I look at it like Nintendo has all of these different consoles over the last 30 years, and they are trying to conserve their vast game library while at the same time add to it. I see the Switch and the new account system as a new foundation to streamline backwards compatibility going into the future in a way that they were not able to do earlier. This is all my take on it of course, and we will not know for sure until Nintendo talks about it in depth later. The transition from one console generation to the next must be a thing of organized chaos. I will say that I have been wondering what is to become of my Wii and Wii U Virtual Console, Wiiware, and Nintendo e-Shop games after the Switch comes out. Nintendo has been honorable with the allowing us to retain ownership of these purchases and transferring the games from the Wii to Wii U, and I am feeling optimistic that they will continue to be so. I don't really feel like Nintendo is holding back so much as trying to catch up and keep up since they have 30 years of content to manage. I appreciated their rewards programs, but never expected a lot from them since I was not paying a monthly subscription. And I do appreciate what I have gained from the programs over the years. I did get a birthday coupon from Nintendo to use in the e-Shop this year, and I don't remember if that happened before.
Well, I was one of the lucky ones to get the NES Mini (as was Phil Spencer), and it was like a dream come true because I hadn't played one since I was a kid. Nintendo sure did under produce the Mini; but what were they supposed to due after critics called the Wii U a gimmick and only 13 million people adopted it. The Wii U was Nintendo's best console yet being able to do everything the Wii could do plus so much more, and it had the best controller this generation with some of the best games in the industry and gamers ignored it. Don't worry, everyone that wants a NES Mini is going to be able to get one eventually; and Nintendo said that they are going to release more during the holidays. And yes, we all know that the scarcity of NES Mini is foreshadow for the launch of the Nintendo Switch. I will get the Nintendo Switch the first opportunity I have, but I am not worried because I have a huge backlog of Wii U games to play and the NES Mini. Good luck fellow arcaders!
Now there is talk that there will be 2 different skus based on storage capacity, $250 and $300. Just have 1 sku so everyone will be using the same hardware, and there is enough storage for Nintendo e-shop games if you want them. Didn't Nintendo have to upgrade 8GB Wii U's to 32GB because 8GB didn't sell as well? Not sure if that story was true. But I know there was not enough storage on the 32GB for more than a couple of HD games. Yes there is the option for adding SD cards, but wouldn't be more cost effective for Nintendo to just make one type of hardware?
I read somewhere that Nintendo does not intend to sell the Switch by itself initially. I have mixed feelings about bundles...why not just buy the console and pick a game that you know you want. What if you want a Mario game and all of the bundles have Zelda or vice versa? What if the game is a digital game and not a physical in the bundle? What if you don't want to pay extra for a pro controller initially and all of the bundles cost more because they have a pro. Also you know that there are going to be shortages at first in part because some retailers are going to have $500 bundles. I could see the $100 3DS and the 2DS sticking around for awhile for children.
@jcrame10: I forgot to add that the NES Mini also does not play the games in 4K and it is less than $400 which are also huge drawbacks to it. I am serious, people are saying they can play these games on PC and other hardware.
I got one and am really happy with it, but Nintendo probably figured most gamers these days wouldn't want one because it would be considered underpowered to the PS4 and Xbox One. That they would complain that it did not use wireless controllers, why is the controller cord too short, where is the online, doesn't support VR, and 8-bit games look awful and are only for kids. And you can get all of these games on the Wii U which permits wireless gameplay. You know, its all about graphics, low frame rates, cinematic walk-throughs, and online. Just look around System Wars, not really that hard to figure out.
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