In Your Eyes: Has Nintendo Given Up On Home Consoles?

[GhaudePhaede010]

Einsam_Delphin said:

GhaudePhaede010 said:

A console who's primary/main design (technical, aesthetic, and functional) is to be played at home. Like Wii U, which nobody calls a hand held or hybrid, because the console's main function and design is to be played in the home.

As it looks (based on these rumors), NX is designed (technically, aesthetically, and functionally) to be a hand held. The NX looks, by all accounts, to be the continuation of the 3DS line.

I tried to explain it like this to the host of my show:

Me: Imagine everything about NX is true. Everything except that it has a shell that connects it to a television. What would you call it?

Him: Well, thats unfair because it does come with a shell that attaches it to a television.

Me: Just answer.

Him: A hand held.

Me: You brought up a good point about it coming with a shell. It is unfair of me to remove a key piece entirely to prove my point so what about this: Nintendo releases the console as I stated and then a year later they release the shell that attaches the console to the television. Is the console now a hybrid?

Him: No. It is a hand held; one that now has an attachment that connects to the television, but it is still a hand held.

Me: Exactly.

That is NX.

 

So the same would be true for the definition of a handheld, a system who's primary design is to be played on the go. The NX can function exactly like a home console, so it isn't anymore a handheld either unless you really want to believe Nintendo went through such great lengths for a non-primary feature. The whole gimmick of this thing is that it can be played at home and on the go. It's more than just a console, and it's more than just a handheld, that's why hybrid is the only correct term to call it. Also, nobody calls the Wii U a handheld or hybrid because you can't play it on the go.

Uhhh... unless I am missing something, this console does look like its main design (in the three areas I mentioned) is to be played on the go. It uses mobile technology (doesn't mobile literally mean, "on the go"?), it uses cartridges, and the shell seems to merely attach it to the television making it nothing more than a video out cable (if the rumors are true). If more functionality is announced, then I will obviously revise my position. But in terms of form, functionality, and design, it looks to be a hand held. They keep calling it a PORTABLE console. Until the word hybrid became hot button, if I called something a portable console, it would mean a hand held. I feel like what I am saying is a little beyond you because I have already presented both Wii U and my daughter's iphone as examples of devices that are not truly hybrids or hand helds. Even though you could make the argument they are. Wii U does have portability (although limited) like a hand held and the iphone can be attached to a television. They are not what they are.

How you decide to view the console is up to you. I told my host the same thing. But I know you read my example and you know I was correct. I have learned through this website and others that arguing this is meaningless. I was agreeing with someone that echoed my sentiments because that person seems to be coming to an understanding I already came to. I did not post this to create more tension.

As far as your assumptions about why Nintendo would develop a hand held with this kind of technology, this is the same company that developed a Wii remote, reimagined the dual screen hand held device, glasses free 3D, and gave us a tablet controller (which lends to inexpensive costs on a new console when you think about it) in the last decade. I am not here to explain Nintendo, just understand them.

I also want you to remember three things:

1) Hybrid does not mean home console. So many seem to use the term hybrid as a means to justify comparing this console exclusively to home consoles. It is unjust to compare a hybrid in this way. And by its definition, a hybrid is not a home console if you believe it to be a true hybrid (example a Liger is not a Lion or a Tiger and cannot be compared solely to one or the other).

2) I am only basing this off rumors. If anything changes about the console or new information comes out about the console in terms of form, function, and design, then I will adjust my position accordingly.

3) Someone else I argued with on here called Wii U a hybrid. I do not know what to make of this community anymore...