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 at all times new gaming {hardware} popping out, however there’s at all times 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, nevertheless it definitely left the door open for a LOT of burning questions. What’s going to the system finally be? What sort of video games will we see? Listed below are my prime 5 hopes for the Nintendo Change 2.
#5. High quality Management.
Nintendo has earned a fame for high quality management by way of {hardware} over their many years 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 nicely. Heck, they used to have a Recreation Boy on show on the Nintendo World retailer that survived a freaking grenade blast. They haven’t at all times hit the nail on the pinnacle although, particularly on the subject of analog sticks. Taking a look at you, N64 controllers. However when it got here to the Change and its numerous controllers, they actually dropped the ball. The apparent downside is the analog stick on the Joycons. These issues are extremely susceptible to drifting, and whereas they’re far entrance the one analog stick in the marketplace with this downside, 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 problem 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 Avenue Fighter, that is straight up game-breaking. The actual rub is, we all know they nonetheless know the best way to make a superb d-pad, as a result of the Tremendous NES NSO controller works simply in addition to the unique SNES d-pad!
They are going to 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 challenge, nicely Nintendo received’t even try to repair that as a result of in contrast to the analog sticks, they’re damaged from a primary 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 programs put via over time and nonetheless work is horrifying, and whereas the Change can deal with a good quantity of abuse, it doesn’t reside as much as these outdated requirements.
#4 Extra Freedom with Nintendo Accounts
The Nintendo Account system is a reasonably large enchancment over the Wii Buddy Codes of outdated, however there are nonetheless numerous points that hassle me to no finish that I’d like to see Nintendo repair. First off, let me entry digital visions of video games once I personal them bodily. I don’t care if it entails a small worth enhance. 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 nicely. This wouldn’t be a tough factor to do. Our outdated Bluy Rays and DVDs would do the identical rattling factor! Simply embrace a code within the field for a full obtain of the digital model of the sport, and growth. 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 endlessly. Positive, it means a pre-owned copy of the sport possible 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 whenever you make the digital obtain. Increase, downside solved.
Additionally, let’s make it so household accounts are shareable. If I obtain a recreation, my son ought to be capable of 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 taking part in on HIS Change, it needs to be on my account, which does not have HIS save info! It is absurd. We’re clearly on the identical household account. We must always be capable of share our recreation library, which we already do on our main console, however this stuff are linked on our Nintendo accounts. They know this method belongs to an 11 12 months outdated boy. Come on, guys. Repair this.
#3. A greater steadiness of IP, New, outdated, and ports
The Change got here out of the gate trying nice. We had Breath of the Wild and ARMS immediately. 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 prepare kinda dried up. If I’m not mistaken, the one new Mental Properties Nintendo delivered to 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 report, however LABO and 1-2 Change are fairly on the market and kinda really feel like a special animal. Both means, I wish to see a greater steadiness of those ideas. Nintendo’s steady 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 a substitute of one of many dozen or so Kirby video games? Don’t get me mistaken, the Kirby video games on Change have been GREAT, however nonetheless. Let’s sustain the variety.
After which there’s the port downside. There are such a lot of ports that it’s develop into a giant a part of what the platform is understood for. The overwhelming majority of those ports have been stellar, particularly the first occasion ones, however I don’t suppose it might be unfair to say that Nintendo leaned a bit too laborious 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 steadiness.
#2. Twin Screens
The entire twin display screen factor got here and went, and I get it. It labored rather well on DS and 3DS, however the Wii U was form 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 might draw on the gamepad, then play on the TV. It was good. The Change can’t match that, however the Change 2 doubtlessly might! A further display screen attachment for the Change 2 could be wacky in such a Nintendo form of means, and wouldn’t essentially restrict creators who wish to make video games which can be twin display screen succesful, with out making twin display screen functionality required. Nintendo might additionally make the most 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, nevertheless it smells believable to me.
It might 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 prime 5! I do know this received’t be most peoples’ selection, however for me, NSO is good, and might be so very far more. The Digital Console was an amazing begin, nevertheless it had some loopy limitations. If you happen to have a look at the restricted quantity of gross sales knowledge on the market on the planet, 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 facet steps that downside by making all of them part of this massive 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 having the ability to play these video games everytime you need. It’s important to have checked in with NSO at a current level to have the ability to boot them up. So if you happen to’re not on wifi, you possibly can very nicely end up locked out of having 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, you must 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 downside. Or, if you happen to simply don’t need to join NSO, you possibly can nonetheless entry that library for a payment. Everyone 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 maintain 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 possibly it might work? The place’s the Digital Boy, GameCube, and Recreation & Watch assist? There’s no scarcity of retro stuff on the market on the planet, and increase the last 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 a substitute of simply the covers. Let’s have scans of the instruction manuals. And trailers! Or outdated 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 a protracted strategy to go, however is de facto cool stuff! I say, let’s take it a step additional. Let’s create a Nintendo Video app that accommodates top quality stuff that may’t be discovered on YouTube. Official footage of outdated E3 displays and interviews. These promotional VHS tapes, and outdated commercials! Nintendo’s historical past by way of promotions is insane, and having an official supply for that stuff could be killer.
What about an archive of Nintendo Energy? What about working reside 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 might convey 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 might go a great distance in conserving 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.
