Nintendo Switch vs Sony PS2 Sales

Nintendo released their quarterly financials recently and the numbers don’t lie.  17M Switch 2 consoles in 7 months has never been done before and the Nintendoomed hate should be silenced (it won’t be, ‘cos haters gonna hate).  And now Switch 1 has surpassed 155M (DS was at 154M) making it the best selling Nintendo console ever.  This brings back the topic: will it outsell the “goat” PS2 that sits at 160M produced (not sold…produced)?

Sony *says* they sold through more than 160M PS2 consoles and produced 160,636,885 units when they showed off the aforementioned trophy last console (with shitty 3D printed stand).  Actual financial reports Sony released in 2012 (the last time PS2 was being officially tracked for financial reports) put PS2 at 155M, but they did continue to produce the console until 2013.  For over a decade the official count for PS2 was 155M…until Nintendo Switch was quickly catching up to that number.  Many years later in 2024 Sony celebrated PlayStation’s 30TH anniversary by touting PS2 was “one of the biggest-selling” (notice the wording there) with over 160M sold.  If it really sold through 160M consoles to consumers in the ad, wouldn’t that make it THE best selling console and not “one of” the best selling?

Yes, I am a biased Nintendo fanboy, and in the end this doesn’t matter…but…I don’t think they sold over 160M PS2 consoles.  They have already committed to the 160,636,885 *produced* number…but produced does not mean sold.  What were the manufacturing yields, how many of these were warranty replacements, how many were for giveaway prizes, how many were damaged/lost in transport, how many of these were for (retailer, event, trade show, etc.) kiosks…what are these numbers and were they factored in for sold or produced? If produced (again, not sold) actually means produced then the numbers for unsold bad yields, warranty replacements, demo kiosks, etc. should be subtracted to get sold numbers.  The average yield for consoles back then were 2% to 3% which means you have to take out 3.2M to 4.8M right there…and that’s just the yields!  Am I reaching for straws by saying that we have to subtract 3M to 5M consoles from their 160M number…no…’cos produced doesn’t mean sold!

For over a decade PS2 was recorded in the books officially at 155M sold.  Magically, as Nintendo Switch approached that number, Sony says they sold over 160M all the sudden.  Not knocking the PS2 as a platform, just pointing out the shadiness in how that happened…and the worst part is that everyone reported it as fact without asking important questions.  Sony’s own wording of PS2 being “one of the biggest-selling” and that their trophy last console says produced and not sold does not mesh with them saying it sold over 160M units.  If they were being truly honest at the time they gave this information they should’ve given an official sold number (not just produced) on their financial reports and they would say it was the best selling video game console, not just one of the best…but they didn’t (to avoid fraudulent claims against them with clever wording).  Their last official numbers of shipped (also not sold, but shipped is better than produced) PS2 consoles have to be extrapolated by monkeying with numbers of all PlayStation shipped hardware in 2013 (by subtracting PS3, PSP, PS vita numbers) to maybe get PS2 to 158M.

Ignoring all the points I make above on why I don’t trust the 160M PS2 sold number, in the end, when Switch ends up passing 160M…the haters will just move the goalposts again to downplay Nintendo’s success and uphold Sony’s “goat” status, but Switch (sold) numbers won’t lie!

The State of The Industwy 2026

Debated on whether to put this on my Nintendo AGENDA page or even make a YouTube, but instead I'm just gonna post this quick'n'dirty here.  I do these every once in a while to take a look at the current and future landscape of video games from my Nintendo biased POV.

X-BOX

WTF.  There's the possibility that Microsoft will bow out of hardware and that's what they should do...publish all their games on other platforms to make back the billions they spent to get where they are in gaming.  Even still, there's some x-bots who are hoping for future hardware in a quickly dying brand.  X-BOX is now lending it's (worthless) brand to portable PC's and Smart TV's a la the old ideals of hardware licensing (like 3DO, CD-i, etc.) which won't work.  The rumors suggest the X-BOX brand will be spread across a variety of platforms with a main system being a PC/console hybrid...a powerful, premium, expensive hybrid running Windows 11 on your TV which also won't work.  The brand is too tarnished and the real money is bringing their games to other platforms.  Another problem is that they're moving towards that "all-digital future" that most people really don't want, game consumers who've been around long enough see right through that garbage.  And even if it's forced down our throats the audience for that would better go to the already established Steam service, which they already have!  Want a PC/console hybrid, Valve will already have Steam Machine ready to gobble that up.  The macroeconomics of the current world make future X-BOX hardware (even if it's meant to be a boutique x-bot niche) look bleak when people could just play those games on other platforms.

