@angerawr: Current ads on page where this occurs: B&H (banner at top); Overstock; Lumber Liquidators; Walmart; Vikings; Pottery Barn (banner at bottom); Southern New Hampshire U

@angerawr: I haven't had any repeats of this issue since I posted.

While clicking articles on Gamespot my browser frequently downloads a file called "f.txt.js"

The contents of the file (in a text editor) are

<!--

//-->

This has happened numerous times in the last week or so and I don't recall it ever happening before then. Last time this happened was a moment ago while clicking a link about the PS Store flash sale.

*I get that Safari is not a popular desktop browser but it gives me virtually no problems and I have no plans to switch at this time.

Thanks

@iandizion713: I have my doubts but I hope so.

@peruwolf93: I understand your concerns. I believe Nintendo is now where Sega was with the Dreamcast. It was their last chance to do it all themselves. And when it didn't work out, they had to join the rank and file as a third party developer. If that happens to Nintendo, as I think may now be inevitable, they will never again be able to have the same level of polish. Also, I get that they would have to break the ice with $60 games on a mobile app store, but if a company can do it, it's Nintendo.

@iandizion713: I think Apple's space in the game industry would look very different right now if they released a first party controller 5 years ago. For whatever reason they don't seem to understand games or see value in them.

I had fun ruminating on this during my work day. Please enjoy.

I am a big fan of Nintendo, both hardware and software. I lean toward console gaming and have my Wii and Wii U under my TV, right next to an AVS. I get that Nintendo is proud (and they should be), but for all its innovation, the Switch is an officially bad idea.

The Switch almost sounds like a brand new concept. It's a console and portable device, all in one! But when you think about it, it's really an Apple iPhone and Apple TV. Or its Android/ Amazon equivalent. And everyone, kids included, has one already. What's worse is that Nintendo's product is not likely to offer all the features of those devices. No game console has successfully sold a data plan yet, for instance, and Nintendo will probably not offer a GPS or competitive web/ app experience. This makes the Switch a redundant piece of hardware, one that can't really replace the phones and tablets that even young gamers already have. Adding insult to injury, one of Nintendo's highest-visability apps, Pokemon Go, probably won't work with the Switch as a result of these missing features. Meanwhile, despite a good showing of third party supporters, Nintendo will again wind up going it alone if the Switch is not a spectacular success before Christmas.

For these reasons, I believe Nintendo should pursue a hardware partnership with Apple, and I'll explain why.

Nintendo offers singularly polished gaming experiences with a stable of IP that can withstand countless iterations. Its hardware is typically bulletproof and its d-pad is second to none. They are also extremely focused on DRM and still flush with cash after the runaway success of the Wii. Apple, meanwhile, offers premium phones, music players and tablets that perform at or near the top of their categories and can power graphically impressive games. They have a large user base and their customers are willing to spend more on apps than their Android counterparts. They have a small stable of hardware to ensure compatibility. They also have a security update cycle that would encourage most users to keep their phones unhacked and running official software. If Nintendo produces an exclusive controller case for Apple iOS devices, it can control the ergonomic experience, minimize piracy, and still sell their own hardware with a high margin.

The time to partner with Apple is now, because Nintendo still has the cache and financial leverage that few (if any) other gaming brands posess. Nintendo can negotiate a special placement in the App Store to ensure they are not lost in the mix of software. Nintendo can also mandate that the Apple device must be linked to their official controller to play their games. This is crucial to the quality of the experience. If Nintendo waits until the current Switch reveals itself to be a failure, they will be in the same position as Sega was after Dreamcast-- forced to get in line as just another software developer.

Potential downsides:

• Apple is an American company. Judging by Microsoft's efforts in Japan, a certain amount of the Japanese market may snub it. It's a small part of the potential market, though, and will be mitigated by Nintendo's involvement on the hardware side.
• Despite Nintendo's excellent position, profits will be shared with Apple, though the installed user base means higher returns than would be obtainable with the current Switch hardware.
• The Nvidia processor in the Switch is almost certainly more powerful than the iPhone 7, but new iterations will come out every year without R&D costs for Nintendo.

Upside: Nintendo will have a successful hardware launch with premium-priced software and the ability to remain autonomous.