Reggie: Switch matchmaking and lobbies handled through phone app
- Thread starter Zombie James
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Suburban Thug
Member
I don't need to see their stupid app to know this is an awful idea. Why the hell do I need to pay for their guaranteed to be crappy online service and use my phone to chat/join lobbies/see friends? I'm already paying a cell phone bill for voice chat so what value is Nintendo offering? It's cumbersome, inconvenient, and reeks of pure incompetence but then again I should have expected as much from nintendo. They have always had a terrible online service from friend code BS to Miiverse and Switch looks to be no different.
Razzorn34
Member
Wow. One of the few voices of reason is this cesspool of a thread. I applaud you friend. I'm right with you.
Absolutely, but we don't know if the app can interact/communicate with the console in any way.
It's easier to grab your phone out of your pocket and check on things instead of getting the switch out of your bag and start it up. In fact while your system is off you're still getting notifications.
What if, once your device is on it grabs data from the app so you don't have to be going back and forth between devices?
The thing that does puzzle me is that people without a phone are out of luck...this is why I will wait. We may not know the full picture yet.
How are you going to plug your mic into a docked Switch. There's no jacks on the controllers. Maybe it would use Bluetooth to connect to your headset but if that was the case, then why not do that to begin with when portable.
calc84maniac
Member
It supposedly has a headphone-mic combo port.
I think I know why Nintendo is doing this.
They've always been hesitant to allow voice chat, because it might mean children being subjected to all sorts of foul language and inappropriate topics. By tying this functionality to phones, they are protecting very young kids from it and also ensuring that the kids that do have it are deemed mature enough by their parents to own a cell phone.
Of course, the fact that you'll need a paid subscription to access online in the future anyway somewhat disproves this theory.
They've always been hesitant to allow voice chat, because it might mean children being subjected to all sorts of foul language and inappropriate topics. By tying this functionality to phones, they are protecting very young kids from it and also ensuring that the kids that do have it are deemed mature enough by their parents to own a cell phone.
Of course, the fact that you'll need a paid subscription to access online in the future anyway somewhat disproves this theory.
Joeshabadoo
Member
The wording is poor, but obviously you'll be able to play bomberman, and MK8, and splatoon, and arms, etc etc without this app and before the paid service launches. Games will still internally 'match make'
Also why are people talking about holding a phone to your face? Bluetooth link a pair of ear buds w/mic or your "bulky headset" to the phone, app active, phone asleep. Sure not exactly the simplest thing, but if necessary to offload and have games running online as smooth as possible... *shrug*
I'm drunk right now and I'm re-reading this paragraph over and over and I'm crying laughing it's like running up jelly
It makes no sense but it makes complete sense.
Every time you think about it it's funny and Ninendo.
Removing basic features is innovative and different.
Sword Of Doom
Member
Have they said how much the app is going to cost?
OnionPowder
Member
Cesspool, nice words there.
Sorry it's not our job to showcase how features of a console out in 40 days works
Lmao wtf does this mean?!?! It's still a headset. Look at the earbuds that came with the ps4... It's the same fucking thing. What are they thinking?!?!
BassForever
Member
Are you gonna give your phone number to every random person you meet in an online match of Splatoon/Mario Kart/etc? The app should enable you to voice chat with randoms. That's the reason to use it over discord or just having a conference call.
3DS doesn't have any of this functionalityin its OS either as far as I recall.
Neverthelesser
Member
So, what was the point in getting DeNA involved in providing the online capabilities? Just for building an app?
We need to create a Wii U vs Switch chart to track how many features they are going back on.
3DS supported voice chat. Heroes of Ruin, if nothing else, proved that.
This will never be not dumb. It's okay if this is an option but it's not okay if it is the ONLY option. It's just ridiculous and it doesn't make any sense.
I mean, even if Nintendo are trying to protect children they can do a lot worse stuff on their phones. I mean Nintendo themselves just introduced a f2p Gacha Whale Catcher in FE: Heroes so it just seems kind of hypocritical even?
I mean, even if Nintendo are trying to protect children they can do a lot worse stuff on their phones. I mean Nintendo themselves just introduced a f2p Gacha Whale Catcher in FE: Heroes so it just seems kind of hypocritical even?
Courageous, even.
Considering GAF since the last week, what good momentum?
And what exactly does that have to do with topic, or do you expect to play online on your portable console with wifi turned off?
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
I was thinking this the other day too but they have a parental feature that they can disable voice chat on the system from their phone anyway.
