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Nintendo Website Indicates Built in Switch Friends List (+other online features)
- Thread starter Skittzo0413
- Start date
But they could give us all the info now, maybe except for the price since the paid service is a few months away.
A bit over a month 'till the launch (which will have online services as a free trial) and we still don't clearly know how it's gonna work.
And it's not like they're just going to figure it out until then, these are things that have been planned for a long time as the OS needs to be built to accommodate the features (or lack them).
They should absolutely make it perfectly clear now because there's really nothing to lose by doing so.
Heaven forbid we listen to what the president of Nintendo of America says about the console his company is releasing in less than 2 months.
Nintendo being completely vague about this kind of stuff for years is why this is happening.
Yeah we're far from the Xbox One reveal I think. At least we're just discussing how voice chat will work, not how the fuck will I buy my games lol.
I don't think Nintendo does either.
Actually their messaging about the app has been the same since the website launched: free app with limited features, launching in the summer.
That's the one thing that at least has been consistently clear in all this mess.
But they do, and the overall plan will not change significantly over the next days, which is why it's so frustrating they're not giving us all the info.
Skittzo0413
Member
Edit: Sorry, I could have sworn I read Reggie refer to it as a paid app but now I can't find that anywhere. Nevermind then!
The president of Nintendo of America is not an legitimate source?
Nydius
Member
I see the mental gymnastics are now spreading into their own individual threads.
No, that image doesn't clear anything up. It just says you can, with a Nintendo Account, register and manage friends.
It does not say HOW you will register and manage friends, just that you CAN.
It is amazing how many people who normally praise anything and everything Reggie has to say are now bending over backwards to discredit him or say he somehow misspoke.
No, that image doesn't clear anything up. It just says you can, with a Nintendo Account, register and manage friends.
It does not say HOW you will register and manage friends, just that you CAN.
It is amazing how many people who normally praise anything and everything Reggie has to say are now bending over backwards to discredit him or say he somehow misspoke.
The app will be free. To take advantage of it you will need to pay for the online services.
But that doesn't say it's a paid app...
The online service is not paid. Some features of the online service are paid and some are free.
Edit: Sorry didn't see your edit.
LordOcidax
Member
Not even close.
PadWarrior
Member
Anyone try tweeting Nintendo?
I think they were just trying to make the app look cool "look you can voice chat without a headset!" but they made it the focus and didn't tell us directly about any alternatives. For instance PlayStation has a very similar app, though I don't think you can use it for voice chat. I use it to message people on my PS4 friend list all the time but Sony never put it under the spotlight.
Xbox has the same thing, I use it alot when i'm not by my Xbox one
Another thing about the UI. There are sections on the left of what we see in this image. I would assume on the right as well. I've been trying to find it but there was a clip of this during the reveal presentation period that showed content on the left. It was during one of the demostrations and I can't remember if it was Treehouse or during the Japan events. I was watching so much of it at the time. So just because we don't see certain features in the UI images we've seen doesn't mean they aren't there. Certain buttons could pull them forward in the UI.
I think the OP has some merit. The parental controls mentions app and the online lobby and voice chat mentions an app. Nothing else does. If we just take from the information we have it would be safe to assume matchmaking and friends list managing does not require the app, just the online service.
I thought there was no browser on the Switch? (Can't believe this might actually be true)
Gonna need to see the receipts for that.
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
Imagine if you went two weeks in the past and told GAF that an in-console Friends list would be something that people seriously question the existence of.
Jonneh3003
Banned
Nothing wrong with correcting misconceptions. Nintendo haven't shown any intention of communicating what the Switch can do without the app, if we know then why not share?
RobFox64tm
Member
So, at the very least, does this mean there is nothing to stop Nintendo, at least from a hardware level, from shifting to the console from the app if people aren't biting? Sounds like everything is there for Nintendo to give us on-board features, so if you don't like it as it is, don't give Nintendo the money, and they could change it down the line. I'm not a big online gamer and wasn't planning on paying for the service anyway, but I urge those who are to hold off until it becomes more worth your dollar. It's the only way they'll learn.
Skittzo0413
Member
Yeah I couldn't find the quote I was thinking of. I think it was just the title of that thread about voice chat being locked behind a "paid app". If he never said that then I apologize.
If you look at some of the pics from the event there are three circles in the upper left corner with Mario, Link and a Mii. Could that possibly be a friends list or something. Showing for example, one is playing Mario, one is playing Zelda, and the third is online?
Lol this could definitely be the case.
I've done it once, the silence is expected.
PadWarrior
Member
I've tried twice today. Hopefully something comes of it.
Even copied this thread to them.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
If we ignore everything that Reggie and others have said.
Skittzo0413
Member
It's quite frustrating to me when Reggie repeats the same confusing line about matchmaking with friends, and people (understandably) take that to mean any friends functionality is locked behind this app, while Nintendo's website all along has been pretty clear about a friends list, at the very least, being separate from the app.
It's less damage control and more utter shock at how bad their communication and ensuing fallout is, when it's really been spelled out here all along.
That's possible, but it's likely that those are user accounts and various avatars from those accounts. We don't know for sure yet though.
BRocknRolla
Member
Some level of it has to be on the system. It has to.
They need to account for people without smart devices, and though those numbers may be small, there has to be some kind of app on the device for that. I'm not saying the app will have every feature, or that you won't need to pay to use it, but there will be something on the system.
They need to account for people without smart devices, and though those numbers may be small, there has to be some kind of app on the device for that. I'm not saying the app will have every feature, or that you won't need to pay to use it, but there will be something on the system.
