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SplatoonJP twitter - details about voice chat and matchmaking with friends on Switch

『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the Switch's "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media as well as make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat's functionality is also linked to the game itself. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

/rushjob

Hopefully the language here is a little easier to follow.
 
That's totally fine when it was free but Nintendo wants people to pay for this shit.
AHH... don't get me wrong Oregano. Not a fan of the pay to play online console model and not exactly defending this Nintendo chat implementation, although i' ll refrain from comment until i got more details.

And yes, we should be able to do this in the Switch without relying on an extra device.

My first comment was relative to people that claimed that there was no place for voice chat in Splatoon at all and how when we suggested ways in that it could be managed in we got dismissed.

It's just great to see when, with time, reasonable discurse gets the last "voice". XD

Also, if you have the Switch docked up, where does the headset plug into? Do any of the controllers have a jack for it? This is what makes me think this is app only.

The official site claims that Switch defaults to 4.1 Bluetooth when docked. Maybe they can accomodate wireless headset.

The app could be useful when using the Switch in portable mode, maybe? Too few details.
 
We still don't know this. The features are there on the switch to have normal voice chat - Mic headphone jack and blue tooth.

Again, this diagram is just showing how the smartphone app will work, no where does it state in the translation it is the only way.
Agreed, but it's safer to assume this is the case. Nintendo could've cleared this up a couple of weeks ago, but they didn't.

Also, if you have the Switch docked up, where does the headset plug into? Do any of the controllers have a jack for it? This is what makes me think this is app only.

It's definitely something only Nintendo would be stupid enough to do, so I think it's safe to assume this is the case.
 

Garou

Member
The Tweet says "に対応する", which translates to "supports". This does not necessarily mean must, but rather can.
 

El Topo

Member
I'm sure this will all be cleared up once we get a Direct that actually explains the system. I find it hard to believe the app is required for voice chat.

Don't buy one then, stop wasting your time arguing on forums unless you're going to make a big enough contribution to get Nintendo to take your advice.

"Please don't criticize or mock Nintendo publicly."

Edit:
In all fairness, we've had a lot of threads that were full of "lol Nintendo" posts (regarding voice chat). It's kind of understandable to be annoyed by them.
 

NotLiquid

Member
『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media and make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat is also linked to the game. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

The first tweet is kind of interesting, especially if the app allows you to connect to lobbies effortlessly through social media. You could easily shoot a tweet and have people jump into a game. I like the sound of that.

The second tweet mentioning private match seems to imply this is a supplement to the original game's usage of it. Or at least, I'd like to hope that's the case.

It's pretty cool stuff but it's a shame it's not OS level.
 
Agreed, but it's safer to assume this is the case. Nintendo could've cleared this up a couple of weeks ago, but they didn't.

Also, if you have the Switch docked up, where does the headset plug into? Do any of the controllers have a jack for it? This is what makes me think this is app only.

It's definitely something only Nintendo would be stupid enough to do, so I think it's safe to assume this is the case.

You can plug your headset into the Switch
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the Switch's "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media and make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat's functionality is also linked to the game itself. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

/rushjob

Hopefully the language here is a little easier to follow.

Thanks, added to the OP.
 
Even at Nintendo they don't know yet. The PR head of Nintendo Germany said she knows as much as we know.

Wow. That is insane. What an out of touch company.

I haven't been part of the Nintendo bash force, but damn it's just ridiculous that we're this close to launch with no information yet.
 
Seems to be inspired a lot by the Japanese mobile market with apps like LINE being so popular and all.

But it seems to be awfully impractical in reality. You need a lot of tentacles to hold both your phone and the Switch while playing.

Good thing you're a squid now.

『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the Switch's "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media and make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat's functionality is also linked to the game itself. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

/rushjob

Hopefully the language here is a little easier to follow.

Okay, so this does not in any way say this is the only way to do voice chat or matchmaking with friends.

It doesn't say that it's not the only way either though. Oh Nintendo Direct, where art thou?
 
The Tweet says "に対応する", which translates to "supports". This does not necessarily mean must, but rather can.
This is why we need the full details from Nintendos mouth. Idk why Nintendo feels the need to wait so close to launch to tell us.
 
I have to see this in action, this has left me more confused

Same here. That's why I've decidedly not to jump to conclusions about it until they explicitly demonstrate it being used. I kind of see what they're aiming at, but it sounds so obtuse and gangly that they should really put out some sort actual use for it.

Even then, I personally don't care, as I rarely would ever use voice chat or matchmaking at all, but it'd be nice to see the goods before we set fire to it.
 
Agreed, but it's safer to assume this is the case. Nintendo could've cleared this up a couple of weeks ago, but they didn't.

