Nintendo takes pride in using outdated hardware. Kinda cool in some cases kinda "wtf" in others.

Ok, I'll *bite*. Why does a game console need a webcam?

To allow for a live avatar. For example when playing Mario Kart online you can see the reactions of your friends your playing with. When you hit someone with a red shell and they make a mad face, you get to see it. Microphones have been in gaming for a while, this is just the next step. Now... Is any of that necessary? No, not really. Is it kinda neat? Maybe for some.

On the bright side, the camera doesn't use a proprietary connector, so you can plug a lot of cameras into the thing, and it will generally work.

But they sold the permission to have this garbage made with their character and branding.

640 by 480 is fine if you have a good enough sensor and lens, like broadcast NTSC video

I just read that this camera is used to animate avatars. I'm sure they won't be using tons of processing power to read facial expressions. Are there going to be any games that actually make use of the camera as a camera? If so, I just imagine people sending their dicks or memes over the camera.

To Hori, a company that makes fairly decent third-party controllers. They likely had a reasonable expectation that the product wouldn't be shit. It disgusts me to defend Nintendo in anything but this just isn't their fault.

Companies usually get a test product before approval. That's because you wouldn't want to license to some who might go rogue for some cash and do a Nindildo or such.

This camera is a Hori product though.