Topic: Nintendo Switch --OT--

Monster Hunter XX.

RIP Japan.

And no PS4 version yet like some predicted. Weird.

@BLP_Software PS4 version would be pointless in Japan.

Who knows what'll happen if it's localized.

@Ralizah
Can't see it ever going to PS4. Monster Hunter is maybe a little more than niche in the West but it's not exactly a massive IP either. It'd make little sense to spend the money localizing it for PS4 when it probably would do 300K tops.

@BLP_Software It's a port of a 3DS game. The prediction was that a new MH would be multiplat. If it's build from the ground up for an HD console, there's no point in keeping it Switch exclusive (unless Nintendo is paying for it).

@Octane Well, unless there's cross-platform play, MH5 being a multiplat would split up the online userbase pretty drastically.

Besides, it's possible Capcom won't even have an incentive to launch it on the PS4 right away, considering MH's more recent history with Nintendo.

@Ralizah It wouldn't hurt the sales if they also released it on PS4, if anything, it'll sell more.

I'm looking at it this way, if they can be bothered to release Frontier Z or whatever on PS4 in Japan, that means there's clearly an incentive to release the franchise on PS4 (and PC). I think the only reason why they kept the 3DS and console games separate is because the 3DS couldn't run those games. And the only reason the Switch is getting XX is because those systems share a similar architecture and they can probably make the game look "presentable" on Switch. However, if they're developing a new MH for consoles from the ground up, there's no reason not to release it on PS4 (and PC) as well. If they're localising the Switch version, then it's also easy to bring the PS4 version over. Growing the fanbase, that's what any sensible company would do.

@Octane Depends on whether they think a PS4 port is worth the investment or not.

Multiplat MH wouldn't surprise me, but then, Capcom can make some weird decisions regarding which platforms its games come to.

If Nintendo is smart, they'll pay for exclusivity, but for some reason I think they're still operating in the 90s mindset of "third parties are lucky to have their games released on our platform." A baffling attitude after the Wii U, but the Switch at least seems to be doing pretty well so far.

I think its far too early to assess whether Nintendo have changed their attitude towards 3rd Party games. Its had a number of games that are on other platforms - even if most of them are more of the indie/arcade type releases. Its not going to be an 'easy' port to bring more complex games over as Skyrim demonstrates. That remaster will have been out approx a year by the time it releases on Switch and no doubt if it was relatively easy, we may have seen it release much sooner. I bet most developers won't have 'big' teams working on porting games to Switch either.

Its possible that a lot of developers are working on Switch ports of AAA games but saving that announcement for E3. It also could end up being like the Wii U too where we see some 'enthusiasm' and releases from 3rd Parties at launch but drop off quickly. Maybe Independent studios, arcade/small, mobile (like phone, tablet) and any external developers that may have been making 3DS games end up being the only 3rd party games Nintendo get after a year or two - most are very well suited to handheld formats and not that resource heavy. Point is we really don't know at the moment and better to assess after a few years.

I bet most 3rd Party Developers were working on games for XB, PS and PC and hadn't even considered Nintendo. They aren't large numbers of people (maybe 1 or 2) from working on getting these finished to work on Switch games/ports so that may also impact on the frequency and number of 3rd Party games at this point in time. You may suddenly get a glut of them as the developers all started work on Switch games around the same time.

@Ralizah Like I said, they've also released Frontier Z for the PS4. And a port [of MH5] would cost less than a game like Frontier Z made for the PS4.

I know, Capcom is Capcom, but I expect MH5 to be multiplat if they would behave like any other sensible company.

To any that has a Switch how buying digital stuff works? Is is like the Vita that when I buy a new one I just login and download my games or is it like Wii U that if it breaks and I buy a new one I have to send it to Nintendo to trasfer rights from the broken one?

@belmont Somewhere in between: it's a proper account system, so the game downloads are tied to your account, but they can only be used on one Switch at a time. The catch is that you have to deactivate your old Switch and activate a new one to redownload your games on the new console.

So if your Switch breaks or gets stolen, you'd have to call Nintendo and have them deactivate the previous console so that you can activate the new one and redownload your games.

Not quite as user friendly as on the Vita, but vastly better than on previous Nintendo consoles.

At least, that's my understanding of it.

@Ralizah Thanks!

@Tsurii Still haven't convinced me why MH should stay Nintendo exclusive IF Nintendo isn't going to pay for it. By default you should assume that any third party is going to be multiplat, unless one of the three decided to pay for exclusivity or a system simply can't run the run/porting is difficult.

