Nintendo Switch Catch-All 2.0

ccesarano wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Oh, I said "headphone" but I'm talking about having chat built into the system.

One of the things floated out there about a NEW Switch and what it possibly could have "for gamers" is that chat would be built into the system now.

Ahh, headset functionality proper.

Hrm... maybe. I mean, I don't like the idea of pointlessly upgrading to a new system but at the same time, I would gladly upgrade so I didn't have to rely on Discord.

It's a marketing bulletpoint for them, but also because using their app for chat is one of the few pervasive negative things said about Switch.

Course that's from enthuisiasts, so who the hell knows how much Nintendo cares about that whining/complaining.

garion333 wrote:

Course that's from enthuisiasts, so who the hell knows how much Nintendo cares about that whining/complaining.

Nintendo won't care about things like this until they feel like it's holding back their first-party games. The New 3DS was literally driven by the console not having enough power for Smash Bros.; more oomph for other things was a happy side-effect that not even Nintendo themselves took advantage of. As long as Nintendo's first-party studios are able to keep doing their thing and as long as units keep getting sold, they're not going to worry too much about enthusiasts complaining.

They're a second-tier choice for enthusiasts, anyway, and they're fine with that. Enthusiasts still don't seem to quite understand that Nintendo is completely happy to be the sidekick platform that people buy for a couple first-party games and then let gather dust while they play other things on their PC, Xbox, or Playstation. They've arguably structured their entire business around that idea and have no real need to change it.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:

The long and short of it is that Nvidia has shrunk the X1, which means it'll use less energy and produce less heat. That would be exactly the sort of change to allow Nintendo to produce a NEW Switch model that'll offer slight improvements to performance, heat and (maybe) battery life.

I don't understand how shrinking the chip makes it more powerful, but perhaps you can help me out there. Typically, shrinking a chip allows it to fit into smaller spaces (obviously) and do the same amount of work with less power draw.

If heat is the limiting factor (which it may be in an enclosed unit like the switch?), then a smaller chip produces less heat for less power, which opens up the possibility of overclocking it so you get more flops for the same power and heat budget as the bigger chip.

Jonman wrote:

If heat is the limiting factor (which it may be in an enclosed unit like the switch?), then a smaller chip produces less heat for less power, which opens up the possibility of overclocking it so you get more flops for the same power and heat budget as the bigger chip.

Which only benefits handheld mode, as docked mode is the "unlimited heat, unlimited power" mode for the console. We know what the ceiling is.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Jonman wrote:

If heat is the limiting factor (which it may be in an enclosed unit like the switch?), then a smaller chip produces less heat for less power, which opens up the possibility of overclocking it so you get more flops for the same power and heat budget as the bigger chip.

Which only benefits handheld mode, as docked mode is the "unlimited heat, unlimited power" mode for the console. We know what the ceiling is.

Eh? If anything, it's got less airflow in the dock.

Either way, I was just spitballing. Maybe I should have bolded the IF at the start of my statement.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:

The long and short of it is that Nvidia has shrunk the X1, which means it'll use less energy and produce less heat. That would be exactly the sort of change to allow Nintendo to produce a NEW Switch model that'll offer slight improvements to performance, heat and (maybe) battery life.

I don't understand how shrinking the chip makes it more powerful, but perhaps you can help me out there. Typically, shrinking a chip allows it to fit into smaller spaces (obviously) and do the same amount of work with less power draw.

Clock speeds.

Shrinking the core means reaching higher clocks at similar power profiles. It also typically means higher max clock speeds that the chip can reach in the first place.

The X1 in the Switch is significantly underclocked. Improving the X1's performance-per-watt would mean being able to run the Switch at higher clocks with the same power profile.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Jonman wrote:

If heat is the limiting factor (which it may be in an enclosed unit like the switch?), then a smaller chip produces less heat for less power, which opens up the possibility of overclocking it so you get more flops for the same power and heat budget as the bigger chip.

Which only benefits handheld mode, as docked mode is the "unlimited heat, unlimited power" mode for the console. We know what the ceiling is.

The Switch's X1 is underclocked in docked mode too. It's not running in "unlimited heat, unlimited power" mode.

Intuitively, you can understand why this is: any experience they create in docked mode has to still work in handheld mode. Handheld mode bumps the output down to 720p, which is how it works at all with the even-lower clocks that the Switch flips to in handheld mode. But Nintendo capped the clocks on docked mode to keep them from being significantly more than a "run what handheld runs but at 1080p" performance level.

Tell me more about the pro controller revisions...

Thanks for the info, Legion!

Stele wrote:

Tell me more about the pro controller revisions...

