Just got a Switch - What are some basic do's and don'ts?

HardRojo · Oct 25, 2018

Just got the console, only opened the box to put the screen protector on the little thing, then put it right back inside the box. Haven't powered it up yet nor checked what's inside since literally just came back home.
What are some things I should take into consideration? I know I'm using a US account for sure and the Switch is staying docked most of the time, basically 99% of the time. Any other stuff I should take into account when setting up the console? I used to have a NNID from my 3DS days, but I haven't used it in so long, am I going to be asked for it when setting up my account?

Pokemon Master Tim · Oct 25, 2018

Don't give it orange juice. It doesn't want orange juice.

guek · Oct 25, 2018

Don't lick the game cartridges.

Josh5890 · Oct 25, 2018

Don't leave it in the microwave

spad3 · Oct 25, 2018

Pick up NSO if you plan to play online. Grab a pro controller when you get a chance.

Don't plug in an ethernet to the dock (via adapter) because it apparently heats up the dock and in turn your Switch.

Raguel · Oct 25, 2018

Don't feed it after midnight. And no water

HardRojo · Oct 25, 2018

guek said:
Don't lick the game cartridges.

I thought that's how you make the games perform better.

How about an SD card? I totally forgot to get one and it's kinda late right now...

Smurf · Oct 25, 2018

get a screen protector

Bjoern · Oct 25, 2018

Do:
- play with it
- put it out of the dock
- put it into the dock
- remove the Joy-Cons
- re-attach the Joy-Cons
- get a tempered glass screen protector

Don't:
- throw it around
- put it up your butt
- put it up someone else's butt (unless they really really want to
- look at the screen at an oblique angle
- seriously don't do it
- Cthulu will get you if you do
- he sleeps in every Switch, I swear this is true
- just don't

HardRojo · Oct 25, 2018

Smurf said:
get a screen protector

Literally the first thing I did after opening the box, it's already taken care of :D

mindsale · Oct 25, 2018

Don't expose it to direct light.

Don't get it wet.

Don't feed it after midnight.

BDS · Oct 25, 2018

Bjoern said:
Don't:
- put it up your butt

Don't tell me what to do

FernandoRocker · Oct 25, 2018

HardRojo said:
I thought that's how you make the games perform better.

How about an SD card? I totally forgot to get one and it's kinda late right now...

The SD card depends. If you are a physical guy, no reason to get one right now. 32GB is enough for indies and small eShop-only games. The physical games run directly from the cartridge; no installation needed.

Ehoavash · Oct 25, 2018

Beware of switch joycon stick drifting issue due to dust.

If you're going to use the Joycons, make sure to keep them in a dust free environment. I usually keep my joycons inside a switch carrying case i have unless they need to charge or when I'm playing

Dust can easily get inside the joycon sticks flaps and make every game unplayable due to the stickmoving on their own. I had to send my jocons to nintendo twice due to the dust getting inside the stick.

Drain You · Oct 25, 2018

mindsale said:
Don't expose it to direct light.

Don't get it wet.

Don't feed it after midnight.

My cats name is Gizmo.

Just play the damn thing. Screen protector would have been my only advice but you already handled that. I've had the Switch for like 6 months and I still don't own an SD card yet. I just keep deleting shit.

SuperFakerBros · Oct 25, 2018

HardRojo said:
I thought that's how you make the games perform better.

How about an SD card? I totally forgot to get one and it's kinda late right now...

If you plan on getting a fair amount of digital games, a microSD card would be more or less a necessity

As for things you should do with regards to setting it up, just handle it with care and it should be fine. You already have a screen protector so you're good there

Now, for games, you should look into:

Stardew Valley
Splatoon 2
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario + Rabbids
Hollow Knight
Super Smash Bros (When it releases)

WieDerrickWie · Oct 25, 2018

Be very fucking careful putting it in the dock. There's a little plastic bit inside the dock with a right angle that the screen of the Switch slides against and move it fast or at a weird angle can cause it to scratch.

Also, get a screen protector.

FernandoRocker · Oct 25, 2018

You will need to create a new account called Nintendo Switch Online account (NSO). This is their new account system.

The NNID (Nintendo Network ID) from the 3DS and Wii U are legacy now. You can link your old NNID to your new NSO, but it is not necessary.

samred · Oct 26, 2018

HardRojo said:
I know I'm using a US account for sure

create a separate JPN user and have fun browsing through that separate eShop interface. easy to do, doesn't mess up your USA acct at all.

HardRojo said:
the Switch is staying docked most of the time, basically 99% of the time

you're Switching incorrectly. I strongly encourage you to actually use the thing away from your TV, especially since its biggest weaknesses are exposed in docked play. sub-1080p performance on a TV is fine, but blistering 720p performance on the go in the same games feels way more like the future.

