Support NeoGAF

[Neverthelesser]

My biggest issue with this is that the presentation didn't show any major reasons to justify Switch + Phone interactivity. It's not like using your phone is meant to be a central element to using the console; everything about the Switch's scalability and control options seem so forward-thinking that it seems pretty clear Nintendo focused on the hardware aspects moreso than software.

If using your phone was meant to be one of the main ways to interact with the services the Switch offers, why wasn't it showed off in the presentation?

 

[VanWinkle]

Until they outright say

1. 'you will be unable to get in a match with friends with just the console' or

2 'you will be unable to participate in voice chat with friends with just the console'


I will refrain from anger.

I just can't believe those could be true. They simply want to emphasize the app thing, but there is just not way those two things aren't true.

There's just no way.

They won't say that, and the reasoning is simple. In PR, you never explain things in a negative light. So, instead of saying "You will be unable to particiate in voice chat with friends with just the console," you will instead say, "Instead of carrying around a bulky gamer headset, we wanted you to be able to just plug your earbuds into your phone, turn on the app, and start chatting that way."

 

[Booya_base]

This sounds bad but once you realise the app is actually Frog Fractions 2, it makes a lot more sense.

 

[SENPAIatLARGE]

What if only iPhones have matchmaking for the first few months due to brand deals?

 

[bomblord1]

There is absolutely no way this is true in the way it appears to be stated

 

[Asmodai48]

Courage.

 

[Crayon]

We don't know what we want.

This is the root of their thinking.

 

[BeforeU]

What if only iPhones have matchmaking for the first few months due to brand deals?

lmao

 

[Joeshabadoo]

The only reason why people are saying this is better than WiiU is because it will contain all the same online play options that were on the WiiU but where the WiiU had zero option for creating a separate party chat with system level friends and juming in to a common game from there, the Switch does offer it... just through an app, which... well it is what it is

there will still be system level friend registration and software that will allow you to either easily join random online matches or see what games your friends are playing and join in with them, just no voice chat. the app seems to be a thing to help facilitating friend lobbies

fully agreed that Reggie only helped to complicate things and cause largely undeserved panic among forum crawlers and enthusiasts

 

[Aces&Eights]

It's not possible to use your headphones while your phone is the microphone via the built in one on your phone or headphone mic?

The sound doesnt have to come from the phone but it can go into the phone.

Wait, so then the Switch will pick up the audio from my phone (it acting solely as a mic) and push it, together with the game audio through ym headphones....that are plugged into the Switch. OK, it's far from perfect but I could live with that. Just set my phone on my shoulder or something.

 

[Voysa Reezun]

My answer isn't sane enough though: Playing BotW on the go is something I simply cannot wait for.

No, this is totally sane.

Whenever I wander into a Switch game thread, I get all hyped again. Then I think about the myriad issues with the console outside of the games, and I'm like, "Oh, yeah. Shit."

I've been trying to justify buying this to myself even though I was like, "No, too expensive!" the second the price was announced because I really just want to get a new Nintendo console, but I just can't find a way to reason with myself that it's even a decent deal, and threads like this aren't helping. I just know that if I wait, Nintendo's weird decisions that they've made with the console will cause an early price drop.

But muh Zelda on the go.

 

[Darklor01]

Ok. Let's say you dock the tablet to play on the tv. I don't know if they'll still expect people to plug their headset into the tablet or there will be Bluetooth for wireless headsets while it's docked.

The way I think I'm reading that situation is, all audio for the tablet is bypassed to the TV through the USB C to HDMI and you can't use the jack on the tablet anymore in that mode.. but .. maybe I'm wrong. I'm sure someone will correct me

 

[Parapraxis]

Elegance my ass. I bet they moved all these features to the phone because of shitty battery life.

This has a very high probability of being the real reason.

 

[TS-08]

Of course, going to, may have, or hopefully will.

One thing is guaranteed. It has Zelda which is available on another console. All the rest currently is fluffer. This hardware is not needed at all right now, and has yet to do anything right since it's reveal last week.

No I'm confident the games announced so far will release for the system. And I have no desire to buy a Wii U for Zelda. Stop being so melodramatic.

 

[WadeitOut]

We heard from our loyal fans that they want modern chat and multiplayer features. Well guess what...

 

[7DollarHagane]

Wait, so then the Switch will pick up the audio from my phone (it acting solely as a mic) and push it, together with the game audio through ym headphones....that are plugged into the Switch. OK, it's far from perfect but I could live with that. Just set my phone on my shoulder or something.

Using speakerphone it's usually fine to have it on a table or in your lap.

 

[_Ryo_]

This picture proves that 2 out 3 people are not interested in the Nintendo Switch.

This picture also contradicts what Reggie said about not wanting to have to drag big/bulky headphones on the go with with you.

 

[Beef]

Does this not anger any other frequent flyers? Aisle seat guy playing is a huge jerk, taking the middle seat's arm rest, pushing middle seat guy over, AND slopping his arm over into the aisle to play Switch. Jerk.

