• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Reggie: Switch matchmaking and lobbies handled through phone app

Status
Not open for further replies.

azyless

Member
Huh.

Funny how new pieces of info can potentially change things. And there were people here last night adamant that we already learned ALL we needed to learn yesterday to make a final judgement call here.
What are you even talking about ? Show me these "new pieces of info" that indicate I can create a party and chat with them on the Switch.
This thread was never about adding friends if that's what you mean.
 

Oregano

Member
I've signed it. I really don't want to see Nintendo's knuckleheaded decisions bring down the console. I realize it's pointless at this point of the game, but whatever.v

Nintendo doesn't have the best track record with listening to consumers, but signed anyway. I really think a hashtag needs to start to hopefully get the message to them

Thanks guys, even if it is pointless it won't hurt to try.

As for a hashtag I'm not the creative type. It needs to be something snappy. I was thinking something like #WeWantToBeHeardOnSwitch but it might be too longwinded.
 

eoa-swam

Member
Thanks guys, even if it is pointless it won't hurt to try.

As for a hashtag I'm not the creative type. It needs to be something snappy. I was thinking something like #WeWantToBeHeardOnSwitch but it might be too longwinded.

Something simple like #saveswitch will be short enough to be recognised.
 
What are you even talking about ? Show me these "new pieces of info" that indicate I can create a party and chat with them on the Switch.
This thread was never about adding friends if that's what you mean.

Some peole were suggesting that there could be no other unshown features or usability apsects of the app that could mitigate or a make phone app only party chat a plausibly reasonable proposition.

Depsite the fact that this online service hasn't been officially and clearly broken down and explained.
 

Apathy

Member
One thing that Microsoft and Sony better learn again is that being clear and having detailed information of your product when you reveal it is important. I'm sure Microsoft learned it already.

This feels so amateurish as their just winging it all.
 

D i Z

Member
Huh.

Funny how new pieces of info can potentially change things. And there were people here last night adamant that we already learned ALL we needed to learn yesterday to make a final judgement call here.

What new info?

Some peole were suggesting that there could be no other unshown features or usability apsects of the app that could mitigate or a make phone app only party chat a plausibly reasonable proposition.

Depsite the fact that this online service hasn't been officially and clearly broken down and explained.


And this information that shows different to that position is where now?
 

Steroyd

Member
Okay, just in case anyone was still wondering, Nintendo's very own website confirms that you can add and manage your friends list on the Switch console itself:

q4raZec.png


You'll notice that the two apps get their own little row, so this isn't something you'll need the app for. So:

A) This means there will be some sort of messaging system on the console

B) This means there is no reason individual games (like MK8) can't let you play with friends in the exact same was as was done on the Wii U

Only confirms that non subscribers can add and manage friends list, unless you have to pay just to download and subscribe to the app (which would be more fucked up), it means nothing for what is integrated into Switch.
 

Calm Killer

In all media, only true fans who consume every book, film, game, or pog collection deserve to know what's going on.
It was never a good time for them. Ever.

So I have a windows phone and I will never go back to Iphone. I would rather have a flip phone. I would use an android if that was the only other options, but if there is a windows phone option that will be where I will be. This just means I won't be getting a switch.
 
Well, it seems all of my friends that was wanting a Switch have changed their mind due to Nintendo's awful online structure. Nobody wants to deal with 3rd party apps on a phone just to chat or join a lobby. That is unnecessary for a console in 2017. We will continue to just join a party chat on PS4 and play there I guess.

Might get a Switch down the road when there are a ton of exclusives out for it and just never play it online since they want to make it as difficult as possible.
 
What are you even talking about ? Show me these "new pieces of info" that indicate I can create a party and chat with them on the Switch.
This thread was never about adding friends if that's what you mean.
All this guy does is go on and on about nonsense. Literally pages of it. Despite the fact that he claims he has no interest in online gaming and won't use it. Pay him no attention.
 

azyless

Member
Some peole were suggesting that there could be no other unshown features or usability apsects of the app that could mitigate or a make phone app only party chat a plausibly reasonable proposition.
What are those features and usability aspects of the app you speak of ?

Also no party system on a 2017 console is unreasonable and so is locking features onto a 2nd device.
 

cyberheater

PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
This 'solution' to use an IOS app for matchmaking and voice chat is pure Nintendo horse shite.

I can't believe Reggie really believes half the crap he comes out with.
 
What new info?




And this information that shows different to that position is where now?

