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hinch on 23 March 2022
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JWeinCom said:
JackHandy said:

Technically, it's a hybrid. Which also means technically, it's not a home console. But it's pretty obvious to me that Nintendo pulled a fast one on all of us, including myself. Because not many years after it launched, they even released a dedicated handled version... which is something that never happened with the NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii and Wii-U. I think the the colossal commercial failure of the Wii-U was the last straw for Iwata, and that was the genesis behind their hybrid angle. Marketing it as a home console that could be taken out of the house instead of a handheld that could be played on the television was a genius diversion, and it worked. 

No, hybrid does not technically mean it's not a home console. Unless that also means that it is not a handheld. And claiming that the Switch is neither a handheld nor a home console obviously makes no sense. It has to be at least one, and I see no reason why it can't be both.

Again, I'll repeat the question. If the Switch had the exact same functionality except it did not have a screen and the joycons were permanently detached, would it be a home console? If so, then it makes no sense that adding features would make it not a home console, as it still does everything a home console would do. 

There was a thread a while ago arguing over semantics whether the Switch was a portable, home console or both and went nowhere. The Switch is designed to be portable console that can be docked. Not too dissimilar to this prototype without the detachable controllers.

For the second that would obviously be a home console. It would not work outside of plugging into a external display - TV, monitor. And not designed to be portable device.

For popularity and sales, portable consoles were more successful for Nintendo so it made sense in going in this direction. Nintendo home consoles alone could not compete with competitors though their portable ones remain uncontested. Having a console that could do both was a brilliant move from Nintendo and has paid dividends after not-so great 8th generation consoles from the big N. Having a strange hybrid between them with Project Indy would is like what Sony half attempted with the PSP/Vita with external adapters to plug into TV. However, it was clunky.. with no dock and cable and connecting to external controllers was not a user friendly experience.

Last edited by hinch - on 23 March 2022