10 Crucial Things The Nintendo Switch Must Do In Year One
6. Ensure Smooth Unification Of Your Virtual Console Purchases
Ask any longtime Nintendo fan how many Virtual Console titles they’ve bought on separate systems – for instance the 3DS or 2DS – and you’ll probably get a shame-faced confirmation of "several".
In fact, the only thing preventing me buying Super Metroid a third time is the fact I only have a 2DS and not a new 3DS.
It will create inevitable resentment if some gamers feel they are being given the chance to pay yet again for the same title(s) they may have bought once or twice already. A flat fee to unlock and/or transfer Virtual Console titles really would help Nintendo garner praise, alongside making customers feel like they’re getting value for money, alongside providing a reason to continue spending going forward.
What’s more, Nintendo could seize the chance to innovate here and offer something akin to the PlayStation Instant Game Collection or the Xbox Games With Gold subscriptions. A tiered membership service might offer levels of Virtual Console access – let’s say Bronze for all NES titles, Silver to include Super Nintendo games, Gold to include access to Nintendo 64 and portable games, and Platinum for Wii and Wii U games.
The Switch should also end the strange apartheid Nintendo have created where you can buy Gameboy Colour games on the 2/3DS systems but not on Wii U. Or the fact you can buy Super Nintendo games on-the-go... but only if you have a New 3DS. Or that you can only have Gameboy Advance games on your 3DS if you were an early adopter and part of the Ambassador programme that gave away GBA games to apologise for the hasty price drop the 3DS was given.
As mentioned earlier, numbers matter. If you’re already a console gamer with an annual £40 subscription for either Xbox or PlayStation, perhaps have a video streaming account elsewhere and are looking to take on the Nintendo Switch, then value for money is a must. Nintendo could offer a £5 per month fee to allow access to all past Nintendo titles on rotation for the next five years.