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I really wish the Switch was more of a multimedia machine like the Vita

Deleted member 17627

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
5,364
Decided to go back to my Vita lately to play some Trails in the Sky, and wow, this console really offered so much more than I remembered:
  • A ton of streaming apps
  • Theme
  • Messaging between friends and a party chat system
  • A music player
  • Email??
  • A not horrible internet browser
  • And remote play with both PS3 and PS4
Of course my phone can do all of this now, but there's something appealing about having everything in one place.

I love my Switch, but it really feels so dull at times. Almost four years after it released and it feels the exact same as when it came out: a console that plays games and nothing more. I wish it did more, does anyone feel similarly?

On another note, playing handheld games on the Vita feels so much more comfortable than on the Switch, something about both the Switch and the Switch Lite feel too bulky for me.
 
BasilZero

BasilZero

Member
Oct 25, 2017
36,359
Omni
I just wish there was a way to power off the Switch without having to hold the power button for the "Turn off" option.


I wish I could power it off remotely with my pro controller like how I can turn off my PS3/PS4 lol.


(Not too keen on using apps and multimedia on gaming systems, even my gaming PC I dont even use it for anything else but gaming).

Prefer using my phone or my laptop and/or TV.
 
AgeEighty

AgeEighty

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,432
It would be nice, but I'm not champing at the bit for it. I would only ever use it for that on the go, where I'd need to have stable wifi anyway. My phone is a much nicer streaming device except for the screen size, which isn't even far off from that of the Switch.
 
Smash Kirby

Smash Kirby

One Winged Slayer
Member
Nov 7, 2017
4,069
To be honest I can see where you are coming from, but I have a specific device or my laptop for that. The lack of a normally accessible browser increases the security. Webkit/Blink have been a treasure trove for hacking into a console with. I have Hulu and YouTube on my switch but I use those on my laptop more.
 
Barrel Cannon

Barrel Cannon

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
9,303
BasilZero said:
I just wish there was a way to power off the Switch without having to hold the power button for the "Turn off" option.


I wish I could power it off remotely with my pro controller like how I can turn off my PS3/PS4 lol.


(Not too keen on using apps and multimedia on gaming systems, even my gaming PC I dont even use it for anything else but gaming).

Prefer using my phone or my laptop and/or TV.
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+1, I'm surprised we haven't got this feature years after. Feels like something homebrew probably already has
 
Drago

Drago

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
69
I've given up on anything extra being added outside of more icons and random features no one asked for (not a bad thing, trending games and some of the other stuff they added in the last update is cool and appreciated) and mostly made my peace with it

I still desperately want folders but I know we will never get em at this point and it kills me
 
Strings

Strings

Member
Oct 27, 2017
31,431
I love the Vita and never used any of that stuff (outside of themes). I'd like... Everything else the Vita did (great back-compat, trophies, etc).
 

Deleted member 50374

alt account
Banned
Dec 4, 2018
2,482
In 2020 all of those are pointless expect for themes, folders and messaging (I guess? Discord is a thing - party system is the the real deal).

Why would they waste developer time on things TVs or phones already do way, way better? There was a point when TVs were dumb but now... And my phone isn't even huge but it's close to the size of the Switch screen already lol
 
ZeroX

ZeroX

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
21,266
Speed Force
I mean as you mentioned, phones exist and they do it better. An iPad is even better at multimedia than both of them. Just don't see the appeal.
 
coolasj19

coolasj19

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,667
Houston, Texas
The lack of messaging, streaming apps, and music playing directly correlates to my lack of playing it both at home and during travel. I would love more of those things. Turning on my Switch only to play game that I have to coordinate over discord automatically means that it plays second fiddle to any other weekend gaming activities I might want to do with friends. Not being able to switch between Netflix and a game has also made me buy games I'd rather buy on the Switch on my PS4/5 instead.

The Switch is missing some key functionality features and it has affected my experience and amount of time spent with the system.
 
I KILL PXLS

I KILL PXLS

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,548
I can live without the multimedia stuff, but the missing messaging/party functionality is pretty inexcusable to me imo. I have zero interest in online multiplayer Switch games because of it which bums me out since I'd otherwise be hyped for Monster Hunter Rise.
 
s y

s y

Member
Nov 8, 2017
10,433
User Warned: Platform Waring
inb4 switch apologists excuse basic console functionality.
 
