Reggie: Switch matchmaking and lobbies handled through phone app

Status
Not open for further replies.
Considering Nintendo's been putting microphones on their shit since the original DS (and barely used it on any of those devices), I can't believe they didn't put one on the one device that's finally going to have voice chat during online play. WTF
 
Wouldn't a more elegant solution be the ability to plug a headset into the Switch and use the console to facilitate matchmaking, group chat, etc? I don't want to use my phone for talking to people, setting up matchmaking and whatever else the Switch App does for various reasons. I don't want calls/texts/notifications interrupting me. I don't want my phone's battery to be drained. I don't want the cumbersome setup of plugging a headset into my phone.

It's actually a quite inelegant solution to the niche problem of voice chatting on the go - a problem a $10 earbud type headset and the "normal" method for voice communication on consoles would solve.

Like, the app may have some merit to it the same way Miiverse has some merit to it, but that doesn't mean this app is justified or acceptable. And it isn't free.

Yes
 
It's just based on the fact that it would make absolutely no sense, especially from how Nintendo has been advertising this as a home console. I assume Reggie was implying how it's for those "on the go" situations where you take the Switch. And I literally can't imagine Nintendo releasing a console in 2017 with an option for lobbys/etc on an app, and not their actual device.

This is just misinformation on a feature that hasn't even been discussed in detail yet. Just chill out, tbh. The only response anyone could say is, "Because Nintendo." and that shouldn't warrant all this commotion.

Oh well.

Barring doom messages and hyperbole I think it's good for people to vent their thoughts on it, even if we're all wrong maybe it will prompt them to speak sooner rather than later.
 
So if I want to use headphones plugged into my tv or receiver when playing Switch I am screwed if I want to use chat? Switch couldnt have a 4 pole jack in the dock or Switch itself so we could use a nice headset?
 
The worst thing is that you'll pay to hear some bad quality voice chat. (TV's from other players most likely, because i don't see a lot of people using 2 headsets).

Nintendo...
 
I'm sorry that the appropriate reactions to Nintendo's terribly stupid decisions aren't to your liking.

Noting your connotation. It's fair.

I am not trying to be combative. Just objective. Objectively, Nintendo has just pointed a pistol at its own dick. I am just trying to believe.
 
Considering Nintendo's been putting microphones on their shit since the original DS (and barely used it on any of those devices), I can't believe they didn't put one on the one device that's finally going to have voice chat during online play. WTF

It's pretty damn simple. Let us connect a headset with a mic by wire or wirelessly to the Switch and we use that for voice chat wherever we are. It's that simple. Why complicate it???

I mean yeah we don't have all the details but so far this sounds absolutely fucking stupid.

Sadly, Nintendo will never care to relay info to the hardcore or those who pay attention. They keep wanting to do things on their own schedule when this online infrastructure is something big in today's day and age. It's very frustrating.
 
Wait so how exactly does this work?

We connect a headset to our phones while also trying to listen to in-game audio?

I mean I've done that on occasion with Discord and it definitely kills the battery of your phone quickly while also being a bit of nuisance to try to actually enjoy the sound presentation of a game. Is this really the most elegant solution?
 
I don't believe THAT many posters actually believe there will be no multiplayer match making in games on Switch without a phone app.

It must be just bad trolling.

I'm having flashbacks to 2013 and the incredulity over always-online/Kinect-in-every-box/no indie game plan at launch.

Yes, these companies can be (are?) that dumb. It might take them 6 months after the flop to sort it out like MS did, but it looks like this is their plan going forward.
 
And what game do you expect to be playing online? lol
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (with proper battle mode will see plenty of renewed online interest)
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Bomberman R
Ultra SF 2
Fast RMX
Splatoon 2
Arms

just off the top of the dome? all due out before this paid service and app launch, thus all playable online sans app

maybe actually ask that question without the sarcasm since you clearly lack some info
 
I don't believe THAT many posters actually believe there will be no multiplayer match making in games on Switch without a phone app.

It must be just bad trolling.

The believability comes from the last 10 years of Nintendo handling their online services (HA!).
 
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (with proper battle mode will see plenty of renewed online interest)
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Bomberman R
Ultra SF 2
Fast RMX
Splatoon 2
Arms

just off the top of the dome? all due out before this paid service and app launch, thus all playable online sans app

maybe actually ask that question without the sarcasm since you clearly lack some info
Are you sure the app isn't at launch
 
I'm having flashbacks to 2013 and the incredulity over always-online/Kinect-in-every-box/no indie game plan at launch.

