Peripherals and accessories will exist, but not a lot of software supports it.

Are tablet docks really that common? I only know the Surface dock, but there are many cable expansion ports.

Docks are the same thing as expansion ports , just with more plastic. And yes there are a number of games that support controllers as well as touch. The only novelity that Nintendo has is that it's a tablet that runs Nintendo games, though that might change in the future as they expand to iOS and Android.

I can make myself a Nintendo Switch right now by getting a shield, a controller peripheral and one of the many Nintendo emulators.

considering the Switch is KIND OF A LITTLE BIT like an affordable tablet dedicated to video gaming that can be easily translated to home use too..... they were probably worried that Sony and Micro would jump onto that quickly to counter Nintendo

bear in mind both Sony and Microsoft already create LOADS of electronics, well maybe Microsoft is more on the software end of things with electronics, but still.

 it wouldn't be crazy to think that if given enough time they might create a similar minded attempt at a device. we saw it with the Kinect attempts my Microsoft after the Wii

Nintendo just delayed announcing to cover their bases. even now they've still been quite vague on some details though so there could be something else involved, I don't know

nPhone, nPad, nBookRetina, nWatch

I also meant local multiplayer, but that can also be done.
http://www.androidauthority.com/community/threads/local-multiplayer-for-nvidia-shield-tablet.16995/
https://shield.nvidia.com/blog/multiplayer-games-promotion
https://shield.nvidia.com/blog/couch-co-op-games-on-shield

So the Switch is a renamed Shield. Good job NVIDEA, good job Nintendo. Everything sounds the same >_<

Make that into a thread title and cash in your points for 500+ replies.

Well they couldn't sell the Shield for shit so it makes sense for Nintendo to try and sell one themselves.

Yes, but there's a difference between a peripheral and a function that is built into the core concept of a device. I'm thinking more from a marketing perspecting. If Nintendo comes out with this gaming tablet with removeable docks after a bunch of other companies have copied their design, what little originality the Switch has will be lost, and it's gonna look like "just another tablet." Their marketing team will have even more of an uphill battle than they face right now in courting those casual and semi-casual gamers that they're gunning for. I get the feeling you'll see exactly what I mean when the knockoffs start to hit the market in a year or so. Of course, by then the Switch will be an established product, so the damage will be minimal.

touch screen on a home console

Put your controller into the dock station, which is hides additional screen. Gaming revolución!