I understand the part about a unified platform and the advantages as far as development goes. There are a few problems though; the first being that they're still keeping the 3DS alive, which will keep on diverting this effort a while longer, the second being that they still pretty much rely solely on first software to move hardware. And this has proven to be less important than the core concept of their consoles, as all their home consoles and handhelds have had great 1st party software (some argue that the GC didn't, but it's not terrible relevant since the N64 also crashed and burned sales-wise), but not all have had great sales. Assuming that Nintendo games will sell zounds of Nintendo consoles by default is stylistic and simplified, especially when there's lots of historical data telling us a possibly different outcome. Heck; the Wii U is very recent proof of this idea not being enough on its own (again, no, I don't expect it to sell like the Wii U, just making a point here). If one wants to refute the historical data by insisting "but the Switch is something else and historical data can't be used to decide its fate", one also needs to stop with the "they've sold a lot handhelds and a lot of home consoles, so they'll sell a lot of hybrids" as this supposition is just as or perhaps even more loosely based on irrelevant data.

Whether or not it's a "very smart" idea will become obvious during 2017 and 2018, I still don't buy this and I feel like they're taking a huge risk in their form factor, their continued push for local multiplayer and abject refusal to include or streamline certain convenience factors. It will also be a tough sell with expensive handheld hardware and accessories to fringe customers that might have otherwise taken the plunge, the 3DS didn't exactly fly off the shelves at its introduction price and only after a historically unprecedented price cut did it start to move at a decent rate.

You claim that the hybrid notion will attract many consumers, have you considered that it might rebuke many as well? People who want a more thoroughbred handheld or a more fleshy dedicated home console with more storage and stationary capability. Inclusion of the one function ups the price and lowers the convenience of the other, so where you seem endless possibilities, I see quite a few practical and marketing limitations. Let's not forget that this thing has nowhere near the mainstream buzz factor the Wii had, not even in the ballpark. They'll make a smaller or a larger version to accomodate these fringe consumers? Well, then you're entering my point of needing constant revision to stay relevant and attractive, which ties into problems of its own and in and on itself proves a big point I've been making in here for years about market movements and the future of consoles, so that's a no-go as well.

Mobile gamers will likely ignore it, presenting a tablet that isn't a tablet is not how you reel them in and neither is "big games" on the go. People who crave 3rd part multiplats will ignore it as well, support outside of 1st party is looking predictably bleak. Who's to say it won't be somewhat off-putting to 3DS owners? Why did the majority of DS owners not get a 3DS? The market is different and more fragmented today, many different demographics, and creating a machine designed to be a jack-of all trades was their plan with the Wii U as well, but they don't seem to realize that this is a poor strategy in a consumer electronics market where there's so much to choose from, prices are low when taking special deals and subscriptions, consumers demand constant revision and updates and near free content to delve into daily and they generally replace their hardware more often. Being designed the way it is, the Switch is likely to be more affected by these market movements and will be forced to make even more revisions than the competition, they're facing the market once more with inferior online, poor software breadth (especially while the 3DS still has life left in it, releasing a product to compete with your own isn't the signs of terribly well thought out strategy) and lack of multimedia functionality, which is a huge factor for consoles today, let alone smart devices.

In short; the Switch has some pretty big weaknesses and is not a perfect product. Is it more exciting than a PS4 or Xbox One? Maybe to you, and many more, but we're not the ones who set the pace or dictates the motions, perceived value rules the day and the market and I still hold firm that the Switch will prove a tough sell in the long run. Many seem to think it will have a slower start and then build up huge momentum, I rather think it will have a good start, a decent middle and then a quick end, with none of those crazy peak years in the 20-25 million zone required to be compared to the likes of the Wii. The pace of the market(s) they're aiming for, lack of functionality and proper convenience, the cost of constant revision and lack of truly competitive software breadth based on mostly relying on 1st party once again and the possibly unfortunate form factor might really put a damper on the party. That's not to say it won't be a success, I think it will, but there is no reason to think it's the Wii all over again. To simply assume it will inherit the entire 3DS and Wii U install base and add even more simply because it can be both docked and handheld and has the same games as previous consoles is a rather unsound line of reasoning and brushes of many factors.

