August 4th 2023.
Are you a sci-fi or fantasy fan? This is a question that we can't help but ask as we ponder the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. One reader in particular is a fan of the Diofield Chronicles, which has sparked a debate about the popularity of these two genres.
Personally, I don't find fantasy settings and themes to be appealing at all. I find the lack of sensible rules of magic and other fantasy elements to be off-putting, and even the most talked about worlds seem to be poorly thought out. However, it does make me wonder whether fantasy is more popular than sci-fi, or if it's the other way around. Movies are generally sci-fi, but what about games? Dragon Age apparently sold better than Mass Effect, despite the latter being discussed more, so is there an underlying fanbase for fantasy games?
I'm more interested in what the launch lineup for the Nintendo Switch 2 will be like. Will there be a Super Mario game? Will they offer upgrades for existing games? Or will there be other big games as well, such as a Mario and Metroid combo? Whatever the case may be, I'm sure that Nintendo will surprise us with something unexpected.
The debate also shifted to whether existing Switch owners would be upset if Nintendo announced a Switch 2. It's understandable why they wouldn't want to do this, as it could undermine potential sales at Christmas. On the other hand, early adopters will likely buy the Switch 2 regardless, and it could be a good way to promote the older models as an affordable alternative.
As for my opinion, I believe that the longer it takes for the Switch 2 to be announced and released, the better. This gives Nintendo time to make the console powerful enough and sensibly priced.
This discussion clearly shows how passionate gamers can be about these topics. Ultimately, the success of the PlayStation 5, despite some negative coverage, is a testament to its quality and reliability. It's not hard to see why people come back to PlayStation each gen, as it consistently delivers the goods. Ultimately, this is why Sony is so interested in live service models and third party marketing deals. It's likely that the enthusiast discourse is disconnected from where the casual gamers are, as they appreciate the high quality of the PlayStation brand.
Are you a sci-fi or a fantasy fan? That’s the burning question that the Friday letters page tries to answer, as one reader enjoys the Diofield Chronicles. Join the discussion and email your comments to the address provided.
Focus's comments got me thinking, is fantasy generally more popular than sci-fi, or the other way? It’s sci-fi that dominates movies for sure, but what about games? I was surprised to find that Dragon Age outsold Mass Effect, yet the space game seemed to get talked about a lot more. Does this mean there’s an avid, secret fan base for fantasy?
Personally, I find the lack of sensible rules for magic and other fantasy elements to be off-putting. Even the most talked about worlds seem poorly thought out. Sci-fi can feel the same, which is why I don’t like it when magic is added to it. Starfield seems much more up my alley, but unfortunately I don’t have a way to play it.
As for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, I don’t believe anything until Nintendo announce it themselves. I’m interested to see how backwards compatibility works, if there will be upgrades for existing games, and how much Nintendo will charge for them. Will they have other big games to fill out the launch line-up, like Mario and Metroid combined? Or will they surprise us again?
Phil made a point that the majority of Switch 2 sales will come from early adopters who already had a Switch. An announcement of new hardware would lead to a price drop and draw in more customers. I agree, but there’s the risk of compromising sales of the Switch 2 if they’re competing with their own previous generation.
What Nintendo could do is leverage the old Switch as the modern equivalent to the 2DS. Give all old models a decent price cut, make customers aware of the choice between those right now and the more expensive new machine shortly afterwards. This could be beneficial for Nintendo, as the longer it takes for the new one to be announced and released, the more likely it’ll be powerful enough and sensibly priced.
Michael shared his experience with Diofield Chronicles. He thought the 4/10 review was a bit harsh, but he enjoyed the game. He liked the minimalist plot and short scenes, which allowed for short gaming sessions.
Adam asked why the discourse around Sony PlayStation is often negative when the reality-on-the-ground is so much more positive. He suggested that it could be down to being the market leader, worries over the overall direction, or an indication that Sony are slipping up a little despite all the success.
Ultimately, Sony continue to deliver on the software front regularly, and the PlayStation 5 is selling extremely well. Many increasingly see PlayStation like Apple iPhones - the console you buy if you want something high quality, premium and that does the job. This is probably why Sony are so interested in live service models, and why they do so many third-party marketing deals.
It looks like enthusiast discourse is disconnected from where casual gamers are sometimes, so it makes me wonder - what's really going on here?
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