 

[MADGAME]

We heard from our loyal fans that they want modern chat and multiplayer features. Well guess what...

 

[plainr_]

I'm going to guess that listening to game audio and voice chat with one headset is a no go.

 

[dcelw540]

So goodbye muiltplayer count?

 

[Billy_Pilgrim]

The only way they're going to pull this off is if the app itself is a revolutionary chat app. And it won't be, it'll be some shite half baked piece of corporate looking shit.

I can kind of understand the reasons behind it. It's got to be a mix of technical restrictions and dependencies, but the execution of it also suggests that they think it makes the experience more social or something.

 

[Marmaladefire]

Uhh.. What if I get a phone call, or want to answer at notification or send a snap, or..Do anything with the phone while I'm playing?

 

[ShironRedshift]

Reggie probably should be fired by now for fucking up the messaging on this so bad.

They will clear this up soon enough but by then enough people will read the half baked conclusions in this thread and clickbait articles that it won't matter. What a mess.

That of course ASSUMING this was a fuck up at all and not in fact exactly what Reggie said it was. Quite convenient how people tend to assume Reggie "misspoke" only when it's something they didn't like...

 

[SFenton]

Really sad this is the case. Can't see myself paying for online if I'd rather use my Xbox to party up than Nintendo's own phone app.

Matchmaking I refuse to believe is done through the app. No way. Maybe something like finding online players in games, but I 100% cannot commit to the idea that that is even remotely thought of as good.

 

[VanWinkle]

The only reason why people are saying this is better than WiiU is because it will contain all the same online play options that were on the WiiU but where the WiiU had zero option for creating a separate party chat with system level friends and juming in to a common game from there, the Switch does offer it... just through an app, which... well it is what it is

there will still be system level friend registration and software that will allow you to either easily join random online matches or see what games your friends are playing and join in with them, just no voice chat. the app seems to be a thing to help facilitating friend lobbies

fully agreed that Reggie only helped to complicate things and cause largely undeserved panic among forum crawlers and enthusiasts

Wait, where did you hear that the Switch offers party chat?

Here's Nintendo's wording:

"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."

 

[Confused Cheeseburger]

Nintendo seems to be drowning in bad choices with half-explained switch details. I'm still going to buy one though, because they are fundementally rethinking what a console can be. The calls for Nintendo to get out of hardware in this thread are pretty hyperbolic.
That said, the dissemination of info so far has been really poor. Nintendo's Japanese leadership needs to wake up and realize they can't do everything in a vacuum.

 

[Owensboro]

I don't.....wait....what?

Is this like, Nintendo's attempt to keep their voice chat kid friendly because no parent is going to loan their child their phone to play Splatoon online? Or perhaps they were so worried about battery life and/or OS resources they couldn't commit anything to an overall UI like the PS4 and XBox use for matchmaking?

I was giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming this wasn't going to be the only way to do online stuff but....holy crap Nintendo. You're bonkers if you think this is the best way to do chat on your new console.

I still refuse to believe a company would do this as their only solution to this. This has to be some kind of add on to a normal console based matchmarker, right? This is so disappointing.

 

[8bitForLife]

Elegance my ass. I bet they moved all these features to the phone because of shitty battery life.

Just thinking the samething but it also doesn't mean they can't make an app on the switch so when it's docked the switch can handle it.

 

[Hattori]

they need to do an emergency Direct and straighten this whole thing out

 

[dezzy8]

What if I get a call in the middle of me raging on Mario kart? "You motherfuckers and your fucking blue sh- Oh sorry mom".

 

[Aces&Eights]

Using speakerphone it's usually fine to have it on a table or in your lap.

Right. So turn on speaker on my phone. Talk into it. Have my cans plugged into the Switch and receive game audio and my friends voice who is doing the same thing at their place, correct?

 

[jayu26]

Does this not anger any other frequent flyers? Aisle seat guy playing is a huge jerk, taking the middle seat's arm rest, pushing middle seat guy over, AND slopping his arm over into the aisle to play Switch. Jerk.

"Bro, you wanna play 1 2 Switch? Shit is dope! ... Bro?"

 

[brad-t]

I really wish this had been elaborated on during the event. I feel like we're missing a LOT of crucial details

I get the sense they are, too.

Here's Nintendo's wording:

"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."

I can feel the copywriter's pain in this text.

 

[smurfx]

nintendo is going to release the mario beeper so you can tell your friends when you are online.

 

[Mike Golf]

I agree it's puzzling and frustrating. From what we know now, this sounds like it should have been an option, not a requirement.

100% agreed, if it was optional then this would have been great and likely met with enthusiasm by most. I just simply do not understand Nintendo's line of thought here, how does requiring an entirely seperate (and honestly expensive, potentially more than the Switch itself) device to utilize features that should be built into the system come across as a good idea?

