Hardware Kimishima confirms voice-chat will definitely require a smartphone

[Xzi]

Is just having a smart phone going to be enough though? or is it going to be a smart phone running X?

Will Windows phone get an app (for all 10 users )? Will it be certain IOS and Android versions only. Plenty of apps already that require X version of IOS or Android, while there are plenty of phones out there that can't update to that version.

It's already a stupid idea, if it turns into not just needing a smart phone, but only certain phones, then it'll be even worse.

I guarantee it'll be an Android-compatible app, all versions. So that covers all the best and least-expensive phones you can get. I doubt hardware requirements will be high either.

I can't be held responsible for the buying choices of Windows phone and Apple users and neither can Nintendo, although I'm sure it'll be iOS compatible too.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

. The 3DS has voice chat. The DS even had voice chat. We're taking steps backwards in innovation when we shouldn't be. How hard is it to make a working voice chat system on the console!? If it's because the switch needed to be as small as possible, at least rig a mic setup into the dock.

Umm i didn't know voice chat was in those systems, what games have it cause i haven't found any.

Also Xbox gold and playstation plus do offer SOMETHING, Free games every month and better discounts on sales as well as cloud saves and exclusive other stuff and online play. Saying it offers nothing is a bit harsh just cause it may not seem like what you would wanted or expected. (To who ever complains about this part)

 

[Armadillo]

Also Xbox gold and playstation plus do offer SOMETHING, Free games every month and better discounts on sales as well as cloud saves and exclusive other stuff and online play. Saying it offers nothing is a bit harsh just cause it may not seem like what you would wanted or expected. (To who ever complains about this part)

Sales that are shit. Even with the discounts plus gives, 9/10 times retail is still cheaper and has been for cheaper for months.

The "free" games are generally awful and have been ever online was paywalled.

And generally p2p online, with the few games that do have dedicated servers, not even being provided by Sony.

Clearly amazing value. If the offers of psn+ are such good value, then it could stand alone, instead of holding online play to ransom.

 

[Xzi]

In defense of the direction Nintendo is taking with this, the smartphone app tie-in provides several benefits. Offloads processing power, allows for a much lower fee, and likely ties in to Nintendo's mobile IPs for achievement sharing. When I say "achievement," I think Nintendo will surprise everybody here too. Every time you accomplish something notable you'll earn points of some sort, and then be able to exchange those for discounts on other games or home screen backgrounds or other rewards. Not only will this stay engaging to Switch players, it will definitely entice Nintendo mobile players into thinking about buying a Switch.

Lastly, I'm still fairly certain you'll be able to plug any 3.5mm headset (even wireless) into Switch and use it for voice chat, you just need the app to join lobbies/invite friends. People whine about the app but it'll probably be the most streamlined way to do these things anyway. 2-3 taps and you're voice chatting. 2-3 taps and you're in a text chat lobby. 2-3 taps and you're looking at your Switch and/or mobile game achievements. You can do it independent of the game you're playing, at the same time or at a different time. This is guaranteed to be a big hit in Japan, and once people in the US get some time with it, they'll embrace it too I think.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Sales that are shit. Even with the discounts plus gives, 9/10 times retail is still cheaper and has been for cheaper for months.

The "free" games are generally awful and have been ever online was paywalled.

And generally p2p online, with the few games that do have dedicated servers, not even being provided by Sony.

Clearly amazing value. If the offers of psn+ are such good value, then it could stand alone, instead of holding online play to ransom.

That is my point. YOU don't like it but it doesn't mean is nothing, is your opinon.

Everyone has different opinions, i'm not saying i disagree with those statements, cause i would never like to have to pay additional fee for online service when i already pay for my internet. But that is what people do when they have something and want it.

 

[thorasgar]

The height of irony will be achieved if the next entry point to a Nintendo device turns out to be the voice chat app on a rooted smartphone.

 

[Xzi]

The height of irony will be achieved if the next entry point to a Nintendo device turns out to be the voice chat app on a rooted smartphone.

Which is why I don't think there will be any real direct connection between the system and the smartphone, it'll all be cloud-based.

 

[Tigran]

Whats ironic as well is people complaining about a smartphone app... then talking about using Discord on your smartphone.

 

[Supster131]

Alright, I'll play devil's advocate.
While a voice chat app does sound useless because things such as Skype and Discord exists, the app will be connected to whatever game lobby/server you are in.
I understand not a lot of people really like using voice chat in random public lobbies (myself included), but it's nice for the people who do.
"But Supster, requiring a phone for that is stupid anyways!"
Sure, but think about it this way. We don't know if the Switch will/would accept wireless headsets. While a non-issue undocked, it is an issue while docked. I'm pretty sure no one would one a long ass cable from their dock all the way to where they are playing. This allows for people to essentially do untethered voice chat to the system. Should wireless headsets work directly to the Switch? Sure, but this is Nintendo we are talking about.

