The Untold Story of the 2016 Nintendo Switch Reveal Video - Kit & Krysta Podcast EP141

[@Goobious_Maximus]

Switch reveal was so long ago now, but Karen and her rooftop parties will live on forever.

[@AB-py6jl]

I still havent had a Switch rooftop party yet 😂 i should have planned one

[@AnthonyDGreen]

I'm personally disappointed that in almost 8 years I've never been to a rooftop Switch party, though, in honor of the reveal I'm trying to organize one with my friends. The whole community should join us!

[@DGFTardin]

At the time I had a newborn baby and wasn't following the news much, I legit learned about the Switch through the "Karen on the rooftop" meme!

[@occono3543]

I know the guy Joe on Tumblr who created it. It's the only time I've been at ground zero for a meme. I feel bad he doesn't get money or fame from it haha.

[@jellojiggler1693]

I think I heard the alarmo go off at 1:07:17 and 1:07:26. Or maybe someone is talking in the next room over. You might have to use headphones to hear it.

[@Dude902]

What really surprised me about the response to Salurai’s final video is that people didn’t realize it was prerecorded in advance. One thing I learned from watching lectures from game developers is that most of the video topics have been covered elsewhere (GDC Vault on KZbin is a such a good resource for getting diverse developer insights not published elsewhere, including a lot of Nintendo behind the scenes). Aside from being a concise charismatic speaker on complex (sometimes boring and technical) topics, the secret sauce is the companies he outsourced to make the visuals and his specificity in direction and notes to them. The ideas on screen look like they came directly from Sakurai’s mind and are so transparent and easy to reference from his own extremely successful games with examples. The level of secrecy or lack there of was reassuring that this wouldn’t be redacted by the Nintendo ninjas even early on in the series, which would’ve dropped my interest significantly. I am grateful for Sakurai using his influence in the company (strong arming higher ups at Nintendo hopefully😅) to release images, video, sounds, of never before seen asset files he had on his home PC that were destined to be buried for all eternity. I hope Sakurai’s investment is appreciated as a public boon and as an example for other developers to folllow for a long time to come. Lastly, seeing the actor Karen in the thumbnail from the ad recovered one of my core memories too! Cool to see yet another behind the scenes look that I never thought I wanted. Thanks for everything as usual.

[@DylanKatt]

Oh, I didn't know you guys worked on that video! 😃

[@elfteiroh]

I am OBSESSING on Fear the Spotlight. That game was made by TWO people, and I had a bit of contact with them, and they are crazy passionate about it. I LOVE that game. I originally played last year when it first released without Blumhouse money, and I need to replay it. But yeah, I HEAVILY recommend it!

[@RogersBase]

2:02:56 Elden Ring with the DLC, 100%!

[@akaimizu1]

