Reggie: Switch matchmaking and lobbies handled through phone app

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Sorry, what was the problem with putting this stuff on the Switch itself?
 
I think it'll all depends on how the system's interaction with the app,

That's what will make it or break it

I'm planning to install it on both my iPhone and iPad
 
Kyoto, Japan - 2013

The Wii-U is a sales debacle. Nintendo needs to have the Switch be a wide success to makeup the losses and regain their standing as a gaming powerhouse.

The company knows that in order to accomplish this, they need to have an aggressive game lineup at launch, avoid software droughts, and rekindle strong 3rd party support. A low price point is critical to drive quick adoption among skeptical consumers. They concede that the console must have capable online & multiplayer features that can compete with Sony, Microsoft, and even smartphones.

Focused and resilient, the key players get to work.

Nintendo execs spend years with R&D efforts to develop their next console. They pour through market research data and set plans in place to deliver a superior product to the world.

....4 1/2 years later....

"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features
  • Software drought at launch
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support
  • Expensive accessories and paid online
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market

This makes no fucking sense.
 
PBY said:
Naw this seems even worse, like the media functionality is nothing at launch, the online multi is in beta, the lineup is bad (without even random ports)...

And yet. I want to keep my preorder and prob will.
Click to expand...

Day one Switch users are just joining early access for the Switch. The real release date will be in the fall when Mario Odyssey comes out. I honestly can't believe it but Nintendo pulled it off once again.

At this point in time it's become an actual art form. No other company would still be around with all of the dumb decisions they have made since the Super Nintendo.

Honestly I want to meet the person that came up with the idea to put voice chat on a phone app. I wish I could of been a fly when they decided that's the route they are gonna go with.

Do we know if this will at least give people party chat? Because that's a lot more important then voice chat overall if you ask me.
 
Look. We wouldn't be this hard on Nintendo if they didn't spend the past 15 years absolutely fucking up almost anything to do with online functionality. This kind of stuff makes them seem woefully out of touch, especially in 2017 when these kind of things should be hard to screw up. You have to really go out of your way to be as obtuse as Nintendo is with online features, and how they are communicating any of this to us.
 
Trojan said:
Kyoto, Japan - 2013

The Wii-U is a sales debacle. Nintendo needs to have the Switch be a wide success to makeup the losses and regain their standing as a gaming powerhouse.

The company knows that in order to accomplish this, they need to have an aggressive game lineup at launch, avoid software droughts, and rekindle strong 3rd party support. A low price point is critical to drive quick adoption among skeptical consumers. They concede that the console must have capable online & multiplayer features that can compete with Sony, Microsoft, and even smartphones.

Focused and resilient, the key players get to work.

Nintendo execs spend years with R&D efforts to develop their next console. They pour through market research data and set plans in place to deliver a superior product to the world.

....4 1/2 years later....

"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features
  • Software drought at launch
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support
  • Expensive accessories and paid online
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market

This makes no fucking sense.
Click to expand...

Already sold out.
 
I guess we won't find out the features of this app until after the Switch launches?

http://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/

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.

Check back for more details on the service and its features after the Nintendo Switch system launches.
Click to expand...
 
Trojan said:
Kyoto, Japan - 2013

The Wii-U is a sales debacle. Nintendo needs to have the Switch be a wide success to makeup the losses and regain their standing as a gaming powerhouse.

The company knows that in order to accomplish this, they need to have an aggressive game lineup at launch, avoid software droughts, and rekindle strong 3rd party support. A low price point is critical to drive quick adoption among skeptical consumers. They concede that the console must have capable online & multiplayer features that can compete with Sony, Microsoft, and even smartphones.

Focused and resilient, the key players get to work.

Nintendo execs spend years with R&D efforts to develop their next console. They pour through market research data and set plans in place to deliver a superior product to the world.

....4 1/2 years later....

"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features
  • Software drought at launch
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support
  • Expensive accessories and paid online
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market

This makes no fucking sense.
Click to expand...

