Remember the first time you bought a PS2 knowing that it could also play DVDs? How did you feel when you found out that the PS3 could play blu-ray disks, and that you could integrate your Hulu and Netflix accounts on there? Honestly, that is probably why a lot of people who are not even into gaming bought those consoles. Unfortunately, Nintendo never really subscribed to the multi-use console hype. People criticize Nintendo for their lack of games for hardcore gamers and their affinity for leaving out third-party developers. It is perceived as the family-friendly console that obsessively pushes Super Mario like a video game version of Mickey Mouse. However, unlike Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo has kept it all about the games.
Nintendo did not go down the DVD rabbit hole or put in browsers for fans to search the internet. Out of all the consoles, they only showed concern for the gaming experience. Since add-ons have become a common thing, people expect their consoles to supply all their technology needs. Well, here comes the Nintendo Switch. It has harkened back to the days of cartridges and has taken the original gaming experience and added a portable edge. It might not be able to show a blu-ray movies, but this thing has a lot of quirky features attached to it. Let’s check out the 25 crazy things you probably had no idea you could do with a Nintendo Switch.
25 Joy Cons Are The Gift That Keeps On Giving
For years now, companies have marketed their smartphone controllers. They are either too expensive, or they do not accurately connect to the phone. The Nintendo Switch is a jack of all trades. Players can join their Joy Cons to android phones and PCs. This is great for people who are substantial mobile gamers, or who like to use VR headsets with their phones. Also, players can get their Steam play on as well. Therefore, the Nintendo Switch is turning out to have a lot of multi-uses. If you are looking to use these Joy Cons for a lot of different purposes, that console location feature will come in handy. These things will get lost in the abyss of your couch and bedroom regularly.
24 Shove Your Success In The Face Of Your Friends
Why stop at photos and memes? Why not capture victorious moments with video? While the console also allows people to catch screenshots, people can also easily record video (hopefully of how awesome their gaming is) and share it with friends or post it on social media. Again, the ease of connecting a Facebook and Twitter account to the Switch makes this capability accessible and user-friendly. Plus, Nintendo secretly knows that gamers have some of the most massive egos on the block. We are a community of trash talkers and braggers. The easier they make this happen the better. Plus, when speedrunners break records on the Breath of Wild, they have to have some way to prove it. Now, if we can only get easy connectivity to Youtube, we would be in business.
23 Turn Your Switch Into A Computer
Alright, so we can agree that the thing looks like a tablet. Without the Joy Cons attached to it, it might even pass for a Droid version. There is a lot of times where players have to type information on the device, and Nintendo sees how this can sometimes be annoying on a “gaming tablet.” They have given users the ability to attach a keyboard for players to more easily type. Now, here is where we are going to get off the Nintendo-love train and say, if they are going to allow people the opportunity to connect a keyboard, the next logical step would be to allow them to surf the web. People are going to expect this to be the evolution of what the console can do, so it will be interesting to see how they respond to the inquiries.
22 Control Your TV
Now, this one can be used in such an ingenious way that we would declare this one a home run. The developers of this console put a lot of thought into the way the Switch should interact with a gamer’s television. Instead of having to turn it on and then find the remote (which you probably lost) to then turn it on, the developers helped players to accomplish both in one step. The Nintendo Switch can be set up to turn on or turn off a television when the Nintendo Switch comes on. Besides the convenience, this set up gives gamers the opportunity to go ham on pranks. Want to make your family think the television is malfunctioning? This is the perfect way to do it!
21 Run Code
Sony and Microsoft are a little more forgiving to gamers who like to mod games and run their code. Many times, this is what adds an even higher fun factor to games like Grand Theft Auto or Skyrim. Some mods have become so popular they have spawned their own games. This feature really allows for a creative gaming community. Unfortunately, Nintendo has not been as on board with this as they could be. The sanctity of Mario and Zelda seems to be too much for them to accept. A teenager in Italy brought this security wall all the way down by jailbreaking a Switch and running his own code. Adept gamers can follow in his footsteps to do the same thing, but it will be a lot more difficult than other consoles.
