Reggie: Switch matchmaking and lobbies handled through phone app

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I REALLY hope Nintendo reverses course.

First, on AT&T at least, you need to pay to be able to use your phone as a hotspot. It's not like hotspots are some sort of universal thing. In addition, aren't things like packet loss and such much worse with cell phones? Nintendo better ensure their MP games work under mobile conditions if it's really a main goal and selling point to use your cell phone as a hot spot.

Second, I hate that my game console is now directly tied to my phone OS. I know some people won't care, but what about those on Windows Phone? Blackberry? Ubuntu phone? Non-smart phones? They're absolutely the minority, but are they just shit out of luck for using the Switch? How will Nintendo communicate this requirement? Put an iOS/Android required sticker on the box or some shit? If Nintendo were smart, they would also create an HTML5 page you could go to, to do the same thing as the native app. If they did that, it would at the very least eliminate the majority of this aspect because then it could even work on people's laptops at home.

Third, Reggie said this was elegant because you already have your hotspot with you... I completely fail to see how this changes anything. If all of the Switch matchmaking was done on the console, and you had it set up with WiFi to your phone's hotspot, that seems exactly the same as setting up your console to link with your phone, and have your phone do the matchmaking. The only difference is that without your phone, you're completely unable to do matchmaking, even if you have WiFi.

Fourth, historically Nintendo has been all about putting fun at the center of their thinking. How does this line of thinking go with the app? Is my life as a gamer better because I'm required to use my phone and use two devices to play Mario Kart? The user experience of this thing better be fucking award winning.

Finally, I do want to end on at least one positive for Nintendo, because god damn it, this is literally the only thing this has going for it. You can now easily voice chat with your friends on the Switch while away from home, assuming they have the concept of party chat. With the exception of voice chat and creating parties, the Xbox app can do all of the other social stuff they're touting, without making their app 100% necessary! I hope Nintendo will eventually change course on this, release an update to the Switch which adds on-device support for this, while keeping the app as an optional thing. I wouldn't mind using it every now and then, but not as the primary multiplayer mechanism.

This decision out of everything is making me upset at Nintendo. Every god damn time they find a way to fuck up the most straightforward of things.
 
To me, this would be the biggest damn blunder they can make. Reggie seems to have nothing but shitty news.

Nintendo is such a frustrating company. They're sitting on gold, but they always overthink shit and you end up with crap like this.
 
guek said:
Does anyone actually use those on their phones? I ask genuinely, I don't and don't know anyone that does so I wouldn't know.
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I don't know, I don't use it outside of the odd message. There's little reason to do it because, you know, you can actually do everything on the OS level.
 
Why are those people connecting their headphones to the Switch anyway? Why don't they connect the Switch audio out to their phone and then plug their headphones into their phone?
 
guek said:
Hey I'm not saying it would be a good thing. We don't have enough info anyway.
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That's completely on Nintendo so I'm not blaming people for taking things at face value. Reggie has been interviewed multiple times and failed to claify beyond what we already know so I'm not so sure we need more information. Seems like what we see is what we get but I'd like to be wrong.
 
I sincerely hope people are outraged over this to the same degree that they were during the whole Xbox One "no more physical games" debacle. We need to make it known that this is unacceptable - simple as that.
 
Investors wanted Nintendo to go mobile for profits.

Instead, Nintendo goes to mobile for an online structure.

Elegant solution indeed.
 
Berordn said:
I almost got beat as a kid for dropping my GBA and losing it somewhere so I dunno what you're talking about!

Wasn't really the angle I thought you were talking about but you're right that it's not really a kid's machine until the price drops, but the 3DS wasn't better at $250. (And even then, probably still wasn't on the table for families until the 2DS came out)



Kids having poor taste is all on them.
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The 3DS was (and is) overpriced. But it was definitely a more kid-friendly machine. I mean, they could put it in their pockets. They didn't have to worry about the screen. It would be more likely to survive a fall. The games were cheap.

But the DS was the last good handheld for kids and adults. A perfect compromise at a great price.

