Will YOU Make The Switch?
Nintendo releases their newest console, The Nintendo Switch
Nintendo’s newest console, The Nintendo Switch, was released worldwide on March 8th, 2017. Since the consoles release, the Switch has been selling fairly well, but it's hard to tell whether this will help Nintendo bounce back from the failure of the Wii U. The Switch has been selling exponentially well, and is the fastest-selling console since the Wii in many regions. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a launch title for the Switch, has been doing incredibly well. So much so that 91% of Switches were bought with the game!
Controller Variety
The Switch’s main controllers are the Joy Cons. Each Joy Con has a joystick, a rumble pack, 4 main buttons, shoulder button, a trigger, and when used sideways, two additional buttons on the top called S buttons. Joy Cons are generally used together as one controller held upright, but they can be used as individual controllers when held sideways, generally to play multiplayer. The Joy Cons can also be attached to the Joy Con Grip, which makes them play and feel like a traditional controller. Additionally, the Joy Cons come with accessories called the Joy Con Straps, which add a little bit of length and a wrist strap to them. Finally, the Joy Cons can be attached to the console itself, the tablet, for portable convenience. You can also buy the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which acts as a traditional game console controller.
The Joy Cons’ rumble packs are special because they use new technology to create something Nintendo calls ‘HD Rumble’. The precision of the HD Rumble can go as far as being able to feel how many balls are in a virtual box without being able to see it.
The right Joy Con has a sensor on the bottom which has a lot of potential. For example, it can tell the difference between the hand positions of rock, paper, and scissors, and tell how far away a given object is from the sensor. For the most part, it is unknown what this sensor will be used for, it could provide an amazing experience for future titles for the Switch. The right Joy Con also has an Amiibo scanner in the joystick.
Console Originality
The Switch is unique because it acts as a portable console and a home console. The console itself, the tablet, has a 720p touchscreen display, kickstand, volume buttons, a cartridge slot, a power button, and much more. As well as this, there's a dock hooked up to your TV that, when the tablet is placed into it, changes the display from the tablet screen to the TV screen. “It’s cool that you can switch from a console to a portable device. I’ll probably buy one.” said Dhanush Biddala, 7th grader at Creekside. It is also important to note that the dock charges the tablet while it’s inside.
There are a plethora of ways to play the Switch. While in the dock (TV mode), you can play the Switch with one Joy Con in each hand, use them attached with the Joy Con Grip, or use the Pro Controller, and same goes if you have the Switch in tabletop mode. And finally, you can use the Switch with the Joy Cons attached to the tablet, making it play very similarly to the Wii U.
The tablet, Joy Cons, and Pro Controller (as well as other various accessories) can be taken anywhere, giving the Switch it's portable aspect. While an additional charger (other than the one attached to the Dock) doesn't come with the Switch, you can buy an incredibly convenient USB Nintendo Switch charger to charge your Switch anywhere you go. "If they fix up some of its problems, it could be revolutionary." said Jonathan Mshvelidze, a Creekside Student.
Conveniences
Nintendo releases their newest console, The Nintendo Switch
Nintendo’s newest console, The Nintendo Switch, was released worldwide on March 8th, 2017. Since the consoles release, the Switch has been selling fairly well, but it's hard to tell whether this will help Nintendo bounce back from the failure of the Wii U. The Switch has been selling exponentially well, and is the fastest-selling console since the Wii in many regions. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a launch title for the Switch, has been doing incredibly well. So much so that 91% of Switches were bought with the game!
Controller Variety
The Switch’s main controllers are the Joy Cons. Each Joy Con has a joystick, a rumble pack, 4 main buttons, shoulder button, a trigger, and when used sideways, two additional buttons on the top called S buttons. Joy Cons are generally used together as one controller held upright, but they can be used as individual controllers when held sideways, generally to play multiplayer. The Joy Cons can also be attached to the Joy Con Grip, which makes them play and feel like a traditional controller. Additionally, the Joy Cons come with accessories called the Joy Con Straps, which add a little bit of length and a wrist strap to them. Finally, the Joy Cons can be attached to the console itself, the tablet, for portable convenience. You can also buy the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which acts as a traditional game console controller.
The Joy Cons’ rumble packs are special because they use new technology to create something Nintendo calls ‘HD Rumble’. The precision of the HD Rumble can go as far as being able to feel how many balls are in a virtual box without being able to see it.
The right Joy Con has a sensor on the bottom which has a lot of potential. For example, it can tell the difference between the hand positions of rock, paper, and scissors, and tell how far away a given object is from the sensor. For the most part, it is unknown what this sensor will be used for, it could provide an amazing experience for future titles for the Switch. The right Joy Con also has an Amiibo scanner in the joystick.
Console Originality
The Switch is unique because it acts as a portable console and a home console. The console itself, the tablet, has a 720p touchscreen display, kickstand, volume buttons, a cartridge slot, a power button, and much more. As well as this, there's a dock hooked up to your TV that, when the tablet is placed into it, changes the display from the tablet screen to the TV screen. “It’s cool that you can switch from a console to a portable device. I’ll probably buy one.” said Dhanush Biddala, 7th grader at Creekside. It is also important to note that the dock charges the tablet while it’s inside.
There are a plethora of ways to play the Switch. While in the dock (TV mode), you can play the Switch with one Joy Con in each hand, use them attached with the Joy Con Grip, or use the Pro Controller, and same goes if you have the Switch in tabletop mode. And finally, you can use the Switch with the Joy Cons attached to the tablet, making it play very similarly to the Wii U.
The tablet, Joy Cons, and Pro Controller (as well as other various accessories) can be taken anywhere, giving the Switch it's portable aspect. While an additional charger (other than the one attached to the Dock) doesn't come with the Switch, you can buy an incredibly convenient USB Nintendo Switch charger to charge your Switch anywhere you go. "If they fix up some of its problems, it could be revolutionary." said Jonathan Mshvelidze, a Creekside Student.
Conveniences
- The Tablet charges the Joy Cons
- Even when turned off, you can return to where you left off in a game at any time
- Can fit in most pockets
- SD card slot is behind the kickstand making it completely out of the way
- There's an easy to access screenshot button
- Transition from TV to Tablet is very quick
- You can buy most games on the E-Shop (Nintendo’s digital game store)