The only way a 3rd Party game will be 'exclusive' to a specific console without the manufacturer paying for it, is if that system has a specific function/feature that the developer needs for the game design. By that I mean if a 3rd Party developer was making a VR specific game, then it makes sense the only console it can (currently) sell its game on is the PS4.

If a developer was to make a Switch exclusive game without funding from Nintendo, you would think that maybe something around the touch screen, mobile (although both may limit the 'docked' experience - not sure if Nintendo would be 'happy' with that) or Amiibo's. Maybe the rumble aspect could be a factor too.

There isn't a precedent that just because a game was exclusive that it will remain exclusive without continued financial backing, a contract in place or ownership of the licence. Insomniac own Sunset Overdrive IP and whilst that was exclusive to Xbox, it doesn't mean SO2 would be on Xbox only. It could be on all platforms or maybe Sony/Nintendo opt to pay for exclusivity. This is no different from Titanfall either - although we have seen a couple of Maps from the original in TF2.

It may depend on the ambition of the developers and whether or not games will be able to run on a certain system. Of course if they are making it for the 'weakest' spec, then it should have no issue but if their ambition was to make the game in a certain way, to have certain criteria that requires a specific target hardware, that would limit on who they could approach for financial exclusivity too.

@Tsurii 'also cheaper to develop for because they don't have to bother with crap like the Pro's boost mode.'

That comment indicates you have a lack an understanding of the PS4 pro and its boost mode. Although I'm not disagreeing that it could potentially cost more to develop for in the long run.

The pro is a beast, I've just jumped from Mario Kart 8 and Lego on the switch to Ratchet and Clank on the pro at uhd and the graphics are outstanding. Mind blowing in fact, it has so much stuff going on it makes the switch look like some retro throwback console. Pity the gameplay is boring as hell mind.

@themcnoisy Have to stress, again...if you wanted that experience anywhere prepare to spend a lot more than you would on car insurance.

I don't see why a PS4 version would be terribly expensive. Even if PS4 gets MH5 as well, I'd bet money that it's just a port of the Switch version. Wouldn't even need to utilize boost mode at all.

Chances are, it takes no more effort making a game to utilise the Pro as it does to make a game for switch and its 'handheld' and 'docked' modes. Most games these days are made in 4k anyway and relatively 'simple' patches can be used to increase the output resolution on Pro supported games. Of course they could have extra leeway enabling them to adjust various other settings like Shadow quality, draw distances etc too but at its most basic, its just altering the resolution output - similar in essence to how PC gamers can set the output resolution.

Switch does something similar - with the handheld mode, it sets the output at 720p but when docked, it can be set up to 1080p. Minecraft though keeps both handheld and docked modes at 720p but it does increase the draw distance when docked meaning that objects pop-in much closer to the player when in handheld mode.

The principal though is no different. The Switch is like the Base PS4 in Handheld mode and docked is more like the Pro. Docked the GPU is more than 2x as powerful as it is in Handheld mode (Handheld reduces GPU down to 40%). 720p has 921,600pixels and 1080p has 2,073,600p which represents more than double the pixel count. This may not be the same jump that 1080p to 4k is but the Pro rarely renders more than double the pixel count. Horizon: ZD for example is rendering 2x1080p every frame - twice that of the base PS4 although it is using the checkerboard method to deliver a full 4k image. Point is though, the Pro is rendering double the pixels - the same as the Switch between Handheld (720p) and Docked (1080p)

Boost mode is something very different and has no effect on the developers or their time. Its using the higher clock speeds of the CPU and GPU to increase the performance in games that were intended to run with the base PS4 hardware. If a game runs perfectly on a base PS4 - i.e. locked frame rate and resolution - Boost mode has NO effect at all. It only helps those games that have unlocked frame rates and/or dynamic resolution but will NEVER go above the capped level. If a game is capped at 1080/30 but may drop frames and or resolution, then Boost mode will reduce the instances and impact of these drops but will never make the game run above 1080/30.

@BLP_Software my pro and 4k TV cost £735 combined. R and C was £15. So £750 for that experience.

Worth it?

Well my 1080p TV broke and my PS4 scrubs hdd was full and both pads were broken so it made sense to me. (I was in the process of looking for a new pad and hdd anyway)

It's fashionable to hit on pro, the things a cluster of mixed messaging and unstandardised curation. But in Ratchet and Clank and Infamous SS in uhd it looks incredible, the best games I've ever seen graphically.

@themcnoisy Well, my point is youre comparing a big mac shapes box and bery large TV to a 7 inch wide 1 inch thick device. To shrink the components of the Pro and get a 4k screen that was wirth using on it, would sacrifice what Switch is at this stage in every way.

I guess I dont understand why people criticise it for what it isnt, rather than praise it for what it is.