Yes, these companies can be (are?) that dumb. It might take them 6 months after the flop to sort it out like MS did, but it looks like this is their plan going forward.

To get THAT upset about fucking voice chat? How is that comparable to always online kinect?
 
The app isn't at launch. Please get the info correct. A simplified/beta version of the app goes up during the summer and the full paid version of the app goes up during fall.

I'm assuming this "beta" version of the app starts when Splatoon 2 releases.
 
Yes.

If only Nintendo had an event where they had an opportunity to present their console, the ideas behind it and really explain it all to us.

To be fair, I think they had to prioritize their reveals. I think its pretty important we understand how many ice cubes can be felt by the joy cons in that one motion controlled game.
 
1. Not everyone owns a smartphone.
2. You are relying on an external device that may not always be available (lost/stolen/broken/in a repair shop = no Switch online for you).
3. Phone runs out of battery mid-game, you're probably booted out of your online session.
4. Many people install iOS/Android public betas, the app could potentially be broken on these beta OS's meaning these users cannot play online for months...
5. They are putting themselves in the hands of others - Apple's App Store goes on lockdown in like the last 2-3 weeks of December, and that's when there's most likely gonna be a problem if Switch (somehow) gets massive holiday sales. So they could be in a situation where they need to release an emergency app update and all the App Store employees are on Christmas vacation or whatever.
6. This ties up your phone. If you answer a phone call, it'll almost certainly end your online session (or at least the voice chat aspect).

Then there's the logistics of this...
7. You're not gonna be able to hold a cell phone to your ear while both hands are clutching a controller. So this leaves two options, headset or speakerphone.
8. Headset - the lightning earbuds included with the iPhone 7 block the charging port, so you are going to run into issue #3 (battery dying mid-game). Unless you buy a bluetooth headset, but then you run into more issues (hassles pairing / re-pairing the BT connection, another device to purchase, another device you have to monitor the battery levels of, etc.)
9. Speakerphone - is what most people will probably use and that sounds crappy. Since the phone is most likely going to be sitting on a coffee table or the other side of your couch, voices are going to be garbled as fuck, you're gonna hear the game noise on top of that, etc.


This is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard, not a single thing about this setup sounds the least bit appealing or convenient.
I think this covers most things. It's an unfathomably idiotic decision with no logical means of defense.
 
Barring doom messages and hyperbole I think it's good for people to vent their thoughts on it, even if we're all wrong maybe it will prompt them to speak sooner rather than later.

This is really what I would like to happen. Clearly we all need some clarity cause Nintendo isn't doing themselves any favors. You would think shit like this wouldn't be so difficult, lol.
 
The app isn't at launch. Please get the info correct. A simplified/beta version of the app goes up during the summer and the full paid version of the app goes up during fall.

I'm assuming this "beta" version of the app starts when Splatoon 2 releases.
How is NOTHING ready for launch?!?
 
So if I want to use headphones plugged into my tv or receiver when playing Switch I am screwed if I want to use chat? Switch couldnt have a 4 pole jack in the dock or Switch itself so we could use a nice headset?

I'm pretty sure it does have a 4 pole jack, there was a translation of a Japanese diagram that mentioned it was a headset port instead of just head phones.
 
I mean yeah we don't have all the details but so far this sounds absolutely fucking stupid.

I'm hearing this a lot. The console release in 40 days, when we will know many details about many things? After release? After you buy the product and figure it out yourself?
 
I am stiff baffled a console coming out in 2017 doesn't have a basic feature like voice chat and a party chat app built into the OS. Xbox 360 had this with 512 MB of ram.
 
I wouldn't sleep on HD Rumble, heard it's really cool.

I am more or less concerned about how many games Nintendo and others will develop that warrants their implementation. I said it in another about the wii u tablet, but the amount of games that really utilized the tech really didn't warrant the existence of that tech, even if there were a lot of cool things you could do with it, imo.
 
