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[Sora the Cat]

It is assumed that:

Everyone has a phone.
Everyone has a smart phone.
You have that smart phone with you wherever you go.

Yeah but I don't have android nor IOS.

 

[DrROBschiz]

because phones are easier to develop for than switch?

the switch is a mobile device


do i have to spell it out?

it should be full featured and ready to go out of the box

why are people making excuses for Nintendo's incompetence

this is insane

 

[eXistor]

I don't even have a smartphone.

 

[Dark Cloud]

It is assumed that:

Everyone has a phone.
Everyone has a smart phone.
You have that smart phone with you wherever you go.

That's why this makes no sense from Nintendo. There has to be more or some alternatives because they should know they'll alienate some consumers with the app only being on a smart device.

It's not like the whole online DRM thing with MS, but it's like building an online only system. Why would you do that when you know everyone doesn't have internet or internet problems can occur. Again, that was an example and a little more severe compared to this app.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

It was probably much easier for them to develop this app (particularly the voice chat options) than something within the Switch itself, in addition to Nintendo probably assuming most people who buy the Switch will be smart device owners and/or someone in their home has a smart device. I personally think it's lazy on their part/this app should be optional, but they are probably right in their smart phone/device assumptions.

It's unlikely this was easier or cheaper than developing it as part of the OS. It's basically the same amount of work, only more because now they have to continuously test their app on dozens of smart devices across two ecosystems to ensure support, rather than just the Switch.

 

[flkraven]

Imagine the app is called 'Skype' and when you 'subscribe' you add "Nintendo Switch" as a contact.

 

[DrROBschiz]

It's unlikely this was easier or cheaper than developing it as part of the OS. It's basically the same amount of work, only more because now they have to continuously test their app on dozens of smart devices across two ecosystems to ensure support, rather than just the Switch.

thank you

god damn mental gynastic topics are exhausting

 

[KingSnake]

The point is you don't need a second device more expensive than the gaming handheld you are playing on to use basic features that a much less powerful competitor handheld has been doing for 5 years

And I didn't said you do. I was actually arguing against it being convenient.

Edit: different user. FFS, read the damn discussion, you're arguing against something I haven't said.

 

[March of the Crabs]

Imagine the app is called 'Skype' and when you 'subscribe' you add "Nintendo Switch" as a contact.

Everyone would be chatting together! There'd be more dicks than 360 UNO!

 

[ty_hot]

Open mic chatting is utterly dire, think of all the crap you are going to hear from people.

I'll just pop my phone down so you can listen to my doorbell ring, dog bark, wife talking, baby crying, my TV is up too loud so you can hear that as well, and you can hear my gameplay, enjoy.

The only way this makes sense is that they couldn't put it in the console because it would eat too many resources. Even then that makes the choice understandable but still flat out TERRIBLE.

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

 

[DrROBschiz]

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

holy shit

here we go again

 

[shanafan]

It is assumed that:

Everyone has a phone.
Everyone has a smart phone.
You have that smart phone with you wherever you go.

If a person doesn't have a smartphone, nor takes their phone wherever they go, I doubt they were even getting the Switch in the first place.

 

[Okami Haundo]

I'll ask this again because my question got lost on the last page. Isn't there a rumor/story about how DeNA is handling the online for Nintendo Switch? That could certainly explain why they went with an app rather than baking it into the OS. It doesn't make it "better", but it could at least shed some light on a weird situation.

Basically Nintendo admitting they can't handle this on their own, so uncle DeNA is here to do what he does best!

Reggie: "We need your help with our online service"
DeNA: "Awesome! We can throw together a great app!"
Reggie: "That's not built into the console though... Have anything different?"
DeNA: "We can make a slightly different app?"

 

[KingSnake]

It is assumed that:

Everyone has a phone.
Everyone has a smart phone.
You have that smart phone with you wherever you go.

And your Android must not be rooted, going by the previous Nintendo apps.

 

[Interfectum]

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

So you either have an open mic on your phone and everyone has to listen to all your ambient shit (plus your game sound effects) or you have to put on earphones forcing you to turn up your speakers so you can hear your game as well as the voice chat.