As I understand it, Nintendo has quietly fixed the d-pad issue on newer Pro models. They have a different model number, and reports are that they don't have the d-pad problem.

I need to crack open my Pro controllers and do the tape mod.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Thanks for the info, Legion!

Stele wrote:

Tell me more about the pro controller revisions...

As I understand it, the Nintendo has quietly fixed the d-pad issue on newer Pro models. They have a different model number, and reports are that they don't have the d-pad problem.

I don't suppose you happen to know about when the new hardware rolled out?

Hm. Maybe that's why some of the big $50 pro controller sales.

I replaced my PS4 controllers with the new models with the better light and battery. Might have to look into this more.

*Legion* wrote:

I need to crack open my Pro controllers and do the tape mod.

I think I need to do this as well. I was playing the other day(and my controller is nearly new) and when I was playing games it was nearly always pressing down. Need to get that resolved because it makes it impossible to play games like Tetris 99. Tons of phantom up or down presses

BreakingPoint0 wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

I need to crack open my Pro controllers and do the tape mod.

I think I need to do this as well. I was playing the other day(and my controller is nearly new) and when I was playing games it was nearly always pressing down. Need to get that resolved because it makes it impossible to play games like Tetris 99. Tons of phantom up or down presses

Me too. I tried playing Cadence of Hyrule for 5 seconds and noped out.

Huh, I just looked at the pro controller I got over the weekend, and apparently I have the newest revision. Neat.

Speaking of hardware revisions: Has there been a hardware revision of joy-cons that addresses the joystick drift issue?

Both of my two pairs of joy-cons experience pretty bad joystick drift. It can be temporarily corrected by doing the fix of spraying their internals with electrical contact cleaner, but the problem comes back after a few weeks.

I'd be open to purchasing a new pair of joy-cons to get a "permanent" fix for the issue -- but not if the new pair is just going to eventually manifest the same problem.

So there's a sale on Switch at the moment. Been on my radar for a while due to Pokemon and Mario Kart that I can play with the kids. Is it worth jumping in now or is there likely some new hardware changes coming that I should hold off for now?

WolverineJon wrote:

Speaking of hardware revisions: Has there been a hardware revision of joy-cons that addresses the joystick drift issue?

Both of my two pairs of joy-cons experience pretty bad joystick drift. It can be temporarily corrected by doing the fix of spraying their internals with electrical contact cleaner, but the problem comes back after a few weeks.

I'd be open to purchasing a new pair of joy-cons to get a "permanent" fix for the issue -- but not if the new pair is just going to eventually manifest the same problem.

You may have explored this option already, but I had some success with completely replacing a drifty joystick on my joy-cons a month or so back. I just went with the cheapest kit I could find on Amazon, which shipped with the required screwdrivers along with the replacement part.

If you're open to some minor fiddling (detaching and reattaching some finicky ribbon cables) it's significantly cheaper than getting a whole new joy-con.

Hi ya'll! I just picked up a Switch last week! Have to say I'm very impressed. I've downloaded Warframe, and after getting the settings/controls right, it's awesome. Nice to be able to have that experience on the go!

BlackSabre wrote:

So there's a sale on Switch at the moment. Been on my radar for a while due to Pokemon and Mario Kart that I can play with the kids. Is it worth jumping in now or is there likely some new hardware changes coming that I should hold off for now?

There have been rumors floating around that some revised hardware is coming. However we haven't seen anything and everyone expected it at E3. The rumor is a "pro" version with a bigger screen and a bit better internals and a "portable" one with locked in Joy-Cons. These are the two rumors I have been hearing about. When they will come, only time will tell.

All that said... I would personally still buy one now if I didn't already have one. A) you get all that time to play before a new version comes out. B) what is there now is great! It's not a "Triple A" system, but what it does it does great! I tell everyone who asks me about the Switch that I'm biased, I love mine and if you're even mildly interested then now is a great time to join in!

My vote is go for it! I don't think you'll be unhappy!

fogrob wrote:

Hi ya'll! I just picked up a Switch last week! Have to say I'm very impressed. I've downloaded Warframe, and after getting the settings/controls right, it's awesome. Nice to be able to have that experience on the go!

There's a Warframe thread. Post your in game name over there and I'll get you in our Switch clan.

New firmware is out and it's a doozy!

mprovements Included in Version 8.1.0 (Distributed 06/17/2019)
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

Yay!

BreakingPoint0 wrote:

There have been rumors floating around that some revised hardware is coming. However we haven't seen anything and everyone expected it at E3. The rumor is a "pro" version with a bigger screen and a bit better internals and a "portable" one with locked in Joy-Cons. These are the two rumors I have been hearing about. When they will come, only time will tell.

