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[Ghostshark]

This makes no sense. So I open Mario Kart, and I have to open my smartphone to access the online menu? What if my phone freezes? Online cuts off? This has to be a giant string of bad marketing, and the app is an optional way to access online. How has an interviewer not asked for clarification?

 

[Schnozberry]

I'm 99% sure this ball started rolling because of the Swapnote incident.

Yeah, I'm sure PSN and XBL would undergo some serious revisions too if kids were being groomed by pedophiles using the service.

 

[StereoVsn]

I was just thinking that I may not be understanding something. Ok, I am using the smartphone app for voicechat and lobbies/marchmaking/etc and I have my headset plugged in to the phone.

Then I have another set of headphones plugged into the Switch. Am I then juggling two separate sets of headphones on two different devices in order to listen to the game and voicechat at same time? How can this be possible and nobody would have stopped that? Or is all sound going to pipe through the app into the smartphone?

 

[GregLombardi]

Give it a try before shitting all over it GAF. They aren't making a console, they are making a portable console.

Yawn at overreactions.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

I haven't combed through all 20 pages of this thread but does anybody think this might be why all the controllers have An NFC reader built in. It might be that your phone will need NFC (which most or not all recent phones have) to work with your phone for accepting invites or what have you. I really Hoping they didn't build NFC in all of their controllers JUST for amiibo.

iPhones have an NFC chip but it is used exclusively by Apple and cannot be used by apps.

So no

 

[_PsiFire_]

Reggie already said its monthly/yearly fee.. truly

Where did I say it was free?

 

[Xumbrega]

lol fuck off, Nintendo

 

[ASIS]

LOL at the people who keep saying "Wait and see! Wait and see!"

Did we need to wait and see when MS announced their DRM? Did we need to wait and see when Sony priced the PS3 at $599?

Sometimes a stupid idea is a stupid idea no matter how far away it is. Why some people think only Nintendo deserves the benefit of the doubt after the epic fail that was the Wii U is beyond me.



They keep expecting to make another Wii or DS, not realizing that those were lightning-in-a-bottle moments that are not likely to be repeated anytime soon.

The mistakes Sony and MS made were stupid. This one is just plain unbelievable. That's the difference

 

[Darklor01]

there's no way basic match making is done through a phone. Let's wait and see.

I don't know about that. My iPhone has a lobby system for certain game apps. I'd think it can do it for Switch games. I just think it's BS since I'm not trying to play the games on my fucking phone!

 

[Littlefang]

This is just giving me an image of some asshole at Starbucks shouting into their phone after they've been hit by a blue shell.

 

[RedZaraki]

Reggie.

If the device has internet, and the device has speakers, and the device has a microphone.........

I don't know.

Why don't you make SWITCH have the lobby?

WTF!?

 

[hwy_61]

Jesus

I was speaking about the app. Not everything.

This is just giving me an image of some asshole at Starbucks shouting into their phone after they've been hit by a blue shell.

Alright I think I'm on board now. I wanna see that shit happen

 

[Calcium]

why they brought this on themselves. its not like someone made them make these types of decisions.

I don't know, it is just baffling to see a company that used to be on top fuck things up so much. It just strikes me as sad at this point.

 

[liquidtmd]

I don't believe this at all. I think Reggie just misspoke, especially since we still don't have any confirmation that voice chat, matchmaking etc. won't be available on the Switch itself.

The console apparently can support a headphone+mic combo, and what about games like Mario Kart, which are being released before the full online service, around September or later?

We need clarification on this quickly, maybe with another Direct, and ideally now. Even if it's just a brief set of definite features and services.

But damn, so many people are jumping to conclusions based on an interview...

He's the President and CEO of NoA, its kinda his job get these facts across clearly six weeks prior to a global console launch

 

[CD'S BAR]

So disappointing.

With Iwata passing (rest his soul) and Nintendo gradually entering the mobile market, I thought they were headed down a brave new path. Seems it's same shit new machine.

