What is going on with this system that it is relying so much on external hardware for core functions? I could understand some funtionality being limited off of the dock to preserve battery life, but this is just weird. At this rate, the onboard o/s should not being consuming more than 10% of the memory at any given time.
Reggie: Switch matchmaking and lobbies handled through phone app
- Thread starter Zombie James
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double0cinco
Banned
Don't get me wrong, I think it sucks too. The only reasonable reason I can think of for it not being a native function of the switch is that it wasn't ready in time, or they didn't want to split effort between native functionality and the phone functionality.
All I'm saying is that there seems to be some kind of thought put into it, even if I don't agree with it.
-Why does Reggie talk about the main reasoning behind not doing voice chat through the Switch itself being because they don't want you to have to carry that bulky gaming headset around when they're marketing it more as a home console than a portable anyway?
-The same earbuds that are used with phones that are nice for portability can just as easily be supported by the console itself. Look at the Dualshock 4. It supports regular little earbuds with microphone on it like the Apple earbuds. Heck, Sony even includes an INSANELY small and portable chat headset. Why could Nintendo not do the same?
-Why not include a microphone on the Joy Con controller? Vita has a built in microphone (and, of course, the ability to plug in headsets).
-Why not have the ability to do matchmaking and lobbies via the Switch UI?
-When has the simplicity of this functionality in other consoles ever been called in to question?
-Why would communication features be locked behind a paywall? The competitors don't do this, and they even have better communication functionality, like Party Chat. At this point, what's even the use of managing a friends list on the Switch for free?
-When I come home from work in the evening, wanting to play games, my phone's battery is usually really low. Should I have to charge up my phone battery for a bit so that I can properly play online on my home console?
In conclusion, the online functionality on the Nintendo Switch is probably the worst in well over a decade. The Wii U, barebones as it was, was better than this, and it was free (rightfully, considering how terribly simple it was).
-The same earbuds that are used with phones that are nice for portability can just as easily be supported by the console itself. Look at the Dualshock 4. It supports regular little earbuds with microphone on it like the Apple earbuds. Heck, Sony even includes an INSANELY small and portable chat headset. Why could Nintendo not do the same?
-Why not include a microphone on the Joy Con controller? Vita has a built in microphone (and, of course, the ability to plug in headsets).
-Why not have the ability to do matchmaking and lobbies via the Switch UI?
-When has the simplicity of this functionality in other consoles ever been called in to question?
-Why would communication features be locked behind a paywall? The competitors don't do this, and they even have better communication functionality, like Party Chat. At this point, what's even the use of managing a friends list on the Switch for free?
-When I come home from work in the evening, wanting to play games, my phone's battery is usually really low. Should I have to charge up my phone battery for a bit so that I can properly play online on my home console?
In conclusion, the online functionality on the Nintendo Switch is probably the worst in well over a decade. The Wii U, barebones as it was, was better than this, and it was free (rightfully, considering how terribly simple it was).
Xaero Gravity
NEXT LEVEL lame™
It blows my mind that someone is actively trying to defend this idea without being paid a cent by Nintendo.
ShironRedshift
Member
Which is all on Nintendo. N one forced them to release information in this fashion. All we can do is work with the information they gave us. And right now, that information is terrible. If that information is inaccurate, it's Nintendo's job to clarify and shut-down misinformation and if they refuse to do that they have no one to blame but themselves.
'Til then, we can only work with what we're given and what we've been given is bad. Assuming that info is wrong just because we don't like it is nonsense. If is truly is wrong, Nintendo will clarify. And if for some reason it's wrong and they refuse to clarify that's on them. Til then we can only work with what we've got and what we've got is bad.
Parapraxis
Member
What CPR? Nintendo made zero effort to save the WiiU.
This is all very hilarious btw.
Good ol' Nintendo.
SomewhatGroovy
Banned
Short of there being information that Nintendo have yet to reveal, I think this is a pretty good summary capped by a very good question.
Would incorporating bluetooth have ruined their plans for pricing and their profit margins?
Desperation Nintendo could be seen last gen, but they were more focused on making you want to see the appeal of the gamepad than do anything to make the system more desirable.
chillybright
Banned
Nah, let that man spin, he is born to do this and this episode has been particularly entertaining.
joecanada
Member
Someone else had an even better idea. Use your ps4 for party chat while playing on switch lol
Aww fuck. I completely forgot about that. Jesus fucking Christ.
😂
So why should I be required to use a phone for voice chat if I'm playing on the console at home? The whole thing still makes no sense.
The app is fine if it's in conjunction with all of these features being present on the console itself. Which it doesn't You can't voice chat on the console. A phone is always required to do so. That's not convenient at all.
Nintendo really need to clarify their online infrastructure at least before the thing launches. Like, yesterday basically because if this shit ends up being just an option this is giving them lots of bad rep.
They cannot charge people and ask them to deal with this, if this is the ONLY way.
They cannot charge people and ask them to deal with this, if this is the ONLY way.
This is a more elegant solution in my case. The majority of the time I play online with friends it starts with a text or slack. If I can instantly tap an app to launch the party, throw on my ear buds and put my phone in my pocket (where it already is) that is just fine. What would be really hot was if we could power on our consoles and launch a particular game from the app and have it ready and waiting. That's not going to happen, but would be pretty cool.
