Common Loot

The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially announced to an odd reception. Lots of gaming enthusiasts saw this reveal and went, “well, it’s just a more powerful Switch” unbeknownst to them that this is exactly what they wanted. But, reason why this select sect of people voiced their opinion is due to Nintendo’s history of reinventing the wheel, bringing something unique to the console market that people haven’t seen before. Whether that be in a weird controller for the Nintendo 64 or the Virtual Boy, there has been a sense of innovation. While it can seem like the Switch 2 lacks any innovation, may I remind you that we don’t know what is in this machine. So, hold onto your horses, don’t get commenting just yet, and let’s talk about actual logistics before your emotions take over. 

Second Verse, Same as the First

A lot of people claim that Nintendo innovates constantly when that isn’t always the case. We have had a ton of followups that tend to remain within some sense of the current status quo. Gameboy had the Gameboy Color which was smaller and had a color screen. Then we got to the Gameboy Advance, then the Gameboy Advance SP which implemented a backlight and had a neat fold-up from factor. 

We went from the Nintendo 64 to the GameCube and besides the form factor and controller change, not a whole lot of actual innovation happened here. If having a small disc counts as “innovation” then your personal bar for what counts as innovation is quite low, and the Switch 2 should have been enough to jump over it. 

Nintendo doesn’t have a history of innovating all the time, they have a history of improving the gaming experience or introducing something new when the opportunity arises. After all, consoles haven’t really changed either, it’s just a more powerful design housed in an eccentric plastic box time after time. It is very much the pattern we have come to accept, but Nintendo always seemed to go against the grain and that is why we seem to be more upset at the simplicity of the Switch 2. I’m not though, all I wanted was a more powerful Switch system, and now I’m getting it.

When it Rains, it Pours

The announcement of the Switch 2 was rather short. I understand that people wanted more information, I personally would have loved a deep dive, but that is so unlike Nintendo. When Nintendo announced the first Switch, it was done in the same way. Offer a short fun trailer with a follow-up months later that revealed more details. Unfortunately, we have grown to a level of entitlement which lends itself to the sounds of “we need this now” echoing throughout social media.

An unfortunate truth we have to understand is by moving up these announcements and events to earlier times doesn’t make the worth less painful. Imagine getting all of the details immediately only to be subscribed to the months that follow after? People would only become more unruly and insufferable. Spreading out information is much better than one big event that dumps everything on us. 

And, there is a reason why I point this out. Over the last few months we have had small details drip out. Every day when a new leak came to the forefront of the industry, we stood there laughing saying the phrase, “they might as well show it off now.” Well, they did and now people are complaining that it is exactly what the evidence pointed to- a more powerful Switch.

It’s Not Me, it’s You

None of this is due to anything set forth by Nintendo. Your feelings and emotions do not fall under the responsibility of Nintendo to fulfill. Sure, in a sense they need to market a system that would make people run out and buy it, but in this case we haven’t seen the games besides a new MarioKart, which is enough for people to become early adopters. Once the die-hard fans get their hands on the device, the real fun begins. Because all Nintendo needs to do is announce just one game that makes you feel like the child you once were, and that is where this all stems from.

Chances are, most of us played our first game on a Nintendo device. I know my first game was Super Mario Bros with Duck Hunt. I remember being the youngest child around older adults in some house. The kids were playing and I didn’t get a chance until one of the other adults helped me. I remember looking at the wood paneled TV with enlarged black knobs. It might have been the early 90’s but that 80’s aesthetic was around for good. That was the time when we had electronics that actually lasted. But, I digress.

The point is how Nintendo always had a way of giving us that sense of childhood whimsey. Legend of Zelda, Mario, Metroid, were some of the games that made us fall in love with gaming first, only to eventually evolve to Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, and Master Chief later in life. As someone in their late 30’s, I understand that these games might have all been what made me what I am today, and while I am constantly trying to find that game that turns me back into the kid in my old bedroom, fighting over the controller with my brothers, nothing will do that. Nintendo tries really hard to deliver that feeling within every aspect of their being.

When I see folks upset at the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, I wonder what they wanted. I know it’s innovation but in what way? The truth is no one really knows what they want until it’s placed in their hands. What we want is the impossible, but at least Nintendo is trying to do something. Maybe Nintendo doesn’t deserve the hate mob, and maybe we should all look at ourselves and question if we lost the wonder that made us curious to explore new worlds. We aged and Nintendo stayed the same.