TechTheDay

Image source: Nintendo

There’s a reason why the Kyoto-based, game company, Nintendo, failed to impress their investors after their recent Nintendo Direct presentation. This once innovative company that has dominated the scene, until Microsoft and Sony decided to also enter the gaming industry, has failed to impress their investors in the recent presentation of their new device, the Nintendo Switch, causing a 6.5 percent drop of its shares.

According to Wall Street Journal, the investors were concerned with the lack of surprise they were expecting from the presentation. And while a 6.5 percent drop doesn’t necessarily mean that the Switch is a sure-failure, it’s worth noting that after the announcement of the dismally sold Nintendo Wii U, shares dropped by 5 percent. Some people are clearly taking this as a sign.

In the said presentation, Nintendo showed the capabilities of their new device, stating that the Switch is the accumulation of all their innovation over the years. It’s a hybrid console, able to let users play on their televisions, then switch (hence the name) to a handheld console, or its “tabletop mode”, letting users play wherever they go. They also presented a number of games coming out with the device, as well as games currently in development. They also gave a price: the basic set cost $300. While Nintendo fans are all delighted, a lot of others expressed concern over the cost of hybrid console.

Case and Screen Protector for £20(source: Amazon)

One of the two biggest concerns are the accessories’ cost. Shortly after the presentation people were abuzz about the said devices’ accessories, which were revealed the same day. Why? The prices are a bit too much. The whole complete set is around $650, adding a whopping $350 to the basic price. While you don’t have to buy all of that if you don’t need them, such as when you’ll dedicate the Switch as a handheld device rather than a home console people still voiced out their complains that it’s too much.

Another huge concern they have is the device’s battery life. In the presentation, Nintendo announced that the device’s battery life would depend on the game being played on it. This means that playing “Shin Megami Tensei 5” will give you a battery life of around 5-6 hours; playing other games isn’t going to give you exactly the same result. While this is seen as a problem by a lot of people, the inclusion of a generic USB Type-C as the device’s charging port does put some complainers at ease a bit. The solution many thought up is using a power bank, though that would help increase the device’s total cost all the more.

USB Type C (source: Amazon)

While these are the two arguments of most people who express their disappointment at the new device, this doesn’t mean that these are the only ones: Nintendo is notorious around the Internet for their current handhelds (the Nintendo 3DS family of devices) small resolution and battery life. As mentioned, too, Wii U is largely considered a flop compared to its predecessor, the Nintendo Wii. All these concerns are transferred now to the Switch, which will become Nintendo’s flagship console this year. It has a lot to prove but public opinion varies and not many are expecting big things from it.

And while haters are already gleefully pointing at the fans, jeering at the device and how the investors perceived it, the hardcore Nintendo fans are already excited. While people say it’s a flop, Wii U’s 10 million plus units sold still isn’t something to sneeze at. And even though many would say that their products are overpriced, a lot of people would still pay for Nintendo devices, games and accessories. The fans just love the company, the games, the long history, or at times, just flat out company loyalty. And to many people, their fans’ trust is something the Nintendo Switch has a duty of living up to.