Amazing solutions all around. Nintendo has nailed it.

 

[MUnited83]

It is assumed that:

Everyone has a phone.
Everyone has a smart phone.
You have that smart phone with you wherever you go.

There will people that do not have Android or IOS. Not only that, even if you do, having to waste battery for stuff that should be native to the console is fucking ridiculous. And I don't see how using your phone for voice chat is more handy than native chat in the console itself either.

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

Think 5 seconds about this shit. Having to have your smartphone next to you in the open while you use your two hands to play the Switch is something that is completely and utterly fucking ridiculous.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

Who doesn't have a phone? Who doesn't have other devices that play Netflix? Who uses the web browser?

Nintendo Switch: "Use Your Other Stuff"

 

[AGoodODST]

Looking at Nintendo's website, it doesn't look like the app is required for multiplayer, just that it can be used for party chat and matchmaking:
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."

More logic: multiplayer online starts at launch in March, but the app isn't available until summer.

"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.

A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017."

See this at least explains things unlike anything Nintendo has actually said.

I don't think the app itself in an inherently bad idea . All those features are useful and are something I would probably rather use my phone for. I just don't see why they wouldn't be in the actual system itself as well (maybe they are who knows).

 

[DrROBschiz]

If a person doesn't have a smartphone, nor takes their phone wherever they go, I doubt they were even getting the Switch in the first place.

good god dude now you are taking the elitist stance?


the switch should be robust and full featured out of the box. its value as a hybrid devive should be levied against all the options and value it can provide

it is itself a smart device... a damn tablet


and the only reason great features and options arent built in is because Nintendo is fucking it up

 

[eoa-swam]

An interesting note on the Nintendo Switch online service page -

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


is

* Online services require a Nintendo Account. Starting in fall 2017, some online services will also require a paid subscription. Paid online service availability may be limited based on location.


So if the paid online service covers online chat, and the only way to get chat is through the paid online service, what do people do who are in locations where it's not available?.

 

[Huggers]

On the face of it, it seems an extremely inelegant solution. Still, I'm willing to give it a chance. The app needs to be absolutely immaculate though in usability, intuitiveness, function and of course reliability.

Why they felt the need to separate it like this I have no idea. Why wouldn't they just make a really slick official headset that plugs into the pad?

This app needs to be absolutely incredible and even then it doesn't seem close to the ideal solution

 

[Jarmel]

The decade in which apps on smart devices exist, are the dominant way used to deliver content and are actually usable, unless this was possible in any other decade.

So what? Everyone on the planet could have a smartphone and this still wouldn't make sense.

 

[notaskwid]

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

Pray tell me then, why is it mandatory and not optional? Why must one chat through a phone that may or not be available when you should just be able to do it through the system?

 

[moltonasty]

Nintendo: "Consumers decided they don't like juggling two devices and alternating between the TV and Wii U gamepad."

Nintendo: "Let's make our consumers juggle two devices and alternate between the TV and smartphone so they can play online"

next step....profit?

An interesting note on the Nintendo Switch online service page -
Paid online service availability may be limited based on location.


So if the paid online service covers online chat, and the only way to get chat is through the paid online service, what do people do who are in locations where it's not available?.

Reggie: We have a device for that, it's called the Xbox 360

 

[Umi88]

If a person doesn't have a smartphone, nor takes their phone wherever they go, I doubt they were even getting the Switch in the first place.

I doesnt have an smartphone nor a phone and I'll surely end with a switch at some point so..

 

[Oregano]

Has anyone started a petition or social media campaign yet?

Nintendo has also said video capture is coming after launch for Switch which means they've reserved system resources for it. They could easily use those for the network features instead.

 

[Dirtbag]

Disaster. Though this looks like the ultimate LAN machine and let's be real, Wii U was a complimentary console in the US. Looks like little will change in regards to botched online play. But LAN though...

