IGN: Splatoon's lack of voice chat is "cheap and lazy"

Okay, look. I have following three examples:
  • Bridge (regular card game)
  • Hanabi (special card game)
  • Journey (PS3(/4?) game)
These were all designed specifically without voice chat or its RL equivalent, and were succesful to some degree. Yet for Splatoon, it's apparently a definitive flaw without a possible valid reason.

I understand you may not be familiar with examples I presented, but I'd like you to explain to me why is lack of direct communication so bad in Splatoon while these games have proved it can be liked.


since when was journey a competitive shooter.
 
Not nearly to the extent that you can customize the game offline if I remember right. I thought you couldn't say, play with only Golden Hammers and Bombs. And isn't it only time based matches? I thought the voice chat in Smash was only for the lobby after the actual match?

You're right about the load out thing, I thought he meant in between games without leaving the room. Because unless it was just a demo thing, you have to completely leave whatever room you were in, change your loadout, and then go search for more games. But like I said, that very well could just have been a demo thing.

The way it works currently, on launch, is that you bring your loadout of choice into Turf War before going into the lobby. You can't change them between games without leaving the lobby. Because the game is also very perk-driven there's a map rotation system in place that only allows you to pick between two maps per four hours to encourage meta experimentation.

I like the "idea" of map rotation but four hours is a little too much for me on paper and I really hope they tone down the hours once more maps become available. GameXPlain pointed out that the rotation seems to house empty space for a third map so it seems like they might increase frequency when more maps become available.
 
Okay, look. I have following three examples:
  • Bridge (regular card game)
  • Hanabi (special card game)
  • Journey (PS3(/4?) game)
These were all designed specifically without voice chat or its RL equivalent, and were succesful to some degree. Yet for Splatoon, it's apparently a definitive flaw without a possible valid reason.

I understand you may not be familiar with examples I presented, but I'd like you to explain to me why is lack of direct communication so bad in Splatoon while these games have proved it can be liked.

In both Bridge and Hanabi, players can communicate with one another. In fact they often get together for such things for social gatherings. There's not a 'no talking' rule. Even in a game like Hanabi you have to give out limited information to one another, it's a part of the game. And of course outside of the game rules, you can talk to one another freely. There's no 'you must remain silent to play this game.' It would be equivalent of if Splatoon let you have friend chat, where you'd be able to talk with your friends about anything even if you didn't decide to discuss the game itself. That's still vastly preferable to what we got now.

Also, Journey is unique in that it is not competitive at all, and does not ever even for one second require you to even stay around your other player. You CAN go with him, or you can ignore him and do your own thing and the completion of objectives does not change at all.

Splatoon is a team competitive game wherein being able to convey fundamental information about ongoing and fluid strategies would dramatically enhance the quality of a play experience, and significantly improve everyone's chances in a round. There has never been a team competitive online game where voice chat has not served this function admirably. Splatoon has not one feature which would imply it would be the exception.
 
I don't understand all the butthurt over the lack of voice chat, but then again I never use voice chat...
Honestly I can see it being a good thing, making it so that there's no voice chat levels the playing field. You don't have to worry if you're on a team and no one is using voice chat while the other team is. Sure, you can't micro manage the coordination of your team, but the other guys can't either.
 
Okay, look. I have following three examples:
  • Bridge (regular card game)
  • Hanabi (special card game)
  • Journey (PS3(/4?) game)
These were all designed specifically without voice chat or its RL equivalent, and were succesful to some degree. Yet for Splatoon, it's apparently a definitive flaw without a possible valid reason.

I understand you may not be familiar with examples I presented, but I'd like you to explain to me why is lack of direct communication so bad in Splatoon while these games have proved it can be liked.

Wait what ?

You really see no differences at all in genre between Journey and Splatoon ?
Some of the arguments defending the absence of voice chat are downright ridiculous.

I mean, seriously.
 
It boggles my mind people are arguing there are benefits to not including chat in a competitive online game like this. There are no benefits. If an individual doesn't want to participate, fine, turn it off and don't use a mic.