Here is my ONLY redeeming thought on this, and it's probably a crap shoot but, MAYBE this is going to free up the relatively paltry amount of RAM with less OS overhead since the system itself isn't running party chat, messaging etc. in the background. Maybe.

 

[Elixist]

is this cause they're so scared of piracy? they're gonna crash and burn their online, no browser, netflix etc. lmfao. paid too.. you can't make this shit up. if someone hacks this system through the phone thing ima lol so hard.

 

[hatchx]

I don't think number 1 is true based on the Online Services web page for the Switch, but everything we've heard and seen so far points to 2 being the case.

I still don't believe it.

I think they want us to focus on their app. I don't think Reggie knows more than 'focus on the app'. I don't think Reggie knows much at all. We see his bullshit PR speak, we see how horribly he played Smash Bros (it's like he had no clue).

I just can't believe it. Nobody has straight up asked 'can the Switch itself handle voice chat without a cell phone? An ability consoles have had for over a decade?'

They just want to put out attention on their app, which I'm sure does other things with the MyNintendo account and friend swapping and crap, but these features are way too basic to not be included in the base console. Wii and WiiU handled friend matchmaking for christ sakes.

 

[XandBosch]

I mean not that this is a good solution, but if the game sound does come through the app, you wouldn't need to be able to plug headphones into a controller. You could use the pro controller, whatever headphones you want with your phone, and just listen to the game that way?

Just using the information at hand to solve the issue lol.

 

[Aces&Eights]

I mean not that this is a good solution, but if the game sound does come through the app, you wouldn't need to be able to plug headphones into a controller. You could use the pro controller, whatever headphones you want with your phone, and just listen to the game that way?

Just using the information at hand to solve the issue lol.

That screams latency, though.

EDIT: OK, I am going to hold off on judgement. All the proposed things are not for sure as we know of, yet. There HAS to be something else to all this. Nintendo can be backwards but I cannot see how they are asking someone to sit with their phone on them and plugged in somewhere (battery drains when in use) AND hold a Switch just to talk to a friend be it in a game lobby, chat, or whatever. I mean, there has to be something we are missing.

 

[Berordn]

They just want to put out attention on their app, which I'm sure does other things with the MyNintendo account and friend swapping and crap, but these features are way too basic to not be included in the base console. Wii and WiiU handled friend matchmaking for christ sakes.

I mean, Wii and Wii U didn't, the games did. But neither system had any sort of friend lobby system.

 

[BahamutPT]

It's not possible to use your headphones while your phone is the microphone via the built in one on your phone or headphone mic?

The sound doesnt have to come from the phone but it can go into the phone.

I'm 99% sure smartphones cannot receive audio streaming through Bluetooth (basically act like a headset), if what you're suggesting is getting game audio AND party chat audio through the phone.

 

[Parapraxis]

Wait, so then the Switch will pick up the audio from my phone (it acting solely as a mic) and push it, together with the game audio through ym headphones....that are plugged into the Switch. OK, it's far from perfect but I could live with that. Just set my phone on my shoulder or something.

 

[XandBosch]

That screams latency, though.

True. As others have said - if this app nonsense is true, it better be fucking revolutionary.

I'm just as curious about whether the Switch will support wireless Bluetooth headphones as I am about this online stuff.

 

[Xaero Gravity]

This picture proves that 2 out 3 people are not interested in the Nintendo Switch.

LMAO Holy shit

 

[Suburban Thug]

This actually isn't that bad of an idea. Keeps with the theme of portability for the Switch.

Lol

 

[Dark Cloud]

How do you guys know the voice chat HAS to be done only through the phone? What if it's like you log into the app and now you voice chat through the smart device or you connect your wireless Bluetooth headphones with mic to the smart device or Switch tablet?

 

[hatchx]

I mean, Wii and Wii U didn't, the games did. But neither system had any sort of friend lobby system.

I could add a friend on Wii and WiiU and see if they were online and join their game at the very least. Well, at least a couple games supported this.

 

[notaskwid]

I still don't believe it.

I think they want us to focus on their app. I don't think Reggie knows more than 'focus on the app'. I don't think Reggie knows much at all. We see his bullshit PR speak, we see how horribly he played Smash Bros (it's like he had no clue).

I just can't believe it. Nobody has straight up asked 'can the Switch itself handle voice chat without a cell phone? An ability consoles have had for over a decade?'

They just want to put out attention on their app, which I'm sure does other things with the MyNintendo account and friend swapping and crap, but these features are way too basic to not be included in the base console. Wii and WiiU handled friend matchmaking for christ sakes.

I mean, he's only the president of Nintendo of America, but with this company you never know.

 

[VanWinkle]

I love, LOVE, Nintendo games. But I despise Nintendo as a company. It's astounding how out of touch they are as a console/UI company. My friends always laugh at me for buying Nintendo consoles, but unfortunately it's the only way to play their amazing games.