 

[Doc_Drop]

Either I'm explaining myself poorly or you're willfully misunderstanding me. I was talking about the scenario where you are playing multiplayer games away from home and using your phone to connect the Switch to internet. For the purposes of streaming audio to a phone a hotspot and a wifi router should be functionally the same as long as you share a subnet. You ping the subnet, check which one is a Switch, do a handshake, proceed with whatever communication you want. Perhaps this isn't possible, but a cursory google search leads me to believe it is. Either way, it's a niche case which they may not bother with considering few people are going to be gaming and doing voice chat over 3G.

When you are at home you would obviously not use tethering, your phone and Switch would simply communicate over local wifi to stream game audio. Smartglass already basically does this.

I have a couple of issues with your theories:-

Is there a real world working version of what you are describing?

We're talking about taking the audio stream from the Switch to the phone which is then going to the app via wifi/4G (which is also taking your audio input from the phone mic and sending over wifi to Nintendo's network).

The app will be responsible for balancing, mixing, and merging audio being streamed from the game and audio from other player's devices to feed into your headphones. All this needs to be synced whilst playing the actual game and able to be managed via the app.

The audio from the Switch is a separate entity to the audio being done via the apps, they won't merge in-game as how then would you control muting, and who can and cannot hear you? (and if it is in game, why not just have chat via the Switch?)

I have no experience in the logistics of data transfer over systems but I do understand audio mixing and the difficulties that lie in that. I just can't wrap my head around the audio logistics in this scenario.

I would be incredibly impressed if Nintendo pull it off, I just can't see how without severe problems or two sets of headphones (one ear for phone, one ear for switch).

If there is application solution to this I'm all ears as it's not in my wheelhouse as I don't really play online and have no knowledge of the inner workings of the likes of Discord.

 

[DrROBschiz]

whats sad is that this was clearly part of the design

Switch does not have a built in Mic like WiiU and Vita have

it doesnt have audio ports on JoyGrip and Pro controller

you have far less audio and voice options across the board for both modes

 

[flkraven]

by well implemented I meant that they would have a decent enough app that made all that less of a problem... and you can always use earphones with the phone.

People complaining doesnt make much sense to me... who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

When someone uses Kinect for voice chat it is a fucking nightmare. And that is a $100+ device that takes 10 minutes to set up, and does a '3D audio mapping' of the room/Kinect placement so it can figure out what audio it should be transmitting, and what it should be negating. It works pretty well, but it still sucks hard when I hear babies crying, dogs barking, static, the odd game noise, etc. And the person always sounds like they are 50 ft away.

And somehow you think Nintendo has the technical know-how to solve this with a simple mobile phone app? Time to come on back to the real world. Headphones aren't a solution, since game audio is coming from a separate location (unless you think an ideal work around is headphones in, and TV audio cranked so it blasts through the headphone barrier).

 

[Munter]

I'm going to wait until they announce more details. I like the sound of being able to create lobbies and do matchmaking in an app for future gaming tournaments/sessions/whatever, but voice chat? That sounds a bit ridiculous, will I need to hold the phone to my ear while I'm playing? Will I need to use a headsest connected to my phone? If so, how do I hear the audio from the Switch? So many questions need answered.

 

[Boke1879]

It is assumed that:

Everyone has a phone.
Everyone has a smart phone.
You have that smart phone with you wherever you go.

Ok, but what does this have to do with no included a basic chat feature on the console itself?

 

[ReubyJuice]

What about those with children who want to play Mario Kart? I'm going to have to lend my phone to my kid every time she wants to do some online multiplayer? Because I'm sure as heck not buying her an iPhone just so she can play the Switch online...

 

[always crazy bacon]

I did. It's to push mobile games to switch users and push mobile users to the switch.

Damn right it is. Keep the mobile loving shareholders happy, get mobile and home into the same ecosystem.

 

[Jonboy]

Quickly approaching 4,000 replies in this thread! Wow. Nintendo really needs to clarify this soon.

I have one preordered but am leaning toward cancelling unless I hear good news regarding the VC and online system in the coming weeks.

 

[shanafan]

good god dude now you are taking the elitist stance?


the switch should be robust and full featured out of the box. its value as a hybrid devive should be levied against all the options and value it can provide

it is itself a smart device... a damn tablet


and the only reason great features and options arent built in is because Nintendo is fucking it up

I don't think it's an "elitist" stance to say that if a person doesn't have a smartphone, nor takes their phone with them, is more than likely not getting a Switch.

