Kotaku: "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?"
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"Nintendo hasn't shown an official headset for the WIi U and the Wii U's Pro Controller—"
Nintendo has shown no plans of making a headset in-house, but have given Turtle Beach the go ahead to make a Wii U branded headset, which is about as official as it gets. The NLa headset has a Wii U logo on it, so that's pretty official since the headset is designed for Wii U and has a Nintendo Logo on it.
http://www.turtlebeach.com/...
You can only voice chat from within games that support it? That's even worse than the PS3.
And only the Gamepad has a headset port and not the Pro Controller?
This all seems like a last minute thing. They focused on the gimmicks and left some core things as an afterthought.
You've had at least 6 years to get it right Nintendo.
I wonder if you will need to exchange friend codes before you can chat with people.
I think its stupid that they are limiting the ingame chat to specific games and I know the PS3 doesn't have the option of cross game chat since they gave Devs more memory to work which in turn basically didn't leave enough for cross game chat to be implemented but the WII-U could have easily done that out of the box.
I know to a lot of people cross game chat seems like no big deal, but you don't notice how much you miss it until you don't have it. I also find its easier to get in a lobby with people and chat with them 'privately' then over in game chat and make everyone annoyed by our stupid conversation lol
What's mind boggling about this is that where being informed this 1 MONTH before the consoles launch, all of this is coming off as last minute, In fact I just heard that it doesn't come with an Ethernet port wtf
That's the impression that I got so far but we will have to wait and see I guess.
Rayed E For Everyone
This article applies to CoD. And it would be very, VERY, idiotic to implement a mic into the controller that doesn't work in game.
Besides, nobody's going to hold the GamePad under their chin when it has a screen they need to use.
I am only going by information that seams realistic, and from rumors since we all dont know the exact truth. But here is what I have to offer in that regard.
Semi Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watc...
As of now all I can do is hope that the Nintendo Wii U entertainment system video chat functions that I have mentioned above are true. From this video, and the Nintendo Direct from E3. My claim does not seem too far off.
RaTed E For Everyone*
it could save you some time.
NWiiUES or NWUES <<< WTF that looks wrong
maybe you can come up with one more suitable.
Advanced tech would not have these limitations. Not all games will support the Gamepad. Furthermore no games as of yet support more than one Gamepad. So what we have here, if these rumors are true, is a system that has no unity. Some games allow Gamepad play, some allow the Pro controller, some allow original Wii controllers. All without any indication that a wireless headset, something that isn't even advanced technology any longer, would be universal across all games or even supported. Also having video chat on the Gamepad itself while playing seems rather redundant.
well i think its not that stupid having video chat or headset on the gamepad.
why?
because i recall at the e3 conference the guy was playing zombiu and was stuck and went on video chat using the game pad.
so what i mean is that you can lay the game pad and chat at the same dang time!
but at the same time i understand why people would be frustrated since x360 could do it.
you guys are kidding, right? there's no way the Wii U will be able to do THAT! it's kinda pointless too seeing that it will be a distraction to online gaming session as I think voice is already distracting enough, let alone video of the person you're chatting with while gaming!
and looking at the Wii U itself, there's no way Nintendo is pushing THAT hard for their next system! the thing barely runs games at 1080p!
why? "
I never mentioned a headset. I said Why would you want to have the camera on when you are gaming? You don't hold that thing infront of you trough out your game. You rest it on your lap.
The other players will just look at your chin and nostrils.
And that guy playing ZombiU did NOT do video calls during his gameplay.
@Badz,
It's not impossible, it's just impractical. There is one gig dedicated to OS and Apps. They could easily run it in the background....but Who is gonna hold the Gamepad up in a CoD game so that they can see your face?
"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."
Not to mention what is the point of VIDEO chat whenever you are staring at a tv screen?
Why would a headset need to connect to a controller? Just cuz 360 controllers are like that doesnt mean wii-u has to follow suit, its pro controller just looks like a 360 controller, it's not a freakin replica.
The WiiU supports blutooth accessories, I'm sure blutooth headsets will work just fine.
The whole point of having a wired headset is the clarity of its strong connection, I get that the gamepad has a really strong connection to the system but at the end of the day it's STILL wireless.
If they force all in-game voice chatting to go through the gamepad they're idiots lol
It's basically the same thing as the PS3-if the ps3 had a mic jack on the Dualshock.
That pro controller was designed for multiplayer use i suppose.. Why would they do this?
I don't like this piece of it. I want to be able to chat with my son and buddies. Guess Big N doesn't have the infrastructure in place for all that bandwidth PLUS they want action on the MiiVerse not in private parties.
I'm quite surprised you can't make use of the GamePad's microphone and speakers though.
Just a thought...
why don't you guys relax. This is a headset that states it clearly works with the Wii U and it's wireless. There is your solution.
Sounds to me like Kotaku is once again stirring the pot without doing any research..
So pile on a $100 more to your console cost if you want to chat with someone playing online.
This is one pot that needs to be stirred... Sony wasn't so bad because there were cheap enough bluetooth options but the way Nintendo is handling it, it seems you aren't getting a chat capable headset for under $100 after tax. I think the hardcore thinking about the Wii U would want to know that.
So to recap...if you are into online gaming and considering a WiiU... you minimum entry cost for being able to play online and chat is not just $249 as Nintendo suggests... its more like $359 and that is for the basic WiiU with the above referenced headset and doesn't factor in any addtional storage needs.
Most serious gamers want a nice headset anyways. The one that comes with the 360 is garbage, and mine broke so I had to get a replacement one. A lot of my friends online use Turtle Beach style headsets.
