Nintendo Switch is a device that can easily switch from console to mobile in just a click, well make that several clicks. Anyway, the idea is to draw people outside and play games with friends, and at the same time still gives them the option to be socially awkward and just stay at home with solo games. The hybrid is completely new that mixed emotions followed after it was revealed in a 3-minute video worldwide.
Ever since Sony and Microsoft have dominated the console wars, Nintendo seems to be lagging a bit behind with their mostly 'candy' themed games. Now, Nintendo wants to step their game up with the Nintendo Switch. I'm thinking if they can't beat the game with hardcore gamers, why not make a quick head turn and face the casual gamers?
For 8 straight years, the company has been trailing behind the said giants, so instead of competing head on with PlayStation and Xbox, their strategy is now to "increase the number of people who play games", says President Tatsumi Kimishima, as posted at Gamasutra.com. After Nintendo made an ingenious way to keep people intrigued by launching a console-handheld hybrid, the game industry tree's branches have been shaken. Industry experts have mixed predictions and game developers have also expressed their intent to make third-party games for the console.
However,, shares for Nintendo also had fallen after the 3-minute reveal video was release. The plunge has left Kimishima to a shock as he reveals it on an interview with Bloomberg. These effects prove that the Nintendo Switch's future is still uncertain, after all, we all don't know what our futures will be.
Why expand to a new market?
Well, business perspective tells us that if you can't beat your opponents head on, look for new markets to rely upon. Which is why Nintendo has made it clear that they are expanding their customer base by getting new users from smartphone games industry, theme park deals, and even hardcore gamers (this must be one of the reasons why the Switch has a console mode). On top of that, the company wants to reach for customers across all platforms and ages, which would explain why the Nintendo Switch's reveal video had lots of gaming functionalities in it.
Kimishima sticks to their plan by saying, "Our core philosophy is that we want to increase the number of gamers at all ages, and there's no change to that. So we have no intention to lean just towards core gamers."
What will the games be like?
Well, in my opinion, it will be just the same, each type of gamer will have a fair share of games they like. But the proportion of say Triple-A games to be mixed in a library "for gamers of all ages" will be tiny since room has to be made for other types of games and merchandise. Think of it this way, Nintendo plans to please everyone, so it's like being in a family reunion but you are not forced to talk to your cousins or aunts or whatever.
You will have a choice to go up on the roof or some room where you can be alone, or go along with your clan joining parlor games and sing some songs. As what Kimishima says," We're at the start-you will see various connections between our smartphones, theme parks, movie-related business, and merchandising that uses our intellectual property."