Interstingly, the Wii U gamepad seemed very kid friendly. Built like a tank, intuitive interface for kids. Everything that made it unappealing to adults was sensible for children.
 
Owensboro said:
Man..... I've seen a bunch of your posts on the Switch and think you've been overly critical on a bunch of them.... but goddamn it I think you're right on this one. It's so depressing.



Oh, absolutely. I'm not trying to defend this insanity at all, just trying to figure out why the hell anyone would think it's a good idea. Someone somewhere pitched this to a group of people and was able to convince them it was the best course of action. Who was it, and what arguments did they use? I'd love to know.
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Sorry, that wasn't meant to be snarky. I suspect it was a combination of battery life concerns, cost cutting measures by absolving themselves from including a headset, and Nintendo's pathological need to "innovate" even when it means ignoring industry standard best practices in favor of design decisions that are demonstrably worse (aka Nintendo's insularity). It's frustrating because I would love to see them either (a) make a sensible, coherent modern console (which the Switch initially appeared to be!) or (b) just cut the cord and go 3rd party.
 
Eh, I still think there's a possibility that Nintendo has thought this out and that once we have more info it will make more sense.

A possibility, mind you. Not a certainty.
 
guek said:
The difference is people actually want and own phones.

I kid, I kid, but really, the point is everyone old enough to participate online owns a phone so they can guarantee you're likely to have one and will actually use the app. I don't think PSN or XBL have a widely used phone app that manages their console social experience, do they? Like with the vita, there was no connection between your phone and your console.
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The PSN phone app allows you to manage your friends list, send voice/text/picture messages to people (which you can view on your phone, Vita, or PS4), buy and remotely download games, view activity feed and profiles, participate in Communities (I guess their kind of Miiverse-esque thing), watch live streams, etc. You can also directly connect to the PS4, where I think you can power it on and off, use the phone as a keyboard, etc. I don't have much experience with the XBL app but I imagine it does similar things.
 
Get ready for Mad Catz to release their 'JoyCon Grip' which will house an iPhone in the middle.

fLjctUg.jpg
 
Kthulhu said:
I use mine to buy PlayStation games all the time. You know what's awesome about it?

I don't have to use it if I don't want to.
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But do you use it as a communication tool?

Look, I'm just spitballing here. I'm not going to just presume the worst possible outcome is inevitable because lolnintendo
 
guek said:
Does anyone actually use those on their phones? I ask genuinely, I don't and don't know anyone that does so I wouldn't know.
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Yep. If I get an Xbox Live message I get a notification on my phone, I have used it to buy/download games. I can join parties on my laptop if I'm too lazy to turn the Xbox on or away from home.

The best part of it all though, is that it's optional so I only need to piss about on my phone if I want to or have absolutely no other choice. Making it mandatory is a staggeringly idiotic decision.
 
Owensboro said:
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.
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yes it is an additional piece used to create private lobbies with friends that is also the only way to do constant voice chat with friends mid game. If by 'console based matchmaker' you mean just being able to get in to online matches within each piece of software that features online multiplayer, yes obviously that will be there.

Gee look, another case where a shitty fucking thread title is adding to alarm and confusion for no good reason
 
Jims said:
Why are those people connecting their headphones to the Switch anyway? Why don't they connect the Switch audio out to their phone and then plug their headphones into their phone?
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Dont give them anymore ideas....
 
guek said:
The difference is people actually want and own phones.

I kid, I kid, but really, the point is everyone old enough to participate online owns a phone so they can guarantee you're likely to have one and will actually use the app. I don't think PSN or XBL have a widely used phone app that manages their console social experience, do they? Like with the vita, there was no connection between your phone and your console.
Click to expand...

Yes, they do. Well, PSN does at least, don't have an Xbox so I wouldn't know. PlayStation app gives me full access to friends, communities, events, messages, trophies, the PS Store, second screen stuff, etc. I can send/receive messages, and get notifications for invites. It's a great companion app to a features I use frequently on the PS4. If the PlayStation app was the only option to use communications features, it'd be total shit. If I HAD to use the app to join party chat with my friends every night, it'd be total shit. Put the extra shit on phones and let me do everything from the system itself. Simple and easy.
 
