Lite of the Switch

So the Switch lite is a thing, with an actual D pad and all

What a shocking and unexpected thing!

I'm glad it exists, but it's not for me. Or, I'd wager, most of the folks on this forum. If it were releasing in time for her birthday, the cheaper price and novelty factor might have meant I got one of these for Shen. As it isn't, and it also lacks some features that I'm sure she'd like to use, I expect I'll never buy one of these.

ALSO: I said this on twitter, but I've got a feeling we'll see Game Boy games added to the Online thingy to coincide with release.

It looks cute! It's not for me, but it looks really cute! I like its design, and it's not a Pro so it won't risk splitting the audience.

I'm not keen on the design myself, the colours are fine but them reusing the same flat design of the original but smaller is a poor decision. I dont play my current switch in handheld a lot so I was never going to get this revison anyway.

Hmm where have I this before

I do find lack of TV support odd as the lite will still have the same innards and cost would still be cut with lack of rumble, ir, smaller screen, not having to make joy-cons etc

Plus Nintendo sell docks and it's called Switch.

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I wouldn't be shocked to see the much rumoured Pro and after Lite being real, going the other way and being just a console with a bit more POWER!

I don't think that anybody doubts we're getting a Pro at some stage, and actually if it came along next year, 3.5y into the Switch's life, I'll most likely pick it up. That feels like a good time for an incremental upgrade. The longer it's put off, though, the better my purchase of the original Switch is going to feel, because there will be games that are almost or literally unplayable on the original as soon as the Pro is in developers' hands.

I think Nintendo would be nuts to allow/have Pro only games, like with DSi or New 3DS, as a developer why go for such a small installbase over whatever OG Switch and Lite have, why I think we had so little exclusives for those previous two more powerful systems.

If the Switch Pro is happening just do it like the PS4 Pro or One X in my eyes, where everything has to still run on all SKUs.

Ah, but this is Nintendo. Remember the 3DS family? We got Hyrule Warriors that ran like dog waste on the original 3DS, and Xenoblade that didn't run at all on the original 3DS. Past performance is the only thing we have to predict future events. What's more, if Nintendo does it, you can bet that other developers and porters, who would like a slice of the Switch's sales while simultaneously putting minimal effort into downsizing their games, will do likewise. The PS4/XB1 is the base level of development power for developers at the moment, so it's no problem for them to make their games work on the base units there; but it is a problem to downsize such games to the Switch, and presumably somewhat less of a problem to downsize to the Switch Pro.

I don't think it'll be a big all-encompassing problem, and many of the Nontendo developers who can't be bothered will be ones I don't care much about. I do think it'll be a problem, mind.

Anyway, the Lite one looks nice but is not for me.

Yeah I like I said remember Nintendo doing it twice with DSi & New 2/3DS and if you ever look at the financials the Colour as well sort off.

Just seems nuts to me if you had 50m Switches, why would make something that has let's say 5m installbase unless like you say no effort needed getting a game over to Pro but would for the other Switches.

I still sooner see a game run on everything and a tad muh on base, looks at Witcher 3 as a example.

Back on the Lite, I do sort of like it and a Fire Emblem edition may have tempted me but I still can't over that it's basically a VITA, which if you remember I used as mock up for what NX would like and also kept saying that what NX would basically be, I can't believe how right I was.

I'm pretty sure the price without the docking capabilities is considerably cheaper than the price with- the Switch kind of "overclocks" when docked and uses a lot of cooling etc. This one is designed to be sturdy, durable and light - for kids.

Mas, by your logic we could just say the VIta was a Game Boy Advance, and the GBA was a Game Gear. All they have in common is a configuration.

You would still have all that with docking as everything would still be in cased in the one unit, with costs still cut with lack of rumble etc

It's more than the looks of the Lite and VITA but hey it's Nintendo, so who cares

Tbh I think the PS Vita comparisons you see from folk in general always came from a place of jealousy, the hardware was great but Sony never supported it the way people really wanted then in comes Nintendo innovating like they always do with all these extra features on top but more importantly give it the necessary support so it could flourish.

Not to mention properly deliver console quality games that can be played in a handheld format.

You are right in away I'm not jealous more annoyed as Switch is doing a lot of the VITA did/does (even the PSP like plugging into a TV) and the library being alot like it and the WiiU combined, which I have mentioned elsewhere in relation to the Switch on Wii U.

Also actually the first party on VITA is actually better than most think but was condensed into a couple of years, then as it didn't take off, then Sony themselves abandoned.

