The Nintendo Operating System game will almost turn your Switch into a tablet with its own interface and apps.
In a press release from RedDeer Games, a new title is expected to appear on the Nintendo Switch eShop by the end of January. Nintendo Operating System (or New Operating System/nOS) will be a game that mimics a desktop parallel operating system. Contrary to the title’s indication, this is not an alternate operating system for the Switch’s home screen.
Nintendo Operating System promises to add new personalization features to every Switch. Within the game, original features abound including tools like a sketchbook, notepad, and day planner. There are also applications for a calculator, paint, and sliding puzzle game. You can add tasks to a to-do list and sort your paint projects in the gallery. The new app aims to give users the power to customize their experience and brighten their day.
The trailer for the “new Operating System” shows an interface similar to the early Apple operating systems. The top of the screen has a taskbar featuring actions to be made by their corresponding buttons while a joystick controls the cursor. Pictures of cartoon animals abound in the background along with what appear to be character avatars. Icons for the different applications float around in placement from screen to screen, further showcasing the customization and personalization of the game.
For an indie title, this one pushes a substantial envelope. Instead of offering entertainment alone, nOS will give you the chance to see how your Switch does as a personal tablet. However, the Switch’s touchscreen isn’t used for much typing outside of the eShop. It’s quite a stretch to bring such a text-heavy interface to the Switch. It’s one thing to enter names when playing an RPG, but to write out a to-do list using the analog stick and A button to constantly select letters is a different thing entirely.
It’s difficult to imagine the Switch as a personal organizer, but anything is possible. Perhaps with a keyboard accessory, you could have an easier time jotting down notes. You could be a joystick Picasso on the paint app. At the very least, there will always be that puzzle slider game.
