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[jmizzal]

That wouldn't help with party chat unless they put that functionality into the OS though. At best that would provide game audio + chat with randoms which Splatoon 2 doesn't support IIRC.

oh ok gotcha

 

[Copenap]

Honestly this is what I think is delusional. You think nintendo WANT to integrate voice chat into the OS but lack the programming capability?

Pretty sure they do, have you ever put your hands on a WiiU?

 

[MatrixMan.EXE]

I don't think they have the memory or CPU cycles to spare. Most of the Switch's hardware is allocated to the games themselves. Presumably that's why they went with this setup in first place.

As for me personally, my fancy wireless headset has game audio piped in from my TV's optical port. I'll only need to plug the headset into my phone for chat. Still an extra layer of hassle compared to PS4, but not nearly as bad as this crazy ass solution.

Don't be silly, of course they have the resources to spare. If Vita could in 2011 then Switch can in 2017.

 

[Chopper]

As someone who does not use online chat, or indeed headphones very often, could someone explain to me: Is there a good reason why we couldn't just use, like, these...?

 

[DrROBschiz]

I mean, the Switch also has significantly more RAM and CPU power compared to the Vita. It makes sense.

The point is that Nintendo didn't reserve enough of it with the Switch. And they're not the most efficient engineers when it comes to this stuff anyway.

Dear Nintendo

Hire talent, reduce OS overhead footprint, Put standard OS features in teh damn system


Nope they hire DeNA to sell more mobile shit on the side

 

[Charles Brandon]

I understand that the Switch can't do bluetooth audio for whatever reason

...but why can't the headphones at least take the audio from the phone through bluetooth and mix it with the wired audio from the switch internally and without an additional box. They are custom made for this purpose after all. That way you wouldn't need the extra box and would need only one cable, Nintendo would would get their voice chat-through-the-phone-only requirement filled and the whole thing would be much neater.

That's still possible, right? If someone builds something like that.

I'm going to self-quote this until someone tells me why this isn't a much better solution, which can still be implemented within the restrictions Nintendo have imposed on themselves.

 

[Robin64]

As someone who does not use online chat, or indeed headphones very often, could someone explain to me: Is there a good reason why we couldn't just use, like, these...?

http://i.imgur.com/A83j7Oj.jpg

You could, but you won't get the dual audio that this Hori headset provides.

 

[Yado]

People don't have to pay for this shit right? Their online service only offers multiplayer?

 

[Airan]

If nothing I'm hoping for a cute animation at E3 starring Bowser and Bowser Jr. attempting to use the Nintendo App to setup voice chat, avoiding the perils of Waluigi calling Jr a Mexican Jew Lizard online.

 

[MarmiteBadger]

LMAO. Are they serious? I'd rather just use discord at a computer.

 

[ornery]

Now, with more cables!

 

[Alucrid]

this is an excellent solution to voice chat on the nintendo switch and it gives me great hope to see similar improvements in things yet to be seen like their online systems

 

[iswasdoes]

User data (vs purchaser data) usually becomes more readily available as the generation/console matures.

Also, citation needed.

Wii/PS3/360 user data from 2008:

Nintendo JP official demographic chart (2008):

To parse the second graph, it would appear that (as of 10 years ago), Nintendo's 3 largest age user groups were 10, 11, and 12, but the majority of users on the platform were well over the age of 25.

I did find this for iPhone vs iPod touch users (2009):

Keep in mind that Apple stopped reporting iPod sales in 2015, as the iPhone has made it redundant, even at the low end.

Mobile gaming exploded between 2007 (introduction of iPhone) and 2010:

Minors make up the majority of mobile game players.

It's difficult to find mobile trend data - most surveys only hit people 18 and up.

Wii data, the console that famously managed to pull in a (very non typical) older audience than nintendos usual fanbase

Also it Ignores DS/3DS data, relevant to our debate as they are the portable consoles which are more popular with kids

Japanese users data is also skewed as Nintendo exist very differently in japan

And your smartphone data that doesnt go as low age as the debate were having.

