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I looked forward to getting one but not being able to backup my saves was a deal breaker. Cloud storage won't do it, I want to use the memory card.

I was already going to live with non-replaceable battery and all!

Too bad really, it looks pretty amazing and there's games I would've loved to play.
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PoppyAppletree: The dock is really just a resolution switcher and plug port, it doesn't do all that much. When it's docked though you should be fine for battery, and that's true if you're just charging anyway. If you go from 0% and you've got like 3% battery you might encounter problems, but if you're not using it handheld you should be fine on that front.
It's slightly more than that, as demonstrated by the unreliable third party versions. The resolution switching is just software, but the dock contains an 'intelligent' charge controller IC, some kind of proprietary USB C to HDMI adaptor and a USB hub.
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PoppyAppletree: The dock is really just a resolution switcher and plug port, it doesn't do all that much. When it's docked though you should be fine for battery, and that's true if you're just charging anyway. If you go from 0% and you've got like 3% battery you might encounter problems, but if you're not using it handheld you should be fine on that front.
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SirPrimalform: It's slightly more than that, as demonstrated by the unreliable third party versions. The resolution switching is just software, but the dock contains an 'intelligent' charge controller IC, some kind of proprietary USB C to HDMI adaptor and a USB hub.
Wasn't aware, that's interesting.
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rareerror: I looked forward to getting one but not being able to backup my saves was a deal breaker. Cloud storage won't do it, I want to use the memory card.

I was already going to live with non-replaceable battery and all!

Too bad really, it looks pretty amazing and there's games I would've loved to play.
It's been hacked wide open so it's only a matter of time until all kinds of homebrew apps like save backup come into being. It happened for the 3DS and the Wii U and the Switch is already hackable at a level that can only be closed with a new hardware revision (can't be patched with a software update).
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SirPrimalform: It's been hacked wide open so it's only a matter of time until all kinds of homebrew apps like save backup come into being. It happened for the 3DS and the Wii U and the Switch is already hackable at a level that can only be closed with a new hardware revision (can't be patched with a software update).
As much as I enjoy Nintendo's games, stuff like this fills me with glee because Nintendo's stance on DRM and such makes them the perfect target. For a long time they kept patching the 3DS software to block ROM cards, but eventually they just gave up.
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PoppyAppletree: Wasn't aware, that's interesting.
I mean that's still not much, it certainly doesn't provide any extra processing power like people originally speculated (before launch).
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PoppyAppletree: As much as I enjoy Nintendo's games, stuff like this fills me with glee because Nintendo's stance on DRM and such makes them the perfect target. For a long time they kept patching the 3DS software to block ROM cards, but eventually they just gave up.
Me too, I love watching the hackers eventually get the upper hand.
Post edited July 21, 2018 by SirPrimalform
I looked at the switch, seems nice and has the usual array of games. Problem is that Nintendo killed my interest with the wii. GameCube was a great console, and could have gone a long way. Wii was a gimmick which lasted one or two plays. Also there is a big gap in the range of games available for the handhelds, most of the previous N handhelds seem to be aimed at young girls what with pony clubs and such like. I don't know where that happened as the Nes and Snes had a great range, the GameCube had an average range. So I ended up getting a gaming laptop for travel, not as convienient as a handheld and battery doesn't last, but I can play pretty much anything out there.
Sony handhelds also seem to have died a bit, the psp was a great little device (I have two), but the vita, well games cost more than pc, and it feels a bit chunky.
The only other real contender is the gpd win 2, which looks cool and has some oompf. Could run emulators on that. Bit pricey though.
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nightcraw1er.488: most of the previous N handhelds seem to be aimed at young girls what with pony clubs and such like.
wat
I quite enjoy mine but I've only got a couple of games and find gaming on my laptop is generally more convenient (which is often a factor for me)

Plus it's hard to justify spending £40+ on a single game when I could get 4 (or 40 in bundles) PC games for the same price..
I've had one for 6 months now. I'd played all the Sony exclusives on my PS4Pro and found that I never used it anymore, so sold it and bought a Switch. Unfortunately I use the Switch even less.

