from Stone Age Gamer right here, and welcome again to Stone Age Countdown. We’re in that magical time period the place new gaming {hardware} is on the horizon. And sure, I do know there’s all the time new gaming {hardware} popping out, however there’s all the time been one thing particular about console generations, and as a lifelong Nintendo goon, there are few issues extra thrilling than seeing what Nintendo has up their sleeve for a model new console era. The preliminary Change 2 reveal was good, but it surely definitely left the door open for a LOT of burning questions. What is going to the system in the end be? What sort of video games will we see? Listed below are my high 5 hopes for the Nintendo Change 2.
#5. High quality Management.
Nintendo has earned a repute for high quality management when it comes to {hardware} over their a long time within the video games enterprise. When the unique Famicom went out the door with defective rubber sq. buttons, Nintendo changed all of them without spending a dime. I’m fairly positive you possibly can skip a Nintendo 64 throughout a lake and the factor would nonetheless work properly. Heck, they used to have a Recreation Boy on show on the Nintendo World retailer that survived a freaking grenade blast. They haven’t all the time hit the nail on the top although, particularly with regards to analog sticks. you, N64 controllers. However when it got here to the Change and its numerous controllers, they actually dropped the ball. The apparent drawback is the analog stick on the Joycons. These issues are extremely liable to drifting, and whereas they’re far entrance the one analog stick available on the market with this drawback, there’s simply so darn lots of them on the market that they are those that are inclined to make the information. However there’s additionally the difficulty of the D-pad on the Professional Controller. That is no doubt my favourite controller I’ve ever held in my life, with the obvious exception of its unacceptable D-pad. Nintendo freaking INVENTED the D-pad, so the truth that they screwed this factor up so badly is past me. It’s in a continuing state of registering incorrect inputs. Press proper, it thinks you pressed up. In a recreation like Tetris or Road Fighter, that is straight up game-breaking. The actual rub is, we all know they nonetheless know the right way to make d-pad, as a result of the Tremendous NES NSO controller works simply in addition to the unique SNES d-pad!
They may repair joycons without spending a dime, which is good sufficient, however they didn’t do something to re-engineer the dang issues, which implies that the issue hasn’t gone away within the least, and each time your pleasure con begins performing up, you’re going to must be with out it for per week or two after you mail it in for restore. However the Professional Controller difficulty, properly Nintendo received’t even try to repair that as a result of in contrast to the analog sticks, they’re damaged from a fundamental design standpoint. There’s nothing to repair!
I would like desperately for the Change 2 to rise to Nintendo’s extra conventional degree of high quality management. The quantity of punishment I’ve seen DS techniques put via through the years and nonetheless work is horrifying, and whereas the Change can deal with a good quantity of abuse, it doesn’t stay as much as these previous requirements.
#4 Extra Freedom with Nintendo Accounts
The Nintendo Account system is a reasonably large enchancment over the Wii Pal Codes of previous, however there are nonetheless quite a few points that trouble me to no finish that I’d like to see Nintendo repair. First off, let me entry digital visions of video games after I personal them bodily. I don’t care if it includes a small worth improve. Heck, bodily video games ought to value greater than digital ones. However let’s say, the bodily model of Resort Mario HD for Nintendo Change 2 comes out at $64.99 whereas the digital model is $59.99, I’m 100% good with that. However provided that that bodily cart provides me a digital copy of the sport as properly. This wouldn’t be a tough factor to do. Our previous Bluy Rays and DVDs would do the identical rattling factor! Simply embody a code within the field for a full obtain of the digital model of the sport, and increase. Better of each worlds. I don’t must rise up and put a recreation card in each time I wish to play the sport, however I even have it bodily backed up ceaselessly. Positive, it means a pre-owned copy of the sport probably received’t include the digital obtain, however I believe that’s a fairly small worth to pay. However what about piracy, you say? What’s to cease somebody from shopping for the bodily recreation, then promoting the digital code, thus costing them a possible digital sale? Require that the sport card be within the system if you make the digital obtain. Increase, drawback solved.
Additionally, let’s make it so household accounts are shareable. If I obtain a recreation, my son ought to be capable to play it on his change, too. It doesn’t matter what recreation I obtain, my son can play it on his account on MY Change, but when he tries to proceed enjoying on HIS Change, it must be on my account, which does not have HIS save data! It is absurd. We’re clearly on the identical household account. We must always be capable to share our recreation library, which we already do on our main console, however these items are linked on our Nintendo accounts. They know this method belongs to an 11 yr previous boy. Come on, guys. Repair this.
#3. A greater stability of IP, New, previous, and ports
The Change got here out of the gate wanting nice. We had Breath of the Wild and ARMS right away. A model new IP proper subsequent to an present one. And whereas the brand new entries in traditional franchises continued at a fairly regular tempo all through its life, the brand new IP practice kinda dried up. If I’m not mistaken, the one new Mental Properties Nintendo dropped at the desk this complete 8-year era have been ARMS, LABO, Ring Match and 1-2 Change. 4 new IP isn’t essentially a horrible observe document, however LABO and 1-2 Change are fairly on the market and kinda really feel like a special animal. Both approach, I wish to see a greater stability of those rules. Nintendo’s secure of properties is freaking bottomless, however we nonetheless acquired 2 unique WarioWare video games and no Rhythm Heaven video games? They actually couldn’t have put collectively a brand new Punch-Out!! as an alternative of one of many dozen or so Kirby video games? Don’t get me improper, the Kirby video games on Change have been GREAT, however nonetheless. Let’s sustain the range.