But there are zero inherent benefits to anyone else. There will be teams that get around this limitation by using secondary means of communication, and they will trounce any unorganized team using 'booyahs' and 'cmons' to communicate into the ground, until the point at which everyone either gets bored because it's too easy or leave in frustration because they're getting crushed.

This is not a game like Demon's Souls where you can make the argument the lack of communication is part of the 'atmosphere'.
 
The game already have pro-controller support in the Dojo. The multiplayer will never have it as it just wouldn't work with how much information is on the pad. Loadout swapping isn't something I'd expect either, you're not supposed to be able to swap on the fly, otherwise Turf Wars would devolve to all Rollers in the last 30 seconds. Perhaps in some other mode.
Good points. I do think that several of changes will happen based on user feedback though, things like how the map rotation works.
 
I don't understand all the butthurt over the lack of voice chat, but then again I never use voice chat...
Honestly I can see it being a good thing, making it so that there's no voice chat levels the playing field. You don't have to worry if you're on a team and no one is using voice chat while the other team is. Sure, you can't micro manage the coordination of your team, but the other guys can't either.

Then make two different matchmaking: one with voice chat and one without.

No one will be at a disadvantage because of the choices of their teammates.
 
People...are allowed to feel this way, you know. If Nintendo aren't making a game that they don't like, most often they won't buy. It's one of the many reasons why Wii U sales are pretty low.

Isn't the point of making a game...to get people to play said game?

Of course, it's fine to be uninterested in what a particular company is offering. I've also been angry at Nintendo. Usually it's because they aren't localizing a game I want to buy. It's never because they're releasing a game I don't care for. I just pass on it. I don't believe they have to make things just for me.
 
It boggles my mind people are arguing there are benefits to not including chat in a competitive online game like this. There are no benefits. If an individual doesn't want to participate, fine, turn it off and don't use a mic.

But there are zero inherent benefits to anyone else. There will be teams that get around this limitation by using secondary means of communication, and they will trounce any unorganized team using 'booyahs' and 'cmons' to communicate into the ground, until the point at which everyone either gets bored because it's too easy or leave in frustration because they're getting crushed.

Actually this is a really good point.
Absence of voice chat for everyone that would want to use it give players with more means (a computer with them, a smartphone, etc) a big advantage over someone only having a Wii U, and the game.
 
You vastly over estimate your ability to get random people to do what you want by complaining at them.
This right here is incredibly telling. The automatic assumption that anybody sharing advice over team chat is complaining, the complete dismissal of the idea that the person on the receiving end might actually appreciate what's being said. All verbal communication is assumed to be antagonistic... If this is how you see the world, you're never going to find common ground with somebody who wants to have voice chat.
 
"It's a standard feature/it's 2015/etc" ignores all the games that exist without it, Nintendo excluded. The majority of iOS/Android co-op games have zero voice chat options. ZERO. Even the largest among them, Clash of Clans, requires 3rd-party chat options. So unless you're going to claim that they aren't games like so many people on GAF believe to be true but are too afraid to say so, it's hardly a standard feature. It's a NICE feature, but "standard" is stretching the boundaries of reason.

Most of those games aren't team based competitive shooters. The whole point of voice chat is to make it immensely less cumbersome to get information across in a timely matter. This idea that "Nintendo shouldn't have to fall in line with the perceived standards" is silly. It has nothing to do with standards; team based games are made much more engaging and fun with the option to communicate with other players. Key word: Option. As in, those who don't care for voice chat can just turn the damn thing off.
 
This right here is incredibly telling. The automatic assumption that anybody sharing advice over team chat is complaining, the complete dismissal of the idea that the person on the receiving end might actually appreciate what's being said. All verbal communication is assumed to be antagonistic... If this is how you see the world, you're never going to find common ground with somebody who wants to have voice chat.

I agree.
Funny how people not wanting voice chat are actually the one with the most toxic mindset...

Telling, as you put it.
 