The games haven't been all the media makes them out to be. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was just as good as the first game and Mario + Rabbids was awesome. But Zelda was a bitter disappointment to me...I sold it without bothering to finish it, it was so tedious that I had to force myself to play. What's left? Well I'd like to play Bayonetta 2 and maybe Mario Odyssey and Octopath Traveller looks interesting...and...and...that's about it.
I cannot see myself ever using the Switch to play multi platform games because they look and run worse than on any other platform, so why would I? I do all my gaming at home- if I leave the house it's to do something that's not gaming-like getting exercise for example...so the handheld/portable selling point means little to me.

It has some quality issues as well. The joyconn mountings work themselves loose and mean their is a slight wobble. That's after only playing 2.5 games at around 160 hours total. Mine has been okay, but lots of people that use them in docked mode a lot are still getting warping which causes the clear screen protector to sit slightly out of its bezel at one or both ends. It runs too hot in docked mode in some games and has no extra cooling, that is what causes the bending.

I was going to sell it. But now I'm sitting at about 50/50. The only thing that has saved it is the hacking scene. But do I want a handheld emulation machine? I'm still not sure.

In summary kids and hipsters love it. For gamers I think it depends in just how much use you have for a handheld- or more to the point how much your lifestyle needs a handheld. If I commuted for a few hours a day on public transport then I can see how great this would be.
To me is not exactly a handheld, more like a tablet with keys. A handheld would be the equivalent of a smartphone, pocketable, small screen... The Switch is too big for that. But I like mine.

I play it in handheld almost exclusively (only use the dock for multiplayer). My problem is with the games... Mario Odyssey was amazing (but prefer the level-based Marios, like 3D Land...), Oxenfree is amazing (my laptop can't run it), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe beats every other game in the series, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is ok (I prefer the first one or the DX+ version). That's all I have. My 3ds? Damn, way over 20 games, and like 15 more I'd like to get. And except for Mario Kart, every game I have on Switch I prefer the 3ds version... just wish the 3ds had a tv-out and maybe a 480p screen.

Sometimes I regret getting the Switch instead of more 3ds games, but I got the console with a bonus card for a store that doesn't sell ANY game related stuff, so it was almost free :P Still don't know why they had a Switch... And this year, man I want that Gamecube's Luigi's Mansion port, Metroid Samus Returns, Zelda A Link Between Worlds (yeah, I know, like three years late to the party). Buy somehow I don't want to spend more money on the 3ds, I want my Switch to succeed it... but Nintendo ain't helping me xD
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nightcraw1er.488: most of the previous N handhelds seem to be aimed at young girls what with pony clubs and such like.
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SirPrimalform: wat
Which word did you not understand?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_DS_games
Take out the quiz games, the remakes, the hunt the item puzzles, most of what is left is things like cake making, barbie, <animal> keeping etc.
Admittedly there are a fair few on there I really don't know what they are.
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nightcraw1er.488: Which word did you not understand?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_DS_games
Take out the quiz games, the remakes, the hunt the item puzzles, most of what is left is things like cake making, barbie, <animal> keeping etc.
Admittedly there are a fair few on there I really don't know what they are.
That part of your post was complete nonsense. The DS was a massive hit which had a huge and diverse library and while there certainly were pony club games and things, they were a relatively small proportion of a library of over 1800 games. I call bullshit on your claim.
Post edited July 22, 2018 by SirPrimalform
Had my Switch since launch, not regretted it. It's a cool system that works pretty well for multiple lifestyles given its mobility. Happy Nintendo keep tryint to do new(ish) things in a market where other console hardware companies just try to make slightly better looking games than each other.
Anyone know when the Switch Mini Classic is being released?