Kubricks

Kubricks

Member
Oct 31, 2017
913
No.
As much as I love my vita those function just clutter up the interface and I never use them. I have other device for those jobs.

I admire Nintendo to keep things simply. That's why I love their devices.

Let's stick to fixing those drifting Joycons.
 
cw_sasuke

cw_sasuke

Member
Oct 27, 2017
26,404
I kinda like that my Switch is just all about gaming. Have a dozen other devices that do all the media stuff already between Smart TV, Fire TV, Phone, PC, tablet and other consoles.
 
PKrockin

PKrockin

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,260
The state of the console is actually fucking laughable compared to the competition. Where are achievements? What happened to Miiverse? Why can't I voice chat on the console, something I was able to do in first-party Nintendo DS games fifteen years ago? Friend invites to games? That Fischer-Price piece of shit the Gamepad had Netflix, but not the fully portable console with a tabletop mode and everything that would be nice for watching shit while cooking in the kitchen or working in the garage? That would have been bad enough, but the kicker is now I have to pay for online? Exactly what is the value being offered to me in return? A few worthless NES roms I played decades ago, cloud saves, and access to unbelievably shitty peer-to-peer online multiplayer?

The fact that the console still uses friend codes is like something out of The Onion.

Smash Kirby said:
To be honest I can see where you are coming from, but I have a specific device or my laptop for that. The lack of a normally accessible browser increases the security. Webkit/Blink have been a treasure trove for hacking into a console with. I have Hulu and YouTube on my switch but I use those on my laptop more.
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Well hey, thanks to the Wii U's internet browser I was able to unlock native GC backwards compatibility and play Path of Radiance and TTYD on it.
 
EggmaniMN

EggmaniMN

Banned
May 17, 2020
3,465
I don't think I ever used any of those features on the Vita even once. I certainly wouldn't on the Switch. I just use discord for talking with friends for any game, zero use for messaging systems and party whatever on any console. I'd never use a console or portable browser when I have my phone, I don't watch streaming apps except for those through my TV (except for HBO MAX because there's no roku TV app for it yet...). Don't care about achievements either. You could strip out pretty much every social interaction thing on every console and I wouldn't miss them even slightly.

I guess I want more themes but I never changed that on the Vita. I only ever had themes on my N3DS and loved them. Still have the Strange Journey Redux theme. So yeah, add those.
 
CloseTalker

CloseTalker

Member
Oct 25, 2017
30,679
With phones and tablets being what they are now, I can't fathom why anyone would use their Switch to browse the internet or watch YouTube/Netflix. Maybe children I guess?
 
Pokemaniac

Pokemaniac

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,944
The lack of streaming apps at least seems to on the streaming services themselves. Some of them actually have made apps (Hulu, YouTube, Funimation seems to be teasing one right now), but most just haven't bothered for some reason.
 
Kei-

Kei-

Member
Mar 1, 2018
1,041
Barrel Cannon said:
+1, I'm surprised we haven't got this feature years after. Feels like something homebrew probably already has
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Yup, homebrew solutions exist for all of this. Themes, Triplayer for music, mission control for bluetooth support of other controllers without any additional equipment, remote play for your pc games and also streming your Switch to your PC etc

Can also just straight up run android on the Switch if you want even more options. I love my hacked switched
 
KamenSenshi

KamenSenshi

Member
Nov 27, 2017
1,869
It makes sense that the Switch doesn't have those apps for a few reasons. Besides that they never marketed it as anything but a game system, they made sure that they were crystal clear on it after the WiiU. They in fact did the opposite of saying it'sa multimedia machine like the Vita and instead pointed out that all of their choices are based on games and getting people into their games more quickly.
 
Fei

Fei

Member
Oct 25, 2017
582
Party chat should be there. Party chat with cross play would be great. You can keep the rest.
 

