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[Scrawnton]

Overreactions: The Thread

 

[orthodoxy1095]

By the way, I just checked, and the version of the game I have—the one that prompts me to go online—is the current version of the app.

WWF Classic is a separate entry in the app store for me. The current version says "open" and the old version has a cloud download icon.

So if the new version has an offline mode, my app sure doesn't seem to have gotten the memo.

Sounds like you have a problem then.

You have a copy of an app that's missing a feature that has been in the app since October 2014. A feature that is actually referred to right on the store page:

Shocking stuff. You should contact Apple, they might want to take a look at your phone. Revolutionary, magical stuff there.

 

[Alpha_eX]

I travel through one every day back and forth to work and never lose connection.

In fact I'm posting this from an underground subway tunnel.

You must not live in the UK or commute on the underground in London. Most people here play smartphone games on their commute, I guess it will continue to be Candy Crush for many.

For Nintendo fans in London, this is not an overreaction. It's a huge and unnecessary let down if the game isn't playable in any form while commuting on the London Underground.

 

[Kouriozan]

One problem is I'm mobile gaming on a wifi iPad, so I'm would be really limited by that.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Overreactions: The Thread

More like damage control: the thread

 

[Xane]

I'm assuming the progression is stored and checked against the server to counter cheating and hacking. Makes total sense in a game where they wanna sell microtransactions and have people not fudge with their progression to cheat their way through the leaderboards.

If you want true offline mode, the only way I can see this work is have none of your progress made offline count towards your account's progression so they don't have to worry about cheaters.

You cannot have both.

 

[guybrushfreeman]

I'm assuming the progression is stored and checked against the server to counter cheating and hacking. Makes total sense in a game where they wanna sell microtransactions and have people not fudge with their progression to cheat their way through the leaderboards.

If you want true offline mode, the only way I can see this work is have none of your progress made offline count towards your account's progression so they don't have to worry about cheaters.

You cannot have both.

Doesn't have micro transactions though

 

[Joelstinton14]

I saw verge posted about this, too. Fuck, I'm wondering if this will cost Nintendo. With how well Pokemon Go did, eyes are on SMR to take off. Always online seems like a catch thatll stop it being as much of a hit. If people cant commute and play, thats a yuge fault

I don't think it will. Pokemon Go is an online only game by the way also, and as of September that was downloaded 500m+ times. Smartphones are meant to be online devices, i think the instances where you not online are rarer than the instances you are. I know the subway issues is a genuine issue for some, but life exists outside london and other cities too. I live in a small fishing village in cornwall. For non uk readers, it like the arse end of no where. Village of the damned. Rural as you get. And we get 4G. Honestly it did surprise me to see kids playing Pokemon Go in our area though.

 

[Alpha_eX]

I'm assuming the progression is stored and checked against the server to counter cheating and hacking. Makes total sense in a game where they wanna sell microtransactions and have people not fudge with their progression to cheat their way through the leaderboards.

If you want true offline mode, the only way I can see this work is have none of your progress made offline count towards your account's progression so they don't have to worry about cheaters.

You cannot have both.

You can have both, just have a play for fun mode where your coins are binned at the end of the stage.

Maybe at the end of each level where it does these checks, give an option to continue and lose coins if there is no wifi, or wait on that screen for it to kick back in.

It's not hard to design around these, but I think Nintendo, being a Japanese company, didn't think of all these edge cases in the Western world, where mobile internet is limited in places, even in big cities like London.

I'm not dumb enough to say I will "pass" on the game, I love Mario and will happily play this, just sadly not on my commute.

 

[Scrawnton]

More like damage control: the thread

I like overreactions better. People need to always laser focus on one things and complain endlessly about it, no matter how minor it is.

 

[Xane]

Doesn't have micro transactions though

That's really odd. Do they have any sort of progression and/or leaderboards though? Or any sort of multiplayer with added benefits of progressing through the game?

 

[AgeEighty]

Sounds like you have a problem then.

You have a copy of an app that's missing a feature that has been in the app since October 2014. A feature that is actually referred to right on the store page:

Shocking stuff. You should contact Apple, they might want to take a look at your phone. Revolutionary, magical stuff there.

Not really. I rarely play it anymore, and when I do, speaking of shocking stuff, I'm online anyway.

