任天堂Switch使用指南说明书

Nintendo Switch: a parent's guide

From its fun and colourful roster of games to its unique design, the Nintendo Switch

is often seen as the family-friendly console.

Are you thinking about ordering one online? Is your child playing the new Animal

Crossing game during lockdown?

Here’s what you need to know.

Digital parenting advice straight to your inbox

Click here to sign up to our parents’ newsletter, packed with advice,

resources, articles, activities and guides to the most popular apps and games

What is the Nintendo Switch?

The Switch is the latest console from the Japanese video game giant Nintendo.

Released worldwide in 2017, the versatility of the Switch has helped it to remain

incredibly popular and outsell all competitors in 2019. Consisting of a portable tablet

and two detachable controllers (also known as Joy-Cons), the console can be

connected to a TV but it doesn’t have to be – it’s designed to be played both at home

and on the go. Each Joy-Con can be used by itself, making it easy for gamers to play

together.

Unlike most consoles, Switch games come on cards rather than discs. These cards

– similar to the ones used for Nintendo’s DS and 3DS – are deliberately

coated with a bitter but non-toxic chemical called denatonium benzoate to

discourage young children from putting them in their mouths. You can also buy and

download games through the Nintendo eShop.

Although the Switch connects to the internet, it does not support streaming apps –

such as Netflix or Amazon Prime – like it’s main competitors, nor can it play Blu-

Rays or DVDs.

In September 2019, Nintendo launched the Lite version of the Switch, which is an

entirely handheld device but otherwise works just like the standard version.

Is it family-friendly?

Nintendo has a reputation for producing family-friendly consoles and games – and

the Switch is no different.

Although it’s not groundbreaking in terms of technical specs or graphics, the Switch

is very easy to set up and the menus are clean and simple to navigate. It’s also

considered the most age-inclusive console on the market, as a majority of games are

suitable for younger players (PEGI 3-7). Many of Nintendo’s own titles for the Switch

have extensive multiplayer options which can appeal to both children and adults.

Joining your child for a round of Super Smash Bros. or asking them to show you

around their island on Animal Crossing can be a great way to get insight into their

world – and the kind of content they’re exposed to. Taking an interest in your child’s

hobbies will let them know that they can come to you if they come across anything

that concerns or upsets them.

Here are some great games for different age groups:

Screenshot 2020-01-28 at

Do I need to worry about loot boxes?

There are many online games available on the Switch. Some of them, like Fortnite

and Overwatch, give players the option to buy loot boxes – virtual ‘treasure chests’

containing mystery items that may or may not be of value for the player.

Because the player doesn’t usually know what they’re going to get, they might be

tempted to keep buying loot boxes until they get what they want. As a result, there

are concerns that loot boxes can introduce children to gambling-like behaviours.

Nintendo has also taken a pretty hard stance and will demand that all games

disclose ‘drop rates’ – the probability that a loot box will yield a specific reward – by

the end of 2020. Regardless, the Switch gives parents control over their child’s

spending. You can either set up limits or turn off spending completely in the Nintendo

eShop.

Are there any parental controls?

Parental controls don’t eliminate risk completely. Like you would with any piece of

tech, ensuring your child can recognise and respond to challenges is the best way of

helping them flourish while they’re gaming.

However, parental controls can be a useful tool for families who are looking to

prevent accidental spending or stop their child from being able to access

inappropriate content.

For the Switch, all you have to do is to create a parent/guardian account on your

child’s console and download Nintendo’s parental controls app from the App Store or

Google Play Store. Some of the main features of this app include:

Time limits:

Research from the Oxford Internet Institute suggests that what children do on

screens is more important than the amount of time they spend – but that doesn’t

mean you can’t choose to set limits.

Through the app, you can set up daily quotas for your child. When their time is

almost up, they will receive a notification which encourages them to finish what

they’re doing. You can also enable a feature called ‘Suspend software’ which will

automatically quit the game and turn the console off when the time is up.

Screenshot 2020-02-07 at

Setting age limits:

The app gives you the option to select which PEGI ratings you’re comfortable with

your child playing. If you’d like to find out more about PEGI ratings, you can read

our parent guide.

Screenshot 2020-02-07 at

Communication with strangers:

If you don’t want your child to be able to contact or be contacted by strangers, you

can toggle the communication settings included in the app. For example, you can

stop your child from sending or receiving messages and pictures outside of their

‘Friends’ list. To learn more about in-game chat, check out our parent guide.

READ MORE

Screen time: everything you need to know

The conversation: loot boxes

The Rip-Off Games Report