HardRojo said:
am I going to be asked for it when setting up my account?

Yep. You can always reset your password via email.

HardRojo said:
Any other stuff I should take into account when setting up the console?

If you're starting w/ a smaller MicroSD card and upgrade to a bigger one later, that's super easy to do. Power down, remove old card, copy every single file onto a newly formatted card, put new card in, power on. (Save files are always stored on internal memory, so you'll never have to worry about save-file mismatches.)

Once memory starts filling up, if you want to guarantee a game installs on your system's internal memory, power down and remove your SD card, then install. You'll get ever-so-slightly faster loading times on internal memory over MicroSD. (Cartridges are slower than internal memory, unsure if they're slower than MicroSD.)

Neiteio · Oct 26, 2018

Don't spike it in the end zone and start dancing, showboating is distasteful

HardRojo · Oct 26, 2018

FernandoRocker said:
The SD card depends. If you are a physical guy, no reason to get one right now. 32GB is enough for indies and small eShop-only games. The physical games run directly from the cartridge; no installation needed.

Oh Ok, this is great to know because I was worried I fucked up by not getting an SD card. I'm mostly playing physical on Switch (don't trust Nintendo with online yet) so I'm good it seems.

SuperFakerBros · Oct 26, 2018

HardRojo said:
Oh Ok, this is great to know because I was worried I fucked up by not getting an SD card. I'm mostly playing physical on Switch (don't trust Nintendo with online yet) so I'm good it seems.

Their online this time around, surprisingly, works like it does for any other system so there shouldn't be an issue there

Megatron · Oct 26, 2018

There was this thread a while back warning against plugging it into Ethernet. It makes the system get hot.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/ps...-it-will-warm-up-in-the-dock-overnight.39529/

DjDeathCool · Oct 26, 2018

HardRojo said:
Literally the first thing I did after opening the box, it's already taken care of :D

I didn't get a screen protector right away but I had one of those bendy ones... so it has a curve on it now and I don't think a screen protector will do much good.. The screen isn't "scratched up" per say but it feels... gunky? Idk. It gives me a good excuse to upgrade to whatever revision Nintendo puts out (as long as there isn't any shocking downgrades like Nintendo is known to do from time to time with their revisions) and give this one to my nieces.

FernandoRocker · Oct 26, 2018

samred said:
create a separate JPN user and have fun browsing through that separate eShop interface. easy to do, doesn't mess up your USA acct at all.

you're Switching incorrectly. I strongly encourage you to actually use the thing away from your TV, especially since its biggest weaknesses are exposed in docked play. sub-1080p performance on a TV is fine, but blistering 720p performance on the go in the same games feels way more like the future.

Yep. You can always reset your password via email.

If you're starting w/ a smaller MicroSD card and upgrade to a bigger one later, that's super easy to do. Power down, remove old card, copy every single file onto a newly formatted card, put new card in, power on. (Save files are always stored on internal memory, so you'll never have to worry about save-file mismatches.)

Once memory starts filling up, if you want to guarantee a game installs on your system's internal memory, power down and remove your SD card, then install. You'll get ever-so-slightly faster loading times on internal memory over MicroSD. (Cartridges are slower than internal memory, unsure if they're slower than MicroSD.)

I wouldn't recommend getting a separate Japanese account. Nintendo allows to change your region with just a click. Just go to accounts.nintendo.com and do it from there. You can change the region without problems.

99% of Switch games uses universal ROMs. If you get a game in the USA for example, it is the exact same ROM as the Japanese one. So you download and redownload every game no matter the region you set your account.

neilyadig · Oct 26, 2018

Careful with the little joycon add-on strap things. I broke the plastic button that locks the joycons into the console by sliding them on backwards.

Nintendo fixed the joycon for free, though.

DanteLinkX · Oct 26, 2018

Dos
-buy bayonetta 2 (the version that comes with 1)
-mario odyssey
-hyrule warriors
-mario kart 8 deluxe
-preorder smash
-splatoon 2
-mario party
-take it with you everywhere (and I mean it, you will come to love long lines at banks and waiting for your significant other in their shooping sprees)
-get a ps4 gold headset (it works when conected via usb to the switch in dock)
-a bag to carry it.
-get octopath traveler.
-okami hd
-megaman 11
-download fortnite and learn to play with motion aiming on joycons
-take a dump while completing a zelda shrine.
-share your account with a friend

Donts
-leave it out of your sight
-share your account with a stranger
-play while running/walking
-dunk it in the dock.
-play while your significant other wants to watch some boring shit in netflix, cuz then switch will become its enemy.
-play at work, 15 mins will become 1 hour then 2 then 3. And you will get fired.