Fact is, I have the current app and it won't let me use the app without internet. I even checked the settings when I was online, and there's no toggle to enable it. If it's like that for me, no matter what their feature bullet list says, it's probably like that for at least some others.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

I'm assuming the progression is stored and checked against the server to counter cheating and hacking. Makes total sense in a game where they wanna sell microtransactions and have people not fudge with their progression to cheat their way through the leaderboards.

If you want true offline mode, the only way I can see this work is have none of your progress made offline count towards your account's progression so they don't have to worry about cheaters.

You cannot have both.

I mean, it's a $10 game. If they start selling micro transactions on top of that, there would be even more backlash.

Not really. I rarely play it anymore, and when I do, speaking of shocking stuff, I'm online anyway.

Fact is, I have the current app and it won't let me use the app without internet. I even checked the settings when I was online, and there's no toggle to enable it. If it's like that for me, no matter what their feature bullet list says, it's probably like that for at least some others.

Sounds like you don't actually have the correct app and should consider reinstalling it.

 

[test_account]

When they say it's tough to do I assume they mean it's tough to implement before the holiday season--they did admit that they brought Mario forward to capitalise on the success of Pokemon Go, after all.

I'm optimistic that they'll add offline mode for the core game eventually, maybe even sooner rather than later.

I cant see why it would be tough though. The online portion is based on downloading ghost data from others, as far as i know, it shouldnt be any problem to have that as an option. The always online was likely planned there from the start, or early on as a piracy measure. EDIT: Maybe as an anti-cheat system as well as someone else mentioned.

Miyamoto also said this:

"Each of those countries has different network environments and things like that," Miyamoto concluded. "So it was important for us to be able to have it secure for all users."

I dont see how the App Store is different in one region compared to another or how the network enviorment would affect the game depending on which country you're in, in regards to security of the game.

But yeah, maybe an offline part will be implemented later on, we'll see =)

 

[Tunesmith]

By the way, I just checked, and the version of the game I have—the one that prompts me to go online—is the current version of the app.

WWF Classic is a separate entry in the app store for me. The current version says "open" and the old version has a cloud download icon.

So if the new version has an offline mode, my app sure doesn't seem to have gotten the memo.



Not really. I also doubt that, as the owner of hundreds of paid apps, you've checked every single one of them when you were offline to verify that they booted and let you play, but hey, if you say so. And even if you have, I don't think your case really matches the majority here.

Sounds like you have a problem then.

You have a copy of an app that's missing a feature that has been in the app since October 2014. A feature that is actually referred to right on the store page:



Shocking stuff. You should contact Apple, they might want to take a look at your phone. Revolutionary, magical stuff there.

I don't play WFF but it sounds like AgeEighty might have a grand-fathered version of the old app?

Zynga did the same with Drop7 back in the day when they transitioned from paid app to F2P. The older paid app is still available to download for old owners but it's replaced by a free version on the store (which is ad-free for owners of the old app).

 

[WrenchNinja]

I like overreactions better. People need to always laser focus on one things and complain endlessly about it, no matter how minor it is.

I guess for some people, not being able to play the game isn't a minor thing. Go figure huh

 

[Xane]

You can have both, just have a play for fun mode where your coins are binned at the end of the stage.

Yes, that would work and is exactly what I outlined.

Maybe at the end of each level where it does these checks, give an option to continue and lose coins if there is no wifi, or wait on that screen for it to kick back in.

No, that wouldn't fix the issue of people cheating their coins before going online to submit.

It's not hard to design around these,

That is a somewhat ignorant way of thinking. Dealing with cheaters always means to compromise something else.

 

[Zombine]

When my phone isn't on wifi, it's on LTE...

 

[BGBW]

I like overreactions better. People need to always laser focus on one things and complain endlessly about it, no matter how minor it is.

A game designed to be played on the go has an aspect preventing some from being able to play it on the go isn't really minor.

 

[AgeEighty]

Sounds like you don't actually have the correct app and should consider reinstalling it.

Perhaps, but all I've ever done with that app was to restore it once from backup this past September when I got a new phone. If that's all it takes to deactivate key features, I'm sure I'm not the only one unknowingly having the same issue. I never even would have noticed had this discussion not come up.

I don't play WFF but it sounds like AgeEighty might have a grand-fathered version of the old app?

The grandfathered version of the old app is WWF Classic. That's not what I have. I have the current one.

