Switch 2 mouse mode (such potential)
-
I am a huge proponent of the steam deck but there are a few things you’re kind of leaving out here
-
You would be surprised how many people actually don’t have a mouse on hand. But if they do, you do have to calculate that into the cost.
-
you need a dock or at least a cheap USB-C dongle unless the only thing you plan on hooking up to the steam deck is your mouse, which would be bizarre.
-
The deck is getting a little longer in the tooth. I love it, I use it a ton, but it is definitely starting to show its age.
-
It can’t play Nintendo switch/switch 2 games natively, which many people who shit on Nintendo (I am one of those people don’t get me wrong) tend to forget is a pretty huge part of the appeal of Nintendo platforms.
Point by point:
1: I mean, I guess? I do not even have a mouse myself right now... but if I needed just a cheapo one for basic use... you can get something functional for $20 or under, a basic mouse you'd get for a work laptop type thing.
2: People have all kinds of 'unusual' Deck set ups.
The mouse dongle you just mentioned wouldn't... really make that much sense, as ... you can just hold it... and use the touch pads... or the touch sensitive screen itself...
But its actually not uncommon for people to dock their deck, sync it to a controller or M+K, and then stream it to a smart tv, or a dumb one via a dongle or direct connection to the dock. No, you're not gonna get true 4k on any non retro game, but a good number of people do something like this.
3: ... As compared to...? Your minimum 3x more expensive PC you can upgrade with even more money? Another console/handheld you... can't upgrade?
Unless the Switch 2 can play Cyberpunk 2077 at better than 45 fps, with graphics basically medium/high, I don't see how the Deck is 'showing its age' compared to other similarly priced handhelds.
Decky FrameGen is pretty neat. I think I managed to tweak mine up to an avg of almost 55 on the benchmark, and thats without mucking around in CET to squeeze out even more.
4: I absolutely understand buying a Switch 2 is your best option if you want a very straightforward, doubleplus legal, and expensive way to play Switch 2 games.
Like, if you're super dedicated to current era Nintendo games, sure, fine, yep, get a Switch 2.
But if you just like games in general...
5: Pretty much yeah, I agree. Its possible to get it working with a Deck, but its gonna be a lot more hassle, and you'll need peripherals, yep.
-
-
I agree with everything except #5. If you want to play couch multiplayer for the switch with two people you’re set with the tiny joycons. If you want any comfort playing those games you’re investing in at LEAST as many controllers as you have couch players and the same can be said about the deck. But the Deck has options and years of hardware options that are far more inexpensive than the $90 joycons or $80 pro controllers at launch. Given time I’m sure there may be options for the S2 but I think the Deck has far more inexpensive options for multiplayer.
That said, the deck dock is expensive so maybe my argument is entirely moot.
The offical dock is $80, but you can get the Baseus Dock for between $30 and $40.
-
I am a huge proponent of the steam deck but there are a few things you’re kind of leaving out here
-
You would be surprised how many people actually don’t have a mouse on hand. But if they do, you do have to calculate that into the cost.
-
you need a dock or at least a cheap USB-C dongle unless the only thing you plan on hooking up to the steam deck is your mouse, which would be bizarre.
-
The deck is getting a little longer in the tooth. I love it, I use it a ton, but it is definitely starting to show its age.
-
It can’t play Nintendo switch/switch 2 games natively, which many people who shit on Nintendo (I am one of those people don’t get me wrong) tend to forget is a pretty huge part of the appeal of Nintendo platforms.
Mice are cheap. Even Bluetooth ones, which wouldn't need a dock or dongle to be used with the deck.
-
-
So... its $50 more than an LCD, 256 GB Steam Deck (the Switch 2 is also LCD).
A Deck has two touchpads that work as mice.
And you can buy a real mouse with those $50 bucks you saved.
Oh right and it has a bigger screen, can run almost every modern to ancient PC game, and basically every retro game if you can handle an EmuDeck or RetroDeck guided installer, oh and it also just is a computer that does everything a mid tier linux laptop can do.
It can even run Switch games, and probably will be able to run Switch 2 games in... what, 2 years? 3 years?
I'm really not trying to rain on the parade here, but uh... yeah I do not understand the cost benefit analysis on a Switch 2 vs a Deck unless:
You really, really want to play Switch 2 games soon
OR
The Switch 2 somehow has vastly superior performance to a Steam Deck
... I kinda doubt that last one being the case, but the specs aren't out yet (afaik) so I guess it is possible.
In my local pricing, my 512GB LCD deck was almost 300$ cheaper than the switch 2 lol.
-
Mice are cheap. Even Bluetooth ones, which wouldn't need a dock or dongle to be used with the deck.
