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[BlackTron]

A friend of mine moved away and we play a lot of slow burn vs. matches of Wargroove (a turn based tactics game). He was back in my area to visit and we decided to play one locally. Thing is, he didn't have his system, and we prefer to play on different screens so there is Fog of War and our actions aren't all given away on a big TV screen. That's fine, because I have two Switch -no problem, right?

I own the game, he owns the game. The game is already installed on both of my Switch. He logs into his Nintendo account on my second system -an account which purchased the game. No matter what we do, we can only run one instance of the game at a time, like the systems are relying on my license only. We just gave up, and played on the TV without fog of war. Two big N fans, with big libraries of Switch games, who bought the 2 at launch. Feeling like chumps. This scenario would have worked on anything else like Steam or Xbox.

I find myself suffering such moments of defeat trying to use Switch. I had my niece using Youtube with her profile on Switch 1. It kicked her off because I had the audacity to find fifteen minutes of fun to play Mario Strikers on Switch 2. I gave up and put away my $500 system that I tossed a sub service on top of, so she can keep watching Youtube on a profile tied to the same Nintendo account. DEFEAT.

I try to be fully compliant and do everything "the right way" to avoid these situations when you need online stuff to work, but it just digs you in deeper. I hate their account system with a passion.

 

[Topher]

 

[Baemono]

Yeah I got trouble when I bought my Switch 2 at first due to the virtual game cards system. I couldn't play my owned games because it was still "in" my Switch 1 as a virtual game card. And of course it was out of battery so I couldn't remove it from there.

Best solution is to switch back to licence management thing

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

The sad truth is you'll find this kind of BS, depending on context, literally everywhere. No matter the platform, operating system, piece of hardware, software whatever. The few things that are user friendly turn to shit in a matter of a couple years after they've been bought by the big players. There's no escape, we get f'ed everywhere we go.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

 

[BlackTron]

Best solution is to switch back to licence management thing

I already set it like that. We tried to change it back to game card system and back a few times while trying to set up our match. It simply doesn't work.

 

[Stitch]

The Virtual Game Card is still linked to his System and needs to be "ejected"

 

[BlackTron]

Ever since they started this virtual card system the whole thing has sucked. What a cluster. His system is in Europe. lol

 

[Robb]

Ever since they started this virtual card system the whole thing has sucked. What a cluster. His system is in Europe. lol

Nintendo: "Just go back to Europe and eject the virtual card bro"

 

[ReyBrujo]

I already set it like that. We tried to change it back to game card system and back a few times while trying to set up our match. It simply doesn't work.

Sounds odd indeed. And makes sense, digital games are signed (that is, your digital game has associated a key that's unique for you, the proof of purchasing) and when your friend logs into his account it's not as if his id is downloaded, it keeps yours. I would try having your fried log into his own account and delete the copy of the game, then redownload it. That way it might download the copy of the game with his own credentials.

 

[rodrigolfp]

The Virtual Game Card is still linked to his System and needs to be "ejected"

Is there a way to "eject/unlink" the game from the Nintendo site/account?

 

[BlackTron]

Sounds odd indeed. And makes sense, digital games are signed (that is, your digital game has associated a key that's unique for you, the proof of purchasing) and when your friend logs into his account it's not as if his id is downloaded, it keeps yours. I would try having your fried log into his own account and delete the copy of the game, then redownload it. That way it might download the copy of the game with his own credentials.

Too late, I already ordered a physical copy of the game from ebay for $19 while you were typing this, because aint nobody got time for that

 

[rodrigolfp]

The sad truth is you'll find this kind of BS, depending on context, literally everywhere. No matter the platform, operating system, piece of hardware, software whatever. The few things that are user friendly turn to shit in a matter of a couple years after they've been bought by the big players. There's no escape, we get f'ed everywhere we go.

Where does this happen on PC??

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Is there a way to "eject/unlink" the game from the Nintendo site/account?

