21st October 2016, 8:51 AM
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/wh...do-switch/
So, it is now confirmed that it won't be able to play 3DS or DS games (or Wii U games, but I never expected that). The lack of any sort of backwards compatibility at all is rather disappointing, considering how well Nintendo's portable systems traditionally handle backwards compatibility. Well, considering the RISC processor is being made by NVidia rather than Nintendo's traditional use of ARM designed processors in their portables, maybe that's not all that surprising. Still, it's a bit sad something couldn't be done about that. As it stands, this system is going to have to stand entirely on it's own merits, and those who may not have a 3DS yet, but are very excited about Pokémon Sun & Moon, will now need to decide which system they want more. News sites are trying to put a spin on the "virtual console" being the "backwards compatibility", but we all know that emulated games are NOT in any way any sort of backwards compatibility. I really want to be able to dismiss this, but it really is a pretty big problem for Nintendo.
I can't imagine that giant screen won't have a touch screen. Those removable JoyCon controllers may or may not have motion controls, and the main part may or may not have motion controls, but that big screen almost certainly has touch functionality. I wouldn't put much into that small trailer not showing anyone using that, because they clearly wanted to focus on the new, not the old. One thing's for sure, this trailer does make it clear this is a new system and not a remodel, and everyone should know that coming in.
So, it is now confirmed that it won't be able to play 3DS or DS games (or Wii U games, but I never expected that). The lack of any sort of backwards compatibility at all is rather disappointing, considering how well Nintendo's portable systems traditionally handle backwards compatibility. Well, considering the RISC processor is being made by NVidia rather than Nintendo's traditional use of ARM designed processors in their portables, maybe that's not all that surprising. Still, it's a bit sad something couldn't be done about that. As it stands, this system is going to have to stand entirely on it's own merits, and those who may not have a 3DS yet, but are very excited about Pokémon Sun & Moon, will now need to decide which system they want more. News sites are trying to put a spin on the "virtual console" being the "backwards compatibility", but we all know that emulated games are NOT in any way any sort of backwards compatibility. I really want to be able to dismiss this, but it really is a pretty big problem for Nintendo.
I can't imagine that giant screen won't have a touch screen. Those removable JoyCon controllers may or may not have motion controls, and the main part may or may not have motion controls, but that big screen almost certainly has touch functionality. I wouldn't put much into that small trailer not showing anyone using that, because they clearly wanted to focus on the new, not the old. One thing's for sure, this trailer does make it clear this is a new system and not a remodel, and everyone should know that coming in.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)