PlayStation

With the X-BOX no longer being a "threat" (to be clear, it only ever was a threat in mindshare, never marketshare) Sony has already stated through Mark Cerny (PlayStation hardware architect consultant) that they're approaching a next generation with AMD differently.  Using ideals and verbiage like ai upscaling, lower power consumption and advanced compression they seem to be scaling back the old approach of raw horsepower and going towards more efficient but cheaper and smaller tech potentially for PS6/other PlayStation hardware.  This seems to be the opposite of what the next X-BOX might be.  Together with rumors of PS6 and/or a new PlayStation portable system it makes sense, but is this multiple platforms (console and portable) or like a Switch hybrid?  Two systems could spread Sony too thin (especially if they play different software) like they had before they abandoned PSP and later PSVita.  Nintendo has already been doing the more efficient and cheaper (ai upscaling, low power consumption, advanced compression, etc.) hybrid approach for a while now so that means Sony will be playing catch-up if they're going for a hybrid or portable.  Too soon to know, but I think whether it's two separate systems or one hybrid system they better play all the same (PS5/PS6?) games...which brings the "all digital future" debate back in.  Being portable or hybrid means it won't play discs, and if it doesn't play discs and everything is digital then why buy a system at all if it's games can eventually be played on a PC that Sony has already been porting their games to.  The macroeconomics of the current world make future PlayStation hardware look questionable in the near time...they're making good decisions similar to decisions Nintendo (the market leader) has already been doing but they're stuck between waiting for the world economy to be ready for their "next generation" or letting Nintendo take more marketshare with Switch 2.

Other

PC has a new savior in the Steam Machine and the industwy as a whole is dominated by PC gaming which the "master race" loves to laud over console gamers but they act like mobile (iPhone/Android) isn't bigger (it is).  Then their portable gaming pc religion has a very loud minority also lauding their hardware over Nintendo...all while being outsold 30 to 1. 

Nintendo

Yes, I'm biased for Nintendo, but here's some things to keep in mind: they're the last bastion of physical games in an "all digital future" and they're the last platform with exclusive games that aren't ported to PC.  Diminishing returns in visuals also works in their favor...not arguing that Switch 2 games look as good as PS5 games, no...but most people (regular consumers) won't be able to tell the difference which means the competition loses it's "advantage" once more if their games come to Switch 2.  There is negativity surrounding Switch 2 in price, game key cards and lack of system sellers...yet, it has already sold 15Million+ consoles in 6 months...reality check: that's the fastest selling game system of all time!  Seeing a bunch of them on Walmart store shelves doesn't mean it's not selling, it means it's well-stocked which helps in it's record-breaking sales.  There are things going against Nintendo and Switch 2, sure, but we live in an age where everything gets hate online (not irl) and Switch 2 is selling well without having it's killer app and it's too young to see what it will be established as.  Give it a full year and we'll know more about what it is to people in both it's mindshare and marketshare.  The macroeconomics of the current world make the future of Nintendo look okay with room to improve (lots of ideas for ways to improve in my Nintendo AGENDA page soon) or falter mainly depending on what really matters: the games...Switch 2 is getting games, but it needs games that keep selling systems.

Overall

The state of the industwy is dictated more by the state of the world and the world looks bad right now, plus there's less money being spent on video games and gaming overall seems to be artistically down which is why people would rather spend time with past gaming generations...but that too is rough 'cos there's less of that out in the wild as collectors horde the old stuff.  Piracy and emulation abounds.

GAME AWARDS 2025

Maybe I’m getting soft, but I’m not gonna shit all over Geoff Keighly’s awards show this year.  Someday I may write why I poo poo on him, his shows and the gaming industwy as a whole…but not in this post.  Besides it being fashionable to shitpost about the VGA’s I just lump it together with what I don’t like about video games media in general.  Not that I loved the show this year, just that there were enough things I liked so I didn't have to yell at the screen when they were pushing some obvious agendas they wanted to spew.  I’ll tell you the “it takes a village” BS was very yell-worthy, though.  Also, one game being put on a pedestal in every category it was in (except the player voice vote) was a bit ridiculous…all to push the “wow, it’s an ‘indie’ game beating out AAA”...yeah whatever.

What did I like about it though?  CAPCOM, Evanescence (more for Sarah, than for me, but still entertaining), Ralph the dog poking fun at the VGA’s rigged biases and that they dialed back the BS I hate. While there still was some of this in there,  it’s like they had someone more sensible taking out the crap ‘cos there was way less:

filler white-knighting about diversity/culture

industwy puff pieces

talk about the “academy” itself

comparison’s to The Oscars

wowing cinematics/storytelling in games

Kojima worship

Sony worship

CAPCOM…seriously CAPCOM used this show to their advantage.  They had an old-school grunge ad, added a nice little pop-up Switch 2 logo for Pragmata (as a Nintendo nut, I loved that and want more of that, plus did you see there will be an Amiibo for this game), debuting Leon in Resident Evil 9, debuting a Mega Man return, Evanescence doing Afterlife which is the Devil May Cry 2 anime theme and that Street Fighter movie segment with the actors coming out…sorry, that’s hype for me.  CAPCOM made the VGA’s this year, which is crazy ‘cos I heard the USA branch was cut back a while ago, yet they did more good marketing here than they have at their own events in recent years.

The Game Awards also had just more of what matters: games! And they were better game reveals. Not enough Nintendo stuff considering they have a new system…and while the VGA’s were better this year, Nintendo should probably just do their own show.

GameStop also did their own award show which was kinda cute. Blatant self-advertising but also able to poke fun at themselves as a company. Scott The Woz (which I had seen before in my YouTube scrolling, but never actually watched) was a hilarious host and they had other YouTube personalities as presenters. Familiar ones like AVGN, Asmongold & Emiru, but also others I didn’t know much about. One presenter dropped a fun fact I didn’t know, which was that Sakurai married the woman who designed the menus in his games…neat. The categories were silly, yet…some were better than the VGA categories.

Then, there’s the upcoming award show that really matters…

Switch 2 First-look Impressions

 To continue with my "moment in time" thoughts on Switch 2 I'm making a Blogger post instead of putting on my Nintendo AGENDA page just to delete it later.

