Topic: Online Features Announced

https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/

Promising so far, but I have some reservations.

I like their plans to build a cumulative Virtual Console library distributed like Netflix. Online play, too? Awesome.

Cloud saves, ****ing finally.

It seems they're still going through with the app. Urgh. I just hope it's optional and voice chat can still be done via the console itself. There's no excuse when even the DS of all systems could do voice chat. I don't mind the existence of the app itself, but it shouldn't be the only option.

Special offers for subscribers? Promising again, but we'll need to see what that is as well.

Not all games will require the subscription for online play, but all first-party games will. At least there's that.

The service is off to a promising start, but from here on we'll need good online quality with no lag, no disconnects, and etc for all the compatible games.

I am curious how they add online features to some NES games especially The Legend of Zelda

So what happens to these NES games you have when they one day pull the plug on Switch online or when your subscription expires?

They can't exactly prevent all lag. Your connection affects this too.

PS4 still gets lag and disconnects so don't hold your breath.

@Don I assume they go the same place Netflix movies go when you stop subscribing

I’m so excited we are finally getting cloud saves. Interested to see what online features they add to the NES games.

@TheLZdragon True, I guess I mean reduce it as much as possible.

@ValhallaOutcast Nintendo said a few things about the online features of the games. This sheds light on the fact that everyone was wondering, how the hell they are adding online to LoZ lol.

"Depending on the game, players can engage in online competitive or co-op multiplayer, or take turns controlling the action,"

"Friends can even watch each other play single-player games online, and “pass the controller” at any time. Every classic NES game will support voice chat via the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app. It will also be possible to play these games offline."

@EvilLucario The DS was horrible at voice chat. Would have gotten better quality with String and tin cans. But its App only.

@Steven_the_2nd how pass the controls , never thought of that but thats pretty cool , someone can help me in those two blue darknut rooms in Level 8

Eh, what kind of Apps for Switch ?
Youtube ?
Google ?

How will they add online to Zelda, anyway?

Edit: oh so it'll be like private streaming sessions with a friend then

Hoping the NES game library will be downloadable, not streamed. I love PS4, but I’ll never subscribe to PS Now while it is limited to streaming only. I have little interest in the current NES offerings, mostly hoping for SNES games or later. Honestly, I don’t trust nintendo to put out N64 titles onto switch until they either kill off the 3DS or sales really start dipping on Switch.

Just glad the price is super cheap. That was all I cared about.

@Whalehome since it says play them anywhere I assume that means dowloaded for offline play

@Yorumi why do you say it can be transfered between systems? cant you currently do that if you have both switches on you?

The low price is literally the only saving grace of this in my eyes. The cloud saving is nice, but I find that it irks me to have to pay just to play games that I already bought and played online previously.

Like I’m not going to act like I’m super conservative with my money, and don’t waste it on stupid stuff all the time, but I feel strange paying for this possibly in the future. Maybe because it was previously free and I expect more.

They did say they were going to reveal more in the future which is interesting. Nintendo if you can improve Splatoon 2’s online and features I’ll buy your online in a heartbeat just to support that.

I’ll finally get to measure my Mario skills against the world. I’ve been the best 2d Mario platformer in my family fo 20 some years. My kids who could whomp me in any FPS can’t touch these skills on an NES!

The prospect of online co-op is probably the most interesting part for me, as I've always enjoyed co-op games. In fact, it has typically been a deciding factor in games for me, as I'm far more interested in PvE than PvP. The pass the controller is a nice add on too. Instead of rage quitting over a difficult part in a game, now you can rage pass the controller to someone to help you past the difficult part.

I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed for games beyond the NES, but 20 games at launch sounds nice. I've probably played most of them, but I always end up replaying a lot of them. I'm still hoping that Nintendo will invite others into their classic games selection, as I would love to play all of the Streets of Rage games with online co-op.

One thing I noticed though, is that they have renamed the "Classic Games Selection" to "Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online". It does seem to leave the door open for "Super NES - Nintendo Switch Online" and "<insert your console here> - Nintendo Switch Online". Maybe they'll be included in the future, either as part of the package or as optional add-ons?