#Setting up second Switch. Is this plan correct?

81 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

bold root
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You can see in this image the setup we currently have and what we’re trying to achieve. In case it’s unclear, that is…

  • Sam can play on original Switch.
  • Diane’s profile on original Switch remains intact for Animal Crossing purposes
  • Diane’s OLED profile can play on OLED using Sam’s e-shop games
  • Sam can play the same e-shop games simultaneously on original Switch
  • Diane’s saves for everything besides Animal Crossing are ported to OLED

Does my proposed approach achieve that, or is there a flaw anywhere? I’m worried I’ve misunderstood the parallel game sharing setup or made some other incorrect assumption, so I’d very much appreciate any reassurance or direction before I move forward with setting things up!

Untitled_Artwork.png
upbeat wolf
# bold root You can see in this image the setup we currently have and what we’re trying to a...

Appreciate the detailed write-up.
I'm the one who wrote the game-sharing guide that you have read (I know because of the "Parallel method").
But this is not the parallel method. The parallel method is to have both console playing games using the single main account (Sam's account) at the same time. What can satisfy your goal is the "Offline method".
The guide is also in this server btw, but I need to test and rewrite it again, since some details are lacking. Check below.

lapis voidBOT
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gameshare

GAMESHARING INFORMATION

• Game-sharing is an official feature for the Switch. Its original purpose is to let you play your digital games across multiple Switch consoles. But you are also allowed to use this feature to share games with family and friends, although the process is quite complicated.

• Game-sharing works in a Primary console and Secondary console basis. Your Primary will have no limit, while your Secondary will have several limitations.

👉 Click here for Game-sharing guide

Requested by BladeSpringSun#4133
upbeat wolf
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I can write some of the missing details here:

  • There's an activity check on the Primary console when the Secondary console is playing some games own by the main account (In this case Sam's account) using a different account (Diane's account). This is the reason why Secondary console is required to be online all the time.
  • If the Primary console is playing anything at all, it will stop the Secondary console to play games own by the main account.
  • If the Primary console is offline, it will stop the activity check of the Secondary console to go through and let the Secondary console play, even though the Primary console is playing something else. This is the essence of Offline method.
  • Strangely enough, after the activity check has finished, you can put the Primary console online and both console can play like normal.
  • However, the activity check might happen again, and you would have to stop playing on the Primary console so the Secondary console can clear the check. And then return the Primary to offline state (airplane mode) again.
  • So far, there is no way to know when the activity check might happen. I have reports that both console can be online for hours and it will still work. I'm not sure why exactly.
bold root
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Thank you for your thoughtful reply! ❤️

Since it seems the most straightforward with fewer hoops to jump through, I am definitely hoping to achieve the approach depicted here (the parallel method?): https://imgur.com/ZE70yQH

In my new proposed setup, I’ve tried to model it on that imgur guide, except that I swapped which Switch is which (so my left side is their right side), just to achieve my goal of Diane playing under her account on the OLED and me under Sam’s on the original.

With regard to the Imgur guide, I’m picturing Diane’s secondary profile as the ‘Peach’ in this scenario - capable of playing Sam (Mario)’s games any time under her own profile because her device is marked as Sam’s primary and thus she has access to his games online or offline.

Meanwhile, Sam needs an internet connection to ensure that the Sam account isn’t in use on Diane’s device, but can otherwise play Sam’s games freely at the same time as Diane.

Is this remotely correct, or do I still have things mixed up? I appreciate your patience! 🙏

Untitled_Artwork.png
Imgur
Here's a diagram showing how you can use game share to let your friends play your games.
upbeat wolf
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Basically, this offline method (not parallel), would require the Primary console to stay offline to prevent the activity check.

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While the secondary console has to stay online due to its restriction.

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But it's only when you want both consoles to play games own by Sam's accounts.

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Honestly these methods are very confusing, and it's like that for a reason. Nintendo doesn't want people to abuse it too much.

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And that's why I have to advice people: If you have a game you want to play online multiplayer a lot, just buy more copies of it.

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And extra note: The parallel method is using the same accounts, running on both Primary and Secondary at the same time without any restrictions at all. But this is not what you want to do.

bold root
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Haha, well I'm an artist, so making visual mockups just makes sense for me! Not that this is peak art. 😆
So what you're saying is that if Diane launches one of Sam's games on the OLED using the Diane profile, Sam needs to put his Switch into airplane mode to successfully launch the same game as Sam on his Switch. In this way, they could save a bit of money if the game they were playing didn't require online multiplayer (unless they wanted to try going online after and fussing with the whole uncertain feeling of 'when will the next activity check strike?') and would still be totally fine if either of them wanted to each play different games from Sam's account, no different than passing a single physical cart around. But as you said, for anything requiring uninterrupted stable online multiplayer, it's best to get two copies in the end. Ain't nobody wants their Splatoon match interrupted by an activity check. But living up here in Canada where each average game burns us 80 bucks + tax, two copies of a single game ends up approaching $200, so you can't blame a fella for trying to find at least a few edge cases where one copy is sufficient, haha.

upbeat wolf
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Primary console = offline.
Secondary console = always online.

