| TheLastStarFighter said: I'm probably too lazy to change my avatar if I'm wrong, so don't expect me to. But I'll make a prediction. I don't think the system is going to be as rumored, because rumors are always wrong. I think there is some smoke to them, but there will be unexpected twists. My expectations: 1. Rather than a portable you can plug to your TV, I think it will be a home console you can take with you. I.E., like the Wii U, but the "gamepad" will be able to play anywhere there is wifi with a form of remote play. To improve the play experience, the gamepad will be able to tap into any nearby NX that makes its resources available. Customers will be given incentives for making their system available. 2. The Gamepad will be a unique device that can function as a controller, a handhed, or as a tablet set on table. The side controllers will detach as rumored, and have various swappable input options. The tablet will have unique gameplay abilities, such as cameras, motion sensors and possibly a projector of some kind. It will have new types of experiences designed to play at a table, or using augmented reality. 3. In terms of chips and power, the Gamepad will use an nVidia X1 to handle its basic functions. However, the main processing power for games will be in the home console. This APU may or may not be a chip from AMD, but it will exceed the power of a vanilla PS4. I can be supplemented by a SCD, which won't be ready at launch. 4. NX will support carts and digital download. There will be no disc drive. 5. NX will absorb the Wii U platform, and will offer cross-play in the short-term. IE, you can play a game like Smash or Splatoon against Wii U owners if the title is ported to NX. Several titles will be ported. |
I'm feeling very good about my initial predictions for the NX. I'll amend further to say that the home console will use AMD, and the GPU power will be around 2.5 TFLOPs, making it easy to get things running on the system for the remainder of the generation. The SCD could enable the system to match PS4Pro if need be and desired. I'm less sold on the handheld using the Tegra at all actually, and may in fact use the new chip from 3DS chip makers DMP.
I belive strongly that the system is designed to appeal to both core gamers and more casual types. On the core side, the system will have respectible power, dual-analogue style imput options and games inlcuding Zelda Breath and a new title from Retro. I believe it also has one or two "core" exclusives from Ubisoft coming.
But it will also have a strong social gaming element, with AR abilities and possibly a projector-camera-sensor type system that will allow for the most elaborate "motion" type gaming yet. Titles like Just Dance will be able to take their type of gaming to a new level.
Games will play different versions on the home console or on the hand held controller option, but it could be essentially the same game, gameplay-wise. Some suggest this is a big deal, but I don't think it is at all. Most devs are making versions of games for mobile when they can, and I believe Nintendo is working hard to make the "two-setting" option as seemless as possible. It's also no different than the PS4/Pro set up, where all games must have versions for both settings. Zelda: BOTW will demonstrate the "dual setting" settup well, with a version similar to Wii U on the go, but an enhanced graphics version at home. This will demonstrate both that the HH is a capable system playing Wii-U level games, and that the HC offers an upgraded graphical experience.
Third parties are going to support it, at least to begin.
VR is an option. It will expand on the streaming tech that sends signals to the HH/Gamepad. Unlike most VR, Nintendo will emphasise a social experience inspired by the "asymetrical" gameplay of the Wii U, where one player could play on the TV and the other on VR. The SCD could provide additional processing resources for VR if need be.
The price will be $400US, give or take, and include both the home console and handheld.
