The Switch and Nintendo hardware

[zorg1000]

The_Liquid_Laser said:

zorg1000 said:

Software pacing is very important. Here is when those franchises released on Wii U

 

3D Mario-Nov 2013

Mario Kart-May 2014

Splatoon-May 2015

Zelda-Mar 2017

 

VS Switch

 

Zelda-Mar 2017

Mario Kart-Apr 2017

Splatoon-July 2017

3D Mario-Oct 2017

 

Those games released like a year apart on Wii U while all 4 released within 8 months of each other on Switch.

A steady stream of good software certainly doesn't hurt, but a killer app moves hardware much more than pacing does.  Pacing actually helps more in keeping people on the console they already own.  People used to joke that they would put the Wii in their closet and never get it out.  That's what happens when there is a pacing problem.  Gamers get tired of their console and start looking for a new one.

All of those games listed above are worth a $60 price tag, but they may not be worth a $360 price tag.  That is why a killer app is needed, a game so good that customers will want to lay down the full $360.  Mario Kart, 3D Mario, and Splatoon were all available on one console starting May 2015 (along with several other good games), but that was still not enough to get most people to buy.  Take Zelda out of the equation and the Wii U's library is better May 2015 than the Switch's library is now.  So why is the Switch in so much higher demand?  It must be Zelda.

Both are extremely important, most people wont buy a console for a single game, for most people a console needs a steady flow of games that interest them.

You are oversimplying things, there is alot more than just Zelda that is causing Switch to be more desirable than Wii U.

1. The overall hardware concept. The ability to seamlessly switch between console and handheld mode and play anywhere is very appealing. The same cannot be said for the Wii U gamepad which had like a 15ft range and really added little to the experience.

2. Marketing/branding/advertising. Switch is marketed to multiple demographics and advertised all over the place and the branding makes it clear its a brand new device. Wii U was marketed almost exclusively to kids/families and advertised almost exclusively on childrens television networks and continuing with the Wii brand (which was in heavy decline at this point) either turned people away or made them think it was an expensive add-on.

3. Software output. You're right that individual system sellers are important but a system also needs a steady flow of quality titles ranging from small, medium and big. Switch has had a medium-large sized exclusive basically every month along with a handful of smaller indie titles on a weekly basis. Wii U would generally go a few months between notable releases.

4. Price. You might be thinking they both cost $299, how is that an advantage for Switch? Well if a console has appealing hardware, a strong software lineup and well executed marketing/advertising than $299 is a great price, however if all those things are poor than $299 is expensive.