 

[MADGAME]

This is just giving me an image of some asshole at Starbucks shouting into their phone after they've been hit by a blue shell.

While sipping a venti skinny soy half-sweet one-pump caramel butterscotch macchiato half-caff with cinnamon and extra whip.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I don't trust that Reggie understands matchmaking in the sense of joining a match with random people.

It's also too fucking bizarre to think that if I boot up Splatoon 2, I can't just join a match without doing something on my phone. I really don't think that's what is being said here. It can't be.

It must be referring to a custom game with friends or sending invites and that being handled through the app isn't so bad. I'm OK with that. There must be some kind of basic functionality where you get an invite and accept it to join the game on the device itself.

I don't believe this at all. I think Reggie just misspoke, especially since we still don't have any confirmation that voice chat, matchmaking etc. won't be available on the Switch itself.

The console apparently can support a headphone+mic combo, and what about games like Mario Kart, which are being released before the full online service, around September or later?

We need clarification on this quickly, maybe with another Direct, and ideally now. Even if it's just a brief set of definite features and services.

But damn, so many people are jumping to conclusions based on an interview...

Reggie knows exactly what he is saying here and is carefully choosing his words (and his spin). People need to accept reality. You guys are living in a fantasy land of denial.

 

[SuperLeviathan]

It just gets better and better, doesn't it?

I don't even get it. Is Nintendo's upper management THAT hidebound and clueless?

 

[Dunlop]

I just feel bad for Nintendo now. All the details coming out for the Switch just sound so horrible.

I don't, they sit in a mountain of cash and refuse to do anything with it to try and improve.

Then nickel and dime on another gimmick. WiiU was the final nail for me.

 

[dcx4610]

In all honesty, this really going to be a major inconvenience to anyone? The market of Switch fans without a smartphone will be very, very small.

Doesn't change the fact that this should be a cool bonus feature and not the primary method for online communication though. Very odd.

It's the idea and principal. Just like when people got upset about Xbox One requiring a 24-hour online connection. Who really isn't connected to the internet 24-7 these days other than people in the military or in certain countries?

You have a tablet in your hands. Why do I need to grab my phone, go to a app and voice chat and match make? That's like going to the kitchen to grab a spoon and fork when you already have them in your hands.

Why not just let the app do those things as an option while letting you do the same thing on the Switch itself? Such a baffling company.

 

[D4Danger]

Give it a try before shitting all over it GAF. They aren't making a console, they are making a portable console.

Yawn at overreactions.

but the idea of it being portable makes these decision even worse.

when it's portable it has a screen, right? it has a headphone connection and wifi and everything else it would need to function like a console made after the Dreamcast era.

if you're using it out and about the last thing you want to do is fumble around with another device. I can sort of understand it maybe if you're at home and it's just on the arm of the chair or something.

 

[UltimateUnknown]

I literally do not understand how this would work especially on the go, not just from an convenience stand point but from a mechanical stand point.

Say I plug in earbuds in the 3mm jack on the phone to start voice chatting/matchmaking. So then how do I listen to the game itself? No one's going to turn up the Switch volume and unplug an earbud while outside. That's even a problem when you are at home, having to basically either put your phone on speaker or take an earbud out while voice chatting to hear the game on the TV speaker.

Then how does this work with an actual headset? How can I use a proper headset to listen to the game volume AND voice chat using phone earbuds/speakers at the same time? This just simply does not make any sense. You have to have voice chat options built in your consoles so that you can listen to both the game and chat at the same time.

 

[mordecaii83]

I can't help but think that this is mostly about system resources. Look at how bare-bones the Switch OS is in general. No Netflix,no browser, no voice chat/matchmaking... I'm pretty sure they're doing everything they can do leave as much of the system available for games as possible.

It makes sense due to the Switch having less RAM,less bandwidth, and less power overall than the other systems. In fact, from this perspective it's probably a good idea. But having to use a smartphone for anything online is absolutely terrible and will most likely hurt them somewhat.