That'd be too easy. And maybe someone could somehow abuse that system. No way they're going to consider spending their valuable resources on such a profitless feature.

 

[rodrigolfp]

That'd be too easy. And maybe someone could somehow abuse that system. No way they're going to consider spending their valuable resources on such a profitless feature.

It should be too easy, like when we "remove" devices from accounts from Google, Disney+, Netflix, Steam, etc...

 

[ReyBrujo]

Too late, I already ordered a physical copy of the game from ebay for $19 while you were typing this, because aint nobody got time for that

You could try it anyway to satisfy everyone's curiosity. By the way is the game good?

 

[Stitch]

Is there a way to "eject/unlink" the game from the Nintendo site/account?

Yes, looks like it can be done here:

http://accounts.nintendo.com/portal/vgcs

But the Console needs to be online

 

[BlackTron]

Where does this happen on PC??

"Depending on context", what he said is essentially true...that as user-friendly systems are taken over and the old guard fades away, they get slowly shittier.

Steam has yet to be compromised in that way, and being that it's synonymous with PC gaming, we're safe there for now. As a general principle of software in general, he's right.

 

[BlackTron]

You could try it anyway to satisfy everyone's curiosity. By the way is the game good?

I was going to say I can't because he isn't here, but wait. He is still logged in on my Switch 1, so actually yes I can. I'll report back in a short while.

 

[Skifi28]

"Depending on context", what he said is essentially true...that as user-friendly systems are taken over and the old guard fades away, they get slowly shittier.

Steam has yet to be compromised in that way, and being that it's synonymous with PC gaming, we're safe there for now. As a general principle of software in general, he's right.

Steam is far from safe. Offline mode is a fucking mess and depending on who you ask it can either not work, work for two weeks only or work indefinitely. I personally could not get it to work at all when my internet was down for a few days a year or so ago.

 

[Mownoc]

System Settings, User, go into your user, go down to online license settings, enable.

This lets you play any of your digital games, even without the virtual game card inserted, as long as you are connected to the internet and no one else is currently playing the virtual game card.

You still can't have two people play online at the same time with the same copy as you could previously though. But it is possible to play local wireless with a single copy of the game by having the owner play online on their switch, and the person you're sharing with play offline with the virtual game card.

 

[BlackTron]

Sounds odd indeed. And makes sense, digital games are signed (that is, your digital game has associated a key that's unique for you, the proof of purchasing) and when your friend logs into his account it's not as if his id is downloaded, it keeps yours. I would try having your fried log into his own account and delete the copy of the game, then redownload it. That way it might download the copy of the game with his own credentials.

Doesn't work. Here's what happened.

1) Deleted game from the Switch
2) Opened the eShop and selected his account when asked "Who is using", hoping I can redownload from there.
3) Searched the game and it says "Purchased"
4) Instead of a download link, it says "Open Virtual Game Cards" so I select that.
5) I get a screen that says "To load a virtual game card on this system, you must link it with the other system X is using, shown below. Systems only need to be linked once"

The systems must be physically near each other to complete this task, so I can't advance past the next screen without traveling to Europe.

EDIT: I also confirmed that my friends setting in his profile is "Online License Setting: ON". I believe we did this while trying to troubleshoot the problem before. It may not be sufficient to make this setting on your profile while your "primary" Switch is dead in another country.

 

[rodrigolfp]

"Depending on context", what he said is essentially true...that as user-friendly systems are taken over and the old guard fades away, they get slowly shittier.

Steam has yet to be compromised in that way, and being that it's synonymous with PC gaming, we're safe there for now. As a general principle of software in general, he's right.

In the context of non gaming software could be true, but not games.

 

[BlackTron]

In the context of non gaming software could be true, but not games.

Like I said, the specific problem I'm having wouldn't have happened on Steam or Xbox. They still have problems, and are still subject to enshittification as a principle.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Like I said, the specific problem I'm having wouldn't have happened on Steam or Xbox. They still have problems, and are still subject to enshittification as a principle.

