Nintendo fans may be happy to learn Nintendo has finally confirmed the Wii U will support voice chat. However, the implementation of it appears to be limited and involved. Though the Wii U GamePad does have a built-in microphone, it cannot be used for voice chat.
IGN reports that only select games will support voice chat through third-party, officially licensed headsets from Turtle Beach and Tritton plugged into the GamePad's headphone jack. Titles that have been confirmed to support voice chat thus far include Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Assassin's Creed III, and Mass Effect 3.
Gamers keen on using a Wii U Pro Controller will have an even more involved process to undertake if they wish to use voice chat. The Pro Controller does not have a headphone jack, meaning players will need to plug their third-party headset into the GamePad and set it next to them as they play.
Nintendo has not announced any first-party headset options for the Wii U. The system is due out in North America on November 18, with releases to follow in Europe and Australia on November 30, and Japan on December 8. The Wii U will be available in North American beginning at $300 for a basic bundle and also through a $350 deluxe edition that includes a copy of NintendoLand.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
I'm grateful that Nintendo limited access to voice chat. Do you know the only scenario that you will need voice chat? Game competitions and team play. These players already know how to work their way around consoles to utilize voice chat. Beyond competitive play, it shouldn't be needed. All you will hear are teenage brats, lonely basement hermits venting their anger about life, and arrogant extroverts that like to run their mouth like a bipolar princess. So once again, thank you Nintendo for keeping the filthy side of gaming out of real gaming.
I'm not crying too much for the limitation, especially 'cause I am still weeping bitterly over the far-more-tragic limitation on WI-FI and co-op options, though I realize that that is still on the developers, but, hey, it's on a Nintendo system...
I just want the feature to voice chat with a registered friend and nobody else while I play online with them. If they do that, I'll gladly buy a headset.
@LindBergh2007@TimboII In that case, Sony clearly don't understand what real gamers want from an online console either. Since both Wii U and PS3 offer the exact same online features.
@emptycow Good video. Those responses didn't surprise me at all. Those people really aren't the consumers that Nintendo is looking for any more and you can see why. The Wii was intended to bring in non-gamers, which it did, but as a result it lost the respect of us core gamers and software developers. Nintendo is trying to right that with Wii U so this is why it is only fair that we give them a chance. Third parties are, so so should we.
@emptycow Then I think you are most wise to hold off until the system has built up momentum, interest, sales and software. You are in the same position as my younger brothers. Let guys like me get the train running and you just jump on board whenever you feel ready. Just don't turn your back to it and dismiss it completely. I mean that generally, not just with games consoles. Give all things a go and stop focusing on the negatives :)
@emptycow cow, there is so much to consider regarding Sony and Microsoft's projects. At this stage anything that people say about them are all ifs, buts and maybes. Why don't you just think about the games rather than the consoles. At this stage, Wii U has many quality titles in its "launch window" with many more on the horizon. So just buy the console, enjoy the games with millions of other gamers and when the 720/PS4 are released and they meet your needs, sell your Wii U and buy them. You don't owe any company your loyalty and you have no reason to hate any of them either. Just have fun with your hobby.
@kavadias1981 if the xbox 720 and ps4 looked just a half step better then the xbox 360 and ps3 just like the wiiu then it would be business suicide its not that the xbox 720 should look better then xbox 360 games it has to look way better it must make xbox 360 look dated from day one the xbox 720 for sure will look alot better then the xbox 360 i dont think the wiiu will touch the xbox 720 hardware with a 10 foot poll i think the next nintendo system wont sell better then the first wii for many reasons and face it the third party support the wiiu has now is just like the first wii had at the start all nintendo has is ports when the new systems come out xbox 720 and ps4 you will only see watered down ports no core gamer would play a last gen looking assassins creed 4 with a control gimmick over a super awesome looking true next gen assassins creed 4 for xbox 720 they just wont and that will be the story of the wiiu i bet the xbox 720 will be 7 to 10x more powerful then a xbox 360 and it will cost $350 or $400 they got the xbox 360 to come out for $300 day one so i would not be shocked if they could put out a true next gen system for the same price as a wiiu or a little bit more money there will be a $250 wiiu the same day the xbox 720 comes out nintendo will drop there price in 2013
@emptycow Remember when we spoke about the PS4 and 720? They still don't exist yet. All we know is that Microsoft is working on a more powerful Kinect and that Sony is struggling to afford development altogether. But they might end up completely different from the consoles you envisage. We don't know anything about what games are being developed for next gen, or the costs, or the effect that will have on developers in this risky economic climate. All we have so far is any UE4 demo that simply upped the visuals. What I'm trying to say is, don't count your chickens, etc. But so far the Wii U has amassed and continues to amass third party support. They are also giving third parties considerable financial breaks.
A developer releasing a game on eShop, Live and PSN will receive the greatest sum of the profits from their eShop investment. This is a massive incentive for indie devs.
There are a number of pros that the Wii U can offer everyone, gamers and developers alike, but some gamers keep overlooking that. They really need to work past their resentment for the Wii, like I did, and look at Wii U as a new opportunity to reacquaint themselves with a company they once had so much respect for.