I was referring to the friend's list on console pic as a general example to how new tidbits can shed some more light on how this whole online proposition will work since all we're going off are bits of info from interviews, rather than a proper presentation.


What are those features and usability aspects of the app you speak of ?

Also no party system on a 2017 console is unreasonable and so is locking features onto a 2nd device.

Look this might be the extent of all there is to Nintendo's online proposition. And yeah it can be crap.

But who knows what Nintendo's cooking up. They're always tight-lipped and have a history of putting out weird products/solutions. Some work, and some backfire. I don't know what the new potential features might be.

It's just crazy to me how the mere idea of "let's wait for the whole, confirmed picture and make a call afterwards" is treated like heresy by some, but I suppose suggesting so would undermine some people's chance to leap to outrage/panic-mode.


I'd point out how this is a terrible rebuttle, but it's frankly par for the course.
 
Probably because they didn't want to dedicate OS resources to something not that many people would use. They would also have had to stick a mic jack on one of the Joy-Cons since that's the default controller, and considering the already steep price and cramped internal space that might not have been very desirable. The alternative would be Bluetooth, but I doubt that would have been any less controversial.

Realistically here, how many computational resources are we really talking about? It's got to be pretty negligible. To that point, why even have any OS features...it's just going to take resources away from the games and hurt battery life...I see the argument, but I don't buy it as being significant - at least not enough to make this very inconvenient idea the alternative option.

And it's hard to know how many people would use it if it isn't even a feature to begin with. Nintendo consoles have never gone hard in on online features, so it's hard to say "well no one uses them" when they're half-assed or nonexistent to begin with.

I'm still just puzzled by the programmer resource management here...someone at Nintendo had to direct these programmers to work on an app instead of dedicating those people to working on an OS-level chat/party/matchmaking feature. This was a conscious decision, not just some oversight...I just don't even understand this logic path.


I can understand the technical issue with there not being a mic jack on the Joy-Cons, but could it have just been implemented instead on the Switch itself (mic port)? Or on the Pro controllers? Or even over Bluetooth? Or some combination of all three?

I think they could have made it work - it just feels lazy and rushed. And it makes me wonder if there will be a Switch 2.0 down the line that will have these online features like this built in. I'm still interested in the Switch - but I just don't get these decisions.
 
I was referring to the friend's list on console pic as a general example to how new tidbits can shed some more light on how this whole online proposition will work since all we're going off are bits of info from interviews, rather than a proper presentation.




Look this might be the extent of all there is to Nintendo's online proposition. And yeah it can be crap.

But who knows what Nintendo's cooking up. They're always tight-lipped and have a history of putting out weird products/solutions. Some work, and some backfire. I don't know what the new potential features might be.

It's just crazy to me how the mere idea of "let's wait for the whole, confirmed picture and make a call afterwards" is treated like heresy by some, but I suppose suggesting so would undermine some people's chance to leap to outrage/panic-mode.

The fact that they are using a damn phone app for chat and lobbies is enough to make myself, my entire PS4 friends list, and many people in this thread bash Nintendo for a stupid idea. Not surprising idea since its Nintendo we are talking about, but an incredibly stupid one all the same. Imagine if Sony had said "in order to chat with your friends online you will need to pull up an app on your phone. In order to party up with your friends, pull up the app!"

PS4 would have been dead before it even launched. After the failure of Wii U(I love my Wii U) this might just be the nail in the Nintendo coffin. Call that Hyperbole if you must, but they really have no room for error after the Wii U.
 
Okay, just in case anyone was still wondering, Nintendo's very own website confirms that you can add and manage your friends list on the Switch console itself:

q4raZec.png


You'll notice that the two apps get their own little row, so this isn't something you'll need the app for. So:

A) This means there will be some sort of messaging system on the console

B) This means there is no reason individual games (like MK8) can't let you play with friends in the exact same was as was done on the Wii U

C ) maybe it'll be able to be used only by the app and it'll available even without subscription
Like you'll need to be registered but you won't be subscribed.
 
I think they could have made it work - it just feels lazy and rushed. And it makes me wonder if there will be a Switch 2.0 down the line that will have these online features like this built in. I'm still interested in the Switch - but I just don't get these decisions.

Ohh! Now your thinking like Nintendo.

If the Vita could have a simple feature like voice chat and friends list built I like any other app on the device, I don't see why the Switch can't. I see a lot of people defending this wild idea the way people were defending Microsoft for charging online fees when no other company did.
 

qko

Member
My windows phone life seems to be coming to an end.

