Hold your horses.
I love my Nintendo Switch. It is by far my most played console ever. It is easy to pick up and play, especially because of the fact that the portability factor allows you to “detach” from the TV and take your game anywhere. Be it a study break or a trip to the bathroom, the Switch has you covered. But there is one place where I believe the Switch truly excels; the house of a family with kids.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Let’s face it, no other company has achieved the ‘family-friendly’ image Nintendo has and that’s no accident. For the longest time, Nintendo strived to make games for everyone. This makes sense from a business point of view, as your audience grows larger when you make games and consoles that cater to many demographics, but it historically cornered Nintendo as the console manufacturer with the least amount of ‘mature-rated’ games. Things have changed over the years though, with the number of high quality ‘mature’ titles available on Nintendo consoles increasing steadily and the number of games I can play around the family youngsters rapidly declining. Yet, the Nintendo Switch is the best console for adults with children.
KEEPING THE DEMONS AT BAY
The simplest way to explain the reason why is with the following scenario. You want to play DOOM with a 1-year-old in the room but you don’t want the kid growing up damaged. What do you do? You walk to that big ol’ TV of yours, pull the Switch from its dock and enjoy the demon-slaying privately, without exploring the effects of gory imagery has on the development of a child’s brain. Perfect. All jokes aside, such a simple luxury is what makes the Switch attractive to people with families. Nintendo’s tagline in Switch ads should be “Anytime. Anywhere. No matter how messed up the game you’re playing is.”
BONUS FEATURES
Of course, a more obvious reason for the Switch being such an easy buy for families is the out-of-the-box multiplayer. Each unit comes with two controllers, essentially eliminating the extra cost of buying a second controller. This can be a godsend feature for adults who are a bit strapped for cash but want to get a console for core gaming as well as having something cool to enjoy with their children. Switch is the jack of all trades.
Do you enjoy your Nintendo Switch? What less obvious feature makes it perfect for you?
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