 

[petethepug]

I don't understand Nintendo sometimes...
They wanted to move their service (voice chat service? Forgot what they called it.) To smartphones, but because of that they couldn't take the time to make it compatible with their console.

 

[Manito]

It's weird that the Switch requires a phone app to talk to friends but, I like the idea. Maybe you'll get rewards or points for using it, for example: "Talk to three friends at once and earn 350 platinum points" "Talk with a friend for 1 hour and earn 250 points." I hardly use voice chat but as I said before I like the idea of it being a phone app.

 

[Tigran]

Alright, I'll play devil's advocate.
While a voice chat app does sound useless because things such as Skype and Discord exists, the app will be connected to whatever game lobby/server you are in.
I understand not a lot of people really like using voice chat in random public lobbies (myself included), but it's nice for the people who do.
"But Supster, requiring a phone for that is stupid anyways!"
Sure, but think about it this way. We don't know if the Switch will/would accept wireless headsets. While a non-issue undocked, it is an issue while docked. I'm pretty sure no one would one a long ass cable from their dock all the way to where they are playing. This allows for people to essentially do untethered voice chat to the system. Should wireless headsets work directly to the Switch? Sure, but this is Nintendo we are talking about.

Again.. I'm just baffled by the mentality "I don't want to use a smart phone app! I know! I'll download an app on my phone and use that instead! Brilliant!"

 

[BlackWizzard17]

This would be a good idea since voice chat would drain the switch faster especially when using Bluetooth headphones but since the switch only connects to WiFi on the go than its useless because you won't have anyonline play unless you use a hotspot or find an open WiFi signal. The switch is just a way to make people go outside and connect locally which defeats the purpose of using voice chat anyway.

 

[DarkIrata]

Okay, let me get this strange

People cherry pick things they dont like, compare eggs to avocados just to be in the right?
No, i'm also not a fan of paying to play online, since i work i dont have much time to play and yeah it sucks, but still i pay for netflix even if there is one and then a month where i dont watch anything and still payed for that month. So why should i have a problem paying for 1 year?

Ok now i want to play with friends and talk with them... thats why i have skype, discord and my still favorite teamspeak. If i want talk to strangers, i add them and write them a pm. But Nintendo is a company for families and mostly children. Do i really want to hear hamsters raging because i smashed there lovely Smash Bros Charakter into the Moon? Mhmm not sure~

Also, if you think the Traffic is a problem for the Voice Chat, using your phone, explain to me how it is better to have Voice Chat in the Switch itself for the traffic use? It still has to go through your phone when you are outside? You guys do get this or?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan boy trying to defend my lovely Swtich, but atleast think about your arguments before you have to write them down.. always, PROs and CONs

 

[yuyuyup]

I don't give a crap about this Donald Trump spam, someone please report my off-topic comment so I can get booted from GBATEMP for doing the right thing

 

[Supster131]

Again.. I'm just baffled by the mentality "I don't want to use a smart phone app! I know! I'll download an app on my phone and use that instead! Brilliant!"

It's more like "I already have this other VoIP app installed, so why do I need to download another one?"

 

[Gamer4647]

Spoiler: My view

On Switch’s online service…

So far we have announced that from the fall, Nintendo’s online service will be a paid service, and we have announced that the price range will be between 2,000 and 3,000 yen [$18 to $27] per year for that service. We’ve also announced that friends will be able to play online, and they’ll be able to use a dedicated smartphone application that enables voice chat during those games.

It does seem like it's needed to enable voice chat, but the part where it says "be able" doesn't really say "have to" to me anyway. It could be another way to enable voice chat. Also, nothing here even says that it's friends only... yet.
There are updates to alter things later on, so they could end up changing if it is like this at first.

If it is this and it stays like this though, it certainly would be BS to buy some (probably) £100+ phone to use a feature you should have in the first place.

 

[Arecaidian Fox]

My guess is that it simply comes down to two things. System resources and ease for the player. System resources is an obvious one, but let me explain the second. Imagine for a minute that you're playing with your Switch docked and you only have a wired headset. You'd have to run one heck of a long audio extension cable. True, the Joy-Con Grip could have probably been fitted with an audio jack, but it would have cut down on the battery life. And what happens when you have a game where you don't use the Grip? Putting a jack into one of the Joy-Cons probably would get in the way of handling the unit. So, yeah, in a system that needs to reserve its resources and doesn't have a controller that isn't quite right to put an audio jack into, a smart device app to handle friend/party services makes sense.

 

[SuicideMoon]

Umm i didn't know voice chat was in those systems, what games have it cause i haven't found any.

If I recall correctly, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl had Voice Chat (unusable after Nintendo WFC shutdown) and I know there was a headset that you can buy separately... I had one and it was the most uncomfortable thing to use ever.

 

[Lumstar]

Good for me. Now I don't have to fumble around turning off voice chat.