Kremzeek
Member
and why haven't they had time to figure this stuff out?
like what have they been doing? i just don't understand why this can't be "ready."
Wait so internal match making maybe gets kicked from new games after this app launches that would be the dumbest thing ever why should i need a phone to play with random people from the world. If i need to play with friends or gaffers fine i will use the dumb phone thing but for simple online play nah.
LincolnSixEcho
Member
What the hell Nintendo
This would only discourage actual use.
This would only discourage actual use.
How is connecting a headset to your phone, easier than connecting it to the fucking console itself? I connect most wired headsets right into the controller now, if it's BT right to the console.
I have to believe that the Presentation was primarily to introduce the Switch hardware and that we will have regional February Directs to detail the online features (at least for Day One) and the launch line-ups. I just have to.... but it's not going to happen, is it?
Before the event, I really thought the Switch could have serious appeal to online gamers with its portability, ease of use, and free online. Thanks Nintendo for shitting on my three most basic hopes for this device.
Before the event, I really thought the Switch could have serious appeal to online gamers with its portability, ease of use, and free online. Thanks Nintendo for shitting on my three most basic hopes for this device.
Darklor01
Might need to stop sniffing glue
Right. If you isolate it down to social features as an app, well, just about nothing trumps Smart Phones for having access to social features apps and running them amazingly well. Hell, the Playstation and Xbox Smart Phone Apps are great! Granted, I'm not using them for making lobbies and such, but I can do all sorts of other social management on a Smart Phone. It makes comeplete sense in that perspective.
Unfortunately, unless your game company wishes to abandon Gaming devices and focus on mobile cell device gaming software, it doesn't make enough sense to use this method for all the real world challenges it creates to make this method of online use necessary. The company is making it more challenging to manage all the things necessary to make this work from physical device management, to potentially additional financial penalty over and above a cost you impose to access all services you run. Thinking that is acceptable worldwide is insane. Unless in Japan costs are much more manageable for mobile data and/or Wi-fi is cheap and or free everywhere and you only care about the Japanese customer, I can't find the logic.
There's still a lot of kids who won't be able to play. Plus plenty of adults.
For real. You'd have to have only ever played Nintendo systems and be completely ignorant of MS's, Sony's, and PC's online ecosystems in order to think this is anything but a boneheaded idea.
I bet speaker phone
Yall trying they matchmaking out now?
Ninja Scooter
Member
Nintendo is always so good at finding solutions to problems that don't exist.
MS is a software company that creates OS that are way more feature robust and responsive. These companies are not equals on the topic of OS, or even non gaming software.
Schnozberry
Member
There is a vast difference in maturity levels between 10-12 year olds and 6-8 year olds. Nintendo is a consumer brand that is considered acceptable for the latter. I'm not surprised they would make this decision if they are going to offer more robust online features, even if I don't necessarily agree with it completely. There are other approaches that could have been taken, but this probably offers some synergy with other goals.
Conrad Link
Member
I don't understand how making it more complicated with additional required devices is more elegant option??
Nintendo what is going on?! We're so confused.
Honestly, it makes me happy I don't care too much about online gaming when it comes to Nintendo stuff. Sad but I sorta hope they don't release something I want to play online if it's gonna be as annoying as this sounds to do.
Nintendo what is going on?! We're so confused.
Honestly, it makes me happy I don't care too much about online gaming when it comes to Nintendo stuff. Sad but I sorta hope they don't release something I want to play online if it's gonna be as annoying as this sounds to do.
Online match-making, friending and chat (via miiverse app) are built in to the console.
Interesting possibility. If my experience playing online has taught me anything, it's that the ones using the most foul and derogatory language are the children. I appreciate Nintendo and their old-school values on things, but they really need to realize they can't helicopter parent to protect everybody from everything.
Metal Khaos
Member
This is absolutely retarded, unless of course they add the same solution to the device itself.
I don't know why any of their engineers or planners could have possibly thought this was an excellent idea. If you could do both on the device AND set up games on the phone app, then maybe?
What if you don't have a phone, are you shit out of luck come multiplayer? What about at home? Am I going to sit there with my phone up to my head or on speaker phone where everyone else can hear?
I don't know why any of their engineers or planners could have possibly thought this was an excellent idea. If you could do both on the device AND set up games on the phone app, then maybe?
What if you don't have a phone, are you shit out of luck come multiplayer? What about at home? Am I going to sit there with my phone up to my head or on speaker phone where everyone else can hear?
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