If they do have an option of having voice chat on and off, I'd say they ideally should also have two separate matchmaking groups; one with voice chat required to be enabled and the other that doesn't matter. That way you'd have the strategy voice chat if you opted in and otherwise just have fun on the other.

No, because apparently what ever Nintendo says is law. They make it their duty to parent each and ever child that plays on their system. I mean it's not like they have parents for that or anything.

You do realize this is the first time Nintendo has ever made shooter that is from the groundup designed to be multiplayer? Most multiplayer shooters are from the West, and are targeted towards teens-adults as opposed to this IP which tries to be for all ages. They haven't finalized anything, so why are you assuming it'll be policed completely?

After what I've seen on MiiVerse, it's probably for the best.

I don't want to communicate with my "Why can't Metroid crawl" team member.

I'm not too surprised due to the risks, but like hsrob said, parental controls are definitely an option they can try out to make things better.

Nintendo's reputation has waxed and waned over the years but the one consistent thing is the perception of them being family friendly, it's part their brand. I can understand them not wanting to risk that lightly but certainly some forethought should see them able to navigate these waters without controversy.

But the fact that they're pondering on it is stupid. Diamond/Pearl on the DS had voice chat and that was totally unnecessary but a game with an active combat system that requires teamwork and coordination does not? Ok then...

That was developed by GameFreak, and as you know the heads of this development group are new and never made a game that required voice chat before. Nintendo in general has rarely done voice chat before, so it's understandable they're thinking about how to approach it.

Of course it won't. Voice chat is only for racial slurs and inviting young boys into strange men's homes.

No voice chat will kill this game. Nintendo is stupid and in the stone age for actually considering not putting in voice chat with this type of game. Make it friends and team only then, if you must be retarded. They will never get the hard core gamer for reasons like this. Stupid stupid Nintendo, that's just stupid.