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diff --git a/memos/WM-008.txt b/memos/WM-008.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6666c17 --- /dev/null +++ b/memos/WM-008.txt @@ -0,0 +1,203 @@ + + + + + + + +Document: WM-008 P. Webb +Category: Review 2017.03.18 + + Nintendo Switch review + +Abstract + + You're gonna wish you weren't on the fence about buying one + at launch. + +Body + + In the two weeks since I left GameStop eagerly waiting to get home + and unbox my console, the Nintendo Switch has been *such* a joy to + use. I waited two weeks to write this review so I could accurately + depict how it fits into my everyday. Before I start the review + though, I figured I'd run through my launch night. + + 1. Midnight Launch + + πΈ[I was the first customer in Boston to get a Switch][IMG1] + + In an effort to make the midnight launch go as smoothly as + possible, GameStop required people to get a receipt with their + pre-order earlier in the day and they were numbered so people + would know where to stand in line. As people on the Internet say, + "FIRST!!1!". The guy behind me got to the midnight launch before I + did and was wondering who had the number one receipt. I thought it + was pretty funny. + + πΈ[Line to the door and then some][IMG2] + + I went to the midnight launches of the DSi and 3DS. Those launches + had *nothing* on this one. When I left, the line was to the door + and then some. It was a *hella* windy night and I'm glad we didn't + have to wait outside. + + πΈ[Lucky mofos to snag a Switch][IMG3] + + The people on the other side of the store didn't have a pre-order, + but they snagged the 13 or so extra Switch consoles this GameStop + had for launch. As I waited to get the aforementioned receipt, a + couple realized that someone in GameStop allowed those 13 people + to reserve the right to buy the limited Switch consoles and the + couple were highly upset, to say the least. Apparently, that + wasn't supposed to happen until 6pm. GameStop's gonna + GameStop. π€·πΎββοΈ + + πΈ[Double-sided Zelda poster][IMG4] + + As a launch bonus, everyone got a free Zelda poster. I should put + this up at some point but I'm still unsure about which side I like + most. As soon as I got my bag of goodies, I left the store ASAP. I + was stopped by someone in line for an impromptu Facebook Live + interview. That was weird but two random people know who I am now! + Since you got this far, here's a video: + + 2. Initial Setup + + πΈ[Such gaming, much fun][IMG5] + + 3. The Review + + I didn't truly appreciate the Wii U's GamePad until my girlfriend + asked me if I was done playing Deus Ex: Human Revolution. I was + hours deep into playing and she had shows to watch. With the press + of a button, I *switched* my attention from the TV to the + controller I already had in my hand and walked to my desk a few + feet away. Confused, she asked if I was mad at her. Of course I + wasn't, I was still playing Deus Ex! I guess you could say my + gameplay was augmented. + + For the uninitiated, the Wii U allowed you to swap between the + GamePad and the TV for playing most (if not all) games. In a + household where there was only one TV at the time, it was amazing. + + With the Switch, that appreciation came a helluva lot quicker. I + have a roving 10-month-old who likes to wreak havoc and while my + girlfriend was gracious enough to let me spend the entire first + weekend with the Switch relatively undisturbed, the boy needed to + be watched when mom was busy. While playing Zelda, I was asked to + watch the boy for a couple minutes so I took the Joy-Con out of + the charging grip[1] (*highly* recommended) and onto the sides of + the Switch, which I then took out of the dock and walked + downstairs. After making myself a human fence to block the boy + from roaming elsewhere I continued playing. + + Seamless! + + πΈ[The super portable][IMG6] + + I bought a Nintendo GameBoy fanny pack from eBay after seeing + someone post an old ad for it in /r/NintendoSwitch[2]. I wasn't + sure if the Switch would even fit but it does! You'll have to + detach the Joy-Con, of course. Since the weather is frigid at the + moment, I've been using my hoodie[3]'s pouch to transport my + Switch. When the weather gets warmer, the fanny pack will make an + appearance. I also have an Animal Crossing bell pouch that I + purchased from Etsy but I like the fanny pack more. + + I think the *super* portable nature of the Switch is going to make + gaming happen in unexpected places, and more often. I'm looking + forward to having impromptu Splatoon 2 battles in an airport