I think the Switch is the consumer electronics answer to the MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) in the automotive industry; it was a hit at the start and provided a good mix between the comforts and practicality of a large van with the somewhat nimbler nature and looks of an estate/station wagon. However, for practical reasons (diesel emission demands) and due to competition being more steady and focused, the MPV became outdated and is now being trounced by compact SUV cars. People have found that the MPV lacks the agility and response of a station wagon and it lacks the space of a van, they're rather uneconomical to drive and own and often feature a rather abhorrent design. Meanwhile, compact SUV's have become poised, provide perfect mid-range engines and economy, driving comfort and great safety measures and fantastic design and station wagons remain the choice of people who are drivers, who appreciate the feel of the connecting with your vehicle and this remains a stable and sound market. MPV's remain popular in one major market (the US) but declines globally while compact SUV and station wagon continues to grow massively and slightly respectively.

In case it's unclear; the Switch is the MPV (Japan will be its saving grace like the US to the MPV), station wagons are traditional home consoles and PC, and compact SUV's are mobile/tablet social/browser games.

But, hey, only time will decide for sure. For now, as mentioned, I think the Switch will be a success, if they play their cards right, they might position themselves somewhere between Xbox One and PS4 territory. If the market turns out and progresses the way it has and attempted forced market convergence once more proves ineffective for Nintendo in the long run, it might be a battle for second place. Honestly, there's no scenario I can imagine that makes the Switch a Wii with 100+ plus lifetime sales, I don't think the market will permit it and this notion that Nintendo have created a new blue ocean is utterly false, they're not appealing to an entirely untapped and new demographic as with the Wii; they're trying to appeal to existing demographics who have other options and might easily be disuaded from a purchase, current owners reports that "you realize the value when you own it" somewhat support this view and could provide a big hurdle from a marketing perspective.

3DS is dying and Nintendo already moved focus from 3DS to Switch, Nintendo will completely abandone 3DS next year. Switch concept is very good and very appealing for mass market its actualy better and more appeling even 3DSs ones, and actually strong 1st party titles are what sells Nintendo hardware.

3DS had very high price point for just a handheld and didn't had must have games at first, but price cut and some strong titles completely changed things for 3DS. Switch on other hand doesn't has high price for hybrid and actually right away has huge system seller game and MK8D also is releasing already. We will know at end of 2017. how exactly good Switch sales, but fact that is console that has best launch and that there is big demand on market, and fact that will have big heavy hitters and system sealers in its 1st month tells us that Switch will have prette good sales.

Its simply, If you want Pokemon, 3D Zelda, 3D Mario, Splatoon, Mario Kart...or some 3rd party game like MH, and you are handheld or home console lower, you will most likly buy Switch, not to mention that there will be lots a new people who will be attract to have all those games (handheld and home console) on single device. Yes there will be some handheld lovers who think that Switch is too big or extensive, but there will be smaller/cheaper Switch also for them, storage of Switch is very easily expandibkle and Switch in dock mode gives full home console/stationary experience/capabilites.there will be some people who want just home console play and they want to pay $300, they will wait for price cut or maybe we will have Switch for home console use. Revisions are good thing, with revision we have more price points of platform that aims at different price points and need of market, just look currently at 3DS, it covers market from $80 to $200 price point, even PS4 now has PS4 Slim and Pro. It would be very bad business if Nintendo have only Switch version of hardware, especially when lower price point 3DS dies.

Actualy Switch can be very attractive for mobile gamers, Switch fit in middle of mobile gaming and PS4/XB1 gaming, so definitely Switch will attract some of mobile and casuals gamers. Actually Switch will have at least solid Japanese 3rd party support, and how instal base and popularity of Switch sales rise, there will more 3rd parties on board. 3DS and Vita are first handhelds released in mobile gaming gen, so of course they sold less than DS and PSP, but despite mobile gaming, 3DS will still sell around 70m.

I really don't see any weakness of Switch expect weak 3rd party support for now. Switch is definatly difrent to PS4/XB1, but doenst need to be more exasiting than PS4/XB1 (but will easily outsell XB1 in any case), put point is that Switch is that kind of product that can easily coexist on market with PS4/XB1 and actually it will be great secondary console for some PS4/XB1 owners.

Switch definitely could be 100m+ success with revisions and longer life than Wii (Wii didnt had long life, Nintendo pulled Wii support in 2010/2011), IMO for now it seems it can be at least 3DS level success.

