Tendo City

Well, so go the rumors, but to see the report on Ars Technica now, it likely comes from a reliable source.

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/r...ch-models/

One is basically a smaller form factor more affordable option, which essentially clinches it as a solid 3DS replacement system.  Literally the only complaint left is "it has one screen", which barely qualifies.  Two screens has always just been a gimic anyway, easily replaced by the power of "just make a bigger screen".  (Case in point: the popularity of ultrawide monitors has kind of defeated the point of getting multi monitor setups for a lot of people.)

Anyway, point is having a cheaper smaller option truly makes it portable.

Next up is the more expensive option, a "Pro" switch.  This is rumored to be much like the New 3DS, or the DSi, or the Gameboy Color (or to a lesser extent the GBA SP, which internally is the same hardware, but the internal light and rechargable battery function as such a radical upgrade most of us snatched them up immediately).  It straddles that middle ground, not quite being a new console, but not quite NOT being that.  Nintendo in the past has stuck to it's usual plan of releasing updated portable remodels, and downgraded console remodels.  Since the Switch is both portable and console, it's going to get both.

There's no real info on it, but if I were to guess, I'd say that it'll probably get a 1080 screen to replace the current 720 (economies of scale have made LCD screens so cheap to mass produce now that I bet it won't even cost Nintendo anything to make that change.  I would also guess they're shrinking the die on that processor and might be upping it's close speed slightly, and as a result we could get a system that runs in "docked mode" at all times, with enough overhead to keep that docked mode running at a solid 60 FPS, at least more often than not anyway.  Since Switch games are already designed around running on flexible hardware speeds, this seems doable without much pain.

These are just guesses on the most likely stuff.  Oh yes, I have a huge list of things I'd fix with the Swith's hardware design, but that's for another time.

That's too bad, I love my 3DS and would much rather have a system which has the kinds of features it does (3D, accurate touchscreen controls, and such), which is not the Switch. A smaller Switch would make it a slightly better handheld, sure, but I think for a handheld I'd still like the DS/3DS line more... oh well.

As for a higher power Switch, that's a fine idea, though I doubt I'll buy another one unless it's REALLY worth it.

The Switch has accurate touch controls. In fact they're more accurate because it supports multi-touch, which the touch tech on the DS and 3DS doesn't have. There are even special styluses you can get for capacitive touch screens.

It is missing 3D though, that's true. Well hey, maybe the "Pro" version will add that. I doubt it though, and it's VERY unlikely the "bargain" version will have it since Nintendo even stripped the 3D out of the bargain versions of the 3DS (the 2DS and New 2DS).

I'm sure I've said this plenty of times before, but I strongly disagree with the idea that capacitive touch is precise... that is, unless you're talking about capacitive touch with some magical super-accurate, not awful squishy-tipped stylus, which might exist out there but definitely isn't cheap or included with the Switch. If you're stuck using your finger, though, it's a bad experience, just like all finger-controller touch is. I can't understand why people like using fingers on a screen for anything beyond the most basic of phone experiences, it's horrible for gaming! Games on a touchscreen need precision, and you get that from the reactive touch screens of the DS, 3DS, and Wii U. You do not from the finger-based touchscreens you find on the Vita, Switch, tablets, and such.

And that's why Sushi Striker is a lot better on 3DS than Switch. It's also why Mario Maker 2 will probably be better with its button control option than the touchscreen, because fingers are far too large and imprecise to give you the kind of precision you'd need to match Mario Maker 1's controls! It's sad that almost all touch has abandoned precision and plastic styluses in favor of multitouch and fingers, but while that's a fine move for a phone (where convenience is important and you mostly don't need precision), but it's awful for a game console. Unfortunately most people seem to not be bothered by this, oh well... I still play puzzle and other touch-based games on the DS and 3DS all the time, but it only took me a couple of tries at them on my tablet, Vita, and Switch before realizing how bad they are with fingers. It's not close. I don't want to play touch games on the Vita or Switch, no thanks, not with finger-based controls.

Quote: There are even special styluses you can get for capacitive touch screens.

I've tried several. They stop working all the time and those awful squishy soft tips are only a moderate improvement over a finger in precision. Again better options may be out there, but they're not common. I've always been of the opinion that capacitive touch is bad for game consoles and have seen nothing to change my mind on that.

You can't pinch and zoom though. YOU CAN'T PINCH AND ZOOM!

Satan.

You can't touch what you want if it's not a giant part of the screen in a capacitive screen, that's far worse.