Switch it up with Nintendo’s newest console
Japanese giant Nintendo will be releasing it’s first ever hybrid video game console in March 2017. The Nintendo Switch is a tablet like console that will feature handheld configurations on each side.
The screen, otherwise known as the “Switch Console,” is a battery powered tablet that features a 6.6 inch screen, headphone jack and a kickstand. It also comes with a controller system called the Joy-Con. They are normally attached the switch console but can be removed and used in each hand for gameplay or be used for a two-player game.
Nintendo is known creating children games and their active gaming, but look to change this in the future. During the unveiling, they showed they will be trying to compete with the PlayStation and Xbox by listing publishers Activision, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Sega and Ubisoft, but will still continue their originals like Mario Kart, Super Mario and Splatoon..
The company’s goal was to make a successor for both the 3DS and the Wii U, so they tried to make both in one.
“Our original concept was, ‘What kind of new experience can we create?’ And what we showed this time was an object that is both stationary and one you can take outside to play with anyone you want,” Tatsumi Kimishima, President of Nintendo said.
As for pricing, nothing official has been released, but it may be similar to previous console. During a previous interview, Kimishima stated that the console will be priced in line with what you’d expect from a Nintendo console. However, since the Switch is something of a new idea in the entertainment world–it’s a console and mobile hybrid–it’s not so easy to compare to any past Nintendo system. “Regarding the price, as we have been saying, we are, in principle, not planning to sell it at a loss. We would like a wide variety of consumers to enjoy Nintendo products, and we would also like to think in terms of consumers’ expectations for our products.” Kimishima said.
Many fans are criticizing Nintendo for it’s extremely similar body to its predecessor, the Wii U. “I don’t believe that the Nintendo Switch is worth it because it’s so similar to the Wii.” senior Saad Farooq said.
The company isn’t expecting to lose any money from the release, though. Nintendo expects to ship two million Switch consoles during its launch in March.
Microsoft and Sony most likely won’t be worried about Nintendo’s newest console, as the PS4 and Xbox One are doing just fine. “Microsoft and Sony have dominated the gaming console marketing mix, therefore this new console by Nintendo will not succeed.” senior Mikael Mechal said.
Nintendo fans will be patiently waiting for the highly-anticipated release of the Switch and will camp out at stores worldwide.
Senior Hussein Salem is the Entertainment Editor for The A-Blast. This is his fourth year on staff, he enjoys watching sports, listening to hip-hop and...