2 minutes...if you're ready to make a negative snap judgement on all things Switch 2 from this, then you're silly.  Reasonable people wanted a more powerful Switch that was backwards compatible, they got it!  Unreasonable people wanted something completely different (without knowing all the features, yet) and crazy power (without seeing what it could do, yet) so they call it boring...there's no satisfying these types!

I know we all wanted more information, but Nintendo saw fit with all the leaks happening that this is what they'd show now.  All the leaks ending being true from this trailer and this first look goes straight to the point to confirm important info.  The continued Switch hybrid form factor, the name, the larger screen & joy-cons, that the joy-cons are magnetically connected and have mouse functionality, that it's backwards compatible...trailer actually showed off a lot if you didn't already know that stuff from leaks & rumors and it conveyed it without a complicated explanation.  I was curious on how the joy-cons would work with a strap and a grip and they showed that off.  Aesthetically it looks the same as the current Switch yet less toy-like in it's colors & contours.  At the end of the trailer they tell us we'll get a lot more info in April followed by Switch 2 Experience live events which is telling us it should launch soon after!

The leaks showed that the extra button was a "C" button but this trailer removed the C marking from the button maybe to tell us about it later?  The "mic" marking for the microphone hole was also missing so maybe that's all related since rumors say the C stood for a communication function?  Communication, community, connect, chat or as one rumor put it: "Campus" (like those old Nintendo Campus Challenge tour events from the '90's?) so it probably has to do with that but Nintendo would make a bigger deal of it later when they reveal more about Switch 2 online features.

From this short trailer we also got how Nintendo was showing off Switch 2 as both a part of the Switch family but also the next-gen machine.  Same red logo branding, same form factor but with a big "2" to make it clear this is an iterative system...but also the NEXT system.  This could be a smart approach if marketed as a continuation as opposed to starting all over.

What we really wanted...and what really matters...is games!  We only got one, the next Mario Kart.  Again, people were quick to say it looked like the Mario Kart we have on current Switch ignoring that it's so much more if you pay attention.  Jumping from 12 racers to 24 is one thing, but this next video really shows how much more this next Mario Kart is:

So that brings us to power, after all: more power = more games, right?  Raw specs really shouldn't matter and don't really tell us much since people gauge "power" in different ways.  Jumping from 4GB of RAM to 12GB of (faster) RAM is one thing, but what's really telling about performance is all the (more current) games already rumored to be coming to Switch 2:

Switch 2 at VGA 2024?

 With rumors of Switch 2 to being "revealed" in January and launched in March, I thought I'd put my 2 cents in.  I would rather post this on my Nintendo AGENDA page (since I was right about them announcing Switch 1 backwards compatibility there first), but with this post being time-stamped it's more "predictiony".  While the above rumor may happen (there's been too many rumors for years now) there's another rumor saying Switch 2 will make some kind of appearance at the VGA's in December.  If the January reveal to March launch rumor is true then I could see something maybe happen at VGA 2024?

If the reveal/launch thing is true then Nintendo (like they did with Wii) would announce the name of the device before the blowout reveal.  No trailer, no controllers or hardware, not even any games...just the name/logo.  A good reason to do it is so that when new game trailers show up at the VGA's people will know that they're also coming to Nintendo's next system.  Reasons they wouldn't though are: the VGA's are more for industwy PC/PlayStation shite and there would have to be a lot of controlled planning way ahead of time with publishers to have that name/logo in the trailers.  Doable, since all they would have to do is tack on a couple of seconds of said name/logo but if it ever were to happen Nintendo would probably reveal the name/logo on their terms separate from (and before) the VGA's.

But do they really want the first games/trailers for the new hardware to be from 3RD parties without revealing a game of their own?  Probably not, but if they did maybe a Metroid Prime 4 (for Switch 2) trailer is possible.  Just dreaming here.  We'll see what happens...

Stephen's Trip To Japan

He brought us gift's...these were from the Tokyo PokéMon Center...thank you!

He also brought Sumo trading cards to sell in the store!

And samurai snacks.  The sweet ones were supposed to be like a butterscotch thing but I couldn't get into the like leaves (?) in the middle of it.  The other fish stick cracker snack was yummy, though.

Nintendo Chips Ahoy! & OREO

I'm getting into collecting these boxes to put up on my kitchen wall...kinda gettin' outta hand with that though.

Speedway Slurpee + No More Pac-Man

I stopped going to our UDF for morning snacks a while back 'cos they were rude with me.  Then I started going to Speedway and one of the highlights there is the Slurpee machines which are improved from when I used to get them as a kid with smoother even ice and lots of flavor.  Here's the flavors:

Mtn Dew - I don't do the dew

Blinky's Cherry - basic red flavor Pac-man themed

Inky's Blueberry Raz - basic blue flavor Pac-Man themed

Coca-Cola - pretty good, if you like Coke

Dragon Fruit - probably the best, a unique flavor

Lemonchella - lemon flavor, a play on the Lemoncello liquor name

Peach Perfect - I don't like peach

Vanilla Dream - pretty good, pretty creamy

So with the Pac-Man themed Slurpee there was also a bunch of other 7-Eleven/Speedway Pac-Man stuff...unfortunately the Pac-Man stuff is gone.  They had the Slurpee flavors, a Pinky strawberry cappuccino, Pac-Man lottery tickets, Pac-Man hats, buttons & t-shirts and I was gonna go all out and get it all for this post, but now...it's all gone.

