Pachter Reveals His Thoughts On Nintendo Switch

@RidleySlayer: Hey! This is “Nerd Noise Radio – John”. The page is forcing me to login now, so now I’m posting under my Facebook info….so, it’s still me. :-)

Now, why would I put the PS4 last? Well, I feel like the XB1 offers more than the PS4. Sure, it’s a little less powerful, so when going head to head on multiplayer games, the PS4 version will edge XB1 out, and yes, the PS4 exclusives may be able to push the graphics envelope a wee bit further. But it’s a difference that never bowls me over unless they’re side by side (and besides, now that I have a gaming PC, even one with fairly out of date hardware like mine, it sorta puts the difference between the consoles in an entirely different perspective – that is, relative insignificance).

And yes, the PS4 has a fantastic collection of console exclusives that I’d be quite sad to have to live without – as does the XB1, so that’s a wash for me. In fact, it’s more than a wash as the XB1 exclusives as a whole just resonate with me a little bit more. But otherwise, I don’t really feel that the PS4 offers much that one or more of the others offer as well, or better. Yes, certain games cross play with the Vita – and that’s really cool, I’m not kidding. But XB1 does the same and so much more with PC, which is the bigger deal to me.

And also, with Windows 10, and the “one core”, “universal windows platform” thing, which the XB is ever folding more and more into, I feel that XB and PC are beginning to develop a really great “blurry lines” synergy that will only increase as things like the Universal Windows Shell comes to 10, and more and more UWP apps come to the platform. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something to be said for Sony keeping the PS4 resolutely “a console”. You could even argue that the PS4 is the last such thing, with Switch being a console/portable crossover, and the lines ever blurring between XB and PC.

I had mentioned the game market broadening and broadening, and the competing consoles becoming more and more indirect since they’re all going different directions, and even things like nVidia Shield or Apple TV starting to become players. The Sony’s the stalwart. It’s the one that’s budged the least, the one least effected by the blowing winds of a radically changing market. But in terms of its overall offerings, in my opinion, at least, it offers the least.

Now, as I’ve laid out above, I do feel the XB is a more holistic package than PS4, and offers a bit more, even though it’s slightly less powerful. But even it still comes in second to last for me. There are only so many things it offers me that a PC doesn’t. The lion’s share of PS4 and especially XB1 games also exist on PC, mostly through the likes of Steam and uPlay (Win32), but also now through the Windows store (UWP), and those versions offer me the best graphics, the ability to customize the graphics to suit the limitations of my PC (generally still looking better than the console ports even on my tired old GTX660ti), other kinds of customization, and a more immersive experience on certain genres of games thanks to the keyboard and mouse interface.

This is why if I could only have one, it’d have to be either the PC or the Switch, and if I could only have two….well, then both of them! :-)

However, PC gaming as a whole, albeit increasingly less so, still remains a more cumbersome, less fluid experience vs the console model that between that, the console exclusives, and the general fairness of a more leveled playing field in “everyone on the same hardware” for multiplayer (or just two hardwares with the Pro and upcoming Scorpio), I would sorely miss either the PS4 or the XB1 should they fall victim to loss, damage, or theft, and still strive to replace them.

So insofar as it depends on me, Lord willing, I will have all four, and will always have all future iterations of all four until such a day that my family has to figure out which friends and relatives to give them to after I’ve passed on. How’s that for a cheery thought? ;-)

Cheers! :-D

I’m going to see how far I can get through my intended response in Dutch, and then I’ll follow up with English, so that we can both understand what I’m trying to say. :-)

Op de SNES tegen MegaDrive: het is onmogelijk te zegen welk was de beter als een “alles” system. Één man mag een volle hart over de spelen van de SNES hebben, en een ander mag over de spelen van de Genesis. Ik voel dat de SNES spelen waren als en “telescope”, en de Genesis spelen waren als en “microscope” Wat meent ik over dat? Ik zal zeg meer over dit in Engels. Voor dit part ik voel ik heb niet genoeg Nederlands geleerd te zegen. Ik denk dat elke had zo veel grote namen dat zal voor altijd leven. SNES had Mario, en Genesis had Sonic, ja. Maar, als SNES had Super Metroid en Link to the Past, dus Genesis had Streets of Rage, en Shinobi, etc. etc. En dus als één man houdt van donker bieren (als mij), en één ander houdt van lichter bieren, zo verschillende mensen houdt van de verschillende spelen van de systems. Ik houd van elke zo veel. Maar, ik heb en favoriet van de twee…..en het is de Genesis/Megadrive. Jouw favoriet is de SNES? Goed. Wij kann nog vrienden zijn, ja? :-)

Proost!

