Would You Buy a TV-Only Switch?

p1 ama on 16/10/2019 - 02:06

With the portable-only Switch Lite coming onto the market, I wonder if any of you would be interested in buying a "TV-only" Switch, just a standard home console that plays Switch games and comes with a Pro controller.

On the one hand, I think this is a silly idea because the whole marketing behind the Switch is that it's a system you can "switch" between being portable and docked. However, with the Switch Lite, it seems that Nintendo aren't really sticking to this idea. Most people play their Switch only in portable mode, but I've only really ever played in TV mode (aside from the first few days when I got it).

Given that the Switch hardware is basically comparable to an Nvidia Shield, the price of such a TV-only Switch could be much lower and a lot of unnecessary parts (LCD, battery, dock…etc.) can be completely cut out. Would also be awesome to replace the Joy-Cons with the Pro controller which is really what the Switch should be played with on a TV.

Would you buy one? If it came in at a similar price point to the Switch Lite and includes a Pro Controller, I'd jump given my Switch hasn't left its dock in over a year.

Gaming Game Console Nintendo

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2019 - 07:44
    +1

    No.

    See also: PlayStation TV.

    • Masterpupil on 16/10/2019 - 09:29
      +1

      God the PlayStation TV is useless. Most useful stated purpose was the ability to play PS4 in another room, and it could barely even do that.

      • MitchyD1989 on 16/10/2019 - 11:44
        +1

        Can confirm, PlayStation TV is shit. I've used mine once and it couldn't connect to my PS4, haven't touched it since.

      • Faro on 16/10/2019 - 12:11
        +1

        I like the PSTV for its weird novelty, but I also only got mine for about $40

        I believe it technically has the best official PS1 emulation to this date from an official Sony Product (much better latency than PS3, higher resolution than the Vita itself) and also provided the cheapest way to play Persona 4 Golden, but outside of that I haven't really used it much.

    • p1 ama on 16/10/2019 - 22:43

      See also: PlayStation TV.

      Not analogous - the PSTV was an attempt to make portable games playable on the TV. This is an obvious failure as the Vita was never intended to be a home console.

      On the other hand, the Switch has always been a home console. The fact that it's undockable and portable is simply an additional feature. The games released on the Swtich are priced like PS4/Xbox games, not 3DS games, the types of games released for the Switch are full-featured games, not "portable" games like the kinds on the 3DS/DS/PSP/Vita.

      In many ways, the Switch was designed to be played on a TV and many people only ever play it on a TV.

      • Faro on 22/10/2019 - 14:55

        I get what you're saying, but with the silent phase out of the 3DS line, the Switch is now moving fully into that "hybrid" market. I feel doubtful that we'll ever see a dedicated handheld-only system again from any of the big companies now that streaming and the switch are things.

  • skid on 16/10/2019 - 08:03
    +1

    I would but are there any games which use the LCD as a second screen?

    • FireRunner on 16/10/2019 - 09:03
      +1

      Nope, the switch has to be docked to use in TV mode so you can't access the screen.
      (Didn't neg you btw)

  • jackinyourbox on 16/10/2019 - 08:08
    +2

    No way! Switch uses a touch screen

    • FireRunner on 16/10/2019 - 09:05

      This was my thought. You've lost half of Mario Maker (the design your own levels part) without a touchscreen for example.

      • Faro on 16/10/2019 - 12:12
        +1

        You can design your levels on TV though. Quite well in fact. I think of the 6 course I've uploaded, I only made 1 in handheld mode with the touchscreen.

        Weird that, because I loved using the touch screen in the first one for Wii U to design courses.

        • FireRunner on 16/10/2019 - 14:21

          Oh ok, I thought that it wasn’t possible (or at least not very easy)

  • markt75 on 16/10/2019 - 08:16
    +3

    Yes, immediately. I have no interest in a portable device.

    • pegaxs on 16/10/2019 - 08:46

      Same. I never undock my Switch. I would be prefer a little black box next to the TV.

  • Masterpupil on 16/10/2019 - 09:28
    +1

    No. It's not good enough as a static system. Terribly under powered. It is great as a portable, which is most of my use of it. Otherwise I have the PS4 for at home.