To prove me wrong youd need user data for all nintendo consoles, globally. I am not trying to find it myself as im sure it doesnt exist. But my common sense tells me that Nintendo overall is more popular with kids than with adults.

 

[Reg]

This really sucks.



Your posts related to Nintendo are a fucking joke, you know that?

You seem to be taking this very personally.

 

[EVH]

As someone who does not use online chat, or indeed headphones very often, could someone explain to me: Is there a good reason why we couldn't just use, like, these...?

Probably Nintendo made the deal with DeNA to make smartphone games and the online platform. The result is that for playing online on a handheld, we need to go through the smartphone app from DeNA.

I'm still not convinced that Nintendo Switch jack has 3 lines, though, and would like to see a real confirmation of that.

 

[DrROBschiz]

this is an excellent solution to voice chat on the nintendo switch and it gives me great hope to see similar improvements in things yet to be seen like their online systems

 

[Shiggy]

People don't have to pay for this shit right? Their online service only offers multiplayer?

People need to pay to use this app, which is part of their online subscription service.

 

[Radec]

haha what the fuck.

 

[molnizzle]

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make anymore. The Switch has the resources for voice chat but Nintendo aren't skilled enough to use them?

The point is that other consoles reserve a significantly larger portion of the hardware for OS functions. Switch doesn't. That decision was made prior to launch and can't be un-made now since games have already shipped. It is what it is.

As for whether Nintendo could handle background voice chat with the limited resources available, there's really no way for an outsider to know. All I know is that after using slow, clunky-ass Nintendo OS' for years I don't have much faith in their UI/UX engineers.

 

[ThanksVision]

I understand that the Switch can't do bluetooth audio for whatever reason

...but why can't the headphones at least take the audio from the phone through bluetooth and mix it with the wired audio from the switch internally and without an additional box. They are custom made for this purpose after all. That way you wouldn't need the extra box and would need only one cable, Nintendo would would get their voice chat-through-the-phone-only requirement filled and the whole thing would be much neater.

That's still possible, right? If someone builds something like that.

Man I hope this is the case.

 

[msdstc]

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make anymore. The Switch has the resources for voice chat but Nintendo aren't skilled enough to use them?

I think he's making the ps3 point. When ps3 was made it was originally planned to be able to do in-game xmb. However it didn't have that until quite some time after launch. Reason why is they used all their resources on the games and it took a while to get it ready on the limited resources they reserved. It's possible nintendo overlooked this.

 

[VeeP]

Holy shit lmao. It's been how many years since the original Xbox did online right, and Nintendo still can't make setting up a headset painlessly easy? Literally just plug into the controller. The original Xbox had that. Why make this needlessly complex, especially when your planning on shifting your platform to a paid online service?

 

[guybrushfreeman]

I'm going to self-quote this until someone tells me why this isn't a much better solution, which can still be implemented within the restrictions Nintendo have imposed on themselves.

Such a thing would be possible but complicated. It would be a powered device with an additional processor using battery power when bluetooth headphones already have small batteries to draw from. It would neither be cheap nor easy to make, unlike this wired adaptor. While possible in theory I don't expect to see one come to market any time soon

 

[Okami Haundo]

As someone who does not use online chat, or indeed headphones very often, could someone explain to me: Is there a good reason why we couldn't just use, like, these...?

When it comes to playing online games and chatting with random players, nope. No real reason at all honestly.

When it comes to playing online with "party chat" (talking to a group of friends independent of the game you're playing) the functionality needs to be built into the OS. Nintendo chose not to do that for some reason and now we need Splatoon 2 squids to connect our devices.