Yet you bring up the biggest thing console quality games on the and VITA does do that though, look at Mortal Kombat 9 on VITA compared to PS3 then do the same with MK11, the cutbacks are basically the same for instance.

Drunkalilly wrote:

What a shocking and unexpected thing!

I'm glad it exists, but it's not for me. Or, I'd wager, most of the folks on this forum.

Ah, you see. This is precisely what I've been after. It's more affordable and given I played the Wii-U exclusively on the GamePad, it's exactly what I want from a Nintendo system. Affordable, portable gaming that's also pushing technology. Kind of like the Vita, but with its own library - not just PS3 ports or inferior versions (ie. Borderlands, X-Com).

It will be interesting to see what happens to subsequent DS games with Nintendo effectively relying on the one screen. No matter what they say about the Switch Lite NOT taking the 3DS/2DS' place, it inevitably will. This time next year, it could drop to £149 and there would be no reason for anybody to continue supporting 3DS/2DS.

Also, it brought me back to this forum after at least a month of having no interest in gaming at all.

Cannot wait to get back to my beloved Ninty

masofdas wrote:

You are right in away I'm not jealous more annoyed as Switch is doing a lot of the VITA did/does (even the PSP like plugging into a TV) and the library being alot like it and the WiiU combined, which I have mentioned elsewhere in relation to the Switch on Wii U.

That happens in all mediums or all things created in life though, it's not often the first that turns out to be the best but the ones who take a similar idea and iterate & again also innovate at the same time.

masofdas wrote:

Also actually the first party on VITA is actually better than most think but was condensed into a couple of years, then as it didn't take off, then Sony themselves abandoned.

Yet you bring up the biggest thing console quality games on the and VITA does do that though, look at Mortal Kombat 9 on VITA compared to PS3 then do the same with MK11, the cutbacks are basically the same for instance.

I'm sure there were games in there of a console level but I don't know much in that regard to comment properly on them but what I can say confidently is that Switch probably has so many more.

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I can see this getting way off topic now though so I'll let folk get back to talking about the Switch lite.

A cheaper Switch on the market can only be a good thing in my book. It's not something I have any interest in but I'm sure it'll do well.

There are some excellent Vita exclusives, more than people are giving it credit for, and the Switch is completely a spiritual successor in the portable indie space.

gjones wrote:

Cannot wait to get back to my beloved Ninty

Yes yes, Vita blah blah blah, but this is the thing.  This is the reason why we should all be grateful that this is becoming a thing.  Not just because it means that GJones is 'doing an Athrun' and coming to Switch (although if that isn't the main reason any person here not buying the Lite is into it I will look at you with such disapproval that you'll imagine every swearword in the English language applies to you justifiably without me having to convey them), but because there is an audience out there who wants Nintendo games but doesn't have the money for them for one reason of another.  A lot of these will be children, or as I like to call them 'the next generation of GNamerians', and a lot of these won't, like GJones.  Either way, that means more Switch buyers, which means more sales, which means more success, which means more games.  Sorry to bring sales into it, but that's the way the modern world works!

Ooooooooor just read what Muss said and get better value for your time.

Like Drunka mentioned above, this isn't for me but I can only see good things about the Switch Lite existing. It's not going to cause games to run like utter dogshit like some games did towards the end of the 3DS life cycle if you were playing on the Old 3DS. It's affordable and looks functional too.

For me, I couldn't give up the docking element hence the lack of interest on my part, but this is a smooth move from Ninty. Also, this will do absolute gangbusters bundled with Pokémon in the run up to Christmas.

To echo what most of you have said, the lack of Switching is a major drawback for me, the pro controller/tv set up is easily my preferred way to play.

That being said my partner is buzzing for it because she finds the switch abit too heavy and would like a proper d pad (not to mention the fun colours) so I can see the market value for sure. Especially with pokemon and animal crossing looming over the horizon!

It's exactly what I was expecting, don't understand why there has been some uproar about not connecting to the TV, it's basically a 3DS replacement and that'll suit handheld gamers perfectly for a cheaper price.

On a personal note I love the design, especially the Pokémon one and if I were quite well off I'd get one so I wouldn't have to risk taking my regular Switch out. Ideally they need to have the cloud saves work across all games though for gamers looking to use both Lite and Full Fat.

BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT FOR ME THEN IT'S NOT FOR ANYONE

Of course, Nintendo are the worst at doing that kind of thing.