VanWinkle said:
The PSN phone app allows you to manage your friends list, send voice/text/picture messages to people (which you can view on your phone, Vita, or PS4), buy and remotely download games, view activity feed and profiles, participate in Communities (I guess their kind of Miiverse-esque thing), watch live streams, etc. You can also directly connect to the PS4, where I think you can power it on and off, use the phone as a keyboard, etc. I don't have much experience with the XBL app but I imagine it does similar things.
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I see. I don't use it with my ps4 at all so I didn't know.
 
guek said:
But do you use it as a communication tool?

Look, I'm just spitballing here. I'm not going to just presume the worst possible outcome is inevitable because lolnintendo
Click to expand...
I've sent messages on the PlayStation app when not at home but guess what? I can use the system too. I've also purchased games on it that download to my console in rest mode.
 
HotHamBoy said:
The 3DS was (and is) overpriced. But it was definitely a more kid-friendly machine. I mean, they could put it in their pockets. They didn't have to worry about the screen. It would be more likely to survive a fall. The games were cheap.

But the DS was the last good handheld for kids and adults. A perfect compromise at a great price.
Click to expand...

A smaller form factor isn't out of the question and games have variable pricing so far, so it's not a deathknell for kid's handheld gaming. (Even though I imagine most of them have moved onto smartphones and tablets at this point), but you're right that launch Switch really isn't targeting the family who buys one for every kid.

Speely said:
Eh, I still think there's a possibility that Nintendo has thought this out and that once we have more info it will make more sense.

A possibility, mind you. Not a certainty.
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Then they need to know how much they screwed up on the messaging by not talking about it properly, and until they come around to rectify that this is all we've got to go on.
 
This sounds just god awful. First Nintendo is making a HUGE assumption that its buyers have access to a recent smartphone and one that has good service. You just eliminated most children and people in poorer areas. This is xbone launch levels of stupidity right here.
 
guek said:
But do you use it as a communication tool?

Look, I'm just spitballing here. I'm not going to just presume the worst possible outcome is inevitable because lolnintendo
Click to expand...

Yes it does. Not through voice, but though text (I think images too but I don't use it that much).

SephLuis said:
Investors wanted Nintendo to go mobile for profits.

Instead, Nintendo goes to mobile for an online structure.

Elegant solution indeed.
Click to expand...

Esspecially ironic considering Nintendo's mobile offerings have no staying power.
 
guek said:
But do you use it as a communication tool?

Look, I'm just spitballing here. I'm not going to just presume the worst possible outcome is inevitable because lolnintendo
Click to expand...

I use it to chat while gaming if someone sends me a message. That functionality is good, but I'm sure as hell not going to use my phone separately to manage groups and shit. What if both my son and I own switches and I want to play with him online? He can't play with me without an app?


Reggie has to be speaking about this as a second option. There is noooo way in hell this got past anyone with a lick of intelligence.
 
notaskwid said:
I don't know, I don't use it outside of the odd message. There's little reason to do it because, you know, you can actually do everything on the OS level.
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I'm like 100% certain the number of users who use those apps would drastically increase if it was the only option.

What an odd question: do people use this optional nice to have but not required app to compare to forcing people to use said app.

Really, outside of that pipe dream from a poster about being able to launch into a grand from the app, I don't get the defense when this is not in to the OS did at least PS3/360 (maybe it was just the 360? It's been a while). If this and the "rental" are indicative of the paid online offerings, I guess if I buy this it will be local co-op play.
 
BrownWalrus said:
I sincerely hope people are outraged over this to the same degree that they were during the whole Xbox One "no more physical games" debacle. We need to make it known that this is unacceptable - simple as that.
Click to expand...

Nintendo is deaf to the world. Microsoft is a little more in touch with reality.

A little.
 
