I'd like to make an announcement, if I may. It will affect how I respond in regards to Nintendo Switch and other modern Nintendo Services.
First of all, I'd like to thank you all for voting.
As of this writing, the poll has reached 50 voters, with 60% agreeing with me on the fact that the Primary Console restrictions should be removed by Nintendo. It's nice to know that there are a lot of people who recognize this as a problem, and are willing to voice it in hopes that someone higher up will listen and make a difference. Please don't stop voting!
Now, about the Nintendo Switch. I had said before
in a blog post last month about how I was going to cut off all Nintendo services. This month, I've done some tests to the Switch, and found that I was able to play my friend's games on his primary console, where my account - which
does have a Nintendo Account attached - was also present. It appears that Nintendo has fixed one of the issues I was complaining about before:
What I figured out was that since my Switch was my primary console, anyone WITHOUT a Nintendo Account could access my games, but not my friend's. Also, users registered WITHOUT an account on his could play his games, but not mine. Thus:
My Switch (Primary for my account) | Friend's Switch (Primary for his account)
My account can play my games, but not his | My account can play my games, but not his
His account can play his games, but not mine | His account can play his games, but not mine
Other users WITH NO ACCOUNT can play my games, but not his | Other users WITH NO ACCOUNT can play his games, but not mine
As you can see, there are more ways to NOT be able to play together than there are, without having to shell out more money on separate copies of each game. THIS is what I expected, based on my Wii U experience:
My Switch (Primary for my account) | Friend's Switch (Primary for his account)
My account can play my games and his | My account can play my games, but not his
His account can play his games, but not mine | His games can play his games and mine
I also wondered if it could be the reverse, but nope! It doesn't work, both ways!
Well, it seems that Nintendo, in one of the updates (don't ask me which one, because I don't know), has allowed it where users with Nintendo accounts are treated like users with no accounts on Primary Switches for other accounts. Thus:
My Switch (Primary for my account) | Friend's Switch (Primary for his account)
My account can play my games, but not his| My account can play my games and his
His account can play his games and mine | His games can play his games, but not mine
So, in order that my friend and I can play each other's games, his account is Primary on my console, and my account's Primary console is his console. This way, we can still play our own games on our consoles, but also have access to the other's library, as well.
Also, I tested Draxzelex's theory:
I reviewed what you said in the first post and you stated lies. More than one console can play the same game at the same time. The restriction is they cannot both be online which makes sense because again, you are duplicating a copy of the game.
What he is referring to is that
two Switches can not run games from the same account when online at the same time. To run two games at once, the Switch running a game needs to go offline before another game can be launched on the other Switch with the same account. This way, you can have more than one Switch playing the same, or even different games, all at the same time with the same account.
With these factors in mind, I have decided to change my mind on some things I've stated previously in boycotting Nintendo.
- I have decided that I will invest in a select few games and accessories. I will prefer buying the game physical to overcome these restrictions, if available in Game Card format. I will also only buy accessories that I think are necessary, i.e. if a game needs a specific peripheral to work properly, or accessories to protect the Switches and keep them clean.
- I still will refrain from participating in Nintendo events, as I still do not approve of the current management.
- I may use Nintendo smartphone apps, but only if I can use them without having to buy anything. I will not give in to buying in-app purchases if I can play most of their smartphone games for free. I will not use the Nintendo Switch Online app, as I have no plans to ever buy the service.
- I probably will be even less active in My Nintendo, perhaps only coming in once a yearly quarter (three months).
- I still refuse to pay for Nintendo services, as they are only for monetary purposes and do not have very many benefits for me, personally.
- I'll probably start buying 3DS and Wii U stuff again, even digitally, as long as Nintendo continues to maintain the platforms.
While I still am not pleased with the Primary Console bulls- Umm... well, you know,
insanity, I may be more active in GBAtemp articles relating to Nintendo, as after all, I
still am a Nintendo fan. I hope that others will practice boycotting what they think is wrong, in order for Nintendo to make the changes needed to improve the company, but I am not going to expect too much from this community, as I've already been vocal about it and have only gotten back comments that negate my efforts to inspire others to do so. I don't want to be known as
GBAtemp's "Official" Pain-in-the-Neck Nintendo Hater! I also don't want to get banned, so I'll do what I can to express myself more appropriately.
Thank you all for reading this! God bless you, and as always,
ROCK ON!