 

[Xane]

I mean, it's a $10 game. If they start selling micro transactions on top of that, there would be even more backlash.

Wouldn't that be overreacting? If they were to add optional microtransactions for cosmetic items to fund further development of the game, would you really mind?

 

[Pillville]

My kids use our old phones (without active phone plans) to play games on car trips. This sucks for them if more games do this.

 

[EvB]

Who uses airplane mode besides on airplanes? This isn't a big deal at all.

Even in Airlplane mode, you can still turn on the WIFI

 

[Alpha_eX]

No, that wouldn't fix the issue of people cheating their coins before going online to submit.

That is a somewhat ignorant way of thinking. Dealing with cheaters always means to compromise something else.

It is slightly ignorant of me to think the game could have been designed better to benefit players who pay for the full game. If I'm dropping $10 for all the levels, I want to be able to play them all the time like every other Mario game.

I get that people can fudge numbers and get more coins but surely they can do something to say, this person is playing on level 3-2 and the max coin drop is 300, so don't let them submit 5000 and get that in their bank.

Add an offline mode Nintendo, but I do think there are ways to design around this sort of thing with lots of time.

Anyway, all this aside, I'm really excited about this game, it looks very fluid and lots of fun to play. Good job in that respect, Nintendo.

 

[Ninja Dom]

You must not live in the UK or commute on the underground in London. Most people here play smartphone games on their commute, I guess it will continue to be Candy Crush for many.

For Nintendo fans in London, this is not an overreaction. It's a huge and unnecessary let down if the game isn't playable in any form while commuting on the London Underground.

I'm a daily London Underground commuter (Northern Line). Reading the title prompted me to be initially disappointed as I was hoping to play this on my commutes.

But it isn't actually a big deal as thinking about it, this year I've poured 100's of hours into Clash Royale on iOS, which is an online only game. That game won't even load without an internet connection. So I've managed somehow.

 

[GSG Flash]

I have a fundamental problem with a fully priced mobile game requiring a constant connection...

I fly a lot and that's one of the few times I would even ever touch a mobile game, and this game would not work for me in that scenario. Data roaming is another problem, you wouldn't be able to play this game if you're roaming unless you wanna rack up a nasty phone bill. And forget about playing this on your tablet if you're commuting or traveling. This is a baffling decision IMO.

 

[Alpha_eX]

Nintendo releasing a console that lets you play anywhere and a mobile app that only lets you play where you can get data.

I guess this is a good sign that Switch games won't have micro transactions, but if they do, why not apply the same design principals to the iOS games and allow offline play. I don't get it.

 

[ViciousDS]

Overreactions: The Thread

I'd say damage control because it's Nintendo it gets a pass

 

[BudokaiMR2]

You must not live in the UK or commute on the underground in London. Most people here play smartphone games on their commute, I guess it will continue to be Candy Crush for many.

For Nintendo fans in London, this is not an overreaction. It's a huge and unnecessary let down if the game isn't playable in any form while commuting on the London Underground.

Nope, Japan. Osaka specifically.

This is honestly very fascinating to me. I've been riding subways here for over 10 years, and even with the incredibly inferior phone tech and cellular networks available back then this was never a problem.

I honestly never would have imagined this to be a problem in a major metropolitan area. I even work in the game industry and have talked with mobile developers regarding always online stuff and the only caveat I can remember is that those modes don't work in most developing countries because of spotty/inferior connections.

I know this is a pretty shitty hot take, but maybe the priority should be taking issue with mobile companies who are willing to charge you out the ass for the service without actually improving their infrastructure? I find it hard to believe that there would be some legitimate reason why signals can reach JP subway lines but not the ones in London.

 

[oti]

For the competitive Toad mode, whatever. It makes sense to make cheating more difficult I guess. But the "story" mode? Why is that not possible offline?

 

[Octavianus]

Overreactions: The Thread

Isn't that every thread on Neogaf?

 

[Ninja Dom]

Do we know the gameplay features for this to make sense?

World Tour mode uploads score/time. Toad Rally uploads/downloads friends progress and scores. Kingdom Builder is doesn't have to use Internet but the device would have to reconnect to the internet for the other two modes, slowing things down - so Nintendo made Kingdom Builder online only too for more seamless integration with the other two modes.

But the absolute main reason is for piracy.