Super Mario Bros. Movie

The critics must be paid off by Disney or somethin' 'cos every non-critic agrees: this is a great movie.  It's made for kids & families and it's fun, fast-paced and has soooo many easter eggs I'm gonna have to go again to try to catch more of them.  It referenced a lot of Nintendo history & first party games (except Zelda & Metroid...maybe a hint for the future?) and the potential is there for a cinematic universe to unfold for years to come if done right.  I could full review it, but I'd rather say just go watch it for yourself...it's good fun.

Different theaters had different goodies for the collect-athon whores us Nintendo nuts are.  I don't really like popcorn but I had to get the big bucket which was Luigi themed and the big drink was Mario themed.  There was also a movie themed kids carboard tray and small drink...but we went opening day and I dunno if they'll still have these when I go again?

Breaking records, eh?  I knew it was gonna have the best video game movie opening...but best animated movie opening ever...WOW!

Super Mario Funables & PokéMon Graham Snacks

Being a Nintendo collector and lover of snacks I always have to get these kind of things when I see them. They're your usual fruit snacks and animal crackers with character shapes.  he Funables have a Super Mario "activities" on the back of the box.  Like bein' a kid again.

Fudge Stripes Rocky Road Mario Kart

My mom used to love Fudge Stripes, so...memories...but I like new flavors of stuff and this is good.  But again, why make things that are already hard like cookies and add in harder pieces of chocolate or whatever...it is called rocky road.  Mario Kart themed star & lightening cookies and it says there's a contest but a lot of times these things are convoluted by online apps/sign-ups that I don't wanna bother with too much...but the cookies were good, shoulda tried them with milk to soften 'em up.

 

Nintendo Switch Future Plans

 As a Nintendo nut I have been loving their success with the Switch and wanting it to continue…but in that, it may have clouded my thinking on Nintendo's plans for the future more towards what I want.  This post is my personal wants for Nintendo's future vs what they might actually be planning.

I want a GameBoy to GameBoy Color like transition and for them to be counted within the same sales so the Switch (family) can keep going, outsell PS2 and become the best selling system ever!  It's for Nintendo's success (which leads to a higher userbase…which leads to more games) but it may also personally be for bragging rights as a Nintendo fan.  And for what: the "industwy" won't recognize said success, forum analysts will say it doesn't count 'cos it's just a portable/hybrid, the "hardcore" will still shit on Nintendo and certain games still won't come to a Nintendo platform 'cos of the above bias.  So, in the end, I shouldn't care what they say/do nor my own bragging rights…in a way, it's a bit like how I felt with Nintendo's success with Wii…but different.

Switch & Wii (with DS) successes are similar yet different.  The Wii was an absolute sales monster but its sales fell off a cliff after its new play control charm didn't last and thus its sales, support & games dried up especially in light of the "Wii HD" cloud over it.  By comparison, the Switch has had even more success & support and still an active userbase 'cos it's hybrid nature still sells even with it's own "Switch Pro" cloud over it.  So yes, similar yet different.  The Switch is in a better position to keep selling as-is than the Wii was so many years in.

The "Wii HD" came too little too late in the form of Wii U and was a disaster.  The Switch still could last a long while before a "Switch Pro" or "Switch 2" transition, though naysayers would say new hardware needs to come sooner if not already should've come.  I personally want it to keep going 'cos there's plenty of content coming and opportunities for different kinds of content due to it's large and active userbase...in other words, games that may seem niche or risky can do much better on the Switch platform as even if a game sells to 1% of it's users, that's still a million-seller!  I also believe that we should do away with the old ideas of generations 'cos the diminishing return jumps aren't worth starting over with a new platform for a set number of years.  Instead, I feel the Switch should continue as long as it's selling...yes, the video game market can be fickle but I think people would still buy games on older (even retro) consoles if they were still properly supported.  And with the economy the way it is, people would appreciate if their investment (console platforms are an investment) still continued to get content.

Nowhere am I saying that they shouldn't make a new Switch, no...I think they should have a new upgrade to Switch family every few years kinda like how cellphones are.  I think to maximize game sales most of them should be made to work with the basic Switch...do ports/remakes/remasters of older games all need the latest hardware, do retro game compilations need a new system to run, do smaller publishers/indies need the latest tech to be make games?  And for newer games that do need that they could work on the latest Switch or on the cloud for the basic Switch (and to that end, I think Nintendo should make a higher-tier NSO subscription to access those cloud games).  Plus there's plenty of innovation that could be had with the basic Switch with different kinds of Joy Cons or even VR (which would be the easiest, cheapest & most mainstream way for VR content).

Yes, there are people who want a new Switch that can play the newest Madden, COD, GTA, Resident Evil & Final Fantasy...but all I can think is these games should've already been on the Switch due to it having the most marketshare and I think the reasons that they're not is less about Switch not being powerful enough and more about an industwy bias against Nintendo.  Is a newer next-gen higher-spec Switch gonna fix all that...especially when it has to start it's userbase all over again losing it's best advantage?  It might help...or will publishers just whine that it's still not good enough to do easy PS5 ports or that the userbase is too small/new/kiddy or the same old anti-Nintendo BS they've given us Nintendo fans for years.