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What would happen, in order:

  • Launching Sam's games on Secondary console (Left side, normal Switch in the pic) using Sam or Diane's account. Require this console to be always online.
  • Activity check going out. Found that the Primary console (OLED Switch) is offline = Return the O.K.
  • Games run without issue.
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IF the primary console is online and playing anything at all:

  • Secondary console do a random activity check.
  • Activity reach Primary console due to it being connected to the internet = Return "ACTIVITY!"
  • Secondary console stops the game.
bold root
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At which point the Primary can temporarily go back offline to pass the check again for a while, then toggle back online after it's cleared?

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(Sorry, swapped it again, fixed in the edit!)

upbeat wolf
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You can make Primary go online after the Secondary has done the activity check.

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The problem with this method is that you need a communication between the 2 users on both console.

bold root
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Yeah, I just mean when that Secondary does another activity check later mid-gameplay, can Primary pop back offline for a moment to pass it again?

upbeat wolf
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So you have to tell each other: "I'm about to play on the Secondary console, can you turn the Primary console's airplane mode on?"

bold root
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We'll be in the same room while playing, so no issues on coordination!

upbeat wolf
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You got that correct now

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Now imagine I have to write guides for this thing...

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I don't even know how to make it simple lol

bold root
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Ok, sounds like it would work reasonably well for low pressure online games without a persistent world that continues without you, like Stardew Valley, but definitely warrants a second copy for things like Splatoon where it'd be like "whoops, you're offline, guess you died!"

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Hahah yeah, I'm sorry for making you step through it all over and over here! Dear future internet travelers who find this thread, heed BiggyKiddy's words well and don't be misled by my goofy mix-ups!

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And both devices could be online the whole time if they were playing different games entirely, even if both games were Sam's, right?

upbeat wolf
upbeat wolf
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And since I do not know the frequency of this activity check, I cannot say when

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I'm gonna need to borrow some Switch consoles to test this on my own, so right now, the guide is on hold ><

bold root
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Ah, here I assumed it only did the check for identical games, not for any game from the library. At that point you're better off having a single physical copy you can pass back and forth if you intend to play separately anyway.

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Which is good, since we've got a large collection of physical carts as it stands anyway

upbeat wolf
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It actually checks for ANY activities at all. Even when you play an entirely different games own by a different person.

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If you can, please test this method and tell me the result.

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Maybe they changed something and I haven't known yet.

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From about 2-3 years ago, this feature was changed at least twice now.

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In fact, they even fricking removed the official guide about it haha

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I think they want to make it obscure.

bold root
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Sure, I'll be happy to report back with any useful data I discover! It does seem like the kind of thing they could patch to curb abuse, like greatly increasing the activity check frequency

upbeat wolf
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You have no idea how people are abusing this

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I know a guy who rent his account out for people to play using this method lol

bold root
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Yeah we have a couple of friends who, when we visit, always load up games from some other friend of theirs and we've always been mystified by it. Now I get it!

upbeat wolf
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There's also an issue of account theft

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You see, when someone stole your login info, they would use the remote deregister website to deregister your primary console and make their console the primary.

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and then they change the password, locking you out.

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So you will have the restriction of secondary console and no way to change back except contacting customer support asking for help.

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So be careful with that.

bold root
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Ironically, I'm a game artist with a published Switch game, so I should probably be fully opposed to all forms of game sharing, but eh, if more people are enjoying the game in the end I'm not fussed about it (not that individual employees typically see any profit from extra game sales after a game is launched anyhow). We're all just trying to get by out here!

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Oh yeah for sure, I'd never do this outside of our closed spousal same-house ecosystem

upbeat wolf
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Yeah I can see the reason. But that's just how it is

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What games you were involved with btw?

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I'm learning some digital art but haha not that good yet. I made the avatar you are seeing here 😛

bold root
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I'll hit ya in DM so I don't spam up this thread. 😆 Thanks again for all the help here!

upbeat wolf
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No problem. Let me know your result. I need as much info as I can get.

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Later on, I may have to rewrite the guide with some more clarity

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But I'm always afraid people don't understand it at all or simply don't read because it's too long

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I guess you saw the guide on the subreddit's wiki, eh?

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It's in this server as well

bold root
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I can probably help whip up some visuals for the rewrite later if I can figure out as clear of a way to convey it visually as possible

upbeat wolf
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nvm I forgot I did call that tag before

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Nice, that'd be great

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For now, I'm still not really sure if the parallel method can work correctly. Supposedly it's a way to do online multiplayer on certain games.

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The offline method is what you will be using though

bold root
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I think I found some rehashed reshared article with the same information, but I've lost track of the link at this point, there's a bunch of guides out there citing 'parallel method' now thanks to your initial guide's phrasing

upbeat wolf
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0_o

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Huh

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I didn't think people would share that guide haha but ok

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Next time I'll put credit at the bottom lol

bold root
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It's the internet, everyone everywhere chews up info and spits it out as their own!

upbeat wolf
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It was made on discord at first haha

fair cape
upbeat wolf
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x)

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I changed it twice but the more I look at it, the more I feel unsure about it

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Random admin passing by shooting me praises haha

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Anyway, that'd be it, let me know the result @bold root
I'm gonna go rest now, it's like 1:48AM where I am

bold root
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Will do, thank you again! ❤️