Voice chat on the Switch will consist of a paid app on "smart" devices (your phone)
- Thread starter Trojita
- Start date
KratosEnergyDrink
Member
Voice chat and control your console with a mobile is unmodern? This is innovative and comfortable in many ways. It can be discussed if it's the best solution, it has advantages and disadvantages.
Again, I said it's a dumb decision, but it doesn't affect me in the slightest.
Yo, bra! Really?
Caayn
Member
As a happy Windows mobile user I have zero hope that Nintendo will release an app for that platform (or any platform outside of the standard iOS and Android. I wonder what the lowest Android is that'll be supported. I know plenty of folks who are still on Android 4.X and aren't looking to upgrade because their current device works fine, similar for iOS devices that aren't getting updated to the latest version any more.
It's crazy that the online functionality of the Switch is reliant on the configuration of a completely separate device.
EventHorizon
Member
Hey, you might be onto something Nintendo, but I don't think you realize what happens if you take that logic to its ultimate conclusion.
Instead of having some sort of bulky dedicated gaming handheld, youll be able to do it right off your smartphone, put in your earbuds that you use for your standard mobile device. We think thats a pretty sweet solution. Thats part of the overall opportunity that we see in a subscription service.
forknknife
Banned
Wait a minute....
If you voice chat over the phone with a headset, how do you listen to the game? Does the app output also the game's sound? That can't be...
So do you just use the phone's microphone then and then hear your friends over the phone's speaker? That can't be either...
How does this work??
If you voice chat over the phone with a headset, how do you listen to the game? Does the app output also the game's sound? That can't be...
So do you just use the phone's microphone then and then hear your friends over the phone's speaker? That can't be either...
How does this work??
This makes total sense in a way. After Nintendo's last jaunt with the pedophilia scare with swapnote, they have decided to make it so that their system has as little contact with accountability as possible. And the best way to achieve that is to simply remove the ability to communicate online from the console, period.
So then the only way to communicate is to use an external system (which Nintendo is not responsible for), or to use a smartphone (which Nintendo is not responsible for) with their paid app (which, in Japan at least, is a legitimate barrier, think not being able to buy CERO-Z games with PlayStation wallet, only credit cards on PSN)
Also, because Nintendo, your gonna get your friends list from your contacts (all on you, not Nintendo). And if everything does somehow go all Swapnote, they can lock down the app or purge it while leaving the Switch untouched.
Yes this is a flawless theory from yours truly, please understand.
So then the only way to communicate is to use an external system (which Nintendo is not responsible for), or to use a smartphone (which Nintendo is not responsible for) with their paid app (which, in Japan at least, is a legitimate barrier, think not being able to buy CERO-Z games with PlayStation wallet, only credit cards on PSN)
Also, because Nintendo, your gonna get your friends list from your contacts (all on you, not Nintendo). And if everything does somehow go all Swapnote, they can lock down the app or purge it while leaving the Switch untouched.
Yes this is a flawless theory from yours truly, please understand.
geordiemp
Member
So I plug my Sennheisser game One's into my astro mix amp, which gets 5.1 from my Ps4, and I can perfectly balance in game surround sound with voice chat with 2 controls, I can mute certain players that have bad mics or annoying, and its the perfect balance of game sound cues and chat.
The Ps4 UI lets me also balance my Mic volume and other tweaks. This is how it should be, game sounds and voice chat at the levels YOU want, you can even mix in a bit of music / spotify.....
On Switch its wat exactly - creasing my sides you are so funny it hurts.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Yes. If that is the only way to do those functions, that is backwards design. As a supplement, great. As the primary or only way, that's terrible.
Like I said, this still makes no sense to me if they really are going at this from a "think of the children angle." They just bothered to show a pretty detailed ad for their parental controls with that Bowser ad. That thing seems to have a fairly robust featureset. There isn't a really compelling reason to not have voice control onboard the system and let the parents control how it works with those parental controls.
Yeah, that was pretty neat when I first tried it. Funnily enough it lets you party chat while playing One games with a 360 controller and it's headset if you accept it via PC. lol
LMAO. Really ? Do you console game ??!!!
Yautja_Warrior
Member
So basically I can pay Nintendo to talk to my friends on my mobile or tablet...... Something which I can already do without paying Nintendo...... Right.... I mean......
I think someone at Nintendo was on the crack pipe when that decision was made.
I think someone at Nintendo was on the crack pipe when that decision was made.
Party Chat on Xbox requires a subscription, although PS4 does not.
EventHorizon
Member
Devil's Advocate:
There still is some benefit to talking on your phone via a Nintendo app vs. talking to your friends on your phone through normal voice apps. The Nintendo app can automatically connect you people you just meet online seamlessly without having to give away any personal information.
It's still exceedingly stupid to do it this way instead of through the Switch but it's something.
There still is some benefit to talking on your phone via a Nintendo app vs. talking to your friends on your phone through normal voice apps. The Nintendo app can automatically connect you people you just meet online seamlessly without having to give away any personal information.
It's still exceedingly stupid to do it this way instead of through the Switch but it's something.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Two things come to mind.
A) Yes, it's nice to have a way to communicate with my gaming friends without giving away personal information. But previously I could just pass off Skype or Discord info, and achieve that anyways. So that's offering a solution to something that wasn't really an issue.