The Switch is the newest technology. Smartphones are more of a common thing in 2017, as a lot of people have one. And the majority of people always have their phones on them, or close in proximity, smartphone or not, in 2017.

Those that do not have a smartphone in 2017, and leave their house regularly without their phone (of any kind), would not be investing in the latest technology.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

What about those with children who want to play Mario Kart? I'm going to have to lend my phone to my kid every time she wants to do some online multiplayer? Because I'm sure as heck not buying her an iPhone just so she can play the Switch online...

You can use your phone to schedule a play date for local multiplayer!

 

[MarkMclovin]

Not sure what the problem is.

If it means I can make the Switch connect to my phone as an access point, and I can put my earphones in my phone for online chat, then that means I can play online, on a bus and chat to people too?

The only people this makes life slightly difficult for, is kids without a phone.

 

[Rebel Leader]

What about those with children who want to play Mario Kart? I'm going to have to lend my phone to my kid every time she wants to do some online multiplayer? Because I'm sure as heck not buying her an iPhone just so she can play the Switch online...

It seems that regular online works without the phone

The free trail begins in march.
App isn't out untill summer (june?)

It's everything else by phone .


That's what i'm assuming

 

[moltonasty]

What about those with children who want to play Mario Kart? I'm going to have to lend my phone to my kid every time she wants to do some online multiplayer? Because I'm sure as heck not buying her an iPhone just so she can play the Switch online...

You can still play online without the app just no matchmaking, lobbies, and voice chat. It's been covered many times in this thread including the OP.

 

[tapedeck]

Yeah uhh an online app is supposed to be a supplement to the OS app... not the only app lol.

 

[Psoelberg]

who doesnt have and smartphone nowadays?

A lot of kids (which are a large segment of the Nintendo target audience) don't have smartphones.

 

[ReubyJuice]

If a person doesn't have a smartphone, nor takes their phone wherever they go, I doubt they were even getting the Switch in the first place.

This makes absolutely no sense to me. How can you correlate somebody's attachment to their phone with their desire to own a Switch? If they don't take their phone with them everywhere, then they're not attached to technology enough to want to play games on the go?

 

[Suburban Thug]

If a person doesn't have a smartphone, nor takes their phone wherever they go, I doubt they were even getting the Switch in the first place.

Ah, now we have reached the "if you don't have an expensive phone you were never going to buy it anyway" argument.

Despite the fact that numerous people in this thread have said they want a Switch but don't own an android/iOS smart device.

Can't wait to see what's next.

 

[MarkMclovin]

What about those with children who want to play Mario Kart? I'm going to have to lend my phone to my kid every time she wants to do some online multiplayer? Because I'm sure as heck not buying her an iPhone just so she can play the Switch online...

You don't need the phone to play online.

You need to the phone to chat online.

 

[TS-08]

What about those with children who want to play Mario Kart? I'm going to have to lend my phone to my kid every time she wants to do some online multiplayer? Because I'm sure as heck not buying her an iPhone just so she can play the Switch online...

She can play Switch online without the app.

 

[Blastoise]

One of the biggest hype train derailments I've ever seen.

 

[EGOMON]

Vita you really were the chosen one

 

[KingSnake]

Disaster. Though this looks like the ultimate LAN machine and let's be real, Wii U was a complimentary console in the US. Looks like little will change in regards to botched online play. But LAN though...

Haha, imagine going with some friends in one place together to play on your Switches and needing to set up the game via smartphone despite all of you being there. And everybody must go on his or her smartphone to join. Hilarious.

 

[UncleSporky]

There's already an app for scheduling matches. It's called messaging your friends from your phone.

However, there is something to be said for the immediacy of an app that is JUST for Nintendo online stuff.

Really easy to miss a message in the mass of Google Hangouts you're in. General purpose just isn't as good. I like the idea of an app where you know that every time you look at it, it's in the context of setting up a game or game-based chat. You can see if all your friends are playing a game right now and directly join their game.

I mean, this is like arguing against the presence of the Steam mobile app.