Asriel

Member
Dec 7, 2017
2,458
The constant defense of the Switch lacking some of the most basic multimedia applications is tiresome and is evidence of why Nintendo doesn't have to put in the effort to improve the ecosystem.
 
alundra311

alundra311

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,233
CloseTalker

CloseTalker

Member
Oct 25, 2017
30,679
Asriel said:
My point was that Nintendo puts little effort into maintaining a proper ecosystem, and yet people will still inexplicably try to advocate on Nintendo's behalf for whatever silly reason.
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eh, there is definitely the right amount of grievance for things that actually matter like save transfer limitations in animal crossing. Nintendo could certainly be doing better, but people not being outraged that they don't have yet another way to watch Netflix isn't advocating for an improper ecosystem. People just don't need another way to watch Netflix, let alone on a bulky device with poor battery life, 720p screen, and shitty speakers. That's simply not a hill most people care to die on
 

Asriel

Member
Dec 7, 2017
2,458
CloseTalker said:
eh, there is definitely the right amount of grievance for things that actually matter like save transfer limitations in animal crossing. Nintendo could certainly be doing better, but people not being outraged that they don't have yet another way to watch Netflix isn't advocating for an improper ecosystem. People just don't need another way to watch Netflix, let alone on a bulky device with poor battery life, 720p screen, and shitty speakers. That's simply not a hill most people care to die on
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This is the precisely silly defense that I'm talking about. "People just don"t need this".
 
Faiyaz

Faiyaz

Member
Nov 30, 2017
5,287
Bangladesh
I would care if I didn't own a smartphone, tablet, and various other devices where the multimedia functions are much more efficient.
 
sredgrin

sredgrin

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
12,276
I will never get the way people poo poo this shit.

I get why people wouldn't use X feature on a Switch, but the way this topic is always full of people telling others why they also shouldn't use that feature is astounding. Yes, Netflix on a Switch is not going to be the ideal way to watch anything. So fucking what? If people can use PS4 browsers to look up Overwatch porn on Pornhub, there's always gonna be a situation or audience for the option.
 
CloseTalker

CloseTalker

Member
Oct 25, 2017
30,679
Asriel said:
This is the precisely silly defense that I'm talking about. "People just don"t need this".
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lol almost every product on planet earth has a variety of options with a range of features. Cars, coffee makers, TVs, all of it. In every instance, they all do things others don't do. I don't see how my logic is any less stupid than "because other platforms do a thing, Switch should too". It's not like they promised multimedia features they aren't delivering on.
 
Shadow

Shadow

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 28, 2017
4,127
More features are always a plus for me. I mean, the 3DS had way way more features than the Switch does. If they got it at least to that level I'd be a lot happier with it. Sure, it can do what I bought it for perfectly, but I'll always take the option of having my devices do more than they were intended to do at a basic level.

Loads of people on my Switch friends list are constantly using YouTube on it too. Some have thousands of hours in it. I bet they'd use other streaming apps a ton on it if they could. I know I would. It'd be a lot easier taking my Switch out of the dock to the kitchen to finish a movie after watching most of it on the TV instead of turning off the Xbox, getting my iPad, going into the app, picking the movie and then finally resume watching it.
 
Parthenios

Parthenios

The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
13,615
I first signed up for Netflix through my OG 3DS and watched Firefly on its tiny little screens. It's still the only way I've seen it.

More on topic: agree that Switch feature set is majorly lacking, and one of the top three reasons it's one of my least favorite Nintendo consoles.
 
Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius

Banned
Apr 25, 2020
3,418
We're talking about Nintendo, OP. Just getting a Youtube app out of them was like trying to draw blood from stone. Kicking a Koopa out of his own shell is easier.
 

Asriel

Member
Dec 7, 2017
2,458
Shadow said:
More features are always a plus for me. I mean, the 3DS had way way more features than the Switch does. If they got it at least to that level I'd be a lot happier with it. Sure, it can do what I bought it for perfectly, but I'll always take the option of having my devices do more than they were intended to do at a basic level.

Loads of people on my Switch friends list are constantly using YouTube on it too. Some have thousands of hours in it. I bet they'd use other streaming apps a ton on it if they could. I know I would. It'd be a lot easier taking my Switch out of the dock to the kitchen to finish a movie after watching most of it on the TV instead of turning off the Xbox, getting my iPad, going into the app, picking the movie and then finally resume watching it.
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Apparently, others have decided that because they don't mind having these things on your console as you would expect one to have in 2021, you shouldn't either!
 
nampad

nampad

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
4,238
Vita was the superior device but unfortunately gamers didn't buy one so that the games support suffered.

The Switch not having basic OS features is inexcusable.
 
Theswweet

Theswweet

RPG Site
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
6,419
California
Honestly, I just feel that the Vita feels better to actually hold and use. I play a ton of games that use the dpad, and I'm sure the reason that I still use my Vita on a near daily basis is because of how damn good the one on the system is. No input on the Switch is especially great, and it always makes me feel like I'm playing on a system built for compromise.
 
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