    Ironically, I prefer the PS4 but never have time at home to play it, so the switch gets more us.

  • Some Human on 16/10/2019 - 11:10
    +2

    No, because I already have a normal switch.

  • ballislife on 16/10/2019 - 11:13
    +2

    I love the switch being versatile to play docked or handheld. While most of the time I play switch its docked since I'll often play games with a group like Mario Kart or Tennis Aces, for the few single player gaming sessions I've found games that have well integrated touchscreen like Mario Maker (I'll build levels in handheld and then play them docked if I like them) or high intensity (for me) games like Dead Cells or Hollow Knight are far more enjoyable for me as handheld gaming.

    • Faro on 16/10/2019 - 12:13

      I like this assessment. Pretty much the same as me.

  • Tames71 on 16/10/2019 - 11:20

    It depends if they improved it and made it more powerful and better then maybe. If there are no improvements and it's just a standard Switch but only for TV then no, there is no point. So it depends on what they add.

  • Faro on 16/10/2019 - 12:16

    I can't see myself ever wanting a TV only switch.

    I play mostly in docked mode, but the peace of mind knowing that I can take my games with me anywhere (even if it's just to a mate's house or another room) is my favourite thing about the system and why I play everything I can on the system, even if there's a more technically superior version I could play on my One X (call me crazy).

    The fact that I was finally able to finish Celeste and Retro City Rampage a few months ago over the course of two 5 hour bus trips is amazing to me.

  • StickMan on 16/10/2019 - 12:51
    +1

    I recently talked with someone about this. My answer: HELL YES I would be down for a TV-only 'switch'.

    Imagine: you could have a Switch Lite (now known as nonswitch) which is leagues better for handheld play than OG Switch)… AND a TV-only box …. for THE SAME MONEY as a Switch OG RRP. Lite just has to be priced appropriately.

    You'd have better handheld, better TV play, and a WAY more accessible market for anyone wanting one or the other. There would be no financial penalty for picking up both. The 'switch' functionality would come when Ninty pulls their finger out and learns how internet works. You'd get the best both of worlds; or the best of one-world; and not some crippled expensive stupidity.

    Also imagine - a stronger tv-only box would mean more 3rd party dev interest.

    So, total dream, but I'd love a cheaper and better tv-only box, along with the nonswitch at ~$250RRP

    • p1 ama on 16/10/2019 - 22:47

      Imagine: you could have a Switch Lite (now known as nonswitch) which is leagues better for handheld play than OG Switch)… AND a TV-only box …. for THE SAME MONEY as a Switch OG RRP. Lite just has to be priced appropriately.

      This is my opinion as well. The issue with the OG Switch (and I love mine, I lined up outside EB games to get one on launch day) is that it makes plenty of compromises to be both a portable and home console.

      The tech in the Joy-Cons are amazing, but I think that the Pro controller is basically a must buy for serious play. This already adds around $70 or so onto the base price of the Switch. I've never touched my Joy-Cons (aside from for multiplayer) since I bought my Pro controller.

      The OG Switch isn't as good as the Switch Lite for portable gaming either. I would never chuck my Switch in my backpack without a case because I feel like I could easily bend the mechanism where the Joy-Cons attach, but the Switch Lite feels bulletproof just like my 3DS and that can be thrown anywhere without fuss.

      • Faro on 22/10/2019 - 14:57

        "the Switch Lite feels bulletproof just like my 3DS and that can be thrown anywhere without fuss."

        That's one way to kill your analog sticks. Never have I ever carried around a handheld system without a case.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2019 - 12:05
    +1

    I never use mine portable
    I would love a much more powerful TV only one

    • brendongl on 22/10/2019 - 21:10

      This - If they released a Switch PRO Which was TV only and kept most things at 60fps (which can be achieved with a hacked overclocked switch) i'm sure they would do well.

      In saying that, switch owners probably wont buy this new one unless it offered some new features like 1080p upscaling for 720p games…
      I am one of those people where a portable/dockable device is pretty useful as I travel alot.

  • HolyFosh on 22/10/2019 - 14:41

    Only if they had a seamless syncing experience across the two consoles so I could still use a Lite portablely.

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