The Wii U will support in-game voice chat, but you'll be forgiven if you're not sure exactly how that will work. Nintendo hasn't shown an official headset for the WIi U and the Wii U's Pro Controller—the one that looks a lot like an Xbox 360 controller—doesn't even have a port to connect one.

So how does it work?

The new Nintendo console will support in-game voice chat for "select games", a rep for the company tells Kotaku. Among the games supported will be Assassin's Creed III, Call of Duty Black Ops II and Mass Effect 3, all games with significant online multiplayer modes and all which support in-game voice chat on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The Wii U GamePad—the console's signature twin-stick controller that contains a 6.2-inch screen—contains a microphone and speakers, but that mic does not actually work with the voice chat. Nintendo tells me that users who want to be able to talk to each other can use a licensed stereo headset from Turtle Beach or Mad Catz (Tritton). The headsets plug into the GamePad's headphone jack.

At least one of the aforementioned games, Black Ops II, supports the Pro Controller, but that controller's lack of a jack will require Pro Controller gamers who want voice chat to do something a bit counterintuitive. They'll have to plug their headset into the GamePad, the controller they are otherwise not using, according to a spokesperson for CoD publisher Activision. That rep believes that gamers might be able to use a standard set of headphones that contain a mic (iPhone headphones, for example) with the GamePad, but that's not something I've been able to clarify yet with Nintendo.

From Kotaku

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But then the complaining with evidence begins.

Posted by

warerare

on: 10/19/12, 01:04

Scrawnton said:

ive been reading the neogaf thread about this and everyone seems to be exploding over it.

Of course they are, it's GAF. They explode over anything that could possibly be negative about Nintendo.

Posted by

Earendil

on: 10/19/12, 01:11

I'm sorry that people seemed to have their hopes up for Nintendo online. I assumed the worst. At some point you just have to accept that Nintendo has bad online. It could be fixed someday, they have been making very small steps, but they also have a history of taking steps backwards when you least expect it.

In the end, I just hope I don't have to hear complaints about this stuff for the rest of the generation. It's unfortunate, but, in my opinion, if you have problems with it, you should direct them at Nintendo and not make the forum unpleasant for people in every thread about an online Nintendo game for the next 7 years. Or just keep bumping this thread every so often to voice your anger. Like so:

FUCK YOU NINTENDO!

@deathly_hallows

Did you honestly believe Reggie when he said not to worry? I'm pretty sure there's proof here on this board that you didn't, which is the correct response. Reggie is a PR guy, not your friend. Don't expect anything but spin from him.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 10/19/12, 01:13

@DrFinkelstein

For multiplayer right? That doesn't count.

Posted by

Renjaku

on: 10/19/12, 01:15

I have tendered my resignation from any Wii U-related threads until November 18th.

Scrawny, you can PM me with your Miiverse info when it becomes available to you.


Enjoy your endless bellyaching, NW. I thought we were immune from this pre-launch stuff.
(This isn't due to something any one person said; its basically stuff anyone said. Dig it. Enjoy.)

Posted by

Mr_Mustache

on: 10/19/12, 01:17

@Jargon
Yeah I actually did expect Nintendo to have a voice chat solution, I know Nintendo sucks at online, I know Reggie is lying when he says it's a focus and not to worry about it it will all be fine, but something as simple as voice chat... yeah I actually assumed Nintendo would get that one right, if only to back up their scheme (err... strategy) of porting over a lot of popular 360 games, many of which use voice chat. I mean they have CoD, they have the 360 knock-off controller, but they don't have a headset? I think it's bizarre frankly, and even though I know Nintendo is incompetent when it comes to online I think this is even more incompetent than usual.

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 10/19/12, 01:22

I don't like talking to people anyways, so I don't give a shit one way or the other. People don't need to chat to each other while playing games. And if they want to so badly, then just use skype or something thru a laptop, ect.

Nintendo should just say, fuck all you. You know you are going to buy it, so quit whining like a little school girl.

Posted by

gamewizard65

on: 10/19/12, 01:32

Can't say I am too surprised. Why it never occurred to them to have

A. An option for a bluetooth headset to connect.
or
B. A port on the controller for a headset.
or
C. Let you use the microphone in the tablet.

Is baffling to me. What's interesting too is that this definitely isn't a case of them cheaping out. This is straight up ignoring the most logical solutions to this issue. Someone at Nintendo has to get off from pulling the rug out from underneath Nintendo fans.

Posted by

Stephen

on: 10/19/12, 01:33

Interesting about what they've done, but it doesn't bother me in the least.

I have never chatted, nor do I have the desire to chat with anyone, vocally, while playing a game. It's obnoxious. I bought the wireless keyboard for the Wii so I could chat through text in Monster Hunter, and that's it.