The steam deck can get fucky with 2 Bluetooth devices (forget 3) so unless you plan on a M or K you need a dock or dongle. I guess unless you plan on not charging either.
-
wait wait wait.
Fucking... what?
... Are they trying to preempt the expected 'GTA 6 MSRPs for $120, base edition and breaks all video game pricing' thing?
I'm seeing $80 for Mario Kart World.
puts on eyepatch and peg leg
$80 digital. $90 physical. With the added spite that the "physical" copy is just a cartridge that loads a code for the game download. It's just a $10 plastic box with an SD card with a download code inside.
-
With the official reveal of the mouse mode for the Switch 2's controllers there is the potential for so many classic games to flood the console.
Imagine what it could do with graphical adventure games, RTS games, management sims, etc.
We already know CIV VII will use the mouse, and I just hope this is just the beginning for a whole range of traditionally non-console games to finally make it to the platform.
Two words: Mario Paint
-
Glad to know that Nintendo admits PCs are the best way to game lol.
Do you think that? I just think their approach is not getting inventive with games that are better suited for mouse gaming, because I can tell playing those games with traditional controllers seems like a chore.
-
But that controller comes with the console.
I swear people (not you) comments just because lol.
We get it boys, Nintendo doesn't do anything right.
-
Metroid Prime 4 with mouse controls is gonna go so hard
I want my Metroid Prime Hunters online (I still hop there with Wiimmfi)... Not everything must be Splatoon
-
Do you think that? I just think their approach is not getting inventive with games that are better suited for mouse gaming, because I can tell playing those games with traditional controllers seems like a chore.
With a PC you get both
-
With a PC you get both
Well, PC ain't a handheld, unless you add streaming (local or externally) or a dedicated machine like the Steam Deck to the equation, that would definitely be something about the 450 bucks Nintey asks.
-
Well, PC ain't a handheld, unless you add streaming (local or externally) or a dedicated machine like the Steam Deck to the equation, that would definitely be something about the 450 bucks Nintey asks.
PC = personal computer
-
That looks much less comfortable than the way the Lenovo Legion handles it.
...also the pessimist in me is afraid this will result in less games with gyro aiming support...
I mean...gyro support is such a niche thing. The PS3 controller introduced gyro support - what used it? There's examples, but not many, because most games are made to be multi platform, and programming in gyro controls is a lot harder than most other controls
Nintendo is an exception because they have a lot of exclusives - gyro support is a lot more appealing to implement if all of the devices have it, plus they probably encouraged it
I wouldn't worry about it too much, the incentive for exclusives to have it remains, this is a tool for porting to the switch and exploring new control schemes more than anything else
-
$90 per game. That's an instant deal breaker.
Plus the Switch barely had any exclusive games. For a Nintendo console anyway. Perhaps that‘s something Nintendo is working on now, but I doubt it can compete with PC games in terms of bang you get for your buck. There‘s just no way.
-
$80 digital. $90 physical. With the added spite that the "physical" copy is just a cartridge that loads a code for the game download. It's just a $10 plastic box with an SD card with a download code inside.
It‘s interesting they abandoned physical media completely and nobody is talking about it. This makes them a direct competitor to Steam and well… let‘s just say I don‘t see 90% discounts in the Nintendo shop any time soon.
-
You really, really want to play Switch 2 games soon
Or without having to learn to emulate. Or play coop/multiplayer with the joycons.
To be fair, there is no guarantee you‘ll be able to emulate Switch 2 games as soon and easily as Switch games. You just might, but we really don‘t know for sure.
-
The Switch 2 footage of Elden Ring did look better than what I can get out of my Steam Deck. I wouldn't be surprised if it has a performance advantage (perhaps thanks to native DLSS and frame generation) for the next year or two.
I mean with those price tags you expect games to look better. Anything else would be ridiculous.
-
It‘s interesting they abandoned physical media completely and nobody is talking about it. This makes them a direct competitor to Steam and well… let‘s just say I don‘t see 90% discounts in the Nintendo shop any time soon.
I don‘t see 90% discounts in the Nintendo shop
Not 1st party sure, but there is a weekly deal cycle where 3rd party publishers compete to stand out.
https://www.dekudeals.com/games?filter[platform]=switch&filter[format]=digital
-
With the official reveal of the mouse mode for the Switch 2's controllers there is the potential for so many classic games to flood the console.
Imagine what it could do with graphical adventure games, RTS games, management sims, etc.
We already know CIV VII will use the mouse, and I just hope this is just the beginning for a whole range of traditionally non-console games to finally make it to the platform.
It's a funny gimmick but all the competitors already have support mouse and keyboard.
You can also use them in some games like Sims 4 or Cities: Skylines.But guess this mouse mode could also encourage 3rd party developers to add mouse and keyboard support for their games on consoles.