HardRojo · Oct 26, 2018

samred said:
If you're starting w/ a smaller MicroSD card and upgrade to a bigger one later, that's super easy to do. Power down, remove old card, copy every single file onto a newly formatted card, put new card in, power on. (Save files are always stored on internal memory, so you'll never have to worry about save-file mismatches.)

Once memory starts filling up, if you want to guarantee a game installs on your system's internal memory, power down and remove your SD card, then install. You'll get ever-so-slightly faster loading times on internal memory over MicroSD. (Cartridges are slower than internal memory, unsure if they're slower than MicroSD.)

This is some great advice to take into account when I start using an SD card! Thank you!

SuperFakerBros said:
Their online this time around, surprisingly, works like it does for any other system so there shouldn't be an issue there

Is it? Will have to check for myself then.

Megatron said:
There was this thread a while back warning against plugging it into Ethernet. It makes the system get hot.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/ps...-it-will-warm-up-in-the-dock-overnight.39529/

Ah yeah, I was planning to use ethernet on this, but Wi-Fi will have to do for now and I don't really plan to play online until Smash drops.

samred · Oct 26, 2018

FernandoRocker said:
I wouldn't recommend getting a separate Japanese account. Nintendo allows to change your region with just a click. Just go to accounts.nintendo.com and do it from there. You can change the region without problems.

99% of Switch games uses universal ROMs. If you get a game in the USA for example, it is the exact same ROM as the Japanese one. So you download and redownload every game no matter the region you set your account.

I didn't say a separate *account*. I said a separate *user*. This lets you easily hop into the JPN eShop by simply picking that user when selecting the eShop app. Same for any other territories' eShops.

ANNeFRANKxGOKU · Oct 26, 2018

how important is a screen protector? my girlfriend just picked one up for mario party, is it that huge of a deal? hard to install it?

Umibozu · Oct 26, 2018

HardRojo said:
I thought that's how you make the games perform better.

How about an SD card? I totally forgot to get one and it's kinda late right now...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074RNRM2B/
These seem to be a good deal

Drain You · Oct 26, 2018

Also demos are rare these days on home consoles, but Switch has a ton, so go wild. Don't be afraid to download shit you've never heard of either, there is a couple of rhythm games that have demos that I would have never given the chance if it werent for the demo.

Ellen Pudge said:
how important is a screen protector? my girlfriend just picked one up for mario party, is it that huge of a deal? hard to install it?

The rubber stoppers cause these thick rubbery scuffs on my screen protector, so I can only imagine over time it could scratch the screen esp if some dust or something gets in there. I'm horrible at installing screen protectors and I had no issue with installation at all. Tempered glass really helps out with this. Its cheap enough that I'd just get one if only for piece of mind.

Kyuur · Oct 26, 2018

Don't drop the joycons. Easiest controllers to bust that I've ever owned.

blueredandgold · Oct 26, 2018

Can you buy a physical copy, play it, take the game back to the store/trade the game in (weeks or months on), and make sure your save data is accessible if you purchase the same game once more from the eshop?

I know cloud saves have just been enabled, but not sure if the above is feasible.

Razorrin · Oct 26, 2018

Do try demos for games you might be interested in!

New games on a new console can be a big investment, so take some time to try some out first so you can be sure you'll have a good time! I recommend trying DQ Builders, Labyrinth of Refrain, DEFINITELY Octopath Traveller, and Captain Toad; Treasure Tracker, since your save data carries over to the main game if any of those are up your alley!

The E-Shop search menu even has a button specifically for finding game demos, so that'll help out a ton! Though I believe Octopath Traveler, since it had an early demo, might be a little tricky, just go for the one that's with the main game.

You're pretty safe with Mario Odyssey and Zelda BOTW, if you have any doubts.

Don't neglect your joycons!

The Analog Sticks can break if you don't take care to prevent them from sticking in one direction in storage or in your pocket, same as any other controller. They stick out a lot, though, so I recommend just getting a cheap, effective case for the switch to safely take it on the go.

Drain You · Oct 26, 2018

blueredandgold said:
Can you buy a physical copy, play it, take the game back to the store/trade the game in (weeks or months on), and make sure your save data is accessible if you purchase the same game once more from the eshop?

I know cloud saves have just been enabled, but not sure if the above is feasible.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but thats for sure possible. Saves aren't saved to the cart like 3ds games.

Razorrin · Oct 26, 2018

Oh yeah, it's also really easy to set up a Japanese account to access free demos and game on the Japanese store, just make a new profile, and make a Nintendo account for it with a Japanese email. Buying games might be tricky, but there are a surprising amount of things to experience for free, so if you already have a Japanese email, give it a shot!