I guess, overall what I'm getting at is I don't want a repeat of the Wii to Wii U transition in-where Nintendo tried to reach for the "industwy" and the "hardcore" that don't want them and that a "Switch Pro" would fall short of what it could be 'cos Nintendo makes bad moves.  You've heard what I want (continue the Switch family with iterative upgrades every few years) but maybe Nintendo wants different?  A bad move could be to try something *too* different aka "innovative" or go all digital or brick wall the current Switch to try to force everyone to the new one.

Switch is in a better position than the Wii was as it was transitioning to it's next generation and I would hope Nintendo wouldn't go too crazy with the next Switch let alone abandon the current Switch to do so.  I don't think they will.  We'll know more early next year (before Tears of the Kingdom comes out) when I'll suspect they announce the next Switch...if they don't announce it before then...then I really don't know what they'll do?  I think a new Switch will come alongside Tears of the Kingdom but it shouldn't be touted as a "next-gen" replacement to the current Switch, just a better Switch that upgrades older games and will over time have newer games exclusive to it but that the basic Switch will still be supported for a long while.  Again, a GameBoy to GameBoy Color like transition would be best.

Nintendo Direct 9.13.2022

 

After not having one in June for "Not e3" we've been a lil' starved for a Direct.  We did get a good Partner Direct and some smaller ones for bigger games but we wanted a big general Direct.  I didn't do some pre-Direct speculation 'cos I was so off in previous posts on Nintendo's plans.  I still do think they'll do some of the things I predicted but I held back on saying anything before this Direct 'cos I had a feeling they're waiting to reveal more plans later.

To give a bit of "the state of da industwy" my thoughts still continue to be that buyouts/mergers are not a sign of strength or consolidation, it's a sign of the poor economic state of the world.  Rumors abound that Square Enix may be looking to sell parts of itself off and bigger companies looking to pounce on smaller companies to beef up content for their future "all digital future" ("the Netflix of gaming" or "you will own nothing and like it") I don't see gaming getting better, I see it getting worse.  But that is the state of the world: getting worse.  It's a bit ridiculous with all that weakness the "industwy" ignores the strength they could have with the Switch.  Indies & smaller publishers see it but most big publishers only seek to do quick/easy/lazy cash-in's on Switch whilst doubling-down on going with "moar power" (with diminishing returns) when they should be saving up for the rainy days that are coming.  Kinda reminds me of the state of things (in the "industwy" and in the world) around 2008 when the economy was so bad off.

Applying the above to this Direct and Switch in general I can see that Nintendo is milking the success of the Switch even longer which I see as a good thing.  Usually when you milk things too much for too long it can be bad, but with the state of the world's economy and gaming, I think it's best to make due with what you have until things get better.  It may be too much of a risk to transition to a new platform for Nintendo as a company, but also for their partners to start all over with a smaller userbase when the Switch active userbase is so big/strong and also to the average consumer who are less likely to invest in a new platform when money is so tight.  So we have a Direct that really is stretching out the life of the Switch 'cos there's still so much content and we know there's a lot more they're holding back.

Also influencing the (very Japanesey & farming simulator) content of this Direct is that they broadcast it right before TGS.  Personally, I like more Japanese published content but I can see how some might not.  I do feel there was a bit too much farming stuff and too much 3RD party stuff for this Direct, but again: TGS.  I feel like we all know that Nintendo has more 1ST party stuff but may be talking about that stuff separately (their own mini-Direct per game) later on so this 3RD party stuff can have more of the spotlight.  It's probably difficult for them to balance stuff out...they could be holding back to stretch the lifespan of the Switch or to save back for the next system or (as some speculators believe) they are holding back just to spite leakers who were talking about all the stuff that hasn't been revealed yet.

Before we talk about what wasn't revealed, let's talk about what was:

Too much Square...I said it, cool that it's coming for those who like it but they (and Nintendo) over-value themselves...what most people actually want from Square is those mobile pixel Final Fantasy games, but that makes too much sense so here's everything else BUT that.

Fire Emblem Engage obviously taking a bit of the Fire Emblem Heroes formula (using characters from past games) which I welcome 'cos Heroes is fun...this one is also interesting 'cos there were rumors of this game for a while that got a lot of things right which means some of the other rumors that went along with it could be true too.  Here's the problem: NOA's lack of organization when it comes to special edition pre-orders...I WILL get the Divine Edition, but I dunno how yet.

Fatal Frame Mask of the Lunar Eclipse...great, but will it be physical?  Will we get the other games in the series?

Fist of the North Star...Fitness Boxing...the way it was revealed got my hopes up for...nothing.  Fitness Boxing is big now and this is a cool cross-over but bring us a real Fist of the North Star game too, please.

N64 NSO games...awesome, shows there's still life for this (and thusly NSO & Switch) and it's especially great to finally get the Goldeneye (with online play) info out there.  IMO Goldeneye in it's OG state is better than a remake or remaster 'cos you really can't capture the original's magic with RARE being a shell of it's former self.

Pikmin stuff...yeah, I should really start Pikmin Bloom since I love PokéMon GO so much, but when do I have time...at least it doesn't seem as involving as PokéMon GO.  Pikmin 4...cool, but again, when will I have time?  I think they should make the whole series physically available on Switch.

Bayonetta 3...I don't like how Bayonetta 1 & 2 were released on Switch and there's confusing info on whether 1 will be released physically on it's own or not.  I'd like the whole series on Switch physically, please...without digital...without confusion.  3 looks cool though.

Cloud Resident Evil games...the general consensus is that cloud gaming sucks, especially on Switch...so what's the point?  I get that, but cloud gaming works better in Japan (better closer-knit networks) and this Direct was focused a lot on Japan/TGS stuff so there it is.  I wouldn't mind it if it was offered on NSO as a service...but no way in hell am I paying to not own it and stream...nope.  Hopefully that sends a clear message we don't want that, but I also see why they're dabbling with the technology 'cos that's where a lot of things are headed and they gotta at least try not to be behind in it.

Radiant Silvergun...awesome they gave this fanfair in a Direct...again, will it be physical?

Another Kirby...oh well, at least it's remake of a good one...just, why can't they give other franchises Kirby treatment?

The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom...awesome, I don't think it can ever live up to Breath of the Wild and I fear Aonuma's silly Skyward Sword influence, but it's Zelda so I'm getting it.  Coming in May, huh...that's a ways away, a bit past March which most of us thought...another Switch coming to the family to align with it's launch...

So...what WASN'T in this Direct that some thought would be?  There were a bunch of remakes and the rumors were more remakes from the GAMECUBE era but we didn't get Metroid Prime, F-ZERO GX, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Star Fox or anything...so, kind of a letdown.  The chance that one or two of these having surprise announcement or launches before the end of this year is slim, but still there.  A missed opportunity, but maybe they want to give separate spotlights to them...or maybe all the rumors were false?  If they (and more) are still coming then that's a BUNCH, but why wait?  What about the exclusive Resident Evil, the new DK or Mario (Mario may be waiting to release when the movie does)?  We won't know 'til they come and so more rumors & speculation will come.  What else was missing: GameBoy, GameBoy Color, GBA and other systems coming to NSO...we know they're coming but still not announced, maybe once N64 releases dry up?  No new hardware and I think the best opportunity for it to come would be along with Tears of the Kingdom so it'd be too soon to announce it...or maybe it's not coming...maybe it's not what we think it is...which is a bit worrisome given what happened with Wii to Wii U where everyone wanted a "Wii HD", but we got Wii U instead.  Many want a "Switch Pro" or "Switch 4K" and it seems a logical step but Nintendo is unpredictable.

My own personal speculation (and now hope) is that Nintendo continues the Switch family with iterative upgrades every few years like how cellphone makers do it...and that transitions will be like GameBoy to GameBoy Color-like.  Nintendo still considers them the same "generation" with dual-mode carts that work in both (current & new) and Switch (next) exclusive games coming to Switch (current) on the cloud service.

Nintendo/PokéMon Plushies

 

We've been getting in tons of Nintendo/PokéMon plushies from our store & our customers.  Come check 'em out!

Nintendo (NOT e3) Direct Rumblings...New Model Incoming?

This time of year a mainline Nintendo Direct usually comes talking about upcoming games/plans for the rest of the year and going into the next calendar year.  I have already done a YouTube video...

...discussing a lot of this earlier this month...but a mainline Nintendo Direct still hasn't happened.  Rumors have it that it'll be on or around the 29TH which also line-up with the upcoming Nintendo investor's meeting which then sparks more rumors that whatever they reveal during said Direct will have investor's asking questions at that meeting that Nintendo will try to answer.

But we don't know if it'll even come, let alone if it'll be a mainline Direct or a Partner Direct?

Going by last year, many did not "hype responsibly" and assumed the new Switch would be revealed during e3 time and it'd be a Switch Pro or a next-gen Switch 2.  I was in on it with my own speculation on those rumors, but then nothing...until early July when they did a quick simple (non-Direct) announcement of the Switch OLED which was not a mid-gen or next-gen console.  So, we're all more cautious this year.  We knew something was coming around that time last year and some of us think another announcement of another possible Switch model could come here soon?

There are valid arguments from all sides that they will or won't do this backed by various rumors from all sides.  I'm less speaking to whether any rumors are true or not, just that if Nintendo does speak on the next Switch: what's the plan?  A lot of this is discussed in the video I made above, but to elaborate, if it is what I think it is (a GameBoy to GameBoy Color like transition) then it may be revealed soon, but I dunno if it'll be during this rumored incoming Direct?  If it is within this coming Direct or just a quick simple (Switch OLED like) announcement then it should be before the investor's meeting so they can answer the onslaught of questions it would bring and that could go along with the plans since they are the market leader and all eyes will be on them after such an announcement.

Sony's eyes are certainly on them which is sorta where the credible rumor of a June 29TH Direct comes from: Alanah Pearce, who works with Sony.  Also Sony already did their NOT e3 stuff earlier this month, but are rumored to have another event around the time this Nintendo Direct would come.  Is it a reactive response, pre-emptive strike, damage control, etc.?

If it is a GameBoy to GameBoy Color like transition as I'm suggesting and it is to be announced soon, I think the plan will be to market it not as a mid-gen or next-gen Switch successor replacement, but rather just a newer model.

"Won't that hurt sales of the current Switch?"

Possibly, but I think to invigorate sales of the older Switch models (original & OLED) they will do pricedrops.  Push sales of the original Switch with a pricedrop phasing it out, replace it with the OLED model and give it a pricedrop all before this newer model would launch (near BOTW2 release next year).  The key here is to have TONS of games coming throughout this period, which I imagine an incoming Direct will touch on and Nintendo has games ready.

"Won't current Switch owners feel screwed, especially those who just bought a new one?"

Again, possibly, but if it is marketed as just a new model (as OLED was) and not a replacement and the games keep pumping out as they phase out the older models with a price drop, I think this could be a best transition plan.  Eventually some new games would be exclusive to the newer Switch, but rolling that out would be controlled with: A) offering those games on the cloud service for older models and B) pushing games that work on both old & new Switch models (a la GameBoy "dual mode" carts that worked on both GameBoy & GameBoy Color).  Games exclusive to this newer model Switch would be limited at first, then as the older models are phased out and newer models reach more users then they'll have more exclusive games for it, all while still having tons of games that also work on the old Switch...for years.

"Why would people buy the new one if there's not a lot of games exclusive to it?"

At first, it would be slow to roll out these exclusive games to help with the transition, but to also help with the transition they'll enhance older games played on the newer model with performance boosts and downloadable upgrade patches to enhance older games.  The newer model would also have exclusive features like StreetPass to reward early adopters of the new model.  Phasing out the older models would help in transitioning people "upstream" and when enough people are there more games would come exclusive to it.

I have like a graph in my head on how this would play out and it again is like transition from GameBoy to GameBoy Color with Super GameBoy & dual mode cart ideas along the way to extend the life and value of the Switch platform family.  This new Switch would still be continuing the same "generation" but with new models every few years similar to how mobile phones are today.

So in relation to what might happen soon, if their plans line up with what I'm speculating we could hear something soon.  Would it be alongside announcement of old model price drops and a slew of new game announcements...yes...I think all of that could soften the shock/blow of a new model announcement.  Marketing  again that it's not a "mid-gen" nor "next-gen" Switch, just as a new enhanced model that will eventually have new games on it.  Games I foresee on such a machine: more current games from Capcom, Square Enix, RockStar, etc., games that are on or already coming to the Switch cloud service for the older models, but also be on physical cart for the newer model.

I have tons of other ideas or features they could have for a newer model Switch like: AR, VR, newer JoyCons, etc., but many of those could also work on the current Switch so again...within the same "generation".

GAMEBOY INTERFACE HACK

A video I uploaded to show how simple this works.  I show what you need, it's menu, controls and that you can even copy it to another memory card.

I have put together a few of these hacks to sell at GAMESWAP.  All you need is a copy of The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker to boot the hack.  I've done so 'cos you can always find the GameBoy Player hardware, but never the start-up disc software needed to use it.  It's not the official GameBoy Player software on the disc, of course...but some enthusiasts argue this simplified software scales better, has a cleaner image and is easier to use than the real thing.  Since it's not official or collectible, we have priced it accordingly.

 

GAMESWAP PokéMon GO PokéStop

 

I am so excited that we FINALLY have a PokéStop!  I have been trying for years to use the in-game tools to make one but it took forever just to get rejected.  This time though, it went through!!!  I think the trick was to make a stop for the GAMESWAP ARCADE within our store.  I love PokéMon GO, but one of my most hated aspects of it is how convoluted it was for me to make a stop...but now I am super happy with this!

Additionally, the stop I made for MAVERICKS a few years back (that instantly went through, yet ours took years?) is now a gym.  This is not only good for players to have a place to lure up (our) stop and raid at their gym, but also attracting more PokéMon GO traffic to our lil' plaza in general!

DrGAKMAN New Years

 

My New Year's was spent with Sarah again and I didn't watch TV TV, I used my time machine to celebrate with Ernest/Jim Varney...

Was gonna post earlier in my Blogger about "The Game Awards" but I don't wanna talk too much about it 'cos it sucked.  I'm not even gonna post the YouTube or link 'cos it's a waste of time.  I watch things like this to keep my finger on the pulse of da gamez industwy and it's sad/funny how out of touch they are.  I know they think they're doing good as an industry and with this awards show, but they're not.  Yes, I am a Nintendo-only gamer and I can appreciate other non-Nintendo stuff...but here's reality: Nintendo has nearly most marketshare and mindshare yet da gamez industwy is denial about it and Nintendo hardly there or mentioned.  These awards mean little to nothing when they're pre-decided who's gonna fit a certain agenda to "win" and the agenda's are progressively political or based on PlayStation era popularity contests.  Structurally, the categories are broken (there's an action and action/adventure category yet sports & racing are put together?) and the nominees are broken (PokéMon GO is never in for best ongoing game and Nintendo has 4 out of 5 games in the family game category yet loses?) and overall it seems to be the idea that everyone's a winner 'cos every game gets some award to appease fans of any one game that year.  So much focus on non-gaming music, celebrities & movies.  I knew the PlayStation era was bringing all this (which is the main reason I am against Sony in games) 'cos it's less about gameplay and more about interactive movies...which is what half that crap is to me.

This brings to mind my old idea that if they're gonna ignore Nintendo, Nintendo should ignore them and just make their own awards show like Nintendo Power magazine used to have it's own awards.

Still for me, the best awards show is Todd & Aaron from Mega64:

As for the New Year, pffft...same shit, different year.  I have plans to do more for my Blogger & YouTube including more posts & content but it's hard to be motivated when I see where the world is going.  I work on this to keep my mind busy & distracted from those problems but I need to add more to my MYSTERY ministries where I can try to address what's going on in the world.