"Switch concept is very good and very appealing for mass market"

"Switch on other hand doesn't has high price for hybrid"

"not to mention that there will be lots a new people who will be attract to have all those games (handheld and home console) on single device"

"Actualy Switch can be very attractive for mobile gamers, Switch fit in middle of mobile gaming and PS4/XB1 gaming, so definitely Switch will attract some of mobile and casuals gamers"

You honestly can't see that your main points revolve entirely around your subjective suppositions? You're not objectively calculating market factors, weighing demographics properly or adding any sort of possible critical angle at all, it's just everything is great and will work great because you say it is so and you're not making any good arguments here at all.

If a console's massive success hinges completely on your personal observation based in an extremely deep-rooted bias, that's a huge problem and has no real value in a debate. I guess we'll just have to wait and see then, and that's fine, it's like either of us will lose our internet connection any time soon.

It's not only about my personality subject opinion. Fact is that Switch has intresting and good concept that is appealing to home console and handheld market in same time, fact is that Switch has great branding and marketing, fact is that Switch has one of best games like launch title and it will be followed by some of strongest Nintendo IPs in its 1st 9 months, Swith will have full undivided Nintendo support like unified platform including games like Pokemon, and that of course sucha platform will much more attractive for some people than platform that has only handheld games or platform that has only home consoel games. All those things make Switch completely opposite to Wii U and actually much more similar to Wii.

Switch had best launch month in history for Nintendo and actualy second best launch month in history in US after PS4, we know that Switch had Nintendo best sales in Europe also for 1st few days, in Japan Switch is selling great and there is no indication that sales will slow any time soon (esapcily with MK8D, ARMS and Splatoon2). There is obvious demand for Switch on market, and Switch will have other huge heavy hitters and system sellers game in its 1st 9 months. All those things are facts, so no, Switch success doesn't "hinges completely on my personal observation based in an extremely deep-rooted bias", its based on those things also, but you can keep ignore those things and act like Switch have similar sales like Vita or Wii U. I agree we can only wait and see, but all things we see currently about sales are all very positive.

Bolded: Oh my actual god, where on earth have I said it will sell like the Wii U or Vita, just a few posts above yours I'm talking about both 60 and 70 million as the potential. This is absolutely absurd, all you're doing is polarizing the argument for no reason.

Switch has an interesting and good concept is not a fact; that's your subjective opinion, there are plenty of gamers who find it rather uninteresting. So that's a subjective supposition.

Switch has great branding and marketing; I've yet to see any marketing for it here in Scandinavia, besides the posters outside of or in gaming stores and it has zero viral marketing like the Wii. As for branding, it's terribly confusing to the mass market since it looks like a tablet and all outlets are calling it a tablet, but it's not actually a tablet and lacks most of the core functions of one. That's not great branding and those are yet more subjective suppositions.

PS4 had in insane launch, far better than PS2, that doesn't mean it will beat the PS2's lifetime sales, or even come close to them. Front-loaded figures are utterly worthless, long term baseline tells us about the market, not the launch window. It's doing great in Japan, yes, just like I said it would in a previous post to you (the MPV analogy, if you even read it you would know this). This is no indication of stupendous lifetime sales in and on itself, as anyone with basic knowledge on the industry and market would tell you without blinking.

There is obvious demand for the Switch; yes, there is, but how much and in which regions and how long will this demand keep up in the modern, fast-paced market with its form factor placing it near to the devastating smart devices? Again, we know very little until the dust has settled and a long term picture forms. Most consoles released in the past generation(s) were sold out at launch and even for a couple of weeks, this tells us nothing about actual, long term demand. It will have the same system sellers and heavy hitters as all Nintendo consoles, we've been over this before, that software in itself doesn't ensure a long and happy life with incredible sales, as has been seen many times before. The combo of a core concept with great and lasting appeal and great software is what produces the highest selling consoles of all time. This is also senseless at this stage, history is littered with products that had a good start and then failed to live up to immense expectations (but still did well).

So, largely, your arguments are based on subjective notions, or in some cases incomplete or even irrelevant data. And if you finish with claiming that I'm saying the Switch will sell like the Wii U and Vita, that says a lot about the level of your reasoning on the matter, especially when there's actual, written and thorough evidence to the contrary in this very same page and in posts you yourself have quoted.

The Switch's similarity to the Wii U is mainly its attempt at forced market convergence and appealing to two very different demographics with one device, there are a few examples of this strategy doing quite well, but it usually doesn't set the world ablaze. This does not in any way, shape or form mean that the Switch will sell like the Wii U, claiming that is about as silly as claiming it's the new Wii based on what we've seen so far and a mere 6 weeks into its life cycle.

Switch is definitely much closer to Wii in terms of potential success than to Wii U.