Are you still in here defending Nintendo to the death? These are basic features that should be in the game, sorry that people who don't hold an irrational attachment to Nintendo expect them to do more than the bare minimum.
lack of voice chat is a fine complaint, but complaining about a 3 second spawn point and switching weapons in between the match is pushing it. This isn't the same game as cod, If they feel it adds to the challenge and balances it, then they should do it
 
I don't understand all the butthurt over the lack of voice chat, but then again I never use voice chat...
Honestly I can see it being a good thing, making it so that there's no voice chat levels the playing field. You don't have to worry if you're on a team and no one is using voice chat while the other team is. Sure, you can't micro manage the coordination of your team, but the other guys can't either.
One common argument has been to use VOiP solutions like Skype to compensate for the lack of in game voice chat. So one, or both, teams can still end up communicating with each other trough voice.
 
Actually this is a really good point.
Absence of voice chat for everyone that would want to use it give players with more means (a computer with them, a smartphone, etc) a big advantage over someone only having a Wii U, and the game.

But if you're just playing random matches you only come up against randomly put together teams.

One common argument has been to use VOiP solutions like Skype to compensate for the lack of in game voice chat. So one, or both, teams can still end up communicating with each other trough voice.

Again, I think they were more referring to random matches.


I can understand wanting voice chat for friend lobbies. But if you're in a friend lobby you can coordinate to just get on skype or whatever, so it just seems like a non-issue to me.
I'm 100% against voice chat in the random matches though.
 
Good points. I do think that several of changes will happen based on user feedback though, things like how the map rotation works.

That, certainly, I see changing. Maybe even before launch.

I'd hope they cave on the lack of voice chat come August as well, for the team matchmaking specifically.
 
Actually this is a really good point.
Absence of voice chat for everyone that would want to use it give players with more means (a computer with them, a smartphone, etc) a big advantage over someone only having a Wii U, and the game.

This is why the absence of voice chat only really makes sense to me if it's included in the new matchmaking modes coming in August.

It doesn't really matter that much for Regular Battles because the teams shuffle at the end of each round. Even if you play with a friend there's a good chance you'll have to play against them in another round (which can in and of itself be fun - you get to smack talk each other).

But when it comes to the friends vs friends lobbies you're going to assume it's a given that, as friends, you're able to co-ordinate much more, so the idea of giving players unfair advantages there is a non-issue. Since you'd also be voice-chatting between friends, you could also assume that most of the things you'd be saying would be fully okay and just in good fun.

It's really the only way Nintendo can have their cake and eat it. Amano said that he is a fan of shooters and understands the fun of voice chatting with friends... so that would be the perfect way to implement the function. I hope they don't let it pass by.
 
One common argument has been to use VOiP solutions like Skype to compensate for the lack of in game voice chat. So one, or both, teams can still end up communicating with each other trough voice.

AFAIK, this won't really matter in randoms since the teams are shuffled. I could see them allowing voice chat between friends with the August (?) update.

There will be a mode with eight friends and custom rules.
I'd honestly be surprised if there isn't voice chat and I'm one of those people OK with it being unavailable in random matches.
 
The crux of the argument, and the part that no one can seem to move past, is that there are people who consider it fundamental to the experience and those that don't.

I personally see voice chat as a largely supplemental thing and something that would just rob some of my connection that I'd rather use for the game I'm playing, but I can understand that there are those who want it.

And no one would argue with your desire to have it if you didn't drape it in all this other bullshit.

"It's a standard feature/it's 2015/etc" ignores all the games that exist without it, Nintendo excluded. The majority of iOS/Android co-op games have zero voice chat options. ZERO. Even the largest among them, Clash of Clans, requires 3rd-party chat options. So unless you're going to claim that they aren't games like so many people on GAF believe to be true but are too afraid to say so, it's hardly a standard feature. It's a NICE feature, but "standard" is stretching the boundaries of reason.

"But there will be no community now" is a strange argument. Does Mario Kart 8 not have an online community? It still seems to have quite a number of people playing it online, so you'll forgive me if I'm confused by how one feature omission means there can't be an online community when there are plenty of examples that show that to be untrue.