After which there’s the port drawback. There are such a lot of ports that it’s turn into a giant a part of what the platform is thought for. The overwhelming majority of those ports have been stellar, particularly the first celebration ones, however I don’t suppose it could be unfair to say that Nintendo leaned just a little too exhausting on its Wii U catalog this era. I’m not saying cease doing ports and remakes, I’m simply saying I wish to see a greater stability.
#2. Twin Screens
The entire twin display screen factor got here and went, and I get it. It labored very well on DS and 3DS, however the Wii U was type of a catastrophe for Nintendo, so something they’ll do to distance themselves from that’s most likely of their greatest curiosity. BUT, there’s nonetheless a lot potential enjoyable available with uneven gameplay! There’s a USB-c port on the highest of the Change 2, and I would like so badly to have the ability to connect a second display screen to that factor, successfully making it right into a super-powered DS. Let me clarify.
I would like the Change 2 dock to do extra than simply be a passthrough. I would like it to have the ability to work similar to the Wii U. The Change 2 itself can be utilized as a second display screen proper out of the field if builders so select. Simply consider video games like Tremendous Mario Maker 2. It was nice, however the entire expertise was infinitely higher on Wii U since you may draw on the gamepad, then play on the TV. It was sensible. The Change can’t match that, however the Change 2 probably may! A further display screen attachment for the Change 2 could be wacky in such a Nintendo type of approach, and wouldn’t essentially restrict creators who wish to make video games which are twin display screen succesful, with out making twin display screen functionality required. Nintendo may additionally reap the benefits of the quite a few pre-existing screens on the market so as to add much more versatility. How about an official Nintendo Spine kind factor so everybody can use their present telephones as controllers with screens? Or how about utilizing their present Nintendo Change consoles as second screens? I don’t know the science behind all of this, but it surely smells believable to me.
It could additionally open the door for some killer DS and 3DS ports. Talking of which…
#1. The continued growth of Nintendo Change On-line.
Once more, I can’t stress this sufficient, that is MY PERSONAL high 5! I do know this received’t be most peoples’ selection, however for me, NSO is sensible, and might be so very way more. The Digital Console was an ideal begin, but it surely had some loopy limitations. Should you have a look at the restricted quantity of gross sales knowledge on the market on the earth, it’s my understanding that your Marios Zeldas and Sonics just about dominated all the things else. So whereas the VC had all these bizarre video games, no person performed them, since you needed to buy them. Nintendo Change On-line aspect steps that drawback by making all of them part of this huge ol service, so there’s nothing to lose by making an attempt out Eliminator Boat Duel. You’ve already paid for it! In fact, it got here at the price of with the ability to play these video games everytime you need. You need to have checked in with NSO at a latest level to have the ability to boot them up. So if you happen to’re not on wifi, you possibly can very properly end up locked out of with the ability to drop some hours into Mario’s Picross till you end up a hotspot to reconnect your system. For the video games you particularly like, it’s best to have the choice to buy. So in case your NSO subscription ever goes away, you possibly can nonetheless play your favourite retro video games no drawback. Or, if you happen to simply don’t need to enroll in NSO, you possibly can nonetheless entry that library for a price. All people wins!
However that’s simply the floor. Digital Console used to have Grasp System, Neo Geo, Arcade, TurboGrafx-16, and even Commodore 64 video games. Let’s hold these platforms increasing! Let’s get the Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, and Recreation Gear added to the listing! (Recreation Gear was on 3DS, dang it!) What about including Atari platforms? What about cozying up with Microsoft so as to add unique Xbox video games? Insanity! However perhaps it may work? The place’s the Digital Boy, GameCube, and Recreation & Watch assist? There’s no scarcity of retro stuff on the market on the earth, and build up the final word library via NSO might be the good dang factor.
However much more than that, is including extra context to every recreation. Let’s get full field scans as an alternative of simply the covers. Let’s have scans of the instruction manuals. And trailers! Or previous commercials! Netflix can do it, why not Nintendo?
However NSO is extra than simply retro video games. In addition they tied Nintendo Music to NSO, which has an extended strategy to go, however is actually cool stuff! I say, let’s take it a step additional. Let’s create a Nintendo Video app that accommodates prime quality stuff that may’t be discovered on YouTube. Official footage of previous E3 shows and interviews. These promotional VHS tapes, and previous commercials! Nintendo’s historical past when it comes to promotions is insane, and having an official supply for that stuff could be killer.
What about an archive of Nintendo Energy? What about operating stay occasions that recreate the Satellaview expertise? What about Miiverse?!?
When the Change launched, you possibly can share your stuff straight to social media. That’s all passed by the wayside, however what if Nintendo may carry again the Miiverse? Make it an app that’s accessible on telephones similar to present social media stuff, and make THAT the place to share recreation footage and have these conversations. Miiverse was so cool, and tying it to an NSO account may go a great distance in maintaining it contained.
Backside line, there’s much more Nintendo might be doing with NSO, and I wish to see it proceed to broaden with Change 2.