From the perspective of a long time player, it was neat to see your different perception during the same time frame. For me, I think the first showing of what the Switch was, really piqued my interest. Especially since most systems basically went with an either or approach. Either you have a dedicated portable system, or a dedicated console under your TV. But having a number of portables (including Sony's portables), it often seemed like Sony wanted to try to get the TV stuff to portable, but seemed never really interested in making the thing also play on the TV. So my wish for such a device, that could do both, reached a major Fever Pitch by the time the Switch announcement came. I immediately got what it was, and also by the fact that my Nintendo systems (more than anybody else) were usually the ones with the party games that I would bring over for family gatherings. However, it was usually a more cumbersome thing to bring all that stuff. Nintendo Switch solved both my wish and heavily increased the ease and minimized my packing space needed to bring the party anywhere. Going forward a bit, when the actual Switch Direct happened in January, it was neat to see what they were showing, but the true clincher was the ending. The fact they revealed Breath of the Wild with that trailer. I've seen the reactions of Zelda fans, with that trailer. Not a one had a dry eye by the end of that trailer. It was then, when I knew that the great majority of Zelda fans will rush to the store to buy a Switch and that game. That trailer pulled on the Zelda heartstrings like no other trailer before it. (And that's huge considering the Twilight Princess reveal). That was when I knew success was around the corner. Fast forward a little more. Another Switch trailer showing Skyrim playable on the thing. That immediately showed me 3rd parties (that never were on Nintendo systems) are coming, and that along with BOTW, we have the promise of big worlds, we can lose ourselves in, on the portable screen. This was something that generally eluded the portable market all this time. A dream come true. Last but not least, I was invited to a preview event, for the Switch, in Washington D.C. (Great idea, BTW) Not only was it a trip to D.C., but I was able to get a Subway to take me close to there. Anyway, being one of the first regular customers to see one, was neat and they really made the whole place into something akin to an amusement park. Places where you were playing at little stands like at a coffee shop or diner, a cutout of an arrangement of passenger seats, like in a plane, complete with average Airplane seat trays, to play the Switch on. Lots of models and statues and lights and music. Such a party setting. The games they had there were of good variety, and they did have the Breath of the Wild demo there as well. I also loved the other games there too. But there was one setup for which made me convinced this was one of the best console ideas ever in the joy con was Disgaea 5. It was playable there. But why Disgaea? Well, that series was usually the main reason I bought Playstation portables, but now on a bigger better screen and with the ability to play on TV, ,built in, this was the dream. Not a portable cut down version, but a full release but on portable, and upgradable to full scale resolution if I just put it in a dock. However, the Joycon feature that won me over (other than ARMS being there and showing me a game that played like a modified Virtual On (one of my favorite Sega mech games) just with the Joycon controllers) was that I was allowed to take the joy con off the switch and just hold them in my hands for playing Disgaea. I was able to play Disgaea, for the first time, in the most relaxed position I could play them. A position I could not play the game if I had to play on a single controller, like all other releases of it. I've fallen asleep playing Disgaea games before, and boy was I in for it being that with portable and table top mode, I can play Disgaea anywhere, everywhere, even while lying in bed on my side. No body position is taboo with separated joy con in my hands. It was almost like I could control Disgaea with my mind. Probably the closest I'll ever be able to do so in my lifetime. That moment culminated in a loud "SOLD" from me. I didn't care what other people, who haven't tried the system yet, would say. I knew that it was the crowning feature for which only Switch, at the time, could ever offer me. A feature beyond the hardware in the console, but a true improvement of gameplay only possible with an inventive hardware idea to give the players MORE control of how it feels to play a game. The event did its job. I was ready to shout to the high heavens about the experience I had and what made it special to me. Defiinitely, a way to get word of mouth to spread.

[@AB-py6jl]

That sounds so cool. The only special invite event i went to was one for a new Taco Bell offer. It was fun.

[@nmoharo829]

Sakurai is one of the ultimate Nintendo developers despite never being directly employed by Nintendo

[@josephharrison2938]

That reveal trailer was the focal point of one of my marketing assignments in school. It really just did everything exactly right.

[@cosygracegames]

What are the odds?! I was so shocked seeing this thumbnail cause I just watched the switch release video for the first time yesterday 😂 great minds think alike!

[@PaulGaleNetwork]

This should be really fun. That initial Nintendo Switch trailer was iconic and set the tone for the following eight years, being nothing but cool. 😁 Podcast time!

[@theteeman]

Can't believe it's been eight years since the Switch has been revealed! Kit and Krysta are part of the production somewhere with the Nintendo Switch. What a time it was with 2016 being a banger year after all. Another week TBD on Krysta's iconic intro of TODAYYYYYYYY being on a piece of merchandise

[@switchingitup_]

It is crazy to me that the Switch reveal was so long ago now!! I can still remember the impact and excitement I felt as I watched. I rewatched it over and over again. Great times. I cannot wait for that Switch 2 reveal trailer haha 🎉

[@GrimLocke161]

While I definitely get that Ba’mco very much feel like the anime game company, they also helped on Smash iirc, but, more importantly they’re From Software’s publisher, too, so that’s not something to forget!

[@GrimLocke161]

To wit, I got Armored Core 6 last week for my OLEDeck after it went on its deepest discount since release, presumably to net some sales in competition with MechWarrior 5: Clans. And, seeing that I got a Deck in September to specifically play AC6 and Elden Ring-among many more games, too, I am so glad that I have been so thoroughly enjoying AC6! 🥰

[@brianmckinley4141]

I share the dev team's surprise to hear people's reaction to Bowser forcing Peach into marriage. I thought the whole point is that Bowser is doing a very bad thing. That's why he's the villain.