Also, if you have the Switch docked up, where does the headset plug into? Do any of the controllers have a jack for it? This is what makes me think this is app only.

It's definitely something only Nintendo would be stupid enough to do, so I think it's safe to assume this is the case.

Yeah for sure, Nintendo should have cleared this up, although they probably have a set timetable for revealing stuff and just sitting on it until it is time to reveal their online plans.

The fact there is no headphone jack in the joy cons suggest to me why they have opted for this app, but i still think that it will be an alternative method i.e bluetooth headsets. But i could understand why Nintendo may want to promote their online offerings and i can see advantages (and disadvantages) using the app. Have to wait and see i guess.
 

TunaLover

Member
You are laughing - but i think thats a big reason why Nintendo is doing it. A player needs to have access to a Smartphone to be able to voice chat - which likely isnt the case for children. And if they use it - the parents will always know if they are using Voicechat and can likely track when it was used during the Parental control app.

Im still not sure that you NEED the app for voice chat though - so in that regard the Splatoon tweets dont provide too much new. Just like ARMS doesnt only offer motion controls even though Nintendo focused on showcasing them.

Will have to wait for that February Direct.


99% of 2-9 years olds own Smartphone with internet access ? Thats not true at all lol.
But you have access to the system through Parental Control app, you always can restrict voice chat with your smart phone, no need to have a separate app for that, having a second device wall kinda defeat the porpouse of parental control.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
The Tweet says "に対応する", which translates to "supports". This does not necessarily mean must, but rather can.

That's fair, but honestly the only thing that Nintendo has communicated about in relation with voice chat and matchmaking with friends is the app. There isn't one single mention of these features on the Switch while there are a lot of mentions of the app.
 
LOL, pretty much.

I understand why they want to do this, but it doesn't mean it's the most practical solution.

Honestly, if the app is purely supplemental and not required and it links easily to things like Facebook and your Google contacts... That's actually a very cool app that I'd be very interested in using.
 

NotLiquid

Member
We know that it has a mic jack.

We don't know that you can use that mic jack for voice chat.

For all we know, that's gonna be used for another Japan-only Karaoke app.

Pretty sure it's going to be up to the developer how to utilize it.

Since Splatoon is Nintendo and they're likely going to want to incentivize the app, Splatoon 2 with game-level voice chat seems like wishful thinking to me unfortunately.
 

Reki

Member
I can't decide if this is better or worse than the "voice chat" of the original Splatoon with the dpad.
 
So going off all this. You could just use a pro controller (while docked) and plug your headset/headphones into the controller and chat and hear game audio that way then?

At least for docked mode that's okay I guess
 

oti

Banned
『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the Switch's "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media and make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat's functionality is also linked to the game itself. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

/rushjob

Hopefully the language here is a little easier to follow.
Would be pretty neat if one could just share a link on twitter and the lobby would fill immediately

How the hell am I supposed to hear game audio this way?
You've never played a game while using Discord on your phone? I've done that a couple of times. Worked fine with the Sony thingy or just one piece in-ear.

It's a cool option. But that's what it should be. An option.
 

Rezbit

Member
I'm flip flopping between getting a switch at launch and honestly this is kinda pushing me away. If I'm playing portable and online I don't want to have to use two devices, how cumbersome :/
 
We know that it has a mic jack.

We don't know that you can use that mic jack for voice chat.

For all we know, that's gonna be used for another Japan-only Karaoke app.

He asked if the Switch is docked where does the headset plug into. I was only commenting on that. Idk if you need to voice chat through the phone or if it can also be done through the Switch.
 

cw_sasuke

If all DLC came tied to $13 figurines, I'd consider all DLC to be free
But you have access to the system through Parental Control app, you always can restrict voice chat with your smart phone, no need to have a separate app for that, having a second device wall kinda defeat the porpouse of parental control.

True.

They def. have some explaining to do.

Its a hassle...but i dont know if out of touch is the wrong expression to use - since thats what many people already are doing via Discord on phones for many online games.

Will have to see how it is executed and how much they are charging for it.
 
The Tweet says "に対応する", which translates to "supports". This does not necessarily mean must, but rather can.

I wasn't sure if it implied that there were other means of voice chat, match making functions etc or not.
 

Mantrox

Member
Don't buy one then, stop wasting your time arguing on forums unless you're going to make a big enough contribution to get Nintendo to take your advice.

I'm sorry but, even if performance was the case, wouldn't you prefer to sacrifice it to not have to mess with your phone while you have a switch in your hands?
I'm still baffled by the mistery about the in-game audio, as well.