But I kinda feel like I shouldn't have to buy a new phone just to be able to play Splatoon...

Not everyone has a smartphone.
Not everyone has a smartphone running iOS or Android (Windows phones are a thing).
Not everyone has a phone new enough to run this app.

So I have a windows phone and I will never go back to Iphone. I would rather have a flip phone. I would use an android if that was the only other options, but if there is a windows phone option that will be where I will be. This just means I won't be getting a switch.


It'd be nice if say, Nintendo considered Windows Phone as much as Microsoft does... Oh Wait, they don't even plan to support their own product with their own games.

Microsoft to end Minecraft support on Windows Phone
 

MUnited83

For you.
Huh.

Funny how new pieces of info can potentially change things. And there were people here last night adamant that we already learned ALL we needed to learn yesterday to make a final judgement call here.

It's not a new piece of info! It's literally something people already knew and in no way changes the statements made by Reggie to begin with! Managing the friends list was never the focus of what the discussion was about! This info was always there to begin!
 
The fact that they are using a damn phone app for chat and lobbies is enough to make myself, my entire PS4 friends list, and many people in this thread bash Nintendo for a stupid idea. Not surprising idea since its Nintendo we are talking about, but an incredibly stupid one all the same. Imagine if Sony had said "in order to chat with your friends online you will need to pull up an app on your phone. In order to party up with your friends, pull up the app!"

PS4 would have been dead before it even launched. After the failure of Wii U(I love my Wii U) this might just be the nail in the Nintendo coffin. Call that Hyperbole if you must, but they really have no room for error after the Wii U.

It's definitely a headscratcher and I understand the trepidation. Maybe some feel like after the WiiU (and Nintendo's general approach to online gaming) they just don't deserve the benefit of the doubt here. Also fair.

But that doesn't change the fact that any judgement calls or decisions made going off of what we have so far (regardless of how damning some might feel they are) are literally nothing more than conjecture at this point. Despite how badly some might wanna pretend that that's not the case.
 
I'd point out how this is a terrible rebuttle, but it's frankly pare for the course.
It's fucking shocking how little self awareness you have. You spent hours writing over a dozen posts comprising entirely of nonsensical defenses for Nintendo moving basic, standard online functionality to a secondary device, based on arguments you systematically dropped one by one as they each were thoroughly decronstructed until you no longer had a single point beyond "we'll wait and see, we just don't know!". And now after one user posts an old list we were all aware of with a reading that is veeeery much comprised of conclusion jumping, and which does nothing to address the central argument of the topic - that moving party/party chat functionality to an external device exclusively is fucking stupid - you desperately cling to it so you can pretend to shout from atop the imaginarily earned high ground that "see, things can change!". But ok, continue on my good fellow. Knock yourself out.

Over a feature you fucking said you don't care about anyway.
 

azyless

Member
Look this might be the extent of all there is to Nintendo's online proposition. And yeah it can be crap.

But who knows what Nintendo's cooking up. They're always tight-lipped and have a history of putting out weird products/solutions. Some work, and some backfire. I don't know what the new potential features might be.

It's just crazy to me how the mere idea of "let's wait for the whole, confirmed picture and make a call afterwards" is treated like heresy by some, but I suppose suggesting so would undermine some people's chance to leap to outrage/panic-mode.
I don't need to know what I can do with this app to know that it's crap.
You want to do a cool companion app like your competitors have done for years ? That's fine with me, they have pretty cool features.
But having the most basic online features absent from the console ? That's absolute nonsense.
This is a 330€ console with a paid online service and I expect it to do everything a console with a paid online service does without needing another device. I don't think I'm asking for the moon, here ?
 

Cynar

Member
Okay, just in case anyone was still wondering, Nintendo's very own website confirms that you can add and manage your friends list on the Switch console itself:

q4raZec.png


You'll notice that the two apps get their own little row, so this isn't something you'll need the app for. So:

A) This means there will be some sort of messaging system on the console

B) This means there is no reason individual games (like MK8) can't let you play with friends in the exact same was as was done on the Wii U
You might be new to how apps and software can work if you haven't had a smart phone, PC, or a console from someone other than Nintendo so I'll help you out. You can be locked out of features if you don't pay for them on an app.

A fair example is my fitness pal. You can use the meal plan feature but there are premium features such as detailed information for your meal which you'd be missing out on unless you subscribe.