I have no desire to listen to you rubes.

No offense.

Except maybe Anand. He's dreamy.

Posted by

TheOldManFromZelda

on: 10/19/12, 01:43

@gamewizard65

Holy goddamn hell.

There are no words.

Posted by

Shadowlink

on: 10/19/12, 01:46

SOOOO..... cross game video chat but not voice chat?? WHAT
stupid mic is decoration?

Posted by

Wellsy529

on: 10/19/12, 04:13

Edited:

10/19/12, 04:15

@deathly_hallows

That's all well and good but it doesn't really fit with what you said:

deathly_hallows said:

Reggie has been telling us not to worry, that the basics are of course covered, well having voice chat is a basic, and it's not covered. That's why I'm pissed.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 10/19/12, 04:32

@gamewizard65

You are a fucking idiot sometimes, I wonder why you are even here. So insulting.

Posted by

warerare

on: 10/19/12, 09:45

Edited:

10/19/12, 09:47

warerare said:

@gamewizard65

You are a fucking idiot sometimes, I wonder why you are even here. So insulting.

Posted by

Stephen

on: 10/19/12, 10:29

@Stephen
That's easily the worst part. THE MIC. IS THERE. WHY THE FUCK IS IT BEING IGNORED?

@TheOldManFromZelda
How is talking while playing a multiplayer game obnoxious (barring the obvious idiots) ? In a team game like COD or anything, it could be extremely useful. And there's always the option to mute.

@Earendil
And for once the explosion is warranted. This is unthinkably fucking idiotic of Nintendo. I'm not defending them for this stupid shit. I had plans to have my first online experience with my brother during BO2, and Nintendo has FUCKED me. He's not gonna wanna buy a headset and neither will I. Thanks for making us waste the mic money on both the Gamepad AND the headset.

Nintendo should be sued. False advertising. Watch 720 include a mic and not support it. See how well that'd go. Or if Kinect's mic didn't work.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 10/19/12, 10:33

@carlosrox
Huh? It was advertised for something besides the video chat shown in NSAF skit?

Considering all the stuff going on in the gamepad during a game, how realistic is it for the gamepad mic to handle voice too?

Posted by

Renjaku

on: 10/19/12, 11:05

Edited:

10/19/12, 11:19

@Renjaku
What's NSAF?

Well it was correctly assumed by everyone that the mic you have on the controller would be the one we use for video chat, games, etc. Also, the Ghost Recon video demonstrated it. That wasn't a leaked video was it?

I still think this info is somehow incorrect. Honestly, it's basically false advertising. They advertise the mic a ton in all the features screens and videos. Everyone is going to think (and did) that it'll be used the way that's now standard. And the games DO support the voice, but not through e mic. It just makes no sense. Why deny a feature that's already there?

Imagine if that Camera was locked and could only be used for certain games, and no video chat even though they already demonstrated it. It's EXACTLY what's going on here. Or the stylus. Or the screen. It's ridiculous. Everyone sees a mic on a controller and I really doubt anyone would think we'd also be forced to buy headsets. Completely counter intuitive.

Were we supposed to see the mics and assume they would be used for blowing, which will be used like 3 times the whole generation?

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 10/19/12, 11:42

Edited:

10/19/12, 12:06

And here we go: @0:57 secs Voice Chat is clearly mentioned. This was shown at E3.


This Ghost Recon Online video was shown a while ago, and unless it was leaked, Nintendo had to approve the video. The entire video features the voice chat via built-in mic.


Nintendo straight up lied with false advertising (isn't this illegal?) OR somehow the information we've been given is wrong. OR Nintendo was being vague as shit. But this is big and adds to my speculation.

Someone should post both those videos to GAF cuz they are pretty telling. Again, Nintendo lied, changed their minds, or the info is wrong.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 10/19/12, 11:49

Edited:

10/19/12, 11:54

Nintendo still just doesn't get it.

Posted by

Brick

on: 10/19/12, 11:54

It's fucking stupid as shit if true, but I'm already getting over it. Fucking stupid as all motherfuck, but I'll just get a headset.

I'd be all over an online petition but those things never work.


Seriously though, I remember a case recently where false advertising in gaming got people in trouble. I forget who. Oh! Apparently the Mass Effect 3 thing actually got EA in shit by the authorities. It was supposedly actual false advertising blah blah for some reason. You apparently can't lead consumers to believe in one thing and then hand them another. If this is true, I think this qualifies. Really.


Edit: The only reason I'm willing to forgive this idiotic decision is what people have said about the mic picking up all the noise from button presses and all that. If Nintendo uses that as their excuse, I might tolerate it.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 10/19/12, 11:58

Edited:

10/19/12, 12:04