Keep in mind the actual beginning rumor is simply that there's some modified hardware coming. No other details aside from that. Everything else is a game of telephone where every writer and forum poster adds a combination of predictions and wish-lists to their very particular, individual use-case in order to cultivate the perfect Switch system.

Garion's thoughts regarding the smaller Tegra chip simply resulting in a slightly more powerful but otherwise similar piece of kit is, to me, the most likely result. No real changes to the portability, size, or Joy-Cons, just slightly more power that ultimately won't amount to much.

ccesarano wrote:
BreakingPoint0 wrote:

There have been rumors floating around that some revised hardware is coming. However we haven't seen anything and everyone expected it at E3. The rumor is a "pro" version with a bigger screen and a bit better internals and a "portable" one with locked in Joy-Cons. These are the two rumors I have been hearing about. When they will come, only time will tell.

Keep in mind the actual beginning rumor is simply that there's some modified hardware coming. No other details aside from that. Everything else is a game of telephone where every writer and forum poster adds a combination of predictions and wish-lists to their very particular, individual use-case in order to cultivate the perfect Switch system.

Garion's thoughts regarding the smaller Tegra chip simply resulting in a slightly more powerful but otherwise similar piece of kit is, to me, the most likely result. No real changes to the portability, size, or Joy-Cons, just slightly more power that ultimately won't amount to much.

That's fair! I should have mentioned as much in my original post. Why can't we all just be happy with what we have?! I know I am! It would have to be a pretty big bump for me to consider buying anything new.

If you've managed to wait this long...

WellAdjusted wrote:

You may have explored this option already, but I had some success with completely replacing a drifty joystick on my joy-cons a month or so back. I just went with the cheapest kit I could find on Amazon, which shipped with the required screwdrivers along with the replacement part.

I hadn't had this solution on my radar at all -- but I do now! Thanks, WellAdjusted!

There are always rumors of Nintendo hardware revisions. In recent history, the Wii, Wii U, and 3DS were all dogged for years by rumors of new hardware revisions that were just months away. And even when those rumors panned out years after they started, they've never lived up to the rumors. The Wii got better motion controls... kinda; the 3DS got more powerful and a right analog stick... kinda. (The Wii U never did get that version with a "normal" controller, though.) Even if the latest Switch rumors prove true, they're going to disappoint in actual practice.

If you're interested, get it. Have fun now.

I heard the new Switch will be VR only. Old systems are compatible if you hold it really, really close to your face

Historically, Nintendo's had 2-3 year alternating new hardware and refresh releases for their handhelds.

For the home consoles, it's been typically 5-6 years.

How that works with the switch? /shrug

Nintendo's most likely going to be spinning up a new console in the next 3-4 years, and for the first time since 1989, they only have one current console line. So there's going to probably be a ton of rumors that are mostly correct about Nintendo speccing out new hardware or suppliers for *something*, but we probably won't know what that something is until they announce it.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

the 3DS got more powerful and a right analog stick... kinda.

The New 3DS face tracking 3D was the best feature I've only used twice.

The Witcher 3 UI Coordinator "Switch port have impressive performance, changes in graphics are hard to notice with slightly less foliage & Draw distance. Biggest Changes is in the User Interface"

In an interview with VGC, Liu also confirmed “hardware trade-offs” involving draw distance and less foliage.

“We’re really happy with how Witcher 3 is playing on Switch,” he said. “It’s still at a quality that we’re proud of, but we also understand that there were hardware trade-offs that we had to do, in terms of performance versus graphics.

“Right now there’s a bit less foliage and some of draw the distances are lower… but it still looks amazing,” he added. “I was very impressed. Unless you pointed a lot of changes out to me I probably wouldn’t have noticed them.”

In terms of content, CDPR is “not really cutting anything” to accommodate Nintendo’s console, according to Liu.

“You’ll get the full Witcher 3 and all expansions,” he said. “We’re not really cutting anything. The biggest changes that we made involve the user interface and how you interact is a bit different on the Switch compared to other versions.

“I think if this is your first experience with The Witcher 3, then you’re going to be really thrilled and enjoy it. Our company is pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

Do I want this enough to pay $100?

https://www.play-asia.com/dragon-que...

IMAGE(https://s.pacn.ws/1500/x5/dragon-quest-slime-wireless-controller-for-nintendo-switch-596837.1.jpg?pt0y3w)

IMAGE(https://s.pacn.ws/1500/x5/dragon-quest-slime-wireless-controller-for-nintendo-switch-596837.3.jpg?pt0y3u)