Gaming

I think the switch did pretty well actually and I get why they made the decisions they made. As much as I love my steam deck, the thing takes up like twice as much space as my switch, for example. There is definitely room for improvement though.

It would have killed nintendo to add an ethernet port. As someone who bought the dongle, having a wired connection will NOT save you from nintendo online being the worst gaming networking service ever devised. No game benefits from it, least of all actual nintendo titles like splatoon or smash. It's not even a problem of speed, it's wholesale reliability issues, constant loss of connection errors. If an ethernet port was available included rather than needing to be a seperate purchase, more people would realize sooner just how truly awful the paid nintendo online service is.

I'm just still mad that I could play phantasy star online for ten hours uninterrupted on my gamecube, but now there's not a single nintendo title that has stable online. Pokémon might let you get a raid or two before needing to reconnect. Splatoon might get a match or three before needing to reconnect completely. Smash won't stay stable for even one full match. It's a complete tragedy.

The Joy Cons are the worst controllers Nintendo has ever made. If Switch 2 is anything even remotely similar, it's seeing zero use as a handheld from me (if I even buy one).

Wait, the games in the cartridge need to be installed in the main memory as well? Effectively just a drm gimmick?

They can't read the resources they need from the cart like in the past?

Interesting, I adore my switch. I love my deck for its capabilities (e.g., modding) but I’ll usually buy a game on the switch if I have the option. For me, it’s much more comfortable to use for extended time whereas the deck is heavy enough that it’ll give me wrist pain for long sessions. The battery difference is underrated here too. It’s nice traveling or hell even on the couch to not have to worry much about battery on the switch.

I agree I always get cramps whenever I play mario kart in handheld. That's why I buy as many of my games as I can on the Steam Deck instead.

It's no Gameboy, that's for sure. I use it resting on a pillow on my lap, so I don't actually have to hold it up. Works very well that way actually

Everything Nintendo sucks.

Wii U gamepad was a lot more comfortable for me. I'd play Windwaker or Mario Maker or 3D World or Splatoon for hours and never feel all cramped up with half-numb palms. I play Ace Attorney for an hour and it just hurts.

Plus the charging port location makes it annoying to play while charging. It makes sense for the dock, but it ruins it in handheld mode.

I'd love to just get a Steam Deck and be done with it, but Valve won't be shipping here anytime soon and the cost of importing it along with our shitty forex rates end up with the base model hitting PS5 cost territory for me (which is also more expensive here than in most Western nations).

One of my biggest complaints with the switch is definitely how my hands are too big for me to be truly comfortable with holding them when they're disconnected from the console. Either one in each hand or one for both hands. That, and I think the batteries in my joycons are a little screwed, so I just said fuck it and got a controller because the last few times I used my switch was connected to a TV.

It basically needs more ergonomic joycons to be usable for more than an hour in handheld mode for me. I've got a pair of hori split pad pros that work really well, but you lose the gyro which kind of sucks for aiming in games like zelda

I recently bought an adjustable clip to clip the Switch (sans joycons) to my Pro Controller and it’s super comfy for long periods of gaming. I’ve also seen people use 3rd party joycons that are shaped more like the Pro Controller handles which seem comfy too.

You’re right, the base Switch isn’t all that comfy for long periods of play, but there are both ways around that and it can also be played docked, which I think are redeeming features.

All I wanted from the Switch was a console-only version. I know why it didn't happen, but I picked mine up on launch day, I've played on it every week since, and I've used the screen like, a handful of times on one trip the first year I had it.

I haven't disconnected it from the TV since then. I really didn't need the handheld form factor.

Agreed bc I hate holding that thing! I only needed it to be a handheld for me to carry around the house and the ergonomics killed that possibility. Even with a grip on it giving it more bulk it's still awkward to use the thumgsticks and hold the system