Jonneh3003
Banned
Well let's look at the evidence we have:
With a paid subscription you get access to the "Online Lobby and Voice Chat app" and the only other app mentioned is the "Parental controls app" which is free. You can manage friends without the app. So what is the online lobby and voice chat app? Sounds like something similar to what PlayStation and Xbox offer:
So is it the only way to use voice chat online? Probably not. The Japanese translation for the image below is "Headphone and Mic-Jack - You can connect headphones, a microphone or headphones with integrated microphone"
Whereas we just got this in English
By the sounds of it the app is not mandatory for voice chat and most likely isn't for "online lobby" either, whatever that actually is.
Also it's not damage control when one is attempting to offer clarification based on what the official documentation is actually saying and showing. If the official page takes the steps to be very clear as to what is app based and then doesn't use the word again we shouldn't be so quick to write it off just because it doesn't fit the narrative some want to push. Based on what some have been saying in the other threads I've come to the conclusion some never even bothered looking at the website or this image before and were going off what others were saying. We all know many people don't bother looking beyond thread titles on gaf and some have made opening post to prove just that.
Nintendo needs to be more clear though and I expect we'll get a OS and UI focused Direct before the system launches. We did for the Wii U I believe. However the constant negativity is just shouting and shrieking at clouds at this point. We need more information but the information we do have shouldn't be ignored saved for one part. If the official site is showing the wrong information in the end then so be it. We'll deal with that in the end and Nintendo should catch hell if it is indeed wrong.
Nintendo needs to be more clear though and I expect we'll get a OS and UI focused Direct before the system launches. We did for the Wii U I believe. However the constant negativity is just shouting and shrieking at clouds at this point. We need more information but the information we do have shouldn't be ignored saved for one part. If the official site is showing the wrong information in the end then so be it. We'll deal with that in the end and Nintendo should catch hell if it is indeed wrong.
Okami Haundo
Member
I don't disagree with you, as I'd love to know those details right now out of pure curiosity. I'm also not saying that I don't think they have these details sorted out, as I'm sure they do. But what tangible benefit do they have in talking about this stuff today vs. next week? Will a potential customer boycott the entire brand out of spite?
My question isn't whether they have anything to lose, but rather what they have to gain? I would be on the opposite side of the fence if you could buy a Switch right now, but you can't... I know we can be a fickle bunch on Gaf, but how likely do you think it is for people to cancel pre-orders and purchase decisions based on not know this information right this second?
Ok, this is what the website page actually says: no interpretations, presenting it as unbiased as possible. If anyone has something else, like interviews and what not, feel free to post them; they're going to be added to this post.
This is the brief description at the start of the page
This is how the App is described
Online lobby and voice chat
This is the graph in the OP, showing the differencies between non subscribers and subscribers
This is the brief description at the start of the page
This is how the App is described
Online lobby and voice chat
This is the graph in the OP, showing the differencies between non subscribers and subscribers
Skittzo0413
Member
Thank you, this expresses my feeling when I saw this on the website quite well.
I have a feeling all this I'd due to ppl not used to using non Nintendo consoles, platforms.
All this can be done on the Psn or xbl websites. Like some have already mentioned.
I mean is it crazy to think Nintendo would step that far back? Sad part is I can't even blame ppl for thinking this.
Sword Of Doom
Member
Well let's look at the evidence we have:
With a paid subscription you get access to the "Online Lobby and Voice Chat app" and the only other app mentioned is the "Parental controls app" which is free. You can manage friends without the app. So what is the online lobby and voice chat app? Sounds like something similar to what PlayStation and Xbox offer:
So is it the only way to use voice chat online? Probably not. The Japanese translation for the image below is "Headphone and Mic-Jack - You can connect headphones, a microphone or headphones with integrated microphone"
Whereas we just got this in English
By the sounds of it the app is not mandatory for voice chat and most likely isn't for "online lobby" either, whatever that actually is.
If what you're saying is true, you would think Nintendo would try to control the messaging and clarify instead of letting everyone assume that voice chat is through the phone app only.
Skittzo0413
Member
Thanks, I've added this post to the OP.
RobotVM
Member
They could be doing that because they want to you to sign up for the app and pay them.
Jonneh3003
Banned
Yes, you would think this.
I honestly have no idea why they haven't released an official statement but I'm pretty confident my above post confirms you don't need the app.
UncleSporky
Member
For you OP:
Not-fully-clarified information seems to indicate something bad about Switch: "fuck them for being so backwards, what year is this, etc."
Not-fully-clarified information seems to indicate something good about Switch: "oh we should be careful not to jump to conclusions"
JetSetRadio
Banned
They should really consider another reveal event, a good one this time.
Jonneh3003
Banned
For you OP:
OP is just pointing out something from the site, there's nothing baseless about this.
Think about people who are waiting on more online details before they pre-order. The sooner someone finds those details, the sooner they may pre-order, which will help them accurately track consumer demand.
Detailing everything sooner may also be beneficial in evaluating how consumers respond to all the features and how they're implemented, allowing them to make changes, if needed, before the console launches or, in the case of bigger changes, start working on them ASAP so they can get to the "hands" of the consumers pretty quick.
ThanksVision
Member
I understand this argument, but I also feel that voice chat exclusive to phone is pretty much the opposite of a selling point, as seen by the reactions in this thread and others. Us thinking that you can only voice chat using your phone actively negates online subscriptions. That leads me to believe that their silence indicates that our worst fears are true.
It could also be detrimental as people may cancel their preorders if the service is not what they expected. I'm one of those pre-orders that are on the fence.
RobotVM
Member
Honestly it probably is true, but my guess is for party chat. Like I said early they probably had DeNA put this together for them and DeNA is a mobile development company. Nintendo themselves have never put together something like this before and it was probably easier to source this out.