In no way does your interpretation of the image mean that Nintendo is going to allow messaging, voice chat or friends list on the switch. It just means in the app there would be a pay wall such was what Reggie has said.
I get it, I love Nintendo but living in denial is a hard thing. The sooner you and others accept that Nintendo keeps making mistakes the sooner we can pressure them to fix it.
 
The fact that they are using a damn phone app for chat and lobbies is enough to make myself, my entire PS4 friends list, and many people in this thread bash Nintendo for a stupid idea. Not surprising idea since its Nintendo we are talking about, but an incredibly stupid one all the same. Imagine if Sony had said "in order to chat with your friends online you will need to pull up an app on your phone. In order to party up with your friends, pull up the app!"

PS4 would have been dead before it even launched. After the failure of Wii U(I love my Wii U) this might just be the nail in the Nintendo coffin. Call that Hyperbole if you must, but they really have no room for error after the Wii U.

People have been spouting the Nintendoomed thing for years, but for the first time ever I'm starting to actually believe it lol.

I have my Switch pre-ordered regardless, but this and other decisions are just shockingly bad. I don't see it being a huge success right now
 
It's fucking shocking how little self awareness you have. You spent hours writing over a dozen posts comprising entirely of nonsensical defenses for Nintendo moving basic, standard online functionality to a secondary device, based on arguments you systematically dropped one by one as they each were thoroughly decronstructed until you no longer had a single point beyond "we'll wait and see, we just don't know!". And now after one user posts an old list we were all aware of with a reading that is veeeery much comprised of conclusion jumping, and which does nothing to address the central argument of the topic - that moving party/party chat functionality to an external device exclusively is fucking stupid - you desperately cling to it so you can pretend to shout from atop the imaginarily earned high ground that "see, things can change!". But ok, continue on my good fellow. Knock yourself out.

Over a feature you fucking said you don't care about anyway.

The answer could hit them right in their face and they'll still say "But guysssss, let's wait for more info."

Don't bother arguing with them, guys. Just sit back and laugh as they keep trying (and failing) to defend a corporation that clearly doesn't give a shit about them.
 
It's definitely a headscratcher and I understand the trepidation. Maybe some feel like after the WiiU (and Nintendo's general approach to online gaming) they just don't deserve the benefit of the doubt here. Also fair.

But that doesn't change the fact that any judgement calls or decisions made going off of what we have so far (regardless of how damning some might feel they are) are literally nothing more than conjecture at this point. Despite how badly some might wanna pretend that that's not the case.

No new info is going to change the fact that you need a phone to handle basic online functionality that's been standard in consoles for a good while now. That's the issue at hand. Doesn't matter how good the app is or how seamlessly it integrates. In the end, you'll still need to use two devices for something everyone else seems to have managed to do on one for years now on exponentially lesser hardware.
 

J-Rzez

Member
This 'solution' to use an IOS app for matchmaking and voice chat is pure Nintendo horse shite.

I can't believe Reggie really believes half the crap he comes out with.

To be honest, he probably doesn't, but he's also probably making a lot of money in his position.

I mean ninty isn't the first game company you think about when it comes to online network services, but this is pretty ridiculous. Even thinking that this solves some sort of "carrying accessories" problem is crazy. People carrying switch around with them will probably have it in a case (something ninty will make i'm sure if they haven't yet) or backpack/bag, which will have a pocket for a small headset.

Now you have to take your phone out as well as this gaming device? There are many people that hate "casting" to their TV because they need another device to do so, let alone this.

Then again this thing doesn't have netflix in it out of the box too right? I understand redundancy of apps, but there are many people even here that seem to use their consoles for their streaming purpose.

So I take it NoJ is very closed on the tech front and decisions still after all these years? Because I don't believe for a minute that their NA and EU offices would have said these are some great decisions.
 
That's not new info. Or if it is for you that means that you were too busy to claim that you don't know anything yet that you forgot to read the actual info.

Info that was overlooked by enough people to warrant its thread and discussion that even spilled into this one. Why are we bothering with semantics?

It's fucking shocking how little self awareness you have. You spent hours writing over a dozen posts comprising entirely of nonsensical defenses for Nintendo moving basic, standard online functionality to a secondary device, based on arguments you systematically dropped one by one as they each were thoroughly decronstructed until you no longer had a single point beyond "we'll wait and see, we just don't know!". And now after one user posts an old list we were all aware of with a reading that is veeeery much comprised of conclusion jumping, and which does nothing to address the central argument of the topic - that moving party/party chat functionality to an external device exclusively is fucking stupid - you desperately cling to it so you can pretend to shout from atop the imaginarily earned high ground that "see, things can change!". But ok, continue on my good fellow. Knock yourself out.