Those are my thoughts as well. Seems every new console adds something but takes away or messes up a couple core items. Items that aren't rocket science. I think their R&D team is a bunch of older men with no real grasp on what the fans or casuals need and want.
 
Sho_Nuff82 said:
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.
Click to expand...
This is a handheld though. It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
 
The more I think about it, the more I realize that this has nothing to do with being portable. It has to do with the joy cons. They can't just let you plug in a mic to the console itself. It would be quite inconvenient when its docked. With the joy cons which one would they put the plug? well they are both technically a single controller, so are they going to put a plug on each one. Its a highly convoluted mess.
 
James Scott said:
Sounds weird but could be alright. Likely easier to search through stuff on your phone but they really should have more concrete details to show off before saying stuff like "paid online"
Click to expand...

Yup get bits and pieces leads to misinformation and overreactions

We need an online Nintendo Direct very soon
 
Briguy13 said:
This is a handheld though. It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
Click to expand...

We have been over this numerous times. The Vita came out with all of these features built into its OS back in 2012. There is absolutely no excuse for Nintendo to being fucking things up this hard under any circumstances.
 
Briguy13 said:
This is a handheld though. It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
Click to expand...
It's also their new primary home Nintendo console. It's not just a new handheld. They are presenting it as their next console iteration.
 
Briguy13 said:
This is a handheld though. It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
Click to expand...
What does being a handheld have to do with anything?

I also love how fans are arguing the merits of the Switch as a handheld or as a home system based on whatever suits them at the moment.
 
notaskwid said:
Preorder =/= sale
And I can go to any retailer over here and preorder just fine.
Click to expand...

Switch has a much higher demand and mind share than Wii U, that's for sure.

Might not make it a successful console, of course. But at least It is safe to say that it will do better than the Wii U.
 
Briguy13 said:
This is a handheld though. It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
Click to expand...
The vita did it in 2012.
 
monegames said:
The more I think about it, the more I realize that this has nothing to do with being portable. It has to do with the joy cons. They can't just let you plug in a mic to the console itself. It would be quite inconvenient when its docked. With the joy cons which one would they put the plug? well they are both technically a single controller, so are they going to put a plug on each one. Its a highly convoluted mess.
Click to expand...

It's called blue-tooth. Wireless headphones.

It's been a thing for a long time. Sony and Microsoft have them.

Hell Nintendo could make their own for the Switch and sell them for a pretty penny.


Trojan said:
"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features Let's wait for details...
  • Software drought at launch Zelda and Mario Kart a few weeks later is better than WiiU and 3DS atleast
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar We don't necessarily know this yet. Games are still being announced for 2017, everyday
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations 299.99? That's not entirely unexpected is it?
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support I can't blame the 3rd parties, although Nintendo should have moneyhatted atleast 1-2 3rd party exclusives I agree
  • Expensive accessories and paid online The accessories yes, the paid online...let's see what they do with it
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market Am I the only one happy with Wii Remote 2.0? ARMS looks awesome. Excited to feel the HD rumble in games

This makes no fucking sense.
Click to expand...


Bolded just wanted to play the good guy here. I largely agree with the doubt, but I'll stay optimistic. At the end of the day, I can't deny the 1st party lineup is looking better and better.
 
Trojan said:
Kyoto, Japan - 2013

The Wii-U is a sales debacle. Nintendo needs to have the Switch be a wide success to makeup the losses and regain their standing as a gaming powerhouse.

The company knows that in order to accomplish this, they need to have an aggressive game lineup at launch, avoid software droughts, and rekindle strong 3rd party support. A low price point is critical to drive quick adoption among skeptical consumers. They concede that the console must have capable online & multiplayer features that can compete with Sony, Microsoft, and even smartphones.

Focused and resilient, the key players get to work.

Nintendo execs spend years with R&D efforts to develop their next console. They pour through market research data and set plans in place to deliver a superior product to the world.

