The Switch presentation answered so many questions but raised a couple of new ones. How will the online service look, feel and act once it releases?
Now this is all speculation but thanks to some trigger words by company President Tatsumi Kimishima during the presentation I guess we can try to figure out how it works and why it could be incredibly briliant!
Let’s start with a quote straight from Tatsumi Kimishima.
“With Nintendo Switch, you will of course be able to enjoy online multiplayer gaming. And when you use a smart device application that will connect to Nintendo Switch, you will be able to invite friends to play online, set play appointments and chat with friends while enjoying online matches in compatible games. All from your smart device.”
Now there are 2 ways of interpretation.
The first possibility and most credible one is that Nintendo will release a companion app to the switch just like the Playstation app from Sony. Adding friends from your phone, looking at active parties etc.
The second possibility I deduced from this quote is that you will be able/forced to use the app itself to create and participate in the chat parties. Straight from your smartphone. So communication will go through your phone or tablet itself and NOT through the Switch console. Why do I believe that? Because he starts saying we will enjoy the multiplayer with the Switch and then continues that WHEN we connect to our smart device THEN we will be able to chat in parties etc. He also adds that the service will be free at first but will require payment starting in the Fall of 2017.
Now why could this be brilliant and still a very “Nintendo” decision?
Who owns smartphones? Adults and adolescents do! I’m not including parents giving their 8 year olds smart devices because that’s not a responsible thing to do… Only when you acompany them. But we are drifting towards another discussion with this so what I really mean is that the online service’s party chat might be exclusive to the smart device application. In ani deal situation kids won’t access to it without a supervisor. This is briliant because this makes the console tailored for adults and kids. This could mean a true Nintendo gaming device for all ages! Without compromising on a great fully fledged online platform.
How could this work at home?
At home you can just use the Switch in TV mode and put your phone next to you or use a headset plugged into your phone. Maybe we can speak through the phone’s external microphone or even use headphones that have a mic built in. Nothing too fancy, but still awesome.
How could this work on the go?
Now this is the real magic. If you thether your smartphone to create a mobile Wifi hotspot and connect your Switch to it you might be able to play an online match of Mario Kart from under a tree in the sunny park. (Or if you find some good free Wifi outside.)In your pocket you’ll have your phone and using headphones you will be able to use the online service app to chat with your racing bros! Depending on how strong your connection is this might be a real game changer.
And with the upcoming popularity of bluetooth headphones you could be completely wireless because the headphones would connect to your phone’s bluetooth and not to the Switch itself. And since most bluetooth headphones are made to connect to all phones you could just pick any headphone you want, not limiting you to a fictional exclusive Nintendo headphone.
So what do you think? Am I going overboard with this speculation? Or could this be the very thing that makes Nintendo’s Online Service a real game changer for online connectivity?