"Nintendo is behind the times/Nintendo gonna Nintendo/etc." OK, so what do you expect to do about it? I've seen this discussion repeated ad infinitum and it leads me to believe you'd all rather bitch about it on GAF and make every thread in every game that doesn't include it into some sort of user referendum. But GAF isn't Nintendo, what do you expect people here to do about it? Of course there's going to be people who don't give a shit about its omission, rationalize it away or discuss the methodology behind its exclusion, because that's all GAF is capable of doing and some people just don't care. Making it a fanboy issue if someone disagrees with you gets NOTHING done. Period.
If you want it to change and there's seemingly enough of you who want it to, take it up with the people who actually can do something to change it. Use this thread or any other of the many that preceded it to rally support and make it known to the company that made this decision that you don't find it acceptable. The fact that hasn't happened yet tells me that it's not as important as it's being made out to be, especially when we're looking at a Nintendo that has become more open to feedback from players than ever. Please prove me wrong if I'm mistaken by taking an actual action, because passive-agressive moaning about it gets really tiresome. I see it in other threads, as well, and it's equally meaningless there.

tl;dr version:

Be honest about what you're discussing. Instead of making it about some obvious failure, just say you're disappointed; more people are likely to find your opinion agreeable. The indignation people are spouting doesn't help their point.
And for god sake, if it's a big deal, fucking DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Do something to improve the situation with the games you enjoy instead of the stock "vote with your dollars" bullshit answer or being an incessant whiny child about it.

1)It's kinda a standard, it's fine to list games online , but i honnestly cannot recall an online Fps being made on consoles without voice chat in the last 6 years.

2) I believe that mario kart is on his 4th online game ( Ds, Wii, 3DS, Wii U ) and part of a franchise that has many more included, the online community between mario kart and splatoon , a new IP that has everything to prove in term of sales and longevity is NOT the same thing.

3) NIntendo is behind teh times on many things , and that is being discussed when a topic relevant appears. Should we not talk , because there was a discussion last week ? Is things going to change because we talk ? maybe . Is thing goind to changewhen we don't talk ? heck no.

4) About the conclusion
So you're telling us to do something about it ? But many people in this very thread have said that they are going to vote with their wallet. Other have said that they will play the game and give feedback to nintendo ( how ? i dunno , on miiverse maybe ? )

So thanks for your rant i guess ?
 
What's the point of having a mic in the game pad if it's not getting used?

You have a point...

...I mean with the 3DS you can at least make the icons rotate on the Home Page by blowing. :/

Nintendo's biggest failure is not letting me blow on my icons.
 
Be honest about what you're discussing. Instead of making it about some obvious failure, just say you're disappointed; more people are likely to find your opinion agreeable. The indignation people are spouting doesn't help their point.
And for god sake, if it's a big deal, fucking DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Well I'll do what I can, I'll vote with my walle-

Do something to improve the situation with the games you enjoy instead of the stock "vote with your dollars" bullshit answer or being an incessant whiny child about it.

....?

OK so should I break into Nintendo and recode the game or...? I just have no idea whatsoever as to what you are talking about. I can't even guess.

I'm at a loss here, throw me a bone.
 
In both Bridge and Hanabi, players can communicate with one another. In fact they often get together for such things for social gatherings. There's not a 'no talking' rule. Even in a game like Hanabi you have to give out limited information to one another, it's a part of the game. And of course outside of the game rules, you can talk to one another freely. There's no 'you must remain silent to play this game.' It would be equivalent of if Splatoon let you have friend chat, where you'd be able to talk with your friends about anything even if you didn't decide to discuss the game itself. That's still vastly preferable to what we got now.

In Hanabi, the things you are allowed to tell other players are transmitted through speech for convenience, and your communicates are actually moves. It could be technically done with a separate communication card deck. This is in fact how high level bridge is played in some places, with some extra accessories. So there is a "no talking (about the game)" rule in these games, it just gets overridden by house rules sometimes and is an equivalent of using Skype; and in aforementioned high level bridge there is a "no talking at all" rule, but I disgress.

