The designer's eye: Nintendo Switch

The new Nintendo Switch game console has attracted a great deal of attention since its release. After testing it for several weeks, our Lead Product Designer, Olivier Patry, shares his experience and viewpoint on this game console that lies halfway between portable devices and home consoles.


PACKAGING

Although the Switch comes in a package that’s compact and relatively optimized, there are no surprises. For those who recall the attention and detailing devoted to the Wii package 10 years ago, this may be somewhat disappointing. This time, the package adds nothing to the product as an experience. It’s simply functional, no more, no less.



THE SCREEN: THE HEART OF THE CONSOLE

Once the console comes out of its box, an impressive number of accessories immediately announce plenty of excitement and versatility. At the heart of the console is the LCD touchscreen, with its generous 6.2-inch width. Overall, it’s quite successful, though the rim around the live screen area feels a bit too wide. Also, the screen’s protective covering is a layer of plastic instead of the glass usually found on smartphones and tablets. Not only does Nintendo’s choice save costs but, most importantly, the screen will not shatter if it falls and hits the floor. This a smart idea, considering that this a family game console and accidents of this sort are quite common. After more than 60 hours of use, including numerous dockings, the screen is unscratched. Care is still necessary, of course. Plastic scratches more easily than glass when rubbed against other materials.



The metal alloy case gives an impression of quality and sturdiness – a perception that this is a high-end product. The only real lapse in quality is the plastic kickstand that holds the screen upright in tabletop mode for multiplayer “on the go” gaming. It seems fragile – barely able to hold the screen in place during fast and furious Mario Kart sessions. One inexpensive, effective solution would be simply to change the kickstand’s material into the same as the rest of the case, without altering its design.



JOY-CON

The versatility of the Nintendo Switch derives directly from a stroke of genius – the Joy-Con controllers. These asymmetrical handheld controls offer a host of configurations that allow the Switch to be used as a classic game console connected to a television, or work in portable mode using the console screen. All these configurations are possible in single-player or multiplayer gaming.



In classic mode, both Joy-Con controllers can be attached to a grip that, once in place, emulates a conventional gamepad. Passing marks for good intentions – but the results are mixed. The overall format is striking and interesting, but the adjustments and finish leave something to be desired.



The Joy-Con can also be used separately in each hand, in a manner reminiscent of Wiimote controls, which in their day managed to deliver some novelty in the defined world of video gaming.



Small optional caps fit over the controller edges, and include wrist straps to prevent the Joy Con from being dropped. As designers, we might see this as an expensive solution for a questionable benefit. Couldn’t Nintendo have integrated this function into the controller itself?



For use as a portable single-user gaming device, the Joy-Con will slide into channels on either side of the screen console. In product design, this type of movement is a concern since there are definitely risks involved. In the case of the Switch, however, we must admit that the mechanics are pretty successful. The fit is very rigid and feels secure. The long, sliding motion and the feedback sound when attachment is completed are impressive. Once this operation is done, the feeling of a complete, finished product is flawless. You’ve got a quality portable game console in your hands.



The most imaginative use of the Joy-Con is in portable multiplayer mode, where it can be shared and used horizontally like a minimalist gamepad, allowing two users to play on the same console. Up to four players can take part, though screen size may become a drawback in that case.



In terms of gesture recognition, the Joy-Con beats the competition. As a wireless unit, it’s equipped with sensors and what Nintendo calls “HD Rumble,” a haptic feedback engine that’s much more accurate than those normally found in other game consoles. The gaming experience is more accurate and much better. Generally, and in terms of handling, the contrast in arrangement and size of its various controls with those of related gamepads may well require a certain amount of adaptation. But the system’s versatility makes the experience very enjoyable. Incidentally, the micro-switches and texture of the buttons should stand up to intensive use.


THE DOCKING STATION

The docking station for recharging the console and connecting to a television is probably the most disappointing component, due to its lack of coherence. Although smart and practical, the execution is not up to the standard set in the rest of the Switch. The materials and finish are less inviting and the dock gives the impression of being fragile. Use of a high-end mold finish and laser engraving would have enhanced the unit’s perceived quality without raising the cost.



When placed in the dock, the console screen is not entirely covered. Without drastically altering the intended design, it would have been possible simply to revise the proportions and recover a few signature codes. For example, the small luminous tunnels that might have made the whole thing more esthetically pleasing and coherent, yet not more expensive.



Adding a shallow notch at the back of the screen would make it easier to grasp when removing from the dock.



Nonetheless, the dock is easy to forget about, because of its discreet appearance. In terms of use, it likewise remains satisfying. Docking is very easy, even without looking. Arrangement of the wires is likewise well thought out. A hatch lets you guide and hold the power cord and HDMI cable in place.


COMMUNICATION

Lastly, the graphic design, including typography, logo, and colours, helps add a final touch to the console as a visual entity – as game-oriented and iconic as anyone could want. The logo itself evokes the asymmetrical Joy-Con outlines, authentically emblematic features of the Nintendo Switch. The visual and auditory coherence throughout the experience creates a distinctive, emphatic signature.



In conclusion, from my point of view as a designer, the Nintendo Switch as a product is well thought-out, but especially well designed. True, it has a few wrinkles, which probably exist due to concerns over cost and production constraints, but these are quickly forgotten in actual use. The various gaming experiences it offers make it unique and attractive. As a home or portable game console, the Nintendo Switch fulfills its mission with flying colours.

What do you think?