I've been pretty silent on my critiques of the Switch because I wasn't sure how much crow I'd be eating.

But this... this is fucking absurd.

The last thing I want when using a console with a controller (or the two combined) is to have to pick up another device.
 
Hydrus said:
The launch of the Switch has been such a massive undertaking, and this year it was particularly challenging to pull everything together to make it happen. But, whenever I was in doubt, what kept me going was the belief that Nintendo had to be back to give him a moment he was robbed of. Of course, I'm talking about Reggie. We often talk about great consoles on Gaf, but I wanna take a minute to talk about the great man behind those consoles. Last year Reggie's world was turned upside down when the Wii U flopped. We all have tough times to go through, but the true test of one’s character comes in how we react to those moments we don’t control. When judgments are made, or when decisions are rendered upon us by others, we sometimes cant comprehend. I think what happened to Reggie is a tragedy. But, he never complained. He just sat in an isolated room for months, looked inside himself and focused on his art. He hoped his love of entertaining us would carry him thru the darkest days of his career and I thank him for all that he went thru. You know, when I've questioned things in my own life over the past few years, I've drawn strength from seeing first hand how Reggie dealt with this inflection point in his life. He is one of the most principled, loyal and ethical men I have ever met. For most of the past year, I have tried very unsuccessfully to give Reggie the respect he rightfully deserves. I soon found out why. He is such a principled person, that eventually word came back to me, that Reggie just said, "I cant have that blood on my hands". He had to move on. And today, Reggie is rebuilding his life and Nintendo with our support. As far as I'm concerned, Reggie is a Goddamn legend. Reggie, its finally time to give you the respect you deserve. Your one of the most deserving men to have it. You have always been there for me and have never disappointed me. On behalf of My family and Myself, Thank you for everything.
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Well done.
 
Berordn said:
Then they need to know how much they screwed up on the messaging by not talking about it properly, and until they come around to rectify that this is all we've got to go on.
Click to expand...

Nintendo gonna Nintendo. They suck at messaging. And fair enough. Taking them at their shitty, vague face value is reasonable.
 
guek said:
Does anyone actually use those on their phones? I ask genuinely, I don't and don't know anyone that does so I wouldn't know.
Click to expand...

I haven't used the PlayStation App in a long time, but I use the PlayStation Messaging app religiously. It's how my PSN friends and I contact each other for games of whatever when we're not near our consoles.
 
Well, if this fails...
hqdefault.jpg


Let's not forget the Simpsons occasionally feature gaming
latest


Wonder if they'll include anything about this.
 
Y'all love to overreact, lmao. Nintendo will be fine, this will come down to options. That's all. The ride into March 3rd is going to be insane, lol.
 
QuantumZebra said:
I've been pretty silent on my critiques of the Switch because I wasn't sure how much crow I'd be eating.

But this... this is fucking absurd.

The last thing I want when using a console with a controller (or the two combined) is to have to pick up another device.
Click to expand...

I wanna eat crow so damn bad man.

I've defended Nintendo for too damn long and this is how I get treated?
 
jwk94 said:
I haven't used the PlayStation App in a long time, but I use the PlayStation Messaging app religiously. It's how my PSN friends and I contact each other for games of whatever when we're not near our consoles.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think it's important to note that having functionality on the phone is GREAT. It just becomes horrible and ludicrous when it's the ONLY option for that functionality.
 
Zvonimir Boban said:
Yep. If I get an Xbox Live message I get a notification on my phone, I have used it to buy/download games. I can join parties on my laptop if I'm too lazy to turn the Xbox on or away from home.

The best part of it all though, is that it's optional so I only need to piss about on my phone if I want to or have absolutely no other choice. Making it mandatory is a staggeringly idiotic decision.
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See, I don't know if it's idiotic yet even if that's actually what happens. You're right to distrust Nintendo but funelling people through a social media app, while completely a dick move, could be worth it for Nintendo if the app is actually good.

For the record, I don't think that's really likely, I'm just writing fanfiction like everyone else in here.
 
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