What you seem to be discussing here seems to be creation of player community. If it's all there is to it, it still doesn't mean a game with potentially interesting gameplay mechanics cannot be created by the means of restricting communications.

Splatoon is a team competitive game wherein being able to convey fundamental information about ongoing and fluid strategies would dramatically enhance the quality of a play experience, and significantly improve everyone's chances in a round. There has never been a team competitive online game where voice chat has not served this function admirably. Splatoon has not one feature which would imply it would be the exception.

Voice chat is then basically a buff to every player. But there are many things that would buff every player that are not included in games since that's the part of the rules. Why is voice chat exempt from that possibility?

Besides, are you using "competitive" as in "a game where people compete", or "competitive Smash Bros. community"? In the second case I'd argue Splatoon simply isn't competitive by design.
 
I've also been angry at Nintendo. Usually it's because they aren't localizing a game I want to buy. It's never because they're releasing a game I don't care for. I just pass on it.
I think it's perfectly fine to want more from a game. Especially Splatoon, which Nintendo has been marketing like crazy. Since it is entering the market with games of its genre already existing, it's normal to compare/contrast its features to the others. In most of those games, voice chat is an option. In some of those games, voice chat is not only just an option, but set to mute by default. In other Nintendo games of different genres, there are voice chat options set to mute by default and set to only friend lobbies. Why couldn't Nintendo implement this when other games under their belt has voice chat capabilities?

And, from replies in this thread as well as in other Splatoon related threads, some people are obviously not going to buy the game because of the feature and it is a shame especially on the console with the smallest user base.

AFAIK, this won't really matter in randoms since the teams are shuffled. I could see them allowing voice chat between friends with the August (?) update.

There will be a mode with eight friends and custom rules.
I'd honestly be surprised if there isn't voice chat and I'm one of those people OK with it being unavailable in random matches.
We can only hope that they do that, at least.
 
No? My point, which you missed, is that you've drawn a preconceived notion based on the demo. The game may well launch with two commands, or it may well launch with four customizable blurbs. There was no way to access the hub and customization in the demo, so it was physically impossible to confirm this.
Yes, I drew a preconceived notion based on a demo.. of a game releasing in two weeks.
Second, I'm well aware that the hub and customizable weapon loadouts were missing, but the dpad didn't strike me as something that would be customizable. I went ahead and looked at a handful of videos since its reveal and it started with one ping (Signal), but evolved into the two we saw over the weekend. I'm certain it won't be customizable at launch, but I already know you're going to defer to your "we don't know for sure so we can't say" defense again so.. I'm clearly wasting my time here.
I stand by my original point: two pings aren't a sufficient substitute for voice chat.
 
No. you cant, you can (usually) deploy to any squad mate, but you can not decide to instantly teleport at any time you wish, like you can in splatoon.
Those 3 seconds may mean, your teanmates are in inferiority numbers and they might lose a battle, which means they end losing a zone or their domination of a articular place

This isnt that kind of a game, you will ALWAYS be losing area, as there are no zones nodes or bases, its the surface area of the level itself. Concentrating players to defend a single area, or for kills is a fools errand, and will result in a high killcount and a landslide loss by something like %70.

It was an example, the fact is that you need to coordinate between your teammates to better reach your objective, a team working as one is always way more effective. It happens is every team based competitive game that involves some kind of strategy.

There are no objectives to reach, there are no nodes or bases to take. Its the entire level, anywhere at all that is being painted thats not currently your color is just as good as anywhere else, and any of your paint, that over laps a partners paint, because you are nearby, is doing less than somebody whos off on their own and every drop makes a mark.

Also suggesting a course of action is not complaining at your team, what kind of jump of logic is that?

'Noooooo whay are going that way!!! Oh my gaaaawwwddd!!!! You are an idiot!!!!'
'I cant believe you scored, you are such a lucky ass scrubbin noob'.

Just a hunch.

The game really doesnt need voice chat, especially the versions of online play available at launch, Sure it would be nice, and I honestly think its going to be patched in at some point, but this shit is way over blown.
 