....4 1/2 years later....

"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features
  • Software drought at launch
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support
  • Expensive accessories and paid online
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market

This makes no fucking sense.
Click to expand...

But it's okay, things balance out with the one free NES trial we get per month. Hell they may even give us a 10% off coupon to buy it the next month!
 
Confused-LeBron_o85n2r.gif
 
Nintendo: we just made this amazing tablet for our next console iteration. You'll have to use a smart phone to do anything really, but the tablet looks cool! Oh and pay for online services while using your phone too!
 
tearsintherain said:
That doesn't really make any sense since almost every kid, especially one who is getting a switch, is going to own a phone and even if the phone is adult protected the kid has long figured out how to get around that shit.

Nah, the simplest explanation is that Nintendo just doesn't want to deal with all the technical issues of integrating party chat and audio into the switch. Its all system level stuff that the OS and UI team would have to deal with and they are probably frantically dealing with a million other things. Whereas a phone app can be outsourced to any old team and they just need to know the APIs that let them see nintendo friends lists etc. Plus the phone app can now be updated without requiring any switch OS updates. It makes things a LOT easier for nintendo devs, but makes things much more awkward for users.

I'm sure a year or two down the road the app features will be integrated into the switch itself but for right now its far more efficient for Nintendo to just focus on getting out an operating system with as few features as necessary to launch.
Click to expand...

My 8 year old son who doesn't have a phone but loves to play Mario kart 8 online, what does he do then when he's playing on the houshold's Switch? I have to either give up my phone so he can play or buy him his own?
 
I actually don't think it's a bad idea and it's quite strange to see Nintendo doing this first.

These days, it's much easier to chat and send messages on smartphones to the point that these functionalities on consoles are already a bit redundant. My friends already prepare their games using their phone instead of the ps4. It's not something uncommon.

Trying to make a coupling between your hardware and smartphones is good. I just can't see what nintendo will make that doesn't exist already (and better) on phones, rendering the whole idea plainly useless. Also, putting every functionality on it seems a bit too much and some stuff seems a bit non pratical.

But i can only wait and see what they plan to do. For now, it doesn't sound that bad to me, but i don't Trust Nintendo on this.
 
I honestly have no idea how Nintendo could create something like this unless it's for one of two reasons:

1. Nintendo desperately wanted the Switch to be no more than $300 and taking out all online features helped do that

2. Nintendo desperately wanted the Switch out by March and taking out all online features helped do that

These are the only possible ways that not doing something that's been an industry standard since fucking 2002 makes sense from Nintendo's POV.
 
Mahonay said:
It's also their new primary home Nintendo console. It's not just a new handheld. They are presenting it as their next console iteration.
Click to expand...

Only to demonstrate its functions, but anyone with any sense knows this thing is a handheld device. This thing will not be marketed as the place to go for online multiplayer gaming. Even so, it will have some games that do that, like Splatoon 2. Nobody cared about having voice chat with that game, and it will be the same with the sequel.

Switch won't be getting stuff like Destiny 2, Battlefront 2, Battlefield 1, Borderlands 3 etc. It will get stuff like Monster Hunter, Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, Zelda, Pokemon, Shin Megami, Dragon Quest and the like.
 
Briguy13 said:
This is a handheld though.] It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
Click to expand...

- Vita was able to do it when it launched in 2012 (God almost everything about the Vita was so good sans the memory card situation and the back touchpad which needlessly drove up cost).

- Go the extra mile? Nintendo wants people to go the extra mile again when they've been behind in online functionality and infrastructure since forever?

- Lol. How can you say this as fact?
 
hatchx said:
It's called blue-tooth. Wireless headphones.

It's been a thing for a long time. Sony and Microsoft have them.

Hell Nintendo could make their own for the Switch and sell them for a pretty penny.