20 Play N64 Games
This previous entry leads right into this one perfectly (we totally meant to, we promise). No matter how many installments of Zelda, Mario, or Metroid Nintendo creates; nothing will ever be like the first time the gaming community saw the 3D versions of these characters come alive on the Nintendo 64. We understand that it is difficult to bring these older games forward to devices with more advanced technologies, but that has not stopped fans from trying to do their own throwbacks. Skilled gamers and hackers have found a way to break the code in the console to put in an emulator for old N64 games, like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. These guys show that when there is a will, there will always be a way when it comes to gaming.
19 Find A Secret Message
Nintendo backs up that commitment to gaming by leaving a secret message for fans on one of their controllers. The Switch Pro Controller includes a hidden message that says “thnx2 allgamefans.” How cool is that? They decided to throw some appreciation to the fans by using gamer text speak. Not too shabby. Again, they may be missing on the bells and whistles, but Nintendo is all about meaningful easter eggs and keeping the gaming experience all about the people. The Switch Pro Controller does have a hefty price tag, so we are not sure if it is worth it for you to give it a try, but hey, have at it. Sadly, most of the Switch accessories are kinda expensive. Can’t escape good ol’ commercialism.
18 Create The Meme Of The Year
The 2010s are the decade of the meme. Remember the first one you ever saw? You probably thought that you could do it even better. Well, years later, the Switch is here to help you experience “meme greatness” among all your friends. The Switch allows gamers to screenshot moments in games easily, and if someone connects their Facebook and Twitter account, they can quickly add text and create memes. Want to make a statement against a friend in multiplayer? Screenshot that encounters and make ‘em weep. This is the ultimate next step in trash talking, and we couldn’t love it even more. Would you instead have a blu-ray player or a way to make your friend never forget their defeat? We would choose the latter.
17 A Third Screen?
Goodness! How many screens are we going to need in gaming situations? Tablets, smartphones, televisions, gaming tablets, computers. The list is becoming endless, and someone is bound to get confused. On games like Splatoon 2, gamers can use the Switch smartphone app to connect the smartphone and access shops and gear. If a player is going between the Switch screen and the television, this is a third screen players could use to play the game. At some point, we have to ask, how much is too much? If players have to attach a smartphone and then focus on the gaming tablet screen; the most adept of players can lose focus. Get ready to hook up your computer screen to the console someday soon.
16 Make Your Friends Wonder What Is Up Your Sleeve
People do not realize how much information gaming systems dole out about their activities. A gamer can see someone’s level, what game they are currently playing, the achievements they have acquired in the game. While this information may not seem like a big deal, it can let opponents know what parts of a game you have mastered and if they have a chance to take you in a multiplayer situation. Nintendo is a fan of privacy and keeping your cards to yourself, so they have enabled ways to let you shield all you have done. The Switch offers players the opportunity to hide their achievements, gaming information, and how long they have played from people they are friends with; creating an air of mystery.
15 Find Lost Joy Cons
People seem to have a love-hate relationship with these Joy Cons, they are small and compact, but the left one has been known to have connectivity issues and a much shorter battery life than the other. Not only are these things easy to use to get gaming started, but they are also easy to lose. For some reason, developers knew this might be a problem and installed capabilities for players to locate their lost Joy Cons. The Nintendo Switch console has a feature where it can make joy cons make noise and vibrate so gamers can identify them if they are lost. Honestly, this may be one of the best features on the list. Why have television companies not installed this on their remotes? This is nothing short of genius.
14 Turn The Joy Con Into A WiiMote
We are starting to feel like Nintendo is stumbling upon these technological advancements by accident at this point. Have developers found the way to controller-television pairing without the use of sensors? Some players have found that without a sensor the Joy Con can control the navigation cursor when the Switch is connected to the television. Does this mean that we could see some Wii games that depended on the functionality of the Wii-mote make their way onto the Switch? There are so many questions and not enough answers about what this could mean. One thing is for sure; it looks like there could be some backward compatibility on the console. Hopefully, Nintendo thought about those errant Wii-motes that went into some televisions. That sure did make for some good YouTube viewing.
13 Play Anywhere
Okay, so these guys have thought of everything. They knew that people would want to take the gaming experience any and everywhere: a boat ride, in a cabin in the mountains, and even at work. While the PlayStation and Xbox are limited to where they can go, Nintendo saw this issue and heightened the stakes. The Nintendo Switch allows for people to connect the console to external batteries so that people can play on the go anywhere. However, history tells us that we should not be surprised about this? Who created the game-changing Gameboy, and all of its collective iterations? Basically, do not sleep on Nintendo, they will surprise you every time. We live in a portable culture where people want to enjoy themselves anywhere, Nintendo recognizes that.
