Metroid Prime: Hunters to support voice chat

Nintendo unveils new DS capability at DICE Summit; chat limited to game's lobby area.

It's been known for a while now that Nintendo's upcoming DS first-person shooter Metroid Prime: Hunters was going to make use of the system's Wi-Fi adapter for online intergalactic bounty hunter fragfests. But many gamers assumed that's all the adapter would be used for.

During a presentation at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas today, Nintendo announced that not only will players be able to hop online with Hunters and blast each other to Zebes and back, they'll also be able to taunt each other about it, too. Just not during gameplay. When it releases in March, Metroid Prime: Hunters will use VoIP and the DS's built-in microphone to allow users to chat with each other in the pre- and post-game lobbies.

While the system has had the basic requirements for voice chat (microphone, speakers, Internet connection) for a while now, Hunters will be the first DS game to put them all together to support voice chat. No other games were announced as supporting the voice chat functionality.

For more on Nintendo's presence at the DICE summit, read GameSpot's report on Nintendo executive vice president of sales and marketing Reggie Fils-Aime's speech.

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Discussion

210 comments
coolest_boy
coolest_boy

ohhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaannnnn im soooooo mad i didnt buy ds .i want a ds for the online games. why dont they make cool games for gameboy advance sp ????? . i want it sooooo bad .sometimes when i think about my head starts to begin 2 exploooooooooode .

love2surf
love2surf

that is so cool I am going to get it as soon it comes out

Alucard7321
Alucard7321

7 out of 10 people who play PS2 have a DS....damn its so moorish its like Heroin! ;) Good on you Nintendo!

cesarotromundo
cesarotromundo

dude! I want this now, big time! gimme gimme now!

rodney2003
rodney2003

this is the reason im going to buy a ds. i feel so ashamed i didnt did already. eat that sony.

MonkeyFodder95
MonkeyFodder95

cant wait until it releases, hope it gets good reviews

slayer_9
slayer_9

And now whos laughing at Nintendos two screen system, some people consistantly mock Nintendo for their inovations but just look at the Nintendo DS. When has there ever been such huge possiblities in a handheld system or such a huge difference between realease games and these amazing technically genious games were seeing now that the full potential of this handheld is begining to be realized. And sony thought they could beat nintendo on the handheld market, fools.

xx_Metal_xx
xx_Metal_xx

Fact remains that DS is outselling PSP all over the world. I'm very happy with this news. Anyway, I think it's a great idea what Nintendo is doing. They're making their products affordable, and if you wanna use it for internet or tv etcetera, too, you can just buy it. Same with the Rev, it won't have internet options from the start, but you can buy it.

Sexyhombre812
Sexyhombre812

Why is everyone so Hype over this, you can't even talk during the game! Nintendo is so trash. And to all the people who think this is a PsP killer, last time I checked, I was able to trash talk WHILE PLAYING socom online on PsP. Happy Fanboying!

Deathwish344
Deathwish344

so friggin sweet. im so buyin this game. the only thing that sucks is that i have to get three cavities filled before i can buy it.

sonic_xa
sonic_xa

MP:Hunters + voice chat + online gaming = PSP dead

Insanitymanitee
Insanitymanitee

Its great that theres no VO during gameplay cuz thatd get too distracting while lying in wait listening for unsuspecting noobs to wonder by.

Mastah_Lewis
Mastah_Lewis

My fun fuse just blew up...no, wait...it 's only my brain melting in happiness, phew!

promano3
promano3

Fantastic. But I wish that you could chat during gameplay. That would put the DS really close to even the X-Box with similar X-Box live capabilities. I really hope this game is gonna blow other systems out of the water. Make way, everybody, DS comin through!

Mike_06
Mike_06

this going 2 kik ASS

karzon89
karzon89

Question: I hear that it's not real-time conversations. It's just recording your voice for a short while and submitting it for people to hear in the lobby, is this true? I was was hoping for real -time conversation, but i really don't mind too much, it's gonna be so awesome anyway!

