Nintendo Switch Chat thread

As someone who didn't pay too much attention to the Switch before buying one on a whim, thought I'd share some thoughts.

1. Why in god's name are saves stuck to the console, with no cloud backup?

2. Why are Nintendo Account and Nintendo Network ID not the same thing?

3. Battery life seems pretty short, but understandable I guess.

4. The Wii U dock was a better design, which didn't risk scratching the unit.

jawafour wrote:It appears that the Nintendo Switch app is available to download now on iOS and Android.

Early reports aren't clear on whether Nintendo has actually switched the supporting servers on yet or if they're being hammered by user volume, though.

Edit: I've just downloaded the app from the Apple Store; search for "Nintendo Switch Online".

Edit: When attempting to login, a message is reported indicating that the servers are down for maintenance.

You'd think they'd already have it compatible with Mario Kart 8 and Minecraft, but of course not.

Yoshimi wrote:1. Why in god's name are saves stuck to the console, with no cloud backup?

It's coming in an update. (Should only really be a problem if you want to change console though?)

Yoshimi wrote:2. Why are Nintendo Account and Nintendo Network ID not the same thing?

Nintendo can't do online good. Legacy issues I assume, but you /can/ link them together, and moving forwards you should just need the Nintendo Account.

Yoshimi wrote:3. Battery life seems pretty short, but understandable I guess.

Not having to think much about charging because it lives in the dock helps out a lot here in my experience. Charge has been enough to get me through several 2-3 hour train journeys.

Yoshimi wrote:4. The Wii U dock was a better design, which didn't risk scratching the unit.

...Wii U dock? Anyway, I've had no issues with scratches. I believe the major complaints came from actually defective docks that were bent - that Nintendo will replace for free.

jawafour wrote:

Karl wrote:Literally any solution that doesn't involve a literal strawberry floating mobile phone app is fine by me.

Alas.

My mobile phone is ancient (2G pay-as-you-go) so I'm hoping that I'll be able to use my tablet. But... how many folk are actually going to use their mobile for this and be happy enough with all the cabling? It looks bloody awful and I just can't believe that this will be a decent way of arranging online games. And we will have to pay for it .

I hope that I am proved wrong and the setup works really well... I want to be positive but, right now, I can't see it.

Nobody seems to have mentioned this for you jawa but you can force installing iPhone apps on the iPad by changing the option in the AppStore that's says "iPad only" while browsing/searching for apps. Since developers make their apps for retina screens it scales to fit the screen and there is rarely any pixelation.

I do this a lot as I try to avoid using my smartphone as its too distracting to have in my pocket. The iPad basically emulates the iPhone including the keyboard. On android devices there is no distinction so it will just work anyway.

Yoshimi wrote:As someone who didn't pay too much attention to the Switch before buying one on a whim, thought I'd share some thoughts...

I see that OR has already chipped in with his views and I'd like to share mine, too .

2 > Nintendo Account / Friend codes / NNID / My Nintendo... I can't believe that Nintendo sought to re-approach their online system and ended up with three or four IDs / logons . I like to think I'm pretty on the ball with these things but I find it confusing, so more "casual" users must wonder what is going on with it.

4 > I was apprehensive about the quality of the dock before I got the Switch and, having used it for a while, I find it to be extremely basic in terms of quality. You can tell that Nintendo has set an extremely limited budget for that part of the setup; it feels like it must cost around a fiver to make. It works... but I'm very careful when putting the console in and out of the dock.

Green Gecko wrote:... you can force installing iPhone apps on the iPad by changing the option in the AppStore that's says "iPad only" while browsing/searching for apps...

Thanks for the heads-up, GG! That could be useful as the Final Fantasy Online Eorzea app is for iPhones, so maybe I will give it a go on my iPad using this method. Ta . In terms of Splatoon 2, my next task is to see if I have a headset suitable for the iPad - perhaps the monotone PS4 headset / chat unit that comes with the console could work?

I believe any TRRS ( tip ring ring sleeve) aka "headphone jack but actually with an extra ring that carries the mic signal" will work in the iPad headphone socket and I see no reason why a Bluetooth headset like a clip on or single ear device wouldn't work when paired with the device. They can be had for peanuts and basic wired ones come with most phones, even cheap ones.

Binding of Isaac: Arfterbirth+ is out on September 7th. Just 6 months after the US release, good old Nicalis.

My friend code for switch is SW-7359-5077-0601

So, the app seemed to work for me, I can only access a bit that says invitations, which when I do it says no invitations have been sent or received, for obvious reasons and the other thing there is Splatnet 2, which shows some info. I guess it'll have more stuff when Splatoon 2 is out?

I don't know if I'm being silly here... but could I play, say, Splatoon 2 online with other GRcadians just through the console itself? I don't *have* to use the app to do this, do I? The app just facilitates chatting and a few other features?

Godzilla wrote:My friend code for switch is SW-7359-5077-0601

Sent a request off

Apparently the app won't work even if you pull down the notification bar

Everyone, download Discord instead.

Super Dragon 64 wrote:Apparently the app won't work even if you pull down the notification bar

Everyone, download Discord instead.

What a load of shite.

Do as Dragon days, grab Discord.

I also will be in Discord or Mumble when I play Splatoon 2, none of this app nonsense -- sounds shite.

Were people seriously considering using this app for voice chat when there's Discord? The 27-page GAF thread of seethe is strawberry floating hilarious.

The Splatnet stat tracking and map rotation stuff sounds really cool though.

I may have to - finally - check out what I need to do to get Discord running on my iPad. Really unimpressed with what I'm reading about the Switch Online app; I don't want to be *too* harsh as it does have some cool features and we haven't actually used it yet, but it does sound very ropey.

jawafour wrote:I may have to - finally - check out what I need to do to get Discord running on my iPad. Really unimpressed with what I'm reading about the Switch Online app; I don't want to be *too* harsh as it does have some cool features and we haven't actually used it yet, but it does sound very ropey.

You literally just download it and make an account. There's a desktop app and a web version as well.

Had Discord superseded Mumble then? Or is it proprietary/closed-source (in which case it can't).

Green Gecko wrote:Had Discord superseded Mumble then? Or is it proprietary/closed-source (in which case it can't).

Discord at least has it's own official mobile apps and stuff.

jawafour wrote:I may have to - finally - check out what I need to do to get Discord running on my iPad. Really unimpressed with what I'm reading about the Switch Online app; I don't want to be *too* harsh as it does have some cool features and we haven't actually used it yet, but it does sound very ropey.

Go to app store > type discord > install.

Done.