12 Got An Apple?
The debate of Apple vs. PC will always rage on, but here is a feather in the cap for Apple enthusiast. The Nintendo Switch has an excellent connection to Macbooks. The console can charge an Apple MacBook computer. While the amount of charge will not be tremendous because of the size of the computer’s battery in comparison to the Switch, it can still save the computer from shutting down completely. We have so many electronic devices at our fingertips; it is about time that some of them started helping to charge the others. Hmmm, a search browser or the capability to charge a prized possession that I am probably using to finish work or a school assignment? The answer to this should be easy.
11 Name Your Switch, Like A Pet
For some odd reason, humans like to associate names with everything. We name our cars and homes, and we create a huge deal about what we decide to call the new pet in our lives. Nintendo recognizes this close bond that people have to their things and allowed people to do the same with their Switch consoles. The console allows for gamers to give it a nickname and name it. Kind of crazy that this console adds that much personalization. Nintendo understands that the compact size of the machine will make people want to customize it and make it their own. This is why they offer skins, but the name is a little unusual. Before long, we will see custom skins at mall booths just like ones for smartphones.
10 There Is A Game You Can Only Play for One Day
This is probably the coolest easter egg on the entire list. Some hackers found evidence of a mini-game on the Switch that was hidden away from the public and was only playable on one day. On the Switch, there is a golf mini-game that players can just play on July 11th. This is a tribute to Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s president who passed away on that day in 2015. Gaming aside, it is incredible when a company feels compelled pay tribute to someone who committed so much of themselves to their passion. It allows that person to still have an impact even if they are no longer here physically. If you have a Switch, remember to give golf a try on July 11th.
9 Move Over Siri, Here Is Amelia
It is amazing how we have become used to directing our phones to accomplish tasks for us. Now, this capability extends beyond smartphones. The Nintendo Switch has a virtual customer support employee that is slated to help gamers figure out some basic questions about the console. She pens a letter to players telling them of updates and news. Nintendo is all about imagery, and here it shows, Amelia is shown to be wearing a headset showing that she is ready to answer any and all questions. We all know that Nintendo is the first to do a lot of things. Will Sony and Microsoft pick up this feature? Will there be another virtual assistant with weird colored hair that helps people figure out the next Grand Theft Auto or Destiny?
8 Prowl On Social Media
Alright, here is the doozy that a lot of people are not excited about. There is not a regular web browser. The screenshot and video record functionality are supported through a connection to a user’s personal Twitter and Facebook account, but it is kind of difficult for players to use those platforms outside of participating in those activities. However, there is a way. Players can lurk on Facebook and Twitter even though Nintendo is not a huge fan of supporting that. Instead of posting photos and videos, players can search around on the social media sites. What is cool about this is that the platform will not show that you are active on either site. So, lurk away, just don’t be too creepy about it.
7 You Don’t Have To Run For A Charger
We have all been in this situation. You need to send an essential text to your friend or significant other. Your failure to follow up within thirty seconds will spell doom. Couple this with the fact that you forgot to bring your charger, and you are on one percent battery life. You see no way to improve your situation, so the phone gives out. It is crazy that smartphones have not yet done this, but the Switch automatically goes to sleep mode when it has 2 percent battery life to conserve energy and allow gamers to find a charger before losing any progress. It knows that we do not plan for the future and that we likely misplaced our charger. It knows us so well.
6 Wake Up The Console To Different Sounds
Want to wake up your device? This normally requires a boring home or power button hold. After this, there will be the same noise you have always heard that you have no emotional connection to. It signifies that it is ready to go, but it does not do much beyond that. Nintendo knows how much people like to feel nostalgic, and they made way for gamers to feel just that. Players can walk down memory lane by pressing specific buttons three times. These are well-known sounds that gamers will recognize. While Playstation and Xbox are all business with their atmospheric and EDM inspired opening music, Nintendo decided to go hokey and attach some meaning to the process. Minimalistic and modern is cool, but you sometimes need that old-school vibe.