1-2-Switch Explained

1-2-Switch
Developer:Nintendo EPD
Publisher:Nintendo
Producer:Kouichi Kawamoto
Platforms:Nintendo Switch
Released:March 3, 2017
Genre:Party
Modes:Multiplayer
Composer:Maasa Miyoshi[1]

1-2-Switch is a 2017 party video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was originally released as a launch title for the system.[2] The game uses the system's Joy-Con controllers, with players facing each other performing various minigames.[3] By December 31, 2022, it sold over 3.74 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games on the platform.

A sequel, Everybody 1-2-Switch!, was released in 2023.

Gameplay

1-2-Switch is a party video game in which players do not usually rely on what is happening on-screen, but rather make use of audio cues and the functionality of the Switch's Joy-Con controllers to play in several different games. It features 28 different minigames, most of which involve two players, who each use one of the Joy-Con controllers and are often encouraged to look at each other during gameplay. Aside from tutorial videos for each game, players mostly rely solely on audio cues and feedback from the Joy-Con's rumble feature to indicate how well they are performing.

Development

After Nintendo announced the game at the Nintendo Switch event in January 2017, Nintendo showed off six of the minigames to the public.[4] The game was also unveiled to show off Nintendo's innovative Joy-Con capabilities, through the HD Rumble and IR Motion Camera features.[5]

As a way to promote the milking minigame and the Nintendo Switch, several representatives of Nintendo of America took part in a cow milking competition at a dairy farm in Woodstock, Vermont.[6]

Reception

1-2-Switch received "mixed" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Upon the release of its initial trailer, several commentators compared the game to the WarioWare series.[7] [8] Ben Skipper of the International Business Times made note of the game's sexual innuendos.[9]

Nintendo's decision to release the game separately from the system was criticized by several commentators, arguing that the game would be better off as a pack-in game, similarly to Wii Sports, although Nintendo stated that they opted to allow consumers to select a game to purchase rather than bundling one and increase the Switch's price so as to not disinterest consumers and compromise the console's sales.[10] [11] [12] Cory Arnold of Destructoid criticized the lack of a true single-player mode, and said that the minigames were far worse than what was included in Wii Sports, arguing that they lacked any sort of progression.[13]

Sales

By April 2017, Nintendo reported that 1-2-Switch had shipped nearly a million copies worldwide.[14] By March 2018, that number had risen to over two million.[15] By June 2019, total sales reached 3.01 million.[16] The 2023 CESA Games White Papers revealed that 1-2-Switch had sold 3.74 million units, as of December 31, 2022.[17]

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2018National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers AwardsControl Design, 2D or Limited 3D[18] [19]
Game, Music or Performance Based

Sequel

In June 2022, Fanbyte reported that a sequel to 1-2-Switch was in development. Tentatively titled Everybody's 1-2 Switch, the sequel was described as inspired by The Jackbox Party Pack series, featuring a collection of minigames that can be played with either traditional control methods or a smartphone. The game was reportedly received extremely poorly by playtesting groups, and while it was internally delayed for additional development time, empty game cases were already produced. While some within the company suggested including it as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, Nintendo executives planned to release the title as a standalone US$60 release.[20]

Everybody 1-2-Switch! was officially announced on June 1, 2023, and was released on June 30, 2023.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018 Nintendo seminar promotional material. Geidai.ac.jp. November 30, 2021. September 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212223/https://www.geidai.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/0206nintendo.pdf. live.
  2. Web site: Workman . Robert . January 12, 2017 . 1-2 Switch Announced For Nintendo Switch . WWG . ComicBook.com . January 13, 2017 . December 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171226020717/http://wwg.com/2017/01/13/1-2-switch-announced-for-nintendo-switch/ . live .
  3. Web site: Sanchez . Miranda . January 12, 2017 . 1-2 Switch Announced for Nintendo Switch . . . January 13, 2017 . July 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180711185428/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/13/1-2-switch-announced-for-nintendo-switch . live .
  4. Web site: Byford . Sam . January 13, 2017 . 1-2-Switch is Nintendo's weirdest party game yet . . . January 13, 2017 . December 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211227001612/https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/13/14262624/1-2-switch-nintendo-hands-on-preview . live .
  5. Web site: Seedhouse . Alex . January 13, 2017 . 1-2-Switch Will Let Nintendo Switch Liven Up Parties . Nintendo Insider . January 13, 2017 . January 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170116174936/http://www.nintendo-insider.com/2017/01/1-2-switch-will-let-nintendo-switch-liven-up-parties/ . live .
  6. News: Hongoltz-Hetling . Matt . March 30, 2017 . Billings Farm Challenges Nintendo to Milking Competition . . . April 3, 2017 . February 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220220053831/https://www.vnews.com/Nintendo-comes-to-Billings-Farm-for-milking-challenge-8970582 . live .
  7. Web site: Roberts . David . January 13, 2017 . 1 2 Switch is a WarioWare-esque game where you face your opponent directly . . . January 13, 2017 . February 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180216030504/https://www.gamesradar.com/1-2-switch-is-a-warioware-esque-game-where-you-face-your-opponent-directly/ . live .
  8. Web site: McFerran . Damien . January 13, 2017 . Nintendo Introduces 1-2-Switch, A Party Game Which Asks You To Ignore The Screen . Nintendo Life . Nlife Media . January 13, 2017 . September 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220903044035/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/01/nintendo_introduces_1-2-switch_a_party_game_which_asks_you_to_ignore_the_screen . live .
  9. Web site: Skipper . Ben . January 13, 2017 . Nintendo Switch launch game 1-2 Switch's cow-milking mini game is udder filth . . . January 13, 2017 . September 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220903044039/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nintendo-switch-launch-game-1-2-switchs-cow-milking-mini-game-udder-filth-1600994 . live .
  10. Web site: Frank . Allegra . January 13, 2017 . 1-2-Switch is not the killer app the Nintendo Switch needs . . Vox Media . January 13, 2017 . September 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220903044025/https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/13/14268204/1-2-switch-nintendo-switch-pre-review . live .
  11. Web site: Martin . Matt . January 13, 2017 . Nintendo Switch: hands-on with Nintendo's unique and pricey new console . . January 13, 2017 . May 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513222557/https://www.vg247.com/nintendo-switch-hands-on-with-nintendos-unique-and-pricey-new-console . live .
  12. Web site: Madsen . Hayes . January 13, 2017 . 7 Baffling Switch Decisions That Nintendo Is Making (Page 5) . Twinfinite . January 13, 2017 . November 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191103022752/https://twinfinite.net/2017/01/7-puzzling-switch-decisions-that-nintendo-is-making/5/ . live .
  13. Web site: Arnold . Cory . January 20, 2017 . 1-2-Switch is not the next Wii Sports . Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming . January 21, 2017 . September 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220903044031/https://www.destructoid.com/1-2-switch-is-not-the-next-wii-sports/ . live .
  14. Web site: Makuch . Eddie . April 27, 2017 . Nintendo Confirms No Major E3 Event This Year, Reveals 1-2-Switch Shipment Numbers . GameSpot . CBS Interactive . April 27, 2017 . September 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220907141526/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-confirms-no-major-e3-event-this-year-reve/1100-6449651/ . live .
  15. Web site: Arif. Shabana. Super Mario Odyssey Hits 10 Million Sales. IGN. April 26, 2018. April 27, 2018. September 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902165548/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/04/26/super-mario-odyssey-hits-10-million-sales. live.
  16. Web site: IR Information: Sales Data - Top Selling Title Sales Units (Switch) . Nintendo, Co. Ltd. . October 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190923080858/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html . September 23, 2019.
  17. Book: 2023CESAゲーム白書 (2023 CESA Games White Papers) . . 2023 . 978-4-902346-47-3.
  18. Web site: Nominee List for 2017 . National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers . February 9, 2018 . February 15, 2018 . https://archive.today/20180215172210/http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/ . February 15, 2018 . dead .
  19. Web site: Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY . National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers . March 13, 2018 . March 14, 2018 . https://archive.today/20180314070824/http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/ . March 14, 2018 . dead .
  20. Web site: Khan . Imran . 2022-06-07 . The Wild Story Behind Nintendo's Unannounced 1-2 Switch Sequel . 2023-06-02 . Fanbyte . en-US . June 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602050713/https://www.fanbyte.com/games/news/the-wild-story-behind-nintendos-unannounced-1-2-switch-sequel/ . live .
  21. Web site: Yang . George . 2023-06-02 . Nintendo Announces Everybody 1-2 Switch for Launch at End of June . 2023-06-02 . . en . June 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605092626/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-announces-everybody-1-2-switch-for-launch-at-end-of-june . live .

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