I think it's perfectly fine to want more from a game. Especially Splatoon, which Nintendo has been marketing like crazy. Since it is entering the market with games of its genre already existing, it's normal to compare/contrast its features to the others. In most of those games, voice chat is an option. In some of those games, voice chat is not only just an option, but set to mute by default. In other Nintendo games of different genres, there are voice chat options set to mute by default and set to only friend lobbies. Why couldn't Nintendo implement this when other games under their belt has voice chat capabilities?

And, from replies in this thread as well as in other Splatoon related threads, some people are obviously not going to buy the game because of the feature and it is a shame especially on the console with the smallest user base.


We can only hope that they do that, at least.

That's far more reasoned that the general tone of this thread. You said other Nintendo games have had voice chat. If this thread is to be believed Nintendo just hasn't caught up with the times rather than the more likely possbility that they decided against it for a certain mode of a certain game.
 
Yes, I drew a preconceived notion based on a demo.. of a game releasing in two weeks.
Second, I'm well aware that the hub and customizable weapon loadouts were missing, but the dpad didn't strike me as something that would be customizable. I went ahead and looked at a handful of videos since its reveal and it started with one ping (Signal), but evolved into the two we saw over the weekend. I'm certain it won't be customizable at launch, but I already know you're going to defer to your "we don't know for sure so we can't say" defense again so.. I'm clearly wasting my time here.
I stand by my original point: two pings aren't a sufficient substitute for voice chat.

Sure thing boss.
 
A simple mute option would have done the trick.
After 10 years of hearing people in game lobbies I can appreciate a new shooter that not only lacks voice chat, but enforces it on other players as well to make for a more balanced playingfield while enjoying the silence.

I've put my sunglasses on so your arguments can't hurt me.
B)
 
That's far more reasoned that the general tone of this thread. You said other Nintendo games have had voice chat. If this thread is to be believed Nintendo just hasn't caught up with the times rather than the more likely possbility that they decided against it for a certain mode of a certain game.

Really, other than the ribs on Overside here and there and the first few pages, the people who are actually discussing why they think the lack of voice chat hurts the game right now haven't been too irrational.

And honestly, I do believe the bolded. It's ironic when Nintendo is actually trying to get with the times, they do questionable things or leave out common features that gets them in neverending cases of two steps forward and one step back.

After 10 years of hearing people in game lobbies I can appreciate a new shooter that not only lacks voice chat, but enforces it on other players as well to make for a more balanced playingfield while enjoying the silence.

I've put my sunglasses on so your arguments can't hurt me.
B)
They could have set it to mute for default.

What is up with the text in your spoiler tags?
 
I don't get why people are still arguing that Splatoon having voice chat has strategic benefit when voice chat is by far, one of the most inefficient tools to give out anything serious.
Okay, in the simplest sense, voice chat would be a very useful, if everyone was completely focused on winning and spoke the same language and were not social awkward.
However, that isn't true. Some just want to play for fun. Hell, lots of people have different interpretations of winning. Some think its getting ink on the ground, others think its camping on a box and getting the most kills, others think its getting the opposing team's ink off. While they are all contributing, the playstyle is different. Even if they can easily reach a consensus of victory objectives, talking about locations often becomes befuddled especially if they sound similar. What's the difference between this platform and that platform? for a crude instance. Taking too long to call out an enemy attack will just be inaccurate and mess up your team. It's not too effective in fast pace shooters.
I recall playing MAG(a more tactical team-based shooter) and even though I had a headset when playing, it didn't get much done. A lot of times, only a few talked and we still got pinned down by the bunker or helicopter turrets. What got stuff done was using the ingame commander powers to set objectives.
Honestly, a better solution is a ping system where a player taps on the map to get the team to head towards that objective better than any voice chat could.
Also, I would still welcome voice chat as it's a tool for socializing. It fosters a community and helps break the platitude of the matches over time
 
I always think when it comes to this sort of stuff where strangers can communicate with your kids, Nintendo plays it safe and doesn't allow it or minimizes it so they can maintain that family friendly image that sets them apart.
 
Top Bottom