 

[down 2 orth]

It's not enough that you're paying for the game, but Nintendo has to take as much data from you as possible so they can sell that too.

So much for that squeaky clean image, that's no better than a sleazy yakuza company.

 

[Kneefoil]

Doesn't have micro transactions though

But the game is free-to-start; you don't have to pay until you've beaten enough levels. You could unlock the rest of the levels with hacking, and the online connection is probably to prevent that. The leaderboard (if the game has one) issue Xane mentioned is also valid.

It's unfortunate that the needs to be always online, but it's what I was expecting, tbh.

 

[meppi]

I don't have an internet plan for my phone as I don't use it when I'm away or at work, so this is useless to me.
Not a fan of mobile games to begin with, but I buy a ton of Nintendo stuff.
Guess this one won't be for me.

 

[Xun]

Yeah, I really don't support this decision.

How very lame.

 

[guybrushfreeman]

But the game is free-to-start; you don't have to pay until you've beaten enough levels. You could unlock the rest of the levels with hacking, and the online connection is probably to prevent that. The leaderboard (if the game has one) issue Xane mentioned is also valid.

It's unfortunate that the needs to be always online, but it's what I was expecting, tbh.

The game will absolutely still be hacked though. This is unlikely to stop hackers

 

[justsomeguy]

"We wanted to be able to leverage that network connection with all three of the [Super Mario Run] modes to keep all of the modes functioning together and offering the game in a way that keeps the software secure."

the fuck does that even mean?

DRM

 

[Iceternal]

It makes no sense . One of the times I'm most susceptible to play it is in the metro and I won't have an internet connection down there . No point buying the game then.

 

[killercow]

Nope, Japan. Osaka specifically.

This is honestly very fascinating to me. I've been riding subways here for over 10 years, and even with the incredibly inferior phone tech and cellular networks available back then this was never a problem.

I honestly never would have imagined this to be a problem in a major metropolitan area.

It's exactly the same here in Paris. No Edge/3G/4G in most (if not all) subways so that's a major problem here too.

 

[gogogow]

I'd say damage control because it's Nintendo it gets a pass

Lol, the typical "because it's Nintendo, they can get away with it" posts. Maybe, if you have been living under a rock.

Since when does Nintendo get away with anything? Anything positive and the threads are 1-3 pages, anything negative it gets 10+ pages. Even positive Nintendo news threads turns into something negative. So no, Nintendo aren't getting away with anything.

 

[aravuus]

Overreactions: The Thread

Lol yep. Besides the couple of guys in the middle of an argument, a bunch of people post, for the most part, calm comments pointing out how this is a deal breaker for them because they genuinely don't have a connection when they tend to play mobile games.

Fucking overreactions, man. Damage control: the thread is infinitely closer to the truth.

 

[TrueBlue]

Eeeeeh.

I mean, I still want it. But I can't help but feel this is a misguided decision.

 

[F34R]

I'm on unlimited, so this won't affect me in the data plan sense. Still, it does suck to have online requirements to simply play the game. Obviously, social aspects require the online, but that should be an option.

 

[entremet]

They didn't think this through.

 

[Iceternal]

They just killed their potentially big Parisian audience .

 

[boneyjangles]

If it's incredibly social/competitive and all about competing with your friends for the best scores/times, I can see this requiring online, How else would it work? Should they just forget that and let anyone upload any old hacked score?

We are already condemning this as a game that 'surely doesn't need the online connectivity', and one that is going to rack up massive cellular data charges. Well, maybe it does, and maybe it won't? Lets play it first.

 

[OfTheOverflow]

Lmao what the fuck is this? Nintendo being Nintendo again, keen to see how this goes down lol

 

[Ninja Dom]

Lol, the typical "because it's Nintendo, they can get away with it" posts. Maybe, if you have been living under a rock.

Since when does Nintendo get away with anything? Anything positive and the threads are 1-3 pages, anything negative it gets 10+ pages. Even positive Nintendo news threads turns into something negative. So no, Nintendo aren't getting away with anything.

Spot on!!!

The most recent Super Mario Run threads on NeoGAF never ran to 13 or 14 pages. I never saw half of the posters in this thread showing their support for the game in the other Super Mario Run threads, or in the Mario Community thread.

But negative news comes and then we get 13 pages already.

 

[Heavy's Sandvich]

so if lose 4g connection i get booted?