 

[starmud]

For all the bitching here, it's not like we don't all have smartphones. I highly doubt most people picking up a $300 console don't own a smartphone.

It's something we haven't seen before, I'll wait to see and than commence bitching.

 

[VRMN]

You have to be able to use networking features without the app. What subset that will be we don't know, but the app isn't out at launch. I think they said summer. There are online titles in the launch window. Either those have no online features until summer or there are features native to the platform. The latter is more likely.

 

[WhiskerFrisker]

Trying to set up groups for multiplayer will be dogshit if Nintendo is going through with this.

 

[GSG Flash]

Why would anyone ever pay for this service? Is Nintendo gonna develop an app for every smartphone OS known to man? What a shitty online solution.

 

[7DollarHagane]

He's the President and CEO of NoA, its kinda his job get these facts across clearly six weeks prior to a global console launch

Matchmaking can mean a lot of things. It's not some standard term like public match or private match or lobby.

Matchmaking can be on your friends list, matching you with friends that play that game, matching you up in the same game, etc.

I really think this is just a case of using a generic term in a dumb way and people are overreacting. I hope.

 

[Kthulhu]

Give it a try before shitting all over it GAF. They aren't making a console, they are making a portable console.

Yawn at overreactions.

If it quacks like a duck...

No excuse. My willingness to defend Nintendo has a limit. I draw the line a tie in apps. This is just a complete misunderstanding of how the industry works.

 

[Kyzer]

am I the only one who is thinking all these apps and also nintendos upcoming mobile games will be supported by switch?

 

[Opa-Pa]

Next week: So what if the Switch needs an antenna peripheral to have wifi gaf, let's wait and see, geez...

 

[Mahonay]

Give it a try before shitting all over it GAF. They aren't making a console, they are making a portable console.

Yawn at overreactions.

I'm imagining someone trying to use the Switch with their left hand and simultaneously using the phone app in their right hand.

So slick. So mobile. You're right.

 

[disappeared]

Just imagine the loading times on that app. It might not even have swipe functions.

It will and you'll just need to swipe left.

 

[Red Devil]

This is just giving me an image of some asshole at Starbucks shouting into their phone after they've been hit by a blue shell.

Well otherwise they would be shouting at a device.

 

[RadioJoNES64]

I get the feeling that it's really just an optional method of playing with friends online and that Reggie just misspoke. In barely two months we'll know.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I literally do not understand how this would work especially on the go, not just from an convenience stand point but from a mechanical stand point.

Say I plug in earbuds in the 3mm jack on the phone to start voice chatting/matchmaking. So then how do I listen to the game itself? No one's going to turn up the Switch volume and unplug an earbud while outside. That's even a problem when you are at home, having to basically either put your phone on speaker or take an earbud out while voice chatting to hear the game on the TV speaker.

Then how does this work with an actual headset? How can I use a proper headset to listen to the game volume AND voice chat using phone earbuds/speakers at the same time? This just simply does not make any sense. You have to have voice chat options built in your consoles so that you can listen to both the game and chat at the same time.

Reggie constantly bringing up "bulky gamer headsets" leads me to believe they expect you to use your phone's speaker and the Switch's speaker simultaneously, one for voice chat and the other for game audio.

 

[Dunlop]

For all the bitching here, it's not like we don't all have smartphones. I highly doubt most people picking up a $300 console don't own a smartphone.

It's something we haven't seen before, I'll wait to see and than commence bitching.

It's the idea that you would need a separate device, it defies any logic

 

[Betty]

For all the bitching here, it's not like we don't all have smartphones. I highly doubt most people picking up a $300 console don't own a smartphone.

It's something we haven't seen before, I'll wait to see and than commence bitching.

We haven't done it because it's dumb.

If i'm paying for a subscription it should work like the others, not require yet another piece of tech to work.

 

[Doctre81]

am I the only one who is thinking all these apps and also nintendos upcoming mobile games will be supported by switch?

