The Nintendo Switch is definitely the most future focused direction of any console yet.
In a very broad observation, the first 6 generations of game consoles mostly focused on improving the capabilities of designing larger game worlds with more interesting things to do in them.
Improving CPU/GPU/RAM/Storage/etc. all served to expand how much could be created in the game worlds, as well as, how much could be interacted with (i.e. physics, more locations and characters to interact with, more discoverable secrets rewards, more intricate puzzles/quests, etc.)
Progressing forward each generation, the number of gamepad inputs a player could use to interact with said game worlds also expanded, serving the same intention of expanding the capacity to play and participate in the game’s world.
But, things took a different turn during the 7th generation of consoles. Console manufacturers felt that they had hit a wall with how many inputs the human hands and brain could handle without alienating a large amount of consumers. And, they had explored so many types of worlds and genres of gameplay, that they felt they needed a fresh new direction to not stagnate.
The focus of the 7th gen consoles was shifted to other ideas.
The DS and the Wii would focus on alternative inputs to give players a new means to interact with the game worlds and create new genres of gameplay. The DS would also focus on expanded the observation of game worlds and play to the use of 2 screens simultaneously. This would come at the cost of substituting some player inputs for others and certain genres of play being altered or less used.
The PS3 and the 360 would focus on cinematics and HD resolutions to impress players with more detailed presentation of narrative and to some degree aesthetic appeal. The cost was high monetary investment from developers, causing many to go out of business, as well as, a contraction on the focus of developing larger more varied game worlds with secrets to discover, and a lesser focus on gameplay time and depth, as the developer’s budgets were constrained with focusing on higher detailed asset creation, animation, etc.
They also introduce a lot more user maintenance with downloads, installs, patches, etc., as well as, game content withheld for DLC, on disc DLC, Digital Only Games, etc.
The PSP was modeled mostly after the PS2 with the majority of focus on continuing to expand where the GBA left off. Having more traditional inputs on a handheld and still focusing on expanding the content and exploration of expansive game worlds.
The 8th gen consoles are an iterative take on the 7th gen consoles. The focus is similar, with the PS4 and XB1 focusing on greater cinematics, multimedia features, etc. 3DS and Wii U focusing on 2 screen observation and play in game worlds, and the PS Vita further expanding traditional inputs on a handheld with the twist of also adding front and back touch inputs.
This garnered a cold response from the huge base of consumers that the 7th gen had. You might be wondering “Why?”. The 7th gen was so successful, so surely that direction of console design was working, right? Not quite.
Hardware and software sales were so high for a few reasons: #1 novelty, #2 delayed market response, #3 longer than usual generation.
The novelty of motion controls, touchscreens, HD resolutions, etc. garnered attention, curiosity, and intrigue from media and mass market consumers, as well as traditional gamers. Once those things are no longer a new cool experience (once people are used to experiencing them years on end) they become a normalized experience, and the elevated value of novelty is no longer present.
Delayed market response refers to people who are having a degree of dissatisfaction or unfulfillment with the experience of something, but continue to engage with the experience because they used to enjoy it. (i.e. gamers who continue to buy games that they want to like, because they used to like the games that used to come out on consoles. Buying out of identifying with enjoying gaming in general.) This greatly impacted how much less willing they will be to purchase their next console even though the market appears to be healthy at the time.
Obviously having a longer than usual generation gives more time to drop price on hardware and software, to have a larger library of games, and to not have a next gen alternative to take sales away from the current consoles. This also makes the market look good because it expands lifetime sales. But, when compound with the other issues, it is, in a way, masking the market trends.
The result is what we have seen during the 8th console gen: a contraction and consolidation of user bases.
Yes, people dissatisfied with console and handheld gaming have gone to cheaper alternatives (i.e. steam sales, freemium games, etc.). Some have turned to simply playing their gaming backlog for years on end. Many others have outright just quit playing video games.
And so we arrive at the Nintendo Switch, a new focus for the future. “What is different about the direction Nintendo is taking with this console?”, you might ask.
In a way, the Nintendo Switch is very much about flexibility and convenience, about having a true uncompromised console experience on the go, emphasizing local multiplayer (making handheld gaming much more socially inviting for someone to play with you), focusing on speed of use (with less load times, install times, etc.), consolidation of handheld and console hardware and software (reducing redundant development and production costs), etc.
Nintendo Switch is about taking the many many lessons of the past of what makes a fun enjoyable gaming experience on a console, and coalesces it into a very seamless all-in-one package.
Many people have remarked that the Switch has reinvigorate their interest in gaming since they are no longer anchored to a TV to get a console gaming experience. Gaming can fit into their schedule rather than having to schedule time to game. The psychological barrier to gaming for a few minutes when you might not have long is dissolved.
The Switch is designed to adapt to the on-the-go lifestyle many people now have, and it is designed to break the ice and get mobile users interacting more, albeit through playing together on one device.
The Nintendo Switch is well designed for the future for sure.