 

[Hubble]

I am genuinely bewildered and confused on the just use Discord or Skype comments. I and most people talk to fellow gamers when playing online. Everyday, I use voice chat with people I do not know when playing games. We use it for teamwork, strategy, to play, and for fun banter. I cannot tell you how many people I've added to my friends list and became online gaming friends through online communication, or to search for matches together because we enjoy each other's company or play serious together. Having online communication is the standard in 2017. We live in a free global world, or most of it, and it is shameful Nintendo continues to offer poor online infrastructure today.

This really can be a dealbreaker for many who enjoy online gaming.

 

[-shadow-]

As someone who does not use online chat, or indeed headphones very often, could someone explain to me: Is there a good reason why we couldn't just use, like, these...?

Yes, because it's Nintendo.

 

[aBarreras]

The point is that other consoles reserve a significantly larger portion of the hardware for OS functions. Switch doesn't. That decision was made prior to launch and can't be un-made now since games have already shipped. It is what it is.

As for whether Nintendo could handle background voice chat with the limited resources available, there's really no way for an outsider to know. All I know is that after using slow, clunky-ass Nintendo OS' for years I don't have much faith in their UI engineers.

can you show me some link about this?

 

[Jo Shishido's Cheeks]

Nintendo seems intent to offload all effort onto someone else

Be it DeNA and this shit solution, to their staff that has to spin and explain this shit, to the consumer that has to come up with how to get this all to function comfortably

Any defense of this is asinine

So Nintendo, after having a lack of online features for two console generations straight, should've continued to provide online features in-house rather than getting support from a company who specialise in networking features?
This is what people have been asking for for years!
Letting their in-house teams solely focus on game development whilst contracting others to handle networking wasn't a bad move.
How good a job DeNA will do remains to be seen of course and AGAIN I'm not saying throwing everything into a mobile app is superior, but surely you can see the benefits involved in having another team handle online...?

I think it's worth pointing out that once again, that's your personal take on things. Second, it isn't as simple as just plugging headphones into your phone if you want game + chat audio from the same source. Plenty of people have gaming headsets that combine the two (and possibly have noise cancelling features) which means they'd then need a smartphone and the adapter to use this. That's also only a solution if you're playing in portable mode.

I do agree that in the long run, this probably won't hurt the console overall as much as a thread like this would make you believe. This is a forum for gaming enthusiasts and as a result we're only going to get that perspective.

Yeah you're right I suppose I am ultimately only considering my own circumstances.
I'm not trying to say I have the answer, or to downplay a flaw what will be a problem for many, but realise I probably came across that way.

 

[ThanksVision]

Damn this mixer might be cool for when I'm playing PS4 games but want to listen to podcast audio on my phone actually.

 

[GasProblem]

The Pro controller needs a audio port. Voice chat should be possible on the Switch itself. What's the reason for all this convoluted bullshit. So kids don't hear curse words? Disable voice chat through parental controls.

 

[msdstc]

Damn this mixer might be cool for when I'm playing PS4 games but want to listen to podcast audio on my phone actually.

They already have those.

 

[Dantrist]

 

[Mael]

what are you even talking about? You can disable notifications.

Yeah and I lose my notifs.
It's not notifs I don't want, it's shitty spammers I don't want.

 

[BRSxIgnition]

I don't understand how Nintendo makes decisions like this so often.

Just make it as simple as possible for your customers! Plan around headset implementation when you're building the system and people won't need to carry around a phone, a dongle, and extra cables just to use a headset on your system!

Is it really so hard to put a combined headphone/mic port on the system from the beginning?

 

[DrROBschiz]

Probably Nintendo made the deal with DeNA to make smartphone games and the online platform. The result is that for playing online on a handheld, we need to go through the smartphone app from DeNA.

I'm still not convinced that Nintendo Switch jack has 3 lines, though, and would like to see a real confirmation of that.

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Switch+Teardown/78263

It appears the Jack does indeed support 3 band audio

http://developer.download.nvidia.co.../JetsonTK1_ModuleSpecification_PM375_V1.0.pdf

This is the chip that handles the audio in the switch

 

[Iva Demilcol]

The headset looks nice but WTF...