[@chfgn]

Villain-forcing-the-captive-princess-into-marriage is the plot of almost every fantasy movie I’ve ever seen.

[@HaruVibes_]

Cant wait to see how this new era of Nintendo will handle the Switch 2 reveal.

[@zachcarmichael699]

51:39 Ultimate is done, next Smash will be a reboot of the series. Which means way fewer characters and different fighting mechanics.

[@ICanSnake]

My birthday is in June and I'm not too far from Orlando. I'm thinking of going to Super Nintendo World for it!

[@two-nichegaming4482]

It must be pretty rough at Bandai Namco if they're trying to reduce their staff and weren't able to provide some kind of severance pay, which is why some would feel this was an old styled approach to achcieve results while saving face in the public's eyes. These days bigger games are taking longer to make, so to be on idle/standby when you're potentially next on the chopping block is a bad situation (in regards to performance details from a reference on a resume). This was a very informative current events section.

[@DGFTardin]

According to KZbin I left the first like

[@Blackbird9070]

Congrats - we are all so proud of you

[@LoomDoom]

Happy for you(?)

[@JamesextremesoundzDelaney]

Love it🎉

[@SanjiGenial]

I use tabletop mode a lot. When I use my Switch as a handheld system, I think it's the best way to play the games. You can use a Pro Controller and play confortably.

[@SmallHappyOtter]

HI KIT AND KRUSTA!!!!!

[@kitandkrysta]

HI!

[@stephen_g184]

I gave this blog a thumbs up because of the small discussion on spiders.

[@Mithos05]

Krysta, keep an eye out for the option to turn off bonus stars. Many Mario Party games allow you to do that. That may make the board game experience more enjoyable for you.

[@shootingdio7200]

3:43 Excited, or are you in constipation?

[@CanadianChick811]

Krysta would love Pumpkin Jack. I picked up that game on sale too.

[@ferhound]

Headphones warning at 0:01

[@ArtemiyNizovtsev]

10 rounds of Mario Party always took around 90 minutes (at least in Switch games), they just really underestimated it in previous versions for some reason.

[@R0B0ninjaPirate]

I think Sakurai is actually working on the next Smash Bros and it is a brand new title, not a remaster. Three reasons: 1: Smash Ultimate sold over 35 million copies and was a not insignificant contributor to making the Switch the success it is today. I'm pretty sure Nintendo recognizes that. A remaster is not gonna have the same impact of a brand new game. The reason MK8 Deluxe worked is because the Wii U was a failure and thus to most of the Switch audience MK8D WAS in fact a new game. That same trick is not gonna work here especially if the Switch 2 has backwards compatibiltiy and you can just go and buy Smash Ultimate on the eShop. Paying 70 bucks for a game I already own with a few new bells and whistles is just not that enticing and certainly is not much of a convincing argument to buy entirely new hardware for. 2: "Fine but they don't need Sakurai for Smash" well...maybe, maybe not. But we've heard from both Nintendo employees and Sakurai himself that they can't really imagine Smash without him. Is it eventually going to happen? Sure but I don't think it's time yet. Sakurai still got a few more years in him, after all. I've also seen the notion that "Nintendo forces Sakurai to work on Smash and he should be free to make what he wants". He's not a Nintendo employee. He can do whatever he wants. He doesn't seem to be hurting for money either. Maybe Smash is actually what he wants to do. He's shown multiple times that he loves gaming as a whole and plays tons of different games in his free time so a game project giving him the opportunity to work with so many different and historic franchises at once seems pretty fitting for a guy like him. 3: Last but not least, something that not many people might be aware of: The last 2 Smash titles have been mainly developed by Bandai Namco under Sakurai's direction. A while ago Bandai Namco actually established the studios, "Studio S" and "Studio 2" which are mainly for working with Nintendo on game projects. They have their own website and everything. www.bandainamcostudios.com/special-studio/ I feel like Bandai Namco establishing these means that they (and Nintendo) expect their business relationship to continue in the same manner. Having an actual dedicated team instead of some hodgepodge group cobbled together from different departments also makes it easier to hire specifically for these projects. Of course there's always the possibility that I'm wrong on this but I feel him working on the next, new Smash is more likely than not.