B) The other thing that you could argue like you said is that Nintendo's app would allow for easier, more seamless communication with people you meet in Nintendo-based communities (or even in-game). Fine, whatever it cuts out the middleman of Skype/Discord. It still shouldn't be the only way to communicate in complete lieu of any onboard communication on the Switch.
JayBabay
Member
As others have mentioned, how can you be expected to hear the game sound if you are using headphones for voice chat on an external device? I'm thinking this might be an external app that provides party chat capability if you are not gaming on your console. Like the full fledged PSN app with a voice chat feature.
Wow, thanks Reggie! Instead of a Console and a bulky headset, we now have a console, bulky headset, and phone, because thats somehow better. Screaming into a pillow over how stupid this is. Maybe I'll just skip the console so I just have a headset and a phone. Thats the real space saver!
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Yeah that portion of the answer is pretty stupid (merits of those bulky headsets aside). I happily use my PS Vita headset on my PS4 and it's perfectly normal in size!...pls
Yeah we really need to wait to see how it works. Though Nintendo shouldn't have mentioned it at all if they were not gonna explain it.
forknknife
Banned
Yeah, that's what i want to know and it seems nobody knows what Nintendo's idea is.
What a wreck, Nintendo
looks like
NinGAF will be stuck using discord still as it will allow all of us to use any fucking device we want.
This design decision is absolutely the dumbest one and amazes me
How the fuck is Nintendo still so god damn disconnected from modern tech and design of the world? I could understand it for WiiU as party chat even that was still scarce but after the release of the PS4 and Xbox One where party chat is used nearly every day by millions through the console itself.
Your fucking stupid (Nintendo that is.....not you Yautja)
Audioboxer
Member
Yeah that portion of the answer is pretty stupid (merits of those bulky headsets aside). I happily use my PS Vita headset on my PS4 and it's perfectly normal in size!
Dat neckbreaking weight.
Still mind boggling how Nintendo doesn't just have Bluetooth on the Switch. Would solve all of this mess. Considering some people are trying to say there are difficulties in docked vs undocked for a plug in headset.
Bluetooth on the main unit, not the dock, and bingo, whether you are docked or not you can use a headset to chat to friends.
Controllers could still have an aux input for more choice as well.
Probably because their gameplay-first philosophy lets them get away with it.
forknknife
Banned
It's clear they don't give a shit about voice chat and therefore serious multi-player. That is OK, it's Nintendo. But then why charge for online? I really hope it's only like 30 bucks per year at the most, otherwise they're insane.
Yes
Right, why not just have it as an option? It's got to be a kid thing. A poster above thought it might be about liability.
DrROBschiz
Member
has this been confirmed?
it supoorts 3band audio at that jack?
im really hoping it can at least support a wired and wireless headset
still very very pissed at them charging us for online while not delivering basic features
Talking to your friends with your phone is "innovative" now?
Yeah I saw pictures in some thread showing an audio jack on the switch itself. It probably was from the Japanese website (cant link right now sorry).
EventHorizon
Member
Yea, the only benefit is connecting to random strangers you meet in game. As rare as that seems to happen nowaday, it seems even less likely that someone would start up an app on there phone and in the off chance they would talk to someone in game.
I am trying to wrap my head around what could ever make Nintendo think this was a good idea. I can only come up with these four.
1) Switch doesn't have the necessary power and/or architecture to handle real time voice chat in a game/OS independent manner
2) Nintendo doesn't care about voice chat and this was the easiest way to check the box
3) Nintendo wants an app on your phone. This can be used to collect user data like contact information. Nintendo can send ads at you as push notifications.
4) Same as #3 but for good intentions. Nintendo could extend the gaming environment to the phone. Persistent worlds could send you update notifications and request simple input. Scheduling of gaming events are more efficient since you are more likely to have your phone with you at all times instead of your Switch. Granted none of this is related to voice, but the more people install the app on their phone the better this will work.
Hopefully not...I don't have a "smart device" because I can barely get a signal in my home (a combination of a weak signal area and thick granite walls). So if I want to play online, it appears I'll have to pay and not have access to the voice chat I'm paying extra for.
shawnbuddy
Member
Man, sitting in my living room using my phone to voice chat just feels like a kludge. I might as well, shudder, call people!
Devilgunman
Member
I think that is exactly what they want you to do.
Katzenjammer
Member
You can't play online without paying anyway. Having it in a separate app frees system resources. I use third party software for this anyway so meh, there's no problem for me.
The app itself is great idea.
You can plan your game session with your friends anywhere. Creating a room and talk to them with your phone. You could even try to find a free WLAN-Area on the go and play with them there. This parts sounds fantastic.
The problem is, that it could be the only way to plan and talk to your friends. That would be really wired. It would work, but be just a unnecessary step ...
You can plan your game session with your friends anywhere. Creating a room and talk to them with your phone. You could even try to find a free WLAN-Area on the go and play with them there. This parts sounds fantastic.
The problem is, that it could be the only way to plan and talk to your friends. That would be really wired. It would work, but be just a unnecessary step ...
Is this confirmed? Very strange. Bluetooth costs nothing to add these days.
I thought the controllera used bluetooth?
Edit: no it has bluetooth according to fcc
old manatee
Banned
I used to play PC games with my cell phone strapped to my head with a Karate Kid headband like 15 years ago.
Ah ok thanks. I saw "no bt" mentioned in this thread and I was freaking out haha.