@emptycow@Landsharkk I don't think anybody really knows what Wii U is yet. At least nobody I've spoken to. Granted they haven't started advertising it yet. It is only really those who follow the industry news that know. Aren't we privileged.
One thing I really hate admitting to.... microsoft has the best voice chat out of everyone. Why? because they bundle a standard headset that they designed with every system(as far as I know) and charge people to buy a designed headset for their system. It is rare when I see a third party mic option for Xbox and the Xbox360. Meanwhile you got sony that allows almost anything to be plugged in with senstivity being adjusted on the player end. And as a result 90% of users have no idea how to set their mic settings correctly. So you gotta hear a constant noise being created by someone else. From simple things like the consoles fan in the room to a family fight in the room next to them. Its ridiculous. I wish all console makers would learn a thing from Microsoft and offer some crappy mic that comes with the system. That is already preset. So it can reduce the amount of crap we hear when playing systems.
I don't think it's that big a deal. As long as the console has USB ports, there will be possibilities other than just the GamePad jacks. So it's not all THAT limited. It's basically in the hands of the developers and how they choose to implement it.
1) Nintendo/MS/Sony branded accessories are typical not the best choice(exception being controllers)... I mean you could buy the official Sony bluetooth headset but you will be hit $50 for a product that fails to compete with $30 competitors... I know I won't buy a Nintendo branded headset it would cost $50^ and all it would be is a third party headset with the Nintendo name slapped on.
2) $35-50 isn't bad and I'm sure we will see cheaper ones. Official Nintendo/Sony/MS products are usually overpriced.
3) Not every game needs online voice chat and the GS article covers this and the rest of your points...
i know why they made their decision! they are forcing the gamepad to be propped up independently to always make sure its standardized to use the camera for games!!!!! think about it! smart move nintendo!!
@GH05T-666 Have you ever played online? You just described my online experience on the ps3... 360 is about the same but MS is a bit stricter on mic abuse.
I think PC is the way to go if you want to avoid little kids.
Not sure why they dont support voice chat more. That's pretty essential for online play. Sure, if you just player single player games, it's not a big deal. But why not have the additional perks? Both MS and Sony do.
@kavadias1981 only in game what if you just want to talk to some one like on live i can play one game while my cousin plays another and we can have a conversation. as far I know this is only possible on xbox so no voice chat isnt fully supported only in game chat.
@kavadias1981@deathblow3 We all know that XBL is the best online service provided on consoles to date,Microsoft has been owning in the Online department Since the original Xbox,no Sony fans,or Nintendo fans can disagree with this.
@deathblow3 Only on Live. PS3 gamers, including myself, do not have access to universal chat either. You have to also consider that Live's universal chat is funded by Gold members (even though you don't have to be a member to use it). Nintendo do not have that luxury and neither do Sony. So naturally Live's services are more comprehensive.
Also, voice chat is not essential for online play. Millions play online games that do not have the feature. And there are also those that simply choose not to use it. So how you came to the conclusion that it is "pretty essential for online play" is beyond me.
Basically, Nintendo and Sony are on equal footing regarding voice chat and online features. Microsoft offers the stronger service but I already mentioned the reason for that. I hope that clears things up.
Is this really a problem for anyone? Don't all Xbox and PS users that care about voice chat already have a headset? Those headsets are perfectly compatible with the Wii U. And if you're a Nintendo-only person that's interested in voice chat, would buying a headset be a downer, seeing as it wouldn't be any different from getting one for a PS3? I think not.
@craigprime This is the internet people like to **** over $35 headsets... Never mind that I bought a $50 Bluetooth headset for my ps3 so I could replace it after 1 years use...
If anything these things having a cord is a bonus that means you should get a higher quality headset for the same price at the expense of having to set the tablet somewhere near by. As long as they have cords at least as long as your average pair of headphones this should work out alright.
I'll admit I rather just use the mic already in the controller and not buy anything but after looking up the prices on headsets for the Wii U it really isn't a big deal.
I don't follow Nintendo, but from what I know the WiiU is to be released in a month. It seems like there is a lack of info on this console, or maybe i just dont care enough to dig for the info, but so close to a release there are usually articles with all the system's specs. I haven't seen any can you guys answer : Do we know what the price is? What comes in the box? How much memory it has? What is the disc format? USB #s? Alkaline vs lithium batteries? HDMI? Launch Titles? Wireless technology? Backwards compatibility? Can it play DVDs? Can it handle an audio CD? Rumble support? Internet browser. Media format support? Will it blend? Can it make me sandwich?
@HonorOfGod Thought I might reply to your having not read my long comment. It's best that you didn't. It made you look like a buffoon. But it would appear that you continue to do that to yourself with phrases like "CRAPTENDO STRIKES AGAIN! lol". Did that sound cool in your head?
Subscriber base for aging MMO dips 1.3 million in three months; Activision Blizzard posts $456 million profit on $1.32 billion in revenue for Q1. Full Story
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag producer says Sony has created a compelling piece of technology and it is up to designers to make most of it. Full Story
