fujishig

Yeah, sorry for the confusion, when you use the cart you don't load anything into the system, only digital games are loaded fully onto the system.
The "check in every once in a while" system is only if you have more than one switch: I don't believe it's a requirement for what is your primary switch, only a secondary switch where it needs to check if the license is already being used multiple times.

You will need another controller anyway. The switch comes with two joycons (a left and a right) and while they can be used as individual controllers, for most games you will want to use both as a single controller.

The official option is to get either another set of joycons or a pro controller. Both are pretty pricey. The pro controller is basically like a normal controller you'd use on an Xbox or playstation. There are some games (like Mario Party) that do not work with the pro controller but the vast majority of games with traditional controls will.

Note that the joycons are notoriously fragile, and in the US and some other territories there is actually a free program to fix the dreaded "analog stick drift" that almost all joycons will eventually suffer from. For this reason I try to have my young kids use the pro controller instead, since it's a lot more durable.

If you want to go cheaper but still really good, you can get the 8bitdo Pro+. The caveats with them (and all non Nintendo controllers) is that you wont' be able to turn on the system with them, and they won't have the "HD rumble" that the official nintendo ones do. They are also "Playstation style" parallel sticks as opposed to the Pro controller's "Xbox style" staggered sticks.

Cheaper still you can get other 8bitdo wireless options. For wired you can get a variety of wired controllers and hook it up to the dock, or even an adapter to use other controllers from other systems.

There are also other options. I have a controller from a company called Binbok which are basically a pro controller-styled grip that can split in half like joycons. They are fine but I don't think they hold up to the actual pro controller.

tanman

More on the controllers. With links!

Keep in mind the system comes with a grip to put the joycon in and make it like a "regular controller". It works quite well.

I wouldn't really buy those. It will make the joycon more comfortable to hold but you might as well buy another wired controller for less than $10 more.
If you have the extra money this is what you get. It's pricey but it does everything and lasts. It's the pro controller that everyone has mentioned.
For a little bit less money this is also an excellent controller. Especially to play the older games.
Not necessary now but down the road if you find yourself playing in handheld mode a lot I highly consider getting a grip. This is the best one to get and make sure you get the bundle with the case because you won't find a case that will fit it with the grip. https://www.satisfye.com/collections...ngrip-pro-slim

Also don't forget a screen saver! The switch's screens are plastic and extremely easy to scratch.

spainlinx0

You can use a pro controller when you're not docked. Don't forget the Switch has a (crappy) kickstand.

LurkerDan

Thanks guys! Love the links, tanman, that's crazy helpful.

tanman

Thought I'd post it in here since we were talking about cheap 1st party games. Target will have Pikmin 3 on sale for $30 for just one day on 10/17. Should start at 0100 EST.

LurkerDan

Is this Costco bundle a good deal? https://www.costco.com/nintendo-swit...x2DU3z4w%3D%3D

It is more than I was expecting to spend, but with all that you guys are telling me, I need a case, a nice controller, a bigger SD card, screen protector. And when I buy all those, seems like this might save a little money? But I'm such a newb at this, there may be things I am missing.

The Cow

That deal is $380 for those that can't see it...

In case you care that's a PowerA controller, it does not have the NFC reader (in case you wanted to use it for Amibos), and it does not have rumble. The Pro controller has those. The PowerA goes for about $38 at Amazon right now, so you are sitting at about $40 left in that total for the SD card and case.

tanman

I would say no.

For $80 you could get a pro controller on sale and a memory card and still have some left over for a screen protector or a case. You're not saving much and it's a much more inferior controller. If you're really trying to budget just get a wired controller for when you play multiplayer and get a pro controller or one of the other controllers mentioned down the road.

Decker

It’s Black Friday in 27 days. I promise there will be better deals than that.

LurkerDan

Thanks guys.

LurkerDan

saw a couple of game sales and bought them (physical games): Mario Kart and a board game bundle (monopoly, risk, trivial pursuit). So now I am committed to getting a console soon! But at least when I get it, I know my daughter will have some games to play. I'm avoiding the digital games for now, until I have a console, because having the unopened physical games seems easier; I assume I can return if necessary, but I think I read there's no returns on the digital games, plus having the physical game means we can play something right out of the box.

tanman

Dang, you keep your receipt for Mario Kart? The deal you need to get is the bundle Nintendo is doing. It starts November 21-27 at most major retailers. It includes the console, Mario Kart and three months of Nintendo Online. They will also have several other games at $20 off.

$299 - Nintendo Switch Console w/ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + 3-Month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership

$40

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Super Mario Maker 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
• Splatoon 2
• Paper Mario: The Origami King
• Kirby Star Allies
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses
• Astral Chain
• Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

LurkerDan

Ha, buying the games first just ensured that there will be a bundle with that game!

Is there a link to details of that deal? And yeah, bought the game on Walmart.com so have a receipt.

tanman

Not really any details yet. Just be on the lookout starting early on the 21st. Likely Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Amazon will carry the bundle.

LurkerDan

Thanks, will be on the lookout. Any idea if it will hit at midnight? Or later in the day? I'm nervous about supply so want to buy as soon as it goes live.

Can get an additional 5% back if it's available on amazon, target.com, or walmart.com, so hopefully will get that too.

fujishig

Times are crazy so maybe I'm totally out of the loop, but I think that bundle should be in some supply (or at least not sold out in seconds). It's not the most recent OLED model and it's basically the same bundle they had last year (it does have the better battery IIRC though).

tanman

Hopefully that's the case. But with the chip shortage who knows.

Generally when promos hit Amazon is a 0300, Target and Best Buy 0100, and Walmart who the hell knows. EST. For the Metroid Dread release though they were kind of all over the place with Amazon being incredibly random and never releasing the Amiibos and only doing the special edition through Treasure Truck. So I don't doubt them trying the same thing if stock is limited. Walmart is trying to push their new Walmart+ membership with deals this year so I don't doubt they try to make it a timed exclusive. For me the best bet was Best Buy and Target.

I would say a good back up option would be your local B&M Game Stop if ordering online doesn't pan out.

LurkerDan

Thanks for the info.

I just learned how I have to jump on deals, Mario + Rabbids just went on crazy sale at BB today (got the alert from Deku Deals, thanks to whichever of you told me to sign up there), but by the time I lazily got on my computer, it was gone. I learned that I need to act fast!

fujishig

10 bucks is a great price but it's regularly on sale for like 15 bucks in the eshop. Well worth it at that price especially, IMHO.

davidh777

Is the bad battery still out there in the wild? It was an issue when I was buying almost a couple years ago and I assumed it’d all be gone by now.

fujishig

It's not a bad battery per se, it's just that they upgraded the battery without changing the sku. But like I said I'm pretty sure that specific bundle is the newer one. As far as the older one still being out in the wild they have probably gone through all that stock by now, I would think.

davidh777

Right, it was the “unimproved, shorter-life battery,” and I remember having to check the catalog number for an appended “-1” or something like that in order to get the newer one. I hope that’s not an issue anymore.

tanman

Deals are live now at various retailers. Best Buy also has a great deal on wired PowerA controllers for just $14. Pretty good stop gap for multiplayer until you can pick up a pro controller.

LurkerDan

Thanks!

Just bought the bundle, will look at accessories soon.

LurkerDan

Is that PowerA a better controller than the one you linked early, this one:
Also, I know this a dumb question, but I need two wired controllers, right?