Just wanted to play the good guy here. I largely agree, but I'll stay optimistic. At the end of the day, I can't deny the 1st party lineup is looking better and better.
Click to expand...

I know that, don't guess nintendo does though. they chose the convoluted mess.
 
Fat4all said:
This app better be the tits.
Click to expand...

Could be the best app ever made. Still inexplicable and fucking stupid. :\

I will literally never once use it, even if I have to pay for it to get online play. So for me this is effectively worse than the Wii U. Incredible.

Bronx-Man said:
I honestly have no idea how Nintendo could create something like this unless it's for one of two reasons:

1. Nintendo desperately wanted the Switch to be no more than $300 and taking out all online features helped do that

2. Nintendo desperately wanted the Switch out by March and taking out all online features helped do that

These are the only possible ways that not doing something that's been an industry standard since fucking 2002 makes sense from Nintendo's POV.
Click to expand...

Neither of these explanations work. There's no reason this should be notably less expensive to develop than an integrated solution. Odds are, it will likely be more expensive. I see no reason why this would be faster either, but even then waiting a couple months for those features to roll out on Switch would be perfectly acceptable when as is they'll temporarily be exclusive to NA anyway, and it will be free most of the year.
 
Trojan said:
Kyoto, Japan - 2013

The Wii-U is a sales debacle. Nintendo needs to have the Switch be a wide success to makeup the losses and regain their standing as a gaming powerhouse.

The company knows that in order to accomplish this, they need to have an aggressive game lineup at launch, avoid software droughts, and rekindle strong 3rd party support. A low price point is critical to drive quick adoption among skeptical consumers. They concede that the console must have capable online & multiplayer features that can compete with Sony, Microsoft, and even smartphones.

Focused and resilient, the key players get to work.

Nintendo execs spend years with R&D efforts to develop their next console. They pour through market research data and set plans in place to deliver a superior product to the world.

....4 1/2 years later....

"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features
  • Software drought at launch
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support
  • Expensive accessories and paid online
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market

This makes no fucking sense.
Click to expand...

But Pre-order NOW.
 
Briguy13 said:
This is a handheld though. It's not comparable to what Microsoft did before they changed their original path.

Voice chat is still here, you just gotta go the extra mile for it. Most people who buy Switch will not care much one way or the other about it.

Core gamers play RPGs, casuals play online multiplayer on consoles.
Click to expand...


But aren't they advertising it as a home console first ? Then why be like a traditional console and charge for online then if they don't have the basic features thay consoles usually launch with?


The bolded to me is just a stupid excuse I am tired from hearing from the Nintendo defense crowd. I personally think if Nintendo had standard features as a voice chat built into the console, it would sell a ton more. Online gaming is pretty fucking big now a days.
 
Trojan said:
Kyoto, Japan - 2013

The Wii-U is a sales debacle. Nintendo needs to have the Switch be a wide success to makeup the losses and regain their standing as a gaming powerhouse.

The company knows that in order to accomplish this, they need to have an aggressive game lineup at launch, avoid software droughts, and rekindle strong 3rd party support. A low price point is critical to drive quick adoption among skeptical consumers. They concede that the console must have capable online & multiplayer features that can compete with Sony, Microsoft, and even smartphones.

Focused and resilient, the key players get to work.

Nintendo execs spend years with R&D efforts to develop their next console. They pour through market research data and set plans in place to deliver a superior product to the world.

....4 1/2 years later....

"Now presenting the Nintendo Switch!"
  • Requires completely separate device to have access to key multiplayer features
  • Software drought at launch
  • Significant gaps in game release calendar
  • Price of base console exceeds expectations
  • Unenthusiastic 3rd party support
  • Expensive accessories and paid online
  • Motion controls pushed hard despite irrelevance in current market

This makes no fucking sense.
Click to expand...

This about sums it up. I'm a bit of a hypocrite since I'll be buying one at launch, but Nintendo potentially has a serious problem on their hands.

Did I mention I'm a hypocrite?
 
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