The problem is that there is some percentage of consumers who this flat out wouldn't work for, just based on the limited information we have. Double headphones? That is awful and last I checked (in the 00s) iPhones can't act as a bluetooth sink (reciever). I don't know if that is still the case. Smart device as a prerequisite? That is so thoughtless it is either not the whole picture, or the result of an afterthought (hardware limitation?).
Either way, in consumer cases it is almost always better to wait and see rather than freak out about an unfinished picture. Worst case is if you really don't like it, don't buy it.
The problem is that there is some percentage of consumers who this flat out wouldn't work for, just based on the limited information we have. Double headphones? That is awful and last I checked (in the 00s) iPhones can't act as a bluetooth sink (reciever). I don't know if that is still the case. Smart device as a prerequisite? That is so thoughtless it is either not the whole picture, or the result of an afterthought (hardware limitation?).
Either way, in consumer cases it is almost always better to wait and see rather than freak out about an unfinished picture. Worst case is if you really don't like it, don't buy it.
FTFY, perfect solution.
If you have a smartphone, you have the headset that came with it. The most popular smartphones, the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, come with headsets. In fact, the one included with the Galaxy S6 and S7 works fine with the PS4.
Xaero Gravity
NEXT LEVEL lame™
Like the hat?
Banned
Not making excuses because I think it's fucking stupid but I wonder if this is Nintendo's way of keeping the eventual "pervert lures children with Nintendo switch!" Clicibait story from coming.
Pretty sure Nintendo's vision is drastically minimizing the OS overhead, thus transferring all these things to smart devices.
That's probably why they cut Miiverse too, as well as the Internet Browser and portable features like Streetpass (this one probably also because for them the Switch is like 75% home console).
I assume that from owning every Nintendo console in the last 20 years, it's mind boggling actually
Dark Cloud
Member
Does the Switch have Bluetooth?
thisisvlad
Member
I call it Schrodinger's online system - since we have very little information, it's really whatever you want to make of it; it's great, good, bad, the worst all at once. Yay Nintendo GAF!
Dragonslayer_023
Banned
This is terrible. The Vita/3DS don't need a smartphone to do all these things, why the hell does Switch? It seems like the console is not ready and being rushed out.
Why not let users make that decision for themselves rather than force them to use your shitty alternative? Why do we suddenly need to save precious processing power for features we've had for damn near 20 years? It's incompetent, just let me use the fucking system to communicate with people like everyone else does and stop trying to be special.
encephalon
Member
What? No, I get 7GB and if I go over it I don't even get charged.
Hibiki Kurosawa
Member
Wait, voice chat through a phone app? Uh nooooooooooo
SomewhatGroovy
Banned
The argument falls apart even if you're on the go. There are wifi hotspots everywhere.
The 3DS does not have this in its OS either.
Wouldn't be surprised to see a Direct or another flood of press releases come out over the course of February that cover things like this. They need to control the message better and their statement about "there still being 6 weeks til launch and more information is coming" is keeping me hopeful.
For now, this doesn't bother me whatsoever because Nintendo games have always been about local miltiplayer for me. I don't think people need to worry about things like matchmaking in a platoon or Mario Kart tho.
For now, this doesn't bother me whatsoever because Nintendo games have always been about local miltiplayer for me. I don't think people need to worry about things like matchmaking in a platoon or Mario Kart tho.
Darklor01
Might need to stop sniffing glue
Well, and don't know about party chat, but it seems that...
"After the free-trial period, most games will require a paid online service subscription from Nintendo in order to play online" in regards to the online service..."
"Nintendo Paid online service launching Fall 2017.. Free trial period starts in March."
"Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games─all from your smart device.
A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017."
So, if I read correctly... some games can be played online as long as your a Subscriber with a Nintendo account regardless of paid or free version. Then, Online free trial services start in March, but they write
"This service lets Nintendo Switch owners enjoy online multiplayer gaming as well as a dedicated smartphone app that connects to your Nintendo Switch system and helps you connect with friends for online play sessions."
http://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/
After reading about 20 times it seems like it's more like this:
March:
Online gaming without app. No voice chat or lobbies since no app. No free games.
Summer:
Free, limited version of the app. So, maybe voice chat and lobbies? No free games.
Fall:
Paid subscribers get all online service, *free* limited time game, discounts/offers on digital games/content.
Paid app? Free App? Limited App? With Voice Chat and lobbies. Exclusive Deals:
Little Green Yoda
Member
So...why are we paying Nintendo for online play when match-fucking-making requires a separate device and app again?
Schnozberry
Member
I don't disagree. They are in this situation because they are still trickling out information. I want to see the app in action and how it integrates with the hardware before I decide to hate it. There are a couple of use cases for the app I can imagine being pretty handy.
Starphoenix
Member
This actually isn't that bad of an idea. Keeps with the theme of portability for the Switch.
That's why I said nearly all of it, obviously you can play online but you lose every other benefit of the online system you'll pay for. Want to match make with buds? Nope. Want to send a message to link up? Nope. Want to voice chat? Nope. That is unacceptible and honestly a likely outcome with how often phone OS' update and app functionality gets borked until one party or the other fixes the issue.
You can get a 3gb data plan for less than 1000yen month, that's not crazy expensive.
The service is usually not that good though, I wouldn't certainly play an action or racing game on this.
SomewhatGroovy
Banned
So do wireless bluetooth headsets
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