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In this Soapbox article, Gavin talks about the warm and familiar feeling he got while watching this week’s Nintendo Indie World Showcase …
I intended to start this with a big “shame list”; all the indie titles that I have late on my Switch that I still have to play, many of them bought but never “opened” However, after going through my alphabetically ordered library and hitting double the numbers before you get to ‘H’, it’s probably best to skip all of that and replace it with a sentence highlighting what everyone who reads this already knows: the breadth and variety of Switch gaming experiences are mind-boggling.
It’s not exactly an original feeling, admittedly, but it’s a sentiment I still can’t fathom, even more than three years since the console launched. He just doesn’t want to go down, maybe because he represents such a drastic change from previous generations. I was a huge Wii U fan, but at the time I remember being surprised at the (relatively) solid indie support it received. With great retro-inspired games like Axiom Verge, Shovel knight and Shantae Topping the list, the console has attracted more quality independent developers and smaller versions than I expected given its very modest install base.
Years ago, the Wii certainly had a ton of cool software and independent WiiWare experiences, but both Wii’s were just little fingers in the pool compared to Switch – I feel like I’m drowning in games here! Watching the Nintendo Indie World Showcase earlier in the week once again underscored the incredible difference, but more than that, it finally felt like there was no turning back to this warm relationship with Nindie.
We asked readers what they thought of the presentation, and the majority of you (almost 40%) were very happy with what was shown – I’m certainly one of that group. Of course, different shots and all that: about 30% thought it was a good one (otherwise unbelievable) broadcast; 20% didn’t see much to get excited about; and then there’s one in ten of you who won’t be satisfied with anything less than the meatiest of the “real” Nintendo Directs. I understand this desire, of course, but I also find it hard to believe that people have found Nothing at all like in the showcase. I found it to be absolutely excellent from start to finish.
the number of parts abandoned by the shadow was a little crazy – and a bit of a nightmare for outlets trying to post reviews in a timely manner
I’m a big fan of Supergiant Games’ Bastion, and Transistor is one of the games mentioned above that I bought but haven’t played yet, so see Hell coming to Switch was a great start. I must have missed Raji: an ancient epicis revealed at some point, but it certainly caught my attention in the presentation, especially because it is available on the eShop now.
In fact, the number of shaded games was a little crazy – and a bit of a nightmare for outlets trying to post reviews in a timely manner, but it’s not something gamers need to worry about. There is even an argument that do not having all the reviews to dissect before buying a game earns a thrill old fashioned excitement. Remember when our buying decisions were driven more by the screenshots on the box than an aggregate review score? There’s always a chance you’ll end up with a lemon, of course, but thanks to the more modest prices of indie games, any turkey will likely be much less painful than the 60 pounds you burned on. Turok 2 at the time (hey, i was more of a Golden eye man, okay ?!).
Sorry, I was distracted – where was I? Oh yeah, all video games. A short hike looks like a proper restorative little stroll, Hypnospatial outlaw is something that I have kept my eye on since its launch on PC, Card shark it looks very fun, Collector’s garden and the pair of Subnautical have been on my radar for a while, and both Evergate and Garden story seem intriguing. And there are even two players to come Untitled Goose Game! I was less in love with this one than most (yes, there are a handful of indies that I managed to play until the end!), But two players might be the thing that got me going. ‘would really hang.
It’s been a while since so many interesting games have been packed into such a tight presentation, and I have about a dozen titles for the backlog, some that I’ve had my eye on elsewhere and never had the time. to play. Now I can’t play them on Switch!
Jokes about my ever-dwindling playing time aside, a comfortable and warm feeling came over me watching the presentation; a reassuring feeling that Switch is the best possible fit for all these various independent experiences and that only a fool would shy away from such a fulfilling relationship, this satisfactory, this mutually beneficial. Nintendo has a good thing going here – they’ve been leveling off for a few years now, but the relationship has always felt a bit tumultuous. It really feels like they’re ready to move in now.
There are times when you wouldn’t want to let the business give up on everything – developer support, industry standard control schematics and formats, whatever– if he imagined a radical new idea
There’s always a disturbing feeling that a hungry-hearted Nintendo, always hungry for something new, could pack its satchel in the blink of an eye and hit the road, Springsteen-style. It might sound irrational, but there are times when you wouldn’t want to let the company give up on everything – developer support, industry standard control schematics and formats, whatever– if he came up with a radical new idea and ran away with it, chasing a dream like a Darner Dragonfly.
This willingness to take risks makes Nintendo products exciting and unique, of course, but seeing how small developers have helped support the Switch line – this year in particular – and with the platform owner focusing their attention on them like never before, you get the meaning (finally) that they will not run out anytime soon.
This is by no means a perfect relationship, and the stories developers struggle to see on Switch eShop are becoming more common. We’ve already talked about how Nintendo needs to do more with its digital store to address discoverability issues. A “ happy forever ” requires a hard transplant and – there is no other word for it –job to stay fresh, healthy and interesting. Make no mistake, Nintendo really needs to double its support and do better where it can if it is to keep that spark alive.
The argument that people only buy Nintendo consoles to play Nintendo games also contains water, of course – and staggering sales of Animal Crossing: New horizons point out that proprietary games are critical to its hardware success, but Switch’s ecosystem and convenience is what struck a chord with gamers, casual and basic, where Wii U blew a big raspberry. After all, Wii U had the great games, but the point is that relatively very few people bought this Nintendo console to play those Nintendo games – most of which have since come to Switch and have surpassed original sales on several occasions, proving their quality and value. Nintendo is also offering fewer games (pound for pound on its systems) than before combining its home and handheld consoles into one platform. The fact that small developers have come together to fill the software gap – and that Nintendo is working to showcase it – underscores the effectiveness of the partnership.
it would be a mistake not to view the large number of quirky trinkets and indie games of all sizes as mere fillers while waiting for the “real” deal. This is real business!
No, it’s the convenience of Switch in its form factor and its catalog of brilliant non-Nintendo titles is why I’m struggling to keep my gaming head above water these days. Yes, we might fancy the really big first-party announcements, but it would be a mistake to view the large number of quirky trinkets and indie games of all sizes as mere fillers while we wait for the “ real ” deal. This is real business!
There are undoubtedly people who find the Switch line a little dry lately, but a drought ?! Personally, I’m drowning in awesome stuff! Compare and contrast with the Wii U days if you like, but however you cut it, the massive indie buffet of delicacies on eShop is incredibly impressive. For me, this tidy 20 minute Indie World showcase had one of the most varied and exciting lineups I’ve seen all summer, and half of them are available right now.
May the Switch stork continue to deliver beautiful bouncy Nindie babies!
“Duh, Switch has a lot of great games – do we really need an article on this?” Short answer: yes! 2020 has been a real job, so there is always room for a bit of positivity and optimism.
We’re busy working on some game showcase reviews, so keep an eye out for them over the coming week. Be sure to leave your own dose of positivity below and let us know what you think of whatever you took away from the presentation.
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