Are you sure the app isn't at launch

YES, jesus christ

im done in this thread. I can't anymore. To anyone who took this garbage thread title and let their mind run due to (understandably unfortunate) limited info, if you still honestly go ahead thinking that all forms of online multiplayer and matchmaking wont be handled at the software level but will require engagement with an app... well I struggle to understand how you got verified to post here. thinking that is beyond irrational. spare me the 'but it's nintendo'. No developer would ever consider dealing with this company or releasing a game with online play if that were the case.

the eventual app is for private lobbies, and custom matchmaking within those private party chat settings, and for voice chat. last time i will say it, hopefully the last time anyone has to. I need to sleep
 
I am more or less concerned about how many games Nintendo and others will develop that warrants their implementation. I said it in another about the wii u tablet, but the amount of games that really utilized the tech really didn't warrant the existence of that tech, even if there were a lot of cool things you could do with it, imo.

Rumble is not a game changer. But it provides extra feedback which is nice. This is nothing like the gamepad.
YES, jesus christ

im done in this thread. I can't anymore. To anyone who took this garbage thread title and let their mind run due to (understandably unfortunate) limited info, if you still honestly go ahead thinking that all forms of online multiplayer and matchmaking wont be handled at the software level but will require engagement with an app... well I struggle to understand how you got verified to post here. thinking that is beyond irrational. spare me the 'but it's nintendo'. No developer would ever consider dealing with this company or releasing a game with online play if that were the case.

the eventual app is for private lobbies, and custom matchmaking within those private party chat settings, and for voice chat. last time i will say it, hopefully the last time anyone has to. I need to sleep

Dude most of us get it by now, that still doesn't change the fact that this is a terrible form of voice chat. What part of that don't YOU understand?
 
YES, jesus christ

im done in this thread. I can't anymore. To anyone who took this garbage thread title and let their mind run due to (understandably unfortunate) limited info, if you still honestly go ahead thinking that all forms of online multiplayer and matchmaking wont be handled at the software level but will require engagement with an app... well I struggle to understand how you got verified to post here. thinking that is beyond irrational. spare me the 'but it's nintendo'. No developer would ever consider dealing with this company or releasing a game with online play if that were the case.

the eventual app is for private lobbies, and custom matchmaking within those private party chat settings, and for voice chat. last time i will say it, hopefully the last time anyone has to. I need to sleep
You gotta chill man; that said, (a) you're making an educated guess, but (b) their messaging suuuuuuuucks. Blame Nintendo not the consumer for the confusion.
 
Rumble is not a game changer. But it provides extra feedback which is nice. This is nothing like the gamepad.

My original post was joking about the fact that the time they spent revealing it should have been allotted elsewhere. My second post was just addressing someone saying how cool of a feature it was and to not dismiss it. Analogy wasn't meant to be taken literally as a 1 to 1 comparison.
 
This is hilarious. I'm picturing the people who hated Battlelog sitting there reading that and then their head explodes.
 
So this is a thing?? Because I was trying to ask about this earlier before being trolled by a couple of people.

Then you can use a headset with a mic on the Switch?? Then why put it through an app? It's not a good idea...

The "app" is probably also on the system. Like how netflix is consider an app on wiiu.
 
Mario Kart 8 already had the ability in-game to look for matchs etc. Do you all really think Nintendo removed that now to put it into their app that gets released later o_o?
 
What has bulky headsets got to do with anything!? Would use my phone earbuds with in line mic directly into the Switch but seemingly they have a convoluted way of doing it requiring a second device... I just don't get it.

Even searching for a game... you can't do that on the fucking tablet-like Switch.. surely not?
 
So this is a thing?? Because I was trying to ask about this earlier before being trolled by a couple of people.

Then you can use a headset with a mic on the Switch?? Then why put it through an app? It's not a good idea...

Or maybe that's a headset for plugging into your phone to voice chat ?
 
To get THAT upset about fucking voice chat? How is that comparable to always online kinect?

Voice chat has been a ubiquitous feature of every respectable online platform since 2002 (whenever SOCOM finally rolled out for PS2).

OS-level voice chat has been a standard feature on PC, Xbox, and PS since 2006.

In 2017, Nintendo has announced that not only are they still not doing os-level voice chat (despite having a mic built into their last considerably expensive controller), they've offloaded the task to a secondary device that adds potentially dozens of logistical problems for both home theater and Internet Cafe setups...and they're charging for it.

"Why you mad though" is the kind of response I would expect from gamers who don't care about online gaming (whatever floats your boat) or those that do and have only been exposed to Nintendo's offerings. They can do better. If they don't want to be completely rejected by Western core gamers they will have to do better.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom