Nintendo Isn't Kidding Around With Its Effective Switch Marketing Campaign

This week marks the end of a generation for Nintendo. With the arrival of this Friday, the Wii U and 3DS will see their time on the market effectively come to an end as they are replaced by something new and bold: the Switch.

This dawn of a new generation will provide Nintendo with a new opportunity to become a leader in the gaming industry, one that is currently dominated by Sony. Having experienced what it's like to fall short, which was sadly the case with the Wii U, it has re-examined how it can not only better design its products, but market them in a more effective way.

Nintendo has already begun executing on what it hopes is an effective Switch marketing campaign. Awareness of the new device is increasing on a daily basis as images show up on social media, and advertisements are seen in high visibility areas.

.

Below we will look at how far Switch marketing has extended, and what you can expect out in the wild.

Many retailers have Switch advertising featured for all to see on their exterior. Don't be surprised to see the Switch proudly put on display at your local Walmart or Best Buy.

John Cena might not be the first person that comes to mind when consumers think about gamer celebrities, but that didn't stop Nintendo from having him visit a "Play Anywhere" kiosk in Aspen, Colorado. This photo was shared to Cena's twitter follower base of over nine million people, many of whom are young people.

More than a dozen retailers across the United States currently have kiosks available where consumers can check out the Switch for themselves. For the millions of consumers who don't know that a new Nintendo console is launching this week, what better way to find out than when on an errand run at Best Buy.

Nintendo isn't only sticking to new age marketing. Thousands of commercials have been run already, with plenty more to come leading up to launch. In this picture shared on Reddit, a Pediatric Dental Hygienist snapped a photo of what he explained as being a TV advertisement that was played multiple times throughout a single day, visible to the dozens of children (and parents) who came through for appointments.

Zelda and the Switch have effectively taken over this week's retailer ads. In this instance, the Switch is advertised on multiple pages in the latest Best Buy ad with vivid imagery in the gaming and electronics sections.

To illustrate the Switch's portability, Nintendo has set up kiosks in places all over the world. People have been visiting these locations to try out the console, and bear witness to how it can be played just about anywhere.

Last but not least, nearly two dozen gaming outlets (including us) were sent a Switch console prior to release. Nintendo has timed its embargoes for both the console and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to dominate headlines leading up to launch. And it's working, that we can tell you.

Check Out More Nintendo Switch Coverage:

15 Things You Probably Don't Know About The Nintendo Switch

6. 3.5mm In Handheld Mode Only

Although the Joy-Con controllers don't have a 3.5mm jack, the Screen does. This means you can only plug in a 3.5mm headset when using the Switch in handheld mode. A Bluetooth headset will be required for personal audio when the Switch is docked.
3. No Virtual Console At Launch

Virtual Console will not be available at launch. Though, Nintendo has confirmed that it will come at a later date. Hopefully that's sooner rather than later.
12. Customizable Airplane Mode

Not only is there an Airplane Mode available, but you can choose whether to disable Wi-Fi, NFC, and/or even Bluetooth
1. Auto-Sleep At Low Battery

You'll never have to worry about your Switch running out of power and losing valuable game progress, because the system will automatically enter Sleep Mode when it reaches critically low levels. In this mode it uses less than 2% battery draw, providing you plenty of time to find a means for charging the device.
4. Battery Life

You can expect the Joy-Con controllers to last between 10 to 20 hours between charges. Meanwhile, the Screen lasts between 3 to 6 hours depending on what games or apps you're using.
5. Clock Auto-Update

The clock on the Nintendo Switch will automatically update periodically. Although this might seem silly, it's the first Nintendo console that doesn't require you to manually set the time and date.
14. Docking Is Effortless

The dock has been designed to easily guide the Screen to alignment. You don't even have to try to get a perfect result every time.
7. Easter Egg On The Lock Screen

As explained in this video, when exiting Sleep Mode you can choose from three different noises to produce to unlock the screen. The system only tells you about one of them, making the other two an uncommonly known secret.
9. No Ethernet Port Included

You will not be able to connect an ethernet cable into the Switch out of the box. An add-on peripheral will be required.
10. Exhaust On Top

The Switch Screen gets hot when playing games, but it does have an exhaust vent on top to blow warm air out of the device. Just be sure not to put your hand over it.
13. Asymmetric Controllers

The left Joy-Con controller tends to run out of battery faster than the right one, which is unlike anything we've ever seen before. You will also be required to pair both halves of the controller each time you turn the console on.
Bonus. It\'s Not This

$Bonus. It\'s Not This$
Remember this dorky thing? Thank goodness this wasn't the real Switch.
8. One Shared Power Adapter

There is only one power adapter included, and it's used to power the Dock as well as the Screen. This means that if you plan to play in handheld mode you will need to pull the power cable out from your entertainment center. You could always choose to buy a second standalone power adapter, though.
15. Pro Controller PC Support

If you're planning to purchase the pro controller, you might be glad to hear that it works on PC.
2. Game Saves Are Stored On the Drive

Unlike most Nintendo products, game saves are written to the hard drive. In other words, game saves are not stored on the game cartridge.
11. Zelda\'s Physical Version Has No Install

$11. Zelda\'s Physical Version Has No Install$
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild doesn't require an install if you purchase the physical version. This can save you valuable space on your drive.
15 Things You Probably Don\'t Know About The Nintendo Switch

$15 Things You Probably Don\'t Know About The Nintendo Switch$