 

[jviggy43]

Holy shit lmao. It's been how many years since the original Xbox did online right, and Nintendo still can't make setting up a headset painlessly easy? Literally just plug into the controller. The original Xbox had that. Why make this needlessly complex, especially when your planning on shifting your platform to a paid online service?

Apparently people think this is an earnest solution to protect children from voice chat rather than having that feature be disabled in the parental controls like everything else. Also "haha sales" and also "what games do you even use VC for on nintendo systems" are the general answers to the why I am seeing.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Ahh, I never played that one, but that is huge indeed. Damn, I was thinking about getting MH XX for Switch as well, but I feel like partying up in a game like that is contingent on voicechat... Hopefully they do come up with a seamless way to do voicechat wirelessly. I just want Nintendo to be transparent in why they decided to do it this way, but I realize that will likely not happen.

What do you think they will say? They wont say anything simply because they did not prioritize voice chat.

 

[EVH]

The point is that other consoles reserve a significantly larger portion of the hardware for OS functions. Switch doesn't. That decision was made prior to launch and can't be un-made now since games have already shipped. It is what it is.

As for whether Nintendo could handle background voice chat with the limited resources available, there's really no way for an outsider to know. All I know is that after using slow, clunky-ass Nintendo OS' for years I don't have much faith in their UI/UX engineers.

I really doubt this is the point. Really doubt that Splatoon, Zelda o ARMS use all the available RAM and you cannot put a bit more memory reserved for the OS, specially when VITA or even DS was able to perform such a task. VITA had 512mb total, DS had what? 24MB?

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Switch+Teardown/78263

It appears the Jack does indeed support 3 band audio

http://developer.download.nvidia.co.../JetsonTK1_ModuleSpecification_PM375_V1.0.pdf

This is the chip that handles the audio in the switch

Haha holy shit, this makes this decission even worse. But I'm sure it was a very initial one, as the controllers don't have jack plug.

 

[Xandremi]

I'm saying Sony made sure to allocate those resources when the Vita launched. There's a portion set aside for OS functions that games can't tap into. Every console does this—it's why PS4 devs can only use something like 5GB of memory despite the system itself having 8GB. Some of the juice is reserved for stuff like background voice chat.

As far as I'm aware, most of the Switch's resources are allocated to the games themselves. Nintendo didn't set aside much of it for OS functions. That's why it's so barebones in the first place. The Switch doesn't have much power to begin with, so Ninty decided to give most of it to the games. This is the aftermath of that decision.

I am pretty sure Nintendo has set aside resources for OS functions and the reason it is so barebones is because its a soft launch, Someone can correct me if i am wrong. But if they didn't they would have the dumbest hardware/OS designers and on the face of this earth*

We're talking about a software feature here, not hardware. Switch could be as powerful as the PS4 and still not offer built-in party chat if Nintendo couldn't find a way to do it.

I am well aware this is a software feature but the poster i was replying to claims this may be due to a lack of system resources.

 

[Skittzo0413]

The worst part is you just know with how convoluted this 'solution' is that it'll eat up like 15 mins of E3 Direct time to explain in excruciating detail

This is actually what I'm the most worried about too but I'm hoping that gets saved for a different video or part of E3, rather than their Spotlight video. But yeah that would be incredibly annoying.

Meh most people don't care about how it affects sales, which it likely won't at all. They're more mad about how asinine the whole thing is.

And they're absolutely right to be. I'm just incredibly curious why they decided to do it this way.

 

[guybrushfreeman]

I think he's making the ps3 point. When ps3 was made it was originally planned to be able to do in-game xmb. However it didn't have that until quite some time after launch. Reason why is they used all their resources on the games and it took a while to get it ready on the limited resources they reserved. It's possible nintendo overlooked this.

The point is that other consoles reserve a significantly larger portion of the hardware for OS functions. Switch doesn't. That decision was made prior to launch and can't be un-made now since games have already shipped. It is what it is.