AlbertoML
AlbertoML

Yeah, a very good move... long live Nintendo!

kingofgames4000
kingofgames4000

CAN"T WAIT!!!! but i hope it does not have any problems.

lageasy311
lageasy311

sounds neat!!! Hope it works out.

danny15
danny15

I can not wait for it at all. I think Metroid Prime Hunters is the best game to feature it all the way. Please gear up to battle with me soon. Thanks...

cfamgcn
cfamgcn

That's good, Nintendo!!!

casan02
casan02

One small strike for Sony...One giant killing blow for PSP

Sneakz7
Sneakz7

wooooooooooooooooaaaaaaahh talkin bulshiit online wow das good enough for me oo yah while were online people should make teams (2 on 2) befor it starts that would be cool nd if u want to be on my team ( abdi will be my name or JUS SAY SNEAKZZZZZZZ nd were set (ultimate fps allllllive ) ps not a psp hater jus a ds lover

Sheegot
Sheegot

Made my DS grow... (wtf not meant to be misunderstood)

gjoco
gjoco

Its about time!

Sacrush
Sacrush

Sounds alright, but gameplay is more important. Still gonna buy this game.

lordcarbo
lordcarbo

Oh god, racism, anti-semitism, and plain out being a *****. Yeah, like I need to hear that from a Nintendo game. What is this, Halo? :P

Anask
Anask

this game is gonna make it big in the $$$$$

Clabton
Clabton

This is just what the Ds Needs

Type_Zero_X
Type_Zero_X

too bad you cant talk during the game then u could say stuff like look behind you or something or annoy the cr*p out of them haah, but prob make it later when the mic is perfected

Ahrel
Ahrel

If you thought cell phones weren't bad enough, now the DS players will be talking to people in McDonalds or wi-fi parks and be able to hear the other side of the converstaion too!

JACKEDLAV
JACKEDLAV

As long as the game is stellar idc

Ebon_Blade
Ebon_Blade

cool, i hope it will, but what about different languages?

Bluestorm-Kalas
Bluestorm-Kalas

THE NINTENDO DS SUCKS IT WASTED 300 OF MY DOLLARS NINTENDO RIPPED ME OFF!! STUPID TOUCH SCREEN!

SteveTwo
SteveTwo

The old Metroid DS tech demo and Metroid: Hunters demo are not the same thing. The Metroid Hunters demo will be downloadable from the new Nintendo HotSpots soon enough. From reviews of that new game demo (not tech demo) things seem to be greatly improved. Voice chat will be great. It'll be nice to give a 'good game' or 'luck bastich' comment after a match. I'm sure G4 will be having a "It Came from Metroid: Hunters" segment before long.

Agreb91
Agreb91

THINGS JUST GET BETTER AND BETTER.... WHATS NEXT NINTENDO?!?!?

fiercedeity901
fiercedeity901

the first, first person shooter killer app for any hand held

lilsamuraijoe
lilsamuraijoe

Who cares if you can only speak in lobbys, Voice chat is a pain in the ass when you are playing. And since you can't really make clans and tourney's with the networks design (a big flaw) in which you have to have friend codes to play each other, voice chat during the game is useless. Unless some one had a heart attack and your phone doesnt work but you cant talk to you friends over wi -fi to tell them to call 911 since your in the middle of a game.

jaanusd
jaanusd

How cool is this? Very. It's funny that some have pointed out that SOCOM for the PSP (fine game i' m told) has VOIP during the game, and thus is a better shooter. However, you can also jump and aim your gun in MP hunters, which you can't do on SOCOM. with the DS lite coming out soon, I won't be getting a psp soon after all ;)>

soppderock
soppderock

I don't get all the hype about this announcement. What sense does it makes to chit-chat before and after battles in "lobbies"? Even despite the fact that they're ur friends. Or the fact that the DS won't be able to handle in-game chat. Tactical discusions should be done in-game (if ur able to cooperate in group battles. I suppose the multiplayer part will handle it ,right?), and ur supposed to talk with friends in ur sparetime. When playing, ur supos to battle with strangers, giving u more flexibility to calculate situations and make new friends. Anyway, this announcement surely was entirely up, to keep some attention for Nintendo's next upcoming Hit-on-the-shelves release. Personally I don't like FPS at all, and will buy this game only, if it has an above avarage meaty story.

redsoxfan123
redsoxfan123

i was already set to buy this game anyway, but now i want it even more. i wonder if that little rectangular opening on the side of the headphone jack is for a headset! *crosses fingers*