or + Street Fighter II matches in a line for food trucks. + + πΈ[Charging on the go][IMG7] + + Being a home console that's also portable, AAA-type games like the + new Zelda consume a LOT of power. As a result, the battery life + isn't great (I've gotten roughly three hours of Zelda gameplay on + a single charge). It doesn't seem that much different from the + battery life of a 3DS when playing Super Smash Bros. You'll get a + notification that the battery level is low but I usually ignore + that until I see it a second time. If I'm in transit, I use my + Anker charger[4] to keep gaming. + + For me, the battery life hasn't been an issue and that's because I + have a laptop with USB-C charging[5]. Whether I'm at home or at + work, I *always* have a charger (I bought two because I kept + leaving my then sole charger at home). The addition of yet another + popular device with USB-C charging in the global marketplace makes + me confident that the future of a single port for aΜΆlΜΆlΜΆ most + electronics will come to fruition relatively soon. Early adopters + like myself have to deal with buying temporary plugadoos and such + but hey, that's so *you* don't have to! + + πΈ[An excellent purchase decision][IMG8] + + I wasn't sure if I would come to regret buying grips[6] for the + Joy-Con but after a *single* Snipperclips play session, I can + honestly say it was a *fantastic* purchase decision. The Joy-Con + feel decent without it but with my Jack Skellington-esque fingers, + I definitely appreciated the classic controller feel of the grips. + My girlfriend has much smaller hands and will not play + Snipperclips without them. + + πΈ[Love the build quality][IMG9] + + The build quality of the Switch is awesome. It's also incredibly + light, suspiciously so. You'd think it'd weigh more for what it + does. The kickstand on the back is plastic and detachable. It's + designed to be easily replaceable and that's awesome because it + would suck if you had to replace the console because of it. + + There are fan vents on the top of the device and it occurred to me + after week one of owning it that I've never heard fan noise. When + I've thought to touch the top of it during a lengthly play session + I did feel heat and had to put the Switch up to my ear to hear fan + noise. I've had a screen protector since day one and somehow let + an errant wisp of fabric get in but I don't care enough to fix + that niggling issue. + + πΈ[dbrand skin for Nintendo Switch][IMG10] + + I'm sad that dbrand won't be making Switch skins[7]. This is the + design I came up with, to match the awesome marble skin on my + MacBook Pro[5]. Welp. At least dbrand is an awesome company. + + πΈ[Great interface][IMG11] + + I've taken so many screenshots of the interface (except in eShop, + that's not possible there) and I've got one request for Nintendo. + *Please* make it possible to hide the UI in games when taking + screenshots! I complained about this to @jessety[8] and he + informed me that you can hide most of the UI in Zelda (you'll just + see your heart containers). I just hope more games adopt the "Pro + HUD" option that Zelda provides. + + I'll end this review with the real reason I bought a Switch: + Splatoon 2! If you hadn't guessed by the decal on the back of my + Switch, I'm a *huge* fan of the original for Wii U. πΈ + + πΈ[The reason I bought a Switch][IMG12] + +References + + [1] <https://amzn.to/2n522S7> + [2] <https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch> + [3] <https://www.instagram.com/p/BOLHZpjhE1F> + [4] <https://amzn.to/2mFFy6R> + [5] </WM-004> + [6] <https://amzn.to/2n4lUVx> + [7] <https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/5xc5si/warning_do_not_skin_your_nintendo_switch> + [8] <https://twitter.com/jessety> + [IMG1] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-a.jpg> + [IMG2] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-b.jpg> + [IMG3] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-c.jpg> + [IMG4] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-d.jpg> + [IMG5] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-e.jpg> + [IMG6] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-f.jpg> + [IMG7] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-g.jpg> + [IMG8] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-h.jpg> + [IMG9] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-i.jpg> + [IMG10] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-j.png> + [IMG11] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-k.jpg> + [IMG12] <https://π₯.pixels.wtf/blog/image/2017/nintendo-switch-review-l.jpg> |