The sales of the Switch are so popular that many designers in the game industry are paying attention.
Even though compared to games like "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" and "Red Dead Redemption" from Nebula Games before, selling out 500,000 units on the first day isn't a big deal.
But you have to remember, this is a handheld, not a game.
In the game field, Nebula Games has been in it for several years, building its reputation with one excellent game after another.
The Switch is just a handheld, and it's pretty amazing to have such numbers.
This kind of result is already a big deal in the handheld world.
But the only thing that many game designers and companies are concerned about is whether Nebula Games can make this handheld platform successful.
Everyone understands what's going on.
The handheld sells for $169, which is basically the cost price, and they might even be losing money when you add in promotion costs.
Plus, they've developed two exclusive new games specifically for the handheld and put a lot of effort into porting classic games.
Obviously, they aren't doing charity. It's very likely that Nebula Games wants to make the handheld into a platform like a game store and make money by taking a cut.
But the question is, can the Switch succeed with these so-called exclusive games?
And there's also the "big promise" that Lucas made on his official blog.
An open-world game on a handheld? It doesn't sound reliable.
.........
However, compared to the designers and companies in the game industry who are paying attention to the development of Nebula Games.
Regular players are focused on something else entirely.
Who cares about all that? They aren't Nebula Games' competitors or shareholders.
As long as the game console and games are fun.
Players who managed to get a Switch on launch day are posting unboxing videos of the new console online.
And they're doing live streams too.
Many players who didn't get one are also using these channels to learn about this special console.
But in addition to the console and the games "Super Mario: Odyssey" and "Animal Crossing," there's another topic that's quickly climbed to the top of the trending list.
And the star of this topic is the game card.
For most new generation players, game cards are pretty unfamiliar.
Because they're more familiar with digital games, which they buy online and download directly.
But for some older players, cards and discs are not new.
The Switch having physical game cards has given many older players a feeling of nostalgia.
This has made many players very curious. After searching online, many players also know that this thing is a bittering agent, and it's the most bitter thing in the world.
But how bitter is it? This has sparked everyone's curiosity.
"I live in a small city, there's no video game store nearby. It'll take several days for my Switch and game card to arrive. Is it really true that the card is very bitter?"
"Fake, don't listen to Boss Lucas' boasting. It's sweet and sour, tastes just like plum juice."
"Damn it, you liar! I just had my girlfriend lick the game card, and now I'm single!"
" the two guys upstairs, you can go fight each other, by the way, I licked it too, the taste is hard to describe!"
"+1, the taste is really strange and a little bit exciting, but after the excitement, it makes you want to taste it again."
"! You guys can drive on this broken road?"
"By the way, can you buy used game cards later? Everyone licks the cards after they get them, so if I buy a card that a girl licked, wouldn't that be indirectly...?"
"Whoa, you're too dirty! But have you thought about it, the person who licked it might not be a girl, it might be a hairy-legged man!"
"Ew! I can picture it too clearly!"
This has also attracted many players who haven't gotten a Switch yet. Licking the game card seems to have become a must-do for every Switch player.
.........
In an apartment complex in Beijing, Zack and Hannah are sitting on the floor. The weather in Beijing in June is starting to get hot.
There's a rectangular cardboard box that's not too big, with a red and blue color scheme and a Switch logo on the front.
"A pair of joy-con controllers, a converter, a charger, two game cards, and a manual." Zack took everything out of the box and checked to make sure nothing was missing.
He didn't buy the single version, but the bundle version.
Compared to the normal version, it comes with two more games.
Of course, the price is the same as buying them separately, but it's just more convenient to buy it this way.
The games "Animal Crossing" and "Super Mario: Odyssey" both cost $40.
This is much cheaper compared to the prices in his past life, mainly because the cost of the game cards isn't as high.
Also, Lucas has always set lower prices for China compared to overseas.
Although he knows that it's definitely more convenient to play digital versions later, without having to plug and unplug cards.
But game cards still have their advantages.
That is, you can collect them.
Zack has bought collector's editions of many classic games from Nebula Games.
For example, "Warcraft," "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," and "Red Dead Redemption."
"I heard that these game cards are supposed to be really bitter! Want to try it?" Looking at the game card in front of her, Hannah rolled her eyes and looked at Zack.
"I'm not trying it. Only a fool would lick something when they know it's bitter." Zack refused right away.
"Aren't you curious how bitter it is? Some people online say it's not bitter, some say it's extremely bitter, and there are unboxing videos with all sorts of exaggerated faces." Hannah is really curious.
Because she's watched a lot of unboxing videos, and many video creators lick it.
But the exaggerated facial expressions seem fake.
This has made her even more curious.
"Then you try it, I'm not curious." Zack said that he definitely wouldn't fall for it.
"Okay! I'll do the dishes today!" Hannah thought for a moment and said.
"You'll do them all week." Zack bargained.
"Deal!" In the end, curiosity won out over doing the dishes, and Hannah nodded without hesitation.
"Let me see, is it as mysterious as they say online?" Zack tore off the film on the game card box, then opened it, took out the card, and stuck out his tongue to lick it.
Under Hannah's gaze, Zack frowned slightly.
"How is it? Is it very bitter?" Hannah asked curiously.
"I think I'm mistaken, wait a minute." Zack shook his head, then put the whole card on his tongue and licked it again.
"Hmm... the game card is sweet?" Zack looked very surprised.
"Sweet?" Hearing Zack's words, Hannah was stunned.
She instinctively took the game card from Zack and licked it too.
The next second her expression became twisted.
At first, it didn't feel too strong, but after a second or two, a strange taste appeared, bitter with a hint of sour.
She spit out a few times, but the taste still lingered on her tongue.
"Don't say anymore! I'll do the dishes!" Looking at Hannah, who was rinsing her mouth with water, Zack slowly took out a piece of gum and put it in his mouth.
It's just doing the dishes, he's been doing them for years.
In order to recreate the experience, I licked the game card, and it had a sour taste... But after licking it, I remembered that I lent this card to a friend to play, and I don't know if he licked it or not...
(End of The Chapter)
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