As for whether Nintendo could handle background voice chat with the limited resources available, there's really no way for an outsider to know. All I know is that after using slow, clunky-ass Nintendo OS' for years I don't have much faith in their UI/UX engineers.

Right, I'm thinking 'so what'? though. Everyone agrees not including voice chat in the OS was a poor choice. People have been saying that before launch even. None of that makes it a good decision. Switch is more than powerful enough for voice chat, it's only Nintendo's poor decisions that led us here. That doesn't really make anything about this better though

 

[Charles Brandon]

Such a thing would be possible but complicated. It would be a powered device with an additional processor using battery power when bluetooth headphones already have small batteries to draw from. It would neither be cheap nor easy to make, unlike this wired adaptor. While possible in theory I don't expect to see one come to market any time soon

Hmm. OK. Would it really take that much battery power? I mean the box doesn't need a power supply, albeit that it is mixing two wired audio fees not one bluetooth feed and one wired feed...but does that make a difference?

 

[Alucrid]

one of my favorite purchases was the NES classic controller extension cables so i really hope they bring out some splatoon themed 3.5 mm extension cords that i can drape them across my room

 

[Talamius]

As someone who does not use online chat, or indeed headphones very often, could someone explain to me: Is there a good reason why we couldn't just use, like, these...?

How is Nintendo supposed to sell you an app and an adapter?

As an aside, iPhone 7 or a new flagship Android phone + docked mode Switch is going to be a level of cord and dongle hell that is comical to think about.

 

[molnizzle]

can you show me some link about this?

Not off the top of my head. I just remember rumblings early on about games having access to something like 3.5 GB of the system's memory. That doesn't leave much overhead for everything else. People then made further deductions based on the barebones-ass OS and the fact that many functions were being offloaded to a smartphone. I don't think we have any hard confirmation on any of this, but I could be wrong.

Right, I'm thinking 'so what'? though. Everyone agrees not including voice chat in the OS was a poor choice. People have been saying that before launch even. None of that makes it a good decision. Switch is more than powerful enough for voice chat, it's only Nintendo's poor decisions that led us here. That doesn't really make anything about this better though

I mean, I'm not arguing that it's better. It was shortsighted as fuck, but this is the decision they presumably made. Now we're stuck dealing with it.

 

[marrec]

one of my favorite purchases was the NES classic controller extension cables so i really hope they bring out some splatoon themed 3.5 mm extension cords that i can drape them across my room

I hope they have limited stock of their Splatoon 2 themed 3.5 mm extension cables so that I can scalp them on ebay.

 

[msdstc]

Right, I'm thinking 'so what'? though. Everyone agrees not including voice chat in the OS was a poor choice. People have been saying that before launch even. None of that makes it a good decision. Switch is more than powerful enough for voice chat, it's only Nintendo's poor decisions that led us here. That doesn't really make anything about this better though

That's what he's saying I think, although I haven't read the whole exchange. People were mad that it was implied the switch didn't have the resources to handle voice chat, and people snapped back with "the vita could do it, why would you think the switch couldn't?" It's not that it couldn't, it's that it could possibly be that it can't because how Nintendo allotted the resources.

 

[aBarreras]

Not off the top of my head. I just remember rumblings early on about games having acces to something like 3.5 GB of the system's memory. That doesn't leave much left for everything else. People then made further deductions based on the barebones-ass OS and the fact that many functions were being offloaded to a smartphone. I don't think we have any hard confirmation on any of this, but I could be wrong.

do you realize that xbox 360 had 512mb of RAM and still provided build in voice chat?

so 512 MB FREE for the switch OS when running a game is a fucking lot.

 

[Siege.exe]

Yeah and I lose my notifs.
It's not notifs I don't want, it's shitty spammers I don't want.

Messages -> Options -> Privacy Settings -> Set to Friends Only

Assuming that's the type of spam you're talking about.