BubbleRaven

Maybe? If they can do something interesting beyond better graphics and performance, I might be intrigued. Simply pushing graphics has plateaued, so if they need to take more time to produce a more unique console then I'm ok with that.

As an agent of chaos, Kamek sounds really fun and I can't wait to see what crazy effects they might bring.

The hammers look oh-so-satisfying to klonk people with, and I think the Feather could add some really interesting emergent gameplay opportunities to the new traversal mechanics.

I vaguely recall, correct me if I'm wrong, that generational price increases *were* a thing up until around the Wii-ish era. I remember expecting that games on each new console would be about £5-10 more expensive. This seemed to stop at some point, and I think for a while as gamers we've had the opportunity to buy games that are vastly more expensive to create for roughly the same price.

Of course, that exponential development cost doesn't always lead to higher quality, but it is something that collectively the majority have clamoured for over the decades, begging for hyper realism in graphics and animations, and generally buying into the 'bigger is better' idea. We asked for bigger, more realistic games and we got them at, by and large, the same price.

So yeah, I think that Layden is making some fair points that we all kind of know, deep down. However, the other side of the argument is that if Nintendo (for example) is creating a product that *is* worth £80, then they're transitioning into a high-end luxury product for many. The global economy is tanked, belts are tightened and a large portion of folks who enjoy this hobby feel they are getting priced out of the new experiences. I think that's partly why there has been such a vocal backlash.

So from a raw inflation and cost to develop the product, yes it makes sense to increase the price and perhaps it would have stung a little less if there had been generational price hikes instead of a big jump. But from a real life economic standpoint, taking into account the average Joe's current finances, this is a real kick in the teeth.

My finger-in-the-wind guess would be a new Mario game, but perhaps not with Donkey Kong Bananza 🤔. I would hope for something unique and interesting using the new features of the NS2, maybe a re-imagining of one of their IPs using mouse controls. Like a Starfox game using twin mouse controls for firing, or F-Zero using the mouse-gyro hybrid to steer the engines.

Feeling curious I looked up if this was true, but I could find nothing corroborating your point that 'however' cannot be used at the start of a sentence. I think it's safe to use 😊.

Prototype was a bit of a gem in the open world format, doing a great job of instilling a sense of being a super powered being, albeit in a grungy antihero form. I'd love to see that style of gameplay (akin to Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction or Saints Row 4) come back, but I'm not sure anyone would find a particularly hungry market for it in current days.

Unfortunately, the open world format is still oversaturated while also being refined by games like Insomniac's Spiderman games, the latest Zelda games and Red Dead Redemption. Coupled with the lack of brand foundation of Prototype, this would make it unlikely to get green lit in my opinion. That being said, I'd love to be surprised!

If it turns out that the NS2 cartridges have the whole package included without download codes, I will likely end up shelling out for the full physical upgrade for the Zelda games (though in the distant future). As for the games I don't own (those announced and unannounced) it'll be a no-brainer to hold off until I get myself a Switch 2! 😊

Since I'll be waiting for at least a year or two until getting an NS2, I should probably start squirreling away some extra money for the Zelda games 😂.

Acquisition's Inc was my introduction to the world of D&D. I had heard about it all my life but never really delved into it, until my curiosity was grabbed by one of their live shows on YouTube. I started it up and there spotlighted in costumed robes was a grinning Chris Perkins, introducing the cast as they came on stage to sit around a large table in front of a roaring swarm of nerds.

I was totally lost as to the rules of the game, but the sheer force of Perkins' storytelling and the charismatic energy all around the table roped me into bingeing their videos, their podcasts and their whole journey. Since then I have been watching through all of Critical Role, playing in and running my own campaigns, collecting D&D books and dice, and generally becoming another voice in that delightfully dorky swarm of story-loving nerds.

I have a lot of gratitude to Chris for unknowingly bringing me into the world of D&D.

I'm not disappointed, it's perfectly expected with all the new tech running in such a little console.

However, looking back at my time with the Switch 1, I only really use it in handheld when I'm going on long journeys which is rare. The battery has died on most of those journeys, so I think the battery life being roughly the same as mine adds another item to the pro column for waiting until a mid-gen revision gets released.

I think allocating 100% of development resources to the single player campaign is a fantastic choice. I'm not a multiplayer gamer so I'm biased, but I do think from a design point of view, DOOM is best served with tightly crafted PvE encounters as opposed to chaotic death matches.

I think multiplayer could exist well in DOOM if it was a co-op PVE experience. However I think that one of the draws of DOOM is power over isolation. It's empowering to take on the role of the Slayer and chew through hordes of demons. It's you against Hell, and that's just how you like it. Still, there could be an interesting design space in a co-op mode!

I honestly didn't even realise DOOM 2016 had a multiplayer mode 😂

I think the console price is about right, perhaps 5-10% too high but if it has a good OS and UI I think that will nudge it into just-right for me. Obviously the game prices are way too high and will push this beloved hobby out of the hands of many Nintendo fans.

I'm not sure why folks are sending backlash about low frames. 4K at 60FPS seems applaudable on a system that can also go handheld. I feel like the negative reaction is from the peak of the mountain of dedicated home consoles that have larger form factors and no portability.

Button remapping is a huge boon! It will be interesting to see if it adds nuance to tricks used in speedrunning on NS2. I'm also very keen on the use of filters to make older games look better. If it's a well implemented filter, it might reduce that irksome 'wow this game looks way worse than I remembered' phenomenon.

Personally speaking, I've never been particularly bothered about disk space. So long as I can fit a few games on my system, I'm set. If I want to download a new game and need to make space, it's usually when I've completed a game. Additionally, downloading a game can be done while playing games so if I really want to play something while waiting, I can.

I actually quite like a small amount of limitations. If I load my system up with 15, 20 games, I get overwhelmed with the choice and often end up playing nothing. I find having a limited number of games pushes me to complete games more often.

I think disk space to file size ratio is important, so if a system could only hold 1 or 2 games then that might be an issue, but for me 256GB is more than enough with these file sizes.

GameShare feels like a great gamer-centric move. Modern gaming can often be a lonely experience, usually at best done from the bubble of home over the internet. I think GameChat will be a great way of socializing playing games over the internet, and I'm particularly excited by the idea of being able to play different games alongside friends.

GameShare however has got me excited to spend time with friends playing Switch games in person! Most people I know have a Switch, often gathering dust or hidden in a draw somewhere, and it'll be fun to have folks over or meet somewhere to share games and play together!

I missed out on a lot of the social aspects of gaming over the years, and I'm keen to experience a way of playing that I thought had passed me by for good.

I am particularly excited for the mouse controls, I hope that it will encourage the porting of games that tend to sit better on PC (such as Civilization 7). I'm also hoping the likes of Drag x Drive and Mario Party will encourage unique uses of the mouse controls, including the capability of dual mouse and gyro!

I don't expect there to be a big Wii-like boom of unique control schemes, especially with the current landscape of developer reticence for experimentation, but I hope we see a couple of cool titles!