Over a feature you fucking said you don't care about anyway.

Oh come on. Everything you've replied with has been a variation of "but they said it's on the app and that's all I need to know" or "no but you are!"

You won't even acknowledge that we haven't had a real, proper presentation/reveal for this service. It's only officially been acknowledged that it exists, it's paid for, and has voice chat over a phone app. We don't know price, we don't features, we don't know what the app really is, what it consists of, how it ties into the console, what else it does, etc.

But none of that matters. Cause your stance basically boils down to "I don't wanna give them the benefit of the doubt. I don't want to wait for the full picture cause I wanna be outraged now."

I don't need to know what I can do with this app to know that it's crap.
You want to do a cool companion app like your competitors have done for years ? That's fine with me, they have pretty cool features.
But having the most basic online features absent from the console ? That's absolute nonsense.
This is a 330€ console with a paid online service and I expect it to do everything a console with a paid online service does without needing another device. I don't think I'm asking for the moon, here ?

Again, yes, it's weird. And yes, it can absolutely suck and continue Nintendo's lackluster online presence. But we don't know what their full approach is. If as a consumer you feel this is already a deal-breaker, that's your prerogative.
 

D i Z

Member
I was referring to the friend's list on console pic as a general example to how new tidbits can shed some more light on how this whole online proposition will work since all we're going off are bits of info from interviews, rather than a proper presentation.

But it's not new. You'd know that if you had read the site when it became available. The only thing new is the spin that people have attempted (unsuccessfully) to apply to it.
 
Maybe you dont need go through the phone, only maybe you need a smartphone with the app installed near to you and the headset connected to your phone. This thread is just about speculation, we dont know how it will works.


Actually Reggie laid it pretty well in his answers that there is no dedicated party app on the actual console OS. He could have easily said, "there is a party chat app on thr console itself"
 
You might be new to how apps and software can work if you haven't had a smart phone, PC, or a console from someone other than Nintendo so I'll help you out. You can be locked out of features if you don't pay for them on an app.

A fair example is my fitness pal. You can use the meal plan feature but there are premium features such as detailed information for your meal which you'd be missing out on unless you subscribe.

In no way does your interpretation of the image mean that Nintendo is going to allow messaging, voice chat or friends list on the switch. It just means in the app there would be a pay wall such was what Reggie has said.
I get it, I love Nintendo but living in denial is a hard thing. The sooner you and others accept that Nintendo keeps making mistakes the sooner we can pressure them to fix it.

First off, I said nothing about voice chat. Messaging is an inference of mine, and I've admitted that.

That said, you are being wildly intellectually dishonest if you read that checklist and think that the friends management will be part of the app. This is as clear as day: they are separate things. Unless you somehow think that accessing the e-shop is also relegated to the app, and sharing screenshots from the console via the confirmed capture button is also relegated to the app, as they all appear separate from the actual app itself.

Please read that checklist without any preconceived notions and tell me what you think it is saying.
 
But it's not new. You'd know that if you had read the site when it became available. The only thing new is the spin that people have attempted (unsuccessfully) to apply to it.

That's not the crux of the matter. Why would you even focus on that?

My point is that even if this particular piece isn't technically new info, (though enough people apparently highlighted it now and sparked a discussion), further details can potentially change the overall picture.

Some posters here are hell bent that nothing new can be shown now that can matter. Even though we don't have a proper breakdown on what this service really is and how it works.
 
First off, I said nothing about voice chat. Messaging is an inference of mine, and I've admitted that.

That said, you are being wildly intellectually dishonest if you read that checklist and think that the friends management will be part of the app. This is as clear as day: they are separate things. Unless you somehow think that accessing the e-shop is also relegated to the app, and sharing screenshots from the console via the confirmed capture button is also relegated to the app, as they all appear separate from the actual app itself.

Please read that checklist without any preconceived notions and tell me what you think it is saying.

There's not enough info in the chart to say either way. All we can definitively tell from the chart is what you get and don't get from being a service subscriber. There's no info or asterisk to tell us what's tied to the app or not.
 

Zemm

Member
A predictable lowish userbase and this and the paywall means online for most games is going to be a wasteland. Good job and giving your games no chance of being a success before they're even released.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom