Should gaming online be a mic only zone?

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Jun 23, 2008
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In Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, there is a degree of ambiance, especially with the banter between the four characters, that is lost when people use their mics, and this is the polite, if talkative ones. Some who share my opinion may equip mics but refrain from using them except when necessary.

Myself, I have a system of over 100 prefabricated lines of text dialogue that I use to keep my fellow survivors informed (say, to alert regarding an incoming horde, or the breath of a lurking tank), yet minimizing my footprint in the game's atmosphere.

I for one, don't mind the shrill squeaks of a tween or young teen if his vocal commentary contributes to the play.[footnote]Most kids I've encountered on L4D have been fairly well behaved, possibly more because of the teamwork-intensive play than the M-rating.[/footnote] Far worse are obnoxious drunkards who will blab a continuous monologue over the play, often with racial or sexist epithets regarding the non-white and female characters in the game. I've hotkeyed code to turn their mic input off, and a tip that explains to others how to do the same.[