Nope.

 

[dreamer3kx]

Give it a try before shitting all over it GAF. They aren't making a console, they are making a portable console.

Yawn at overreactions.

lol

 

[Dash_Riprock]

For all the bitching here, it's not like we don't all have smartphones. I highly doubt most people picking up a $300 console don't own a smartphone.

It's something we haven't seen before, I'll wait to see and than commence bitching.

We've already had a couple posters here who either don't have smartphones or have unsupported ones like Windows Phone/Blackberry.

 

[TheMan]

it sounds dumb as hell and super inconvenient, but people will get used to it.

 

[Kyzer]

you got these business guys walking around, and like, you wanna conference call somebody you dont wanna have to pull out a bulky gamer headset

 

[theWB27]

I can't help but think that this is mostly about system resources. Look at how bare-bones the Switch OS is in general. No Netflix,no browser, no voice chat/matchmaking... I'm pretty sure they're doing everything they can do leave as much of the system available for games as possible.

It makes sense due to the Switch having less RAM,less bandwidth, and less power overall than the other systems. In fact, from this perspective it's probably a good idea. But having to use a smartphone for anything online is absolutely terrible and will most likely hurt them somewhat.

Nintendo has the money to make a modern console. What's with these excuses.

They keep doing this and it doesn't help the consumer nor the devs.

 

[Darklor01]

I literally do not understand how this would work especially on the go, not just from an convenience stand point but from a mechanical stand point.

Say I plug in earbuds in the 3mm jack on the phone to start voice chatting/matchmaking. So then how do I listen to the game itself? No one's going to turn up the Switch volume and unplug an earbud while outside. That's even a problem when you are at home, having to basically either put your phone on speaker or take an earbud out while voice chatting to hear the game on the TV speaker.

Then how does this work with an actual headset? How can I use a proper headset to listen to the game volume AND voice chat using phone earbuds/speakers at the same time? This just simply does not make any sense. You have to have voice chat options built in your consoles so that you can listen to both the game and chat at the same time.

I'm guessing that the Headphones/Headset connect to the Switch itself and it relays the voice chat data to/from the Smart Phone, and game sound natively goes to the headphones/headset through the same sound chipset as the voice chat.

 

[Speely]

I'm imagining someone trying to use the Switch with their left hand and simultaneously using the phone app in their right hand.

So slick. So mobile. You're right.

To be fair, we don't know this will be the case. Does this idea sound dumb as shit? Yes. But it might not be constantly-juggling-devices dumb.

 

[KingV]

I don't believe this at all. I think Reggie just misspoke, especially since we still don't have any confirmation that voice chat, matchmaking etc. won't be available on the Switch itself.

The console apparently can support a headphone+mic combo, and what about games like Mario Kart, which are being released before the full online service, around September or later?

We need clarification on this quickly, maybe with another Direct, and ideally now. Even if it's just a brief set of definite features and services.

But damn, so many people are jumping to conclusions based on an interview...

Perhaps you were not around for the "it's the same tree!!!" Thread.

 

[Femto.]

Give it a try before shitting all over it GAF. They aren't making a console, they are making a portable console.

Yawn at overreactions.

This is counter-intuitive, please tell me why this should be taken without criticism?

Why not bother having it on the damn console?

 

[Farewell]

Wow, hope it's optional, otherwise a really stupid decision.

 

[JaseMath]

Guys, the sad part is that—according to Reggie—Nintendo "reads the boards" and even if they're second-guessing their decision based on the blowback (and not just here), it's too late to go back to the drawing board.

Not even the most pie-in-the-sky, amazing experience of an app is going to save this decision from the fact that you HAVE TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. It also raises serious functionality questions. For instance, how am I supposed to chat mid-game? Do I keep the phone in my lap the entire time? Do I have to pause the game and use the mic like a speaker phone? Or what if my phone dies? Do I leave the game?

This is crazy.

Spoiler

WHY DO I OWN STOCK IN THIS COMPANY?