Redefining Playing Together

How Nintendo Boldly ‘switched’ its game with a new philosophy.

I have spent some time playing the Nintendo Switch, and I can say that this console has brought a whole new level of playing together for players. Playing games such as Overcooked 2, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and Animal Crossing encouraged me to find another player to compete and play with.

The switch itself is simple and minimalist, a very creative and innovative console. Not only can we bring them anywhere, but we can also connect them to a bigger screen for a more immersive feeling.

In addition, they attached two controllers at each side. Allowing us to offer the person next to us to play together. It’s like asking someone to play cards with us, only with consoles now. Isn’t it amazing?

It’s simple, easy to understand, and we can play it anytime anywhere!

It’s like Apple, Nintendo didn’t want players to read a manual to understand how to play. So instead of providing a long tutorial, it’s a learn-as-they-play. Thus, making it a friendly console. Easy and accessible like an iPhone.

This concept is relatively new since the PS Vita introduced it in 2011. However, Sony’s almost hybrid console didn’t make it big and was discontinued in 2019, because they lost with Nintendo’s 3DS and Wii U, despite Wii U was also discontinued in 2017.

But with Nintendo Switch, it is a brand new concept. This console redefined the meaning of playing together. A console with two remotes, and flexible to bring around to play anywhere anytime. Just what inspired these people?

The question they asked was: “What kind of new experience can we create?”

Learning from the earliest consoles, the developers wanted a console where it can bring people together to play. This is already proven when we all had Playstation or even the earliest console, SNES. People would show up at their friends’ house to play together.

However, it’s not portable. The consoles didn’t have a battery life nor the minimalism for players to bring around, making them no different than the previous consoles. If they create these kinds of consoles again, it might end up like the Wii U, which didn’t last long and hurts their revenue.

To make matters worst, mobile phone gamings were the hottest in the market, thus slamming Nintendo again. Nintendo is known to create hardware consoles, if they enter the mobile phone industry, that’s similar to destroying their main purpose.

Although they did consider to enter the mobile phone gamings, the late Satoru Iwata rejected the idea, and the creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, didn’t like to follow trends. This means they will have to replan their business model if they are going to go against the gaming market.

The question goes back to asking: “What kind of new experience can we create?”

Koizumi liked the idea of bringing a deck of cards to play with everyone. You can play it anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. This concept was then implemented for the development of Switch. Consoles like SNS have proven that it helped bring people face to face, they just need to make it portable like the deck of cards.

Thus, the Nintendo Switch was born.

Today, the console is a huge victory for Nintendo, selling more than 55 million worldwide. Since it’s first introduced, the sales growth only skyrocketed. This is a big pardon after their huge loss with the Wii U.

They made a brilliant tactic when they released the Switch, by releasing two different types of games: Legend of Zelda, a solo player game, and the 1–2 Switch, multiplayer game. With these first in the market, players slowly realized that this console is meant to play in a group, not just for one person.

This is what the developers want. They made the multiplayer feeling from online gaming and meeting with someone to play with completely different, and Nintendo went with the second choice.

Lastly, the Switch is meant to be played by everyone! Have you ever noticed that most of the Nintendo games are meant to be for kids, and yet the advertisements show adults playing them? Sometimes they add the children, but it’s mostly adults. Even Pokemon Go!

In addition to the games, they added classic games compatible to play in the Switch. Thus attracting previous generations to play again.

This is to show that Nintendo is for everyone! As long as they know which is

Nintendo Switch has been ranked the best console to have this 2020. It is meant to be played together no matter the age difference, thus bringing people of all ages to gather. Thus, they had revolutionized the meaning of playing together.