Okay, now, English:

On the SNES vs MegaDrive: It is impossible to say which was the better as an “everything” system. One man may have a full heart over the SNES games, and another may one the Genesis games. I feel that the SNES games were like a “telescope”, and the Genesis games were more like a “microscope”. What do I mean by that? [this part in brackets I punted on in Dutch: I mean this: The SNES games are majestic when zoomed out to their total package, huge, immersive, interconnected worlds to explore and consume tons of your time. However, zoomed in, they were far less impressive. Smaller, less detailed sprites, fewer sprites on screen at once, slower, more “wooden” animation, less complex level designs, and all the rest. The Genesis games, by and large, are the opposite. Zoomed out to take in the whole, they’re not that impressive. Just level after level after level after level with little to no overarching meta. But what happens when we zoom in for a closer look? Big, detailed, fluidly moving sprites in abundance in much more action packed scenarios and more detailed levels. So, zoomed out, I think the SNES games look much more impressive, but zoomed in, I think the Genesis ones are. Yes, yes, I realize I’m talking in terms of megathemes, and there are exceptions here and there, of course. But as megathemes go, I do think they hold. Some of this has to do with the various strengths and weaknesses of the various system’s hardware (and both have strengths, and both have weaknesses). But more of a factor than hardware is software philosophy. The Genesis library was something of an “arcade at home for the masses”, while the SNES library was meant to be something on a grander scale. Less overtly fun, but more long-term meaningful.] I think that each had so many great names (titles) that will live forever. SNES had Mario, and Genesis had Sonic, yes. But as SNES had Super Mario and Link to the Past, so Genesis had Streets of Rage, and Shinobi, etc. etc. End just as one man likes dark beer (like me), and one other likes light beer, so different people like the different games from the systems. I like both so much! But I have a favorite of the two…and it is the Genesis/Megadrive. Your favorite is the SNES? Good. We can still be friends, yes? :-)

Here, let me see if I can do this in German too (I swear, I am not using any kinds of translation aids at all!)

Auf das SNES gegen MegaDrive: es ist nicht möglich zu sagen welch war besser als eine “Alles” system. Ein man hast ein voller Herz über die Spielen von das SNES haben, und ein ander über die Spielen von das Genesis. Ich fühl das SNES Speilen waren als ein “Telescope”, und das Genesis Spielen waren als ein “Microscope”. Nun, was meinst ich über das? Du musst siehst mein Antwort in Englisch für das. Mein Deutsch ist nicht fertig für es. Aber, ich denke das die beiden hat so viele großer Namen das wird immer leben! SNES hat Mario, und Genesis hat Sonic, ja. Aber, für jeder Super Metroid oder Link to the Past das hat SNES, es gab für Genesis ein Streets of Rage, oder ein Shinobi, etc. etc. Und wie ein Mann mag Dunkelbieren (wie ich), und ander mag Lichtenbieren, so manche Menschen SNES lieben, und andere Genesis lieben. Ich liebe die beiden so viel! Aber, ik liebe mehr Genesis. Deiner Favorit es SNES? Gut. Wir kann noch Freunden sein, ja? :-)

Now, Spanish?

Sobre SNES contra Megadrive: es imposible para decir quien es lo mejor como una sistema “por todos”. Un hombre tienen un grande corazón por los juegos por el SNES, y un otro hombre tienen un grande corazón por los juegos por el Genesis. Yo creo los juegos del SNES son como un “telescope”, y los juegos del Genesis son como un “microscope”. Que hago yo aquí? Mi español no es listo por eso, así, vea te por favor mi contesta ingles. Pero, yo pienso que los dos tener tanto mucho grande juegos son vivirán por siempre! SNES tiene Mario, y Genesis tiene Sonic. Si. Pero hay tanto mucho mas. Si, por cada Super Metroid o Link to the Past, son un Streets of Rage, o Shinobi, etc, etc. Como un hombre gustaran cervezas negro (como yo), y otros hombres gustaran cervezas blancas, como es personas diferentes gustan juegos videos diferentes. Yo amo los dos tanto mucho! Pero tengo un favorito, y es para mi, el Genesis. Te amas mas el SNES? Bien. Podemos tampoco amigos, si? :-)

Now, I know for a fact that my Swedish is insufficiently developed to handle this task yet, so I’ll simply say:

Jag alskar dem. SNES är bra! Genesis är bra! De här smörgåsborden spelar. Men, jag tycker om Genesis. Jag tycker om leker spelet Genesis. Du tycker om leker spelat SNES. Bra. Vi är bra, ja?

……maaaaaan I need to improve my Swedish! I feel soooooooo limited! :-) I’m not even going to try Japanese! Haha! “Megadorifu ii desu, hai?” “SuupaaFamicom ii desu, hai?” There, that’s about all I got. :-D