How could this be beneficial in any way?

The other reason you mentioned could be easily implemented with parent controls.

Edit: I carry my phone all the time with me, but even two factor authentication bothers me when im acessing email.
Im waiting on Nintendo to show me the way they are using this, that makes me want to take my phone out of my pocket.
 

tkscz

Member
『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the Switch's "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media and make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat's functionality is also linked to the game itself. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

/rushjob

Hopefully the language here is a little easier to follow.

Put this in the OP instead of whats there. This is a MUCH better translation. Still just going to use Steam though.
 
So going off all this. You could just use a pro controller (while docked) and plug your headset/headphones into the controller and chat and hear game audio that way then?

At least for docked mode that's okay I guess

No jack on the controller mang

No one knows how you'll be able to hear game audio if the thing is docked.
 
Maybe I'm in the minority, but as soon as I heard about the online paywall I figured my Switch would be a single player machine anyway. Every time I've paid for more than one multiplayer subscription it feels like wasting money, as inevitably one console becomes your go-to system.

This continues to sound odd, but maybe the talk of social media integration might mean something and add some value?
 

Rodin

Member
I want that squid phone.
Yup.

Okay, so this does not in any way say this is the only way to do voice chat or matchmaking with friends.

It doesn't say that it's not the only way either though. Oh Nintendo Direct, where art thou?
When i read that the Switch supports audio from mics and headsets, i read that as the app is something that you need to use at first if you want voice chat, while they implement these features in the OS itself. The console also has bluetooth 4.1.

If vern is right there are 800MB of RAM reserved to the OS, so even if voice chat stuff ends up taking 80MB (which is about what Skype uses on W10... and it would be very weird if Nintendo's service uses the same amount, but let's go with the worst case scenario), there would still be 720MB for other stuff. The OS looks pretty basic, no way they need all that RAM just for pics and eShop.

After these functionalities are implemented in the OS, you can choose if you want to use the app on the smartphone or the app on the Switch itself, which is good, because for example sending messages will still be smoother via app, especially if you're playing docked. I think it will take some time to have these features properly implemented though. Just my two cents.
 

Alpha_eX

Member
Wow

Might as well just ban everyone who doesn't agree with you then huh

I was exploring possible reasons for the app, rather than slamming it.

I agree, it's a bad idea and poor UX, the imagery is confusing (as said in my initial post) so rather than joining in with the "It sucks I don't want it, preorder cancelled" type posts, looking for reason.

It's not a great idea, but it can't be dismissed that it was for performance or user safety.
 
I know they fear weirdos and pediphiles talking to the children more than anything. It had always been my belief, it is why they hate online.

That being said... Common now! Are you telling me once we add friends via FB, Twitter, etc where it is less anonymous than adding someone via friend code, we still can not chat if we are not on the same team? Let alone the same game? Hopefully this is a translation error.

WTH, that is ridiculous. Just do what you should have done all along. Get a discord or Skype app on this thing ASAP.


Switch is an impressive piece of tech, but you have found more ways to screw up this launch and system. You truly are out of touch. Common sense would seem to indicate that the company always knows better than the consumer, I'm not so sure in this case.

Get a English Direct out there ASAP, and deliver all news good, bad, or otherwise. Tell us about UI, Virtual console, online services, and of you could give us a little more info on launch window and third party games that would be he at also.
 

Geg

Member
『スプラトゥーン2』は、Nintendo Switchのスマートフォン向け「オンラインロビー&ボイスチャット」アプリに対応する。
このアプリはゲームと連動しており、フレンドやSNSで招待した仲間と待ち合わせて、そのままゲームでマッチングし、ボイスチャットもできる仕組みだ。

Splatoon 2 works in conjunction with the Switch's "online lobby and voice chat" app. The app, working in conjunction with the game, allows players to add people in their friends' list or from social media and make use of voice chat and matching features.

ボイスチャットもゲームと連動している。 例えば、プライベートマッチでは、チーム分けする前は待ち合わせた仲間全員と会話ができるが、チーム分け後は同じチーム内だけの会話に切り替わる。 なお、見知らぬ誰かと会話することはできない。

The voice chat's functionality is also linked to the game itself. For example, when starting a private match, everyone is involved in the same chat but as soon as you are split into teams you're separated into your team's private chat. You cannot chat with anyone that you do not know.

/rushjob

Hopefully the language here is a little easier to follow.

Okay thanks, I was going to do my own translation earlier but didn't have time, but I endorse this one.

There's nothing that says this is the only way to start games with friends, but the problem is lots of people are willing to believe Nintendo would do that. They need to be more clear about everything, though I guess this is a good first step.
 
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