[@kewu6714]

1:59:34 hahaha, couldn’t agree more

[@marktotie]

The switch success was really a surprise for me, being a big nintendo fan boy, Nintendo became relevant again I can still remember many KZbinrs were still pessimistic for the Switch, because it was the COOL thing to do back then, to s#!T on Nintendo. I felt the success of the Switch when they showed Nintendo Direct with the big 3rd party titles like Doom is coming. At that point I was like, wow, this is not a Nintendo-games only console

[@matteogagliardi8688]

I would definitely play a new Kirby game made by Sakurai.

[@VoidedMirror]

Missed opportunity to have "Krista on the roof" meme

[@ChaosMarx]

There's nothing wrong with kidnapping a peach to marry a king. It asserts dominance and a relationship at once. How else is a Koopa to get some. 😅

[@work_days8745]

TODAYYYY AY!

[@RelaxAlexX]

I want Sakurai to make a new IP, not returning making a new Kirby game or Smash. Can’t lie a new Kid Icarus would be so awesome.

[@Zachruff]

Also, why was the handheld footage of BotW running at like 5fps? Was kinda scary to see ngl

[@sirmel11]

I used table top mode all the time until my friends kept saying it was better on TV.

[@robbyjvc]

Donkey Kong Freedom for switch 2 baby

[@Disciplined_Fate]

I'd be happy if Sakurai's game he is working on is a new IP instead of Smash, Kirby, and especially Kid Icarus. I wouldn't mind a new Kirby game too. Forgotten Land disappointed me. It should have been a true 3D sandbox game instead like Mario Odyssey. That would have been epic.

[@andres9496]

How did you keep the switch secret in the Airport wasn’t it very busy

[@JamesextremesoundzDelaney]

Finally Kit doesn't throw his arms up in the air at the beginning.

[@Ghostabo]

I like to think that Jason scolded those two into cratering a bluesky account lmao

[@Zachruff]

How did you guys "analyze the conversations" was it mostly looking at like gaming journalists, or like literally just scrolling through social media replies lol

[@tomsimmons7673]

Great Danes are the best dogs.

[@sirmel11]

I bet someone in Yu-Gi-Oh and they complained that I used cards that dealt damage and healed me.

[@tomsimmons7673]

Kit put his mother in a case? 😂

[@SUPERCLUBVIDEO]

the swedge

[@TigeronStarfire]

Woo! Welcome to Bluesky Kit and Krysta!

[@i_may_have_made_a_mistake]

Pumpkin Jack is a fun romp and I think a physical version is coming out for the folks who like to hold things.

[@newadventurer06]

And that's why no one should ever listen to NOA. Their perspective does not align with Nintendo of Japan's core values. Nintendo understands what's truly important in creating enjoyable gaming experiences. And after the disastrous localizations for Fire Emblem Fates, Xenoblade X etc it's clear Nintendo should just make games however they feel like and just use AI machine translations for all their games for a few console generations. Nintendo may have to just be ok with getting their games rated T or even M if it means leaving their games unaltered. Us gamers may have to get used to seeing T rated Kirby games or M rated Fire Emblem games but we'll just think it's funny and play them anyway 🤷‍♂️ A small price to pay for enjoying games as they were originally designed 😊

[@sirmel11]

If someone tells you you're playing a game wrong and that causes you to stop playing, you didn't like the game in the first place. Block the person and move on. Don't post in the community if people are mean. Just quitting is weird to me.

[@MaisieSqueak]

The typical derogatory attitude to anything Anime "Oh no! What's happened to this company? They're only making Anime ∴[trash] games! They've lost their way!!!!!1" You know what? I feel just like that about anything Souls like. Anime games != Trash, guys... (Also - A post corporate office guy is BOUND to find a 90 minute commitment to a hands-off game an absolute nightmare... Many love a good chill, 3 hour, session with the girls and a few drinks... Mario Party is not a badly designed game at all... You just don't like it yourself... I mean - when did you last play a physical board game? Yes some are very quick.... those are designed for people like you who live their life on the clock... Most take sessions rather than hours... Why does this guy have to distance himself from things he finds uninteresting? Nobody cares you have such exacting standards Kit! Other people exist!!)

[@astrobollo]

I was: "They totally need to invite Karen to the podcast!"... But now I know it cannot be.🥲

[@AB-py6jl]

Why not? I didn't catch that