Turtle Beach unveiled a basic headset for $30 that is wired. I plan on doing most of my gaming with the gamepad anyways - If I wanted to use the pro controller I would play my Xbox 360 instead. So having a wired headset to plug into the gamepad isn't an issue for me. Either that or I will look at a bluetooth headset in the future.
I do agree though, leaving the voice chat up to the developers is stupid, they could have easily built in a standard voice chat application or something.
I just keep my fingers crossed and my eyes shut and pray that I will love this system when I get it.
The good news is that the article even said that the mic by DEFAULT will not be used for in game chat. I am sure that is something that could change down the road with firmware updates.
That was not the #1 complaint about the PS3, by a longshot. The lack of cross-game chat definitely was up there, but I don't think anyone was annoyed that a room of 16 people wasn't constantly chirping at once.
Also, you're ignoring the fact that Sony had/has first-party offerings for headsets. Or rather, you're confusing "first-party" with "in-the-box".
Sure, there would be more people talking in random online games on PS3 if every console came with a headset. Understand though, that not everyone thinks that is a good thing. Listening to people talk in your ear just because they can is actually something many of us find pretty obnoxious. So is listening to their coughing, their babies and other relatives, their music, and their cursing when they lose.
I have several headsets myself, yet I'm one of those people who are micless in online games most times. I only use it for communicating with actual people I know, and that I'm teaming up with specifically. I just don't find it helpful most of the time, or an enhancement to my experience when playing with strangers. Different strokes, you know?
I do wonder how the community will take the built-in in-game chatting functions (my guess they'll most likely be ignored due to they're not being a headset).
If this is the quality Nintendo is bringing to the online space, or lack there of, then what on earth makes them think people will migrate to Wii U from XBL/PSN instead of just waiting for the next MS/Sony systems.
Also, you don't want a ton of low quality headsets that could affect the overall voice chat quality.
That being said, I'm pretty sure there will be reasonable means of voice-chatting on the Wii-U, regardless of this article's concern. Wireless options have not been exactly denied by Nintendo yet, and I don't think they're so stupid as to have designed a console in this day and age that allows for multiple input devices, but will restrict you from voice chat when using one of them. I'm guessing there will be universal options for people to choose from, both wired and wireless.
Great avatar btw.
I mean, there's nothing the Pro Controller can do that the tablet can't, after all. I see the Pro Controller more as a option for local multiplayer (for which you obviously don't need a headset).
The gamepad is not something you should want to put aside, its designed to be...desirable. Just the next step to make gaming that much more "immersive", having a gadget like the sub-screen OUTSIDE OF THE TV, to assist whats going on the main screen.
But it's not, despite it's intentions. And if I were to get a WiiU, I would want to put it aside whenever a game doesn't require it (which theoretically should be frequently enough, if Nintendo are going to land all the multi-platform support they've missed out on lately). The pro-controller *can* do something that the gamepad can't; it can be a ergonomically comfortable and un-cumbersome.
And I think Nintendo knows this. It's why there IS a pro controller. They were/are claiming to be gong after the hardcore, and they knew they couldn't do it with nothing but a touch-screen controller. And so, they give us one of the things we want. I don't think they'd give it to us just to make it a second-class citizen, one that we can't even use unless the tablet is dangling somewhere nearby. We didn't need a 2nd screen for COD and Assassin's Creed before, so why force us to use one in ports of the same exact games?
Anyway, I disagree with both of you. I don't want to use it primarily, and I don't think it's going to be especially useful when I'm using the other controller. Of course, it's kind of moot, since somewhat unlikely that I'm going to buy one. I plan to watch its first year and see what's up.
OT: As long as your able to talk on most multiplayer games, video-chat while the game is suspended like they promoted, send messages either drawing or writing them, use MiiVerse and socialize with others, I really don't see what the big deal is...
“The Wii U supports Bluetooth and can pair with its own accessories, but the officially licensed headsets we produce and offer are wired and designed for use directly with the [GamePad] tablet.”
Nintendo vaguely commented on the possibility of wireless headsets sometime in the future. It seems as though it could happen through a Bluetooth connection or between a headset and a signal connected plugged into a USB port. For now though, wireless solutions aren’t available.
Finally, here are a few additional tidbits about voice chat on Wii U:
- No universal support for in-game voice chat
- Game-by-game support for in-game chat
- The GamePad mic will not, by default, work as an input for in-game voice chat
- The Wii U will support wired headsets (and possibly mic-enabled headphones), but only through the Wii U GamePad
- No news yet about whether wireless headsets can or will be supported"
The Wii U has Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities, there is no doubt in my mind that there will be a wireless headset soon...
Rated M for Mature.
If it supports any headset with a mic, it's fine. But the lack of a headphone jack on the Pro Controller is grating. Having the Gamepad sit next to you is completely counter-intuitive to the whole point of using the Pro Controller. A wireless headset should solve this problem though.
I did not like having the Wiimote sitting on my lap while using the Classic Controller. Adding bigger controllers and headphone cords into the mix only makes the problem worse. I'd imagine most people using a Pro Controller wouldn't even bother to go through the hassle.
But even the Wii eventually got Wireless headsets. I have no doubt the Wii U will get the same treatment.
The gamepad has a mic+speaker and we cant use it for ingame chat?
All in all something that should be simple is made overly complicated.
Good players can work together without communication, they know what to do.
You can be better with mics, but only if you are in a group that knows what they are doing. Which isn't common in comparison to those who don't own or want a mic.
(This shouldn't really be a problem if you're just using the GamePad like a Pro Controller though. There should really be an option to disable the screen completely.)
The real question mark is why there isn't a headphone port on the Pro Controller.
Perhaps, you will be able to speak through it and video chat through it while using the Pro Controller.