It's also region-free, so if you need to order a game from Europe, or pick a game up while doing some world traveling, you can play it on your switch with no issues!

julian · Oct 26, 2018

blueredandgold said:
Can you buy a physical copy, play it, take the game back to the store/trade the game in (weeks or months on), and make sure your save data is accessible if you purchase the same game once more from the eshop?

I know cloud saves have just been enabled, but not sure if the above is feasible.

This works. I've done it.

OP: if considering getting the online/cloud saves/NES games, don't buy a personal account if you know even one person with a Switch. Family accounts are incredibly simple to set up and work on multiple accounts and systems.

Change to the dark theme to be super cool.

blackmass · Oct 26, 2018

Get a screen protector. Get a hard cover bag, but not that one from Hori. Get Zelda BOTW, Octopath Traveler and you should do fine

Ocean · Oct 26, 2018

Do:

- Get a Pro controller. The Joycons are garbage.
- Get an Ethernet adapter. WiFi gaming is bad in general, but more so on Switch with its seemingly caveman tier WiFi hardware.
- Buy a 200GB+ card

Don't:

- (In my opinion): buy physical games. It's really cumbersome to swap cards out. Imagine buying a phone and having to open it up and swap in a different card every time you wanted to switch apps.

FernandoRocker · Oct 26, 2018

blueredandgold said:
Can you buy a physical copy, play it, take the game back to the store/trade the game in (weeks or months on), and make sure your save data is accessible if you purchase the same game once more from the eshop?

I know cloud saves have just been enabled, but not sure if the above is feasible.

Yes. Saves are saved on the internal memory and not on the cartridge.

Drain You · Oct 26, 2018

Ocean said:
Don't:

- (In my opinion): buy physical games. It's really cumbersome to swap cards out. Imagine buying a phone and having to open it up and swap in a different card every time you wanted to switch apps.

Both have their pros and cons so I think its a matter of opinion (like you said). I buy physical cause I like being able to trade it in/let a friend borrow it/Not having to connect online if I want to buy a new game. Unfortunately day 1 patches are the norm these days so buying physical still kinda sucks lol.

FernandoRocker · Oct 26, 2018

Ocean said:
Do:

- Get a Pro controller. The Joycons are garbage.
- Get an Ethernet adapter. WiFi gaming is bad in general, but more so on Switch with its seemingly caveman tier WiFi hardware.
- Buy a 200GB+ card

Don't:

- (In my opinion): buy physical games. It's really cumbersome to swap cards out. Imagine buying a phone and having to open it up and swap in a different card every time you wanted to switch apps.

But physical games are usually cheaper, plus you get the box with nice artwork.

Deleted member 48897 · Oct 26, 2018

Pro controllers are super comfy but if you're going to do lots of 2D gaming I'd suggest either getting the Pokken controllers or the 8bitdo SN30s (or whatever their SNES style with joystick ones are).

Honestly though, I've been able to get by with the joycon 4 button d-pad thing most of the time. Pro controller is awful for Puyo Puyo Tetris but gets a bit better if you open up the controller and put painters' tape or something similar over the edges of the D-pad contacts.

HardRojo · Oct 26, 2018

I guess I'm gonna have to start figuring shit out like Joycon charge and whatnot as I keep going. Also, do you recommend leaving the dock plugged all the time? Plus, how does sleep/wakeup work with Switch? Do you just leave the console plugged in and use the Joycons to wake it up and stuff?

neilyadig · Oct 26, 2018

HardRojo said:
I guess I'm gonna have to start figuring shit out like Joycon charge and whatnot as I keep going. Also, do you recommend leaving the dock plugged all the time? Plus, how does sleep/wakeup work with Switch? Do you just leave the console plugged in and use the Joycons to wake it up and stuff?

Just leave the dock plugged in, and the Switch in the dock, like any other console.

The joycons will charge when connected to the Switch.

Hit the home button to wake up the console.

Drain You · Oct 26, 2018

neilyadig said:
Hit the home button to wake up the console.

Fuck yea, I had no idea I could do this, thanks. I think the power button up top is awkward to hit so the less I have to use it the better.

Joltik · Oct 26, 2018

Do: --Be on the lookout for some Black Friday deals next month when you plan to get a micro SD card. 200GB one from SanDisk or Samsung is highly recommended.

AstronaughtE · Oct 26, 2018

Get an SD card if you haven't, but wait for a deal. They've been plunging deeper and deeper in price recently, and they go on sale often.

ShadowMurloc · Oct 26, 2018

Don't " leave it docked 99% of the time".

Just got a Switch - What are some basic do's and don'ts?

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