For myself, personally, I feel a bit of a change in me.  I'm a negative persons sometimes, but I wanna be more positive...I've made many changes to myself and how I think & live in this past year and I think they are positive changes to make me better and to eliminate stress.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Final Presentation

 

 Sora in Smash

I'm not really into Kingdom Hearts or Sora, so...meh.  But people are gonna clamor for it.  Is it a proper last character...I dunno...but I don't think the Smash roster will ever be like this in a future release...if anything, Smash Ultimate should just continue on the Switch family as-is indefinitely.  I would be content with Ultimate being a continuing service instead of making a new one...just occasionally add new Smash packs with more characters.  I'm too idealistic about that, ha ha.

Kingdom Hearts on Switch

Yes, it's cloud...yes, that seems lazy.  But I think there's more to the lazy efforts.  Besides factoring effort, time and limited Switch card capacity Square Enix (of America, especially) has this hard-on for aligning itself mainly with Sony/PlayStation to the point they won't sully that (FF7 & KH, especially) by bringing real physical retail versions of some games to Switch.  I had to order FF7 on Switch from Asia for a friend to get a physical copy of it.  Why wasn't that available at retail in the USA?  Either way, it's still coming...which woulda been really dumb to add Sora to Smash without proper Kingdom Hearts games on Switch!

Cloud Gaming on Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo will be announcing more details about the NSO Expansion Pack before it launches later this month with N64 & Genesis added to their service.  This service will cost more and I like to think that they will also add some kind of cloud benefit.  I think instead of paying for cloud games individually they should be offered on NSO in some capacity.  I think more higher-end games should be added to Nintendo's cloud gaming service that can't be done natively on Switch.  Newer Resident Evil, Yakuza, Final Fantasy, Assassin's Creed, GTA, etc games.  Together with the new Switch OLED dock with an ethernet port (and potentially 4K output) Nintendo could make advances with their cloud games to PS5/XSX levels.

Nintendo Direct 9.23.2021

 

I liked that in this Direct they were able to show off more since they didn't waste big chunks of time on certain topics...and how they did that was they quickly pointed out that they'd cover these things more in depth soon (all in October, it seems!), but in separate events:

Monster Hunter

Smash
Animal Crossing

Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) Expansion

With these above topics coming soon I'll speculate:

Monster Hunter is cool, but I don't have the time for it so I'm not into it as much.  Sora is rumored to be the last character for Smash...if true, it should mean that meaningful Kingdom Hearts stuff should come to Switch, but we'll see...I'm not into Kingdom Hearts so I'd prefer it'd be someone else.  Animal Crossing additions are welcome beyond Blathers and his café.  NSO Expansion was expected, ie: a higher priced higher tier version of the service with more stuff...I'd like cloud versions of Switch games (Control, Hitman, Resident Evil, etc.) being added to a higher tier of NSO, I'd pay for it!  Don't like the borders on classic games, but it's cool they're adding N64 & Genesis (plus potentially other platforms to the service over time) with online play, rarer titles and imports.  Nice lil' surprises like F-ZERO X & Banjo-Tooie (which kills the idea of a N64 Classic mini console ever coming) which is cool Rare games could come.  There's an opportunity with these classic games on NSO by bringing games that were only available on niche Nintendo devices/services like: Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Power Re-Writable Carts, BS-X Satelliview, Ultra 64 arcade, N64DD, Aleck 64 arcade, Sega.net, etc.

There's a lot of ports/exclusives/collections/remasters coming to Switch which is good for those who like that stuff, but many don't peak my interest since my gaming money/time is limited.

Kirby

In full 3D looks amazing and doesn't have the recent gimmicks to sell it.  It looks a lot Mario Galaxy/Odyssey style.

Metroid Dread

My favorite franchise, soon...

Castlevania Advance Collection

Great collection, I have the other Konami collections, but they were downloads only...pffft...this also brings into question will GBA games be available on NSO expansion some day?  Probably, but with certain games being in collections or getting separate special versions they won't come to the service (though Mario 64 was in a collection, yet they showed it on NSO?). 

Pac-Man Arcade

These exact arcade ports (sometimes offering TATE modes) Hamster does are great, so I'll probably get this.

Miyamoto/Mario Movie

What a nice surprise and I think them working with Illumination Studios and having a fantastic cast (sans Seth Rogen...sorry, don't really like him) was great news...can't wait!  DK & Cranky Kong being in it opens the Mario universe back to it's roots so it'll be interesting how they'll do it.

Splatoon

I'm not so into it, but it's interesting and I like the way they talk about in lab coats and goofy lingo that makes it it's own thing.  It's a newer growing franchise for Nintendo so it's interesting there's another big main title coming (early?) next year with a bunch of other big Switch content.

Bayontta 3

Interesting trailer, had a No More Heroes like vibe which is fun and the game looked great and far along...should be a big game next year.  Loved the giant Japanese monsters and the running along the sides of skyscrapers...cool.

Great Direct IMO, new stuff, great potential and left me looking forward to the other presentations coming this month for Smash, Animal Crossing & NSO Expansion.  Still a lot of life in the current Switch, but here's a YouTube video I recently made speculating on the new OLED model (which they didn't talk about in this Direct...or really much at all anywhere else, either?) and on the recent 4K rumors popping up again...