Of course but the topic is not about this kind of specific problem of games "tied" to a device??

 

[BlackTron]

Of course but the topic is not about this kind of specific problem of games "tied" to a device??

Yes, but the comment you replied to was making a general statement about shit always getting worse and how nothing is really safe from the process (read it again).

 

[rodrigolfp]

Yes, but the comment you replied to was making a general statement about shit always getting worse and how nothing is really safe from the process (read it again).

Then my bad, I understood it was about this kind of problem when he said "this kind of BS".

 

[RoboFu]

It's dumb if he has it installed on another system it has to disconnect from that system first and sent to the system you want to play on. THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN REMOTELY IF THAT SYSTEM IS ON AND CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

its a very stupid system.

 

[Mownoc]

Doesn't work. Here's what happened.

1) Deleted game from the Switch
2) Opened the eShop and selected his account when asked "Who is using", hoping I can redownload from there.
3) Searched the game and it says "Purchased"
4) Instead of a download link, it says "Open Virtual Game Cards" so I select that.
5) I get a screen that says "To load a virtual game card on this system, you must link it with the other system X is using, shown below. Systems only need to be linked once"

The systems must be physically near each other to complete this task, so I can't advance past the next screen without traveling to Europe.

EDIT: I also confirmed that my friends setting in his profile is "Online License Setting: ON". I believe we did this while trying to troubleshoot the problem before. It may not be sufficient to make this setting on your profile while your "primary" Switch is dead in another country.

If you go into the virtual game card menu, select a game and then click options, you can download the data for that game to the console without inserting the virtual game card.

You can also change the console a virtual card is inserted in without being physically near, you need to go into virtual game card menu, select game, options and then eject from the console it's currently on. Then any console logged into your account will then be able to insert the virtual game card to their system without being close.

Yes the system is a complex pain in the ass.

If the console he was using didn't have your virtual game card inserted into it or your account actively logged in, and he was using his account online with online license setting enabled it could only use his license. Likewise as long as the system you were using didn't have his account logged in, or his virtual card on it, then you could only use your license. So like this it should work.

Somehow you were both using the same license and it was kicking you.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Yes, looks like it can be done here:

http://accounts.nintendo.com/portal/vgcs

But the Console needs to be online

I found the option to "eject from console". Will it ask for the console to be online when I click it?

 

[BlackTron]

In closing, it appears that unless your main Switch is physically present, there is no combination of changing settings remotely, even with a Web browser, that will enable you to access your game licenses, because they are assigned to one console at a time. Whereas with say Xbox, if you log in using your account, you can access anything you own regardless of the status of your other system (if it's turned on and logged in somewhere else, it might kick you off that one to prioritize the one you are playing on).

We were both so used to such systems, we were blindsided and dumbfounded that not only did it not "just work" from a log in, there was NO WAY to make it work with two nerds on the case.

 

[Magic Carpet]

What happens to stolen or broken Swiches? How are those accounts unlinked?

 

[BlackTron]

If you go into the virtual game card menu, select a game and then click options, you can download the data for that game to the console without inserting the virtual game card.

You can also change the console a virtual card is inserted in without being physically near, you need to go into virtual game card menu, select game, options and then eject from the console it's currently on. Then any console logged into your account will then be able to insert the virtual game card to their system without being close.

Yes the system is a complex pain in the ass.

OK, I tried it. I opened "Virtual Game Cards" from the Switch homescreen using his account. I got farther than last time, and was able to select the game.

But then it sent me to the same screen I ran into, while opening it through the eShop. Prompting me to put his system nearby, and I can't advance.

 

[Stitch]

I found the option to "eject from console". Will it ask for the console to be online when I click it?

I don't know, I never tried this I transferred all my Switch 1 stuff to my Switch 2 and never looked back

 

[RoboFu]

I found the option to "eject from console". Will it ask for the console to be online when I click it?

nope it just wont let you if its not online.

 

[Deerock71]

You know what's funny? There are people that think there are people that think this is defensible. Nintendo's fucking stupid at times.

 

[BlackTron]

You could try it anyway to satisfy everyone's curiosity. By the way is the game good?

Sorry, forgot to answer this part. It's basically an Advance Wars clone with a fantasy setting and pleasing sprite graphics/sound design. I enjoyed the campaign of 1, but not Wargroove 2. The game has legs with the multiplayer mode (which much like a RTS game you can use like a single player by setting CPU players).

Edit: I should mention there is a major reason we chose this game as well, you can suspend the match. So I can finish my turn, exit the game, and check later to see if they have gone and it is my turn again. It's not required for everyone to wait for each other. So, for a bunch of guys who used to play twitchy Starcraft on LAN, who are now busy and scattered across the map, we can still feel like we are trying to outsmart each other without anyone having to be at their systems simultaneously, and using a handheld with a sleep button at that.

Of course sometimes you end up free and watch each other do all their moves, but you don't have to. You can just watch it happen in fast sequence when you return, because it's turn-based.

 

[Baemono]

Is there a way to "eject/unlink" the game from the Nintendo site/account?

Yes, one way, like you pretend you don't own the console anymore.

 

[Baemono]

What happens to stolen or broken Swiches? How are those accounts unlinked?

You can unlink them through your account page. I had to do it once as I thought I lost my Switch, turned out my son (2YO back then) hid it in a suitcase.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Yes, one way, like you pretend you don't own the console anymore.

People are saying here that you need the console to be online to remove the game...

 

[Baemono]

People are saying here that you need the console to be online to remove the game...

One game in particular yes, but you can pretend you don't have the console anymore so your account (and your games) won't be linked to the console, even offline.

 

[Mozza]

We are coming .......... Don't worry.

 

[Sand Dan Glokta]

piracy

 

[Guilty_AI]

What is wrong with Nintendo's account system?

Nintendo

 

[Mozza]

I have had no issues whatsoever on my Switch 2 account system, I transferred all my stuff from the OLED to the new console in super quick time, even Animal Crossing transferred over with no issues. I game my OLED to my daughter than linked both systems. We can swap virtual gamecards with no problems whatsoever.

I am guessing there is more to this than meets the ear... I am guessing some sort of modification.

 

[BlackTron]

I have had no issues whatsoever on my Switch 2 account system, I transferred all my stuff from the OLED to the new console in super quick time, even Animal Crossing transferred over with no issues. I game my OLED to my daughter than linked both systems. We can swap virtual gamecards with no problems whatsoever.

I am guessing there is more to this than meets the ear... I am guessing some sort of modification.

Stop making Nintendo fans look bad, and get the hell out of my thread

 

[Mozza]

Stop making Nintendo fans look bad, and get the hell out of my thread

I did not make all Nintendo fans look bad, not even your friend. I simply said that some issues like this can stem from modified consoles. As part of the deal is to not perform firmware updates etc...

 

[BlackTron]

I did not make all Nintendo fans look bad, not even your friend. I simply said that some issues like this can stem from modified consoles. As part of the deal is to not perform firmware updates etc...

"I think there is more than meets the ear" when you obviously haven't bothered reading the thread.

I would never use any modified console online or have my Nintendo account anywhere near it, but I feel dumb bothering to verify that when you didn't read the thread and just saw the opportunity for another drive by post.

 

[Mozza]

"I think there is more than meets the ear" when you obviously haven't bothered reading the thread.

I would never use any modified console online or have my Nintendo account anywhere near it, but I feel dumb bothering to verify that when you didn't read the thread and just saw the opportunity for another drive by post.

Not sure why you are having issues to be honest. Not a drive by in the slightest. Hope you get things sorted.

 

[PeteBull]

We are coming .......... Don't worry.