Nintendo Switch reveal REACTION

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As a first reveal, I the Nintendo NX looks really cool! I can imagine myself taking it away on trips and enjoying being able to play ‘triple-A’ games on the go.

It looks a pretty capable piece of hardware graphically, particularly for a system that can be played on the go.

I think raw hardware power is reaching a point where new enhancements matter less and less, though hopefully it’s not too far behind the PS4 and Xbox One. But regardless, the games will no doubt be huge fun.

My biggest disappointment is the apparent lack of a camera, even the Wii U had one! This would be perfect for video calls or making game streaming even more accessible to console players. It’s a missed opportunity. Where’s Pokemon GO on the Nintendo Switch?!

Skyrim! Witnessing one of my all time favourite games on Nintendo's new console gives me a little pleasure shiver.

I always get excited at the first look at a new gadget; I can even imagine what it will smell like fresh out of the box. (Is that weird? Sorry if that's just me.)

But when my critical faculties boot up again, I have to throw some doubt on things like the cynical attempt to court the esports audience, and the staged "youth culture" segments.

Do kids really hang around basketball courts indulging in small screen multiplayer games?

And unless it has a Skype camera, browser or movie playing app, I reckon my iPad would still be my first choice for a long train journey.

It seems like Nintendo hopes to repeat the success they had with the Wii by taking a different approach than Microsoft and Sony again; this time by enabling you to play the same games at home or anywhere.

It’s a neat idea, but what does the hardware offer gamers over a tablet and controller? A tablet that also lets you browse the web, send emails, watch movies, video call and more – all things that were conspicuous by their absence in Nintendo’s teaser.

But the single biggest oversight seems to be the lack of a camera.

It’s great to see a hardware manufacturer focus on making a games console instead of a multimedia machine, but with Augmented Reality about to take off it seems mad to release a games system specifically designed to be used out in the world without this functionality.

And this from Nintendo, who were first to market with an AR game that took the world by storm in Pokemon Go!

I know people buy Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games because they do it better than just about anyone else, but maybe they should take a leaf out of Sega’s book.

Is it time to get out of the hardware arms race that’s clearly outpaced them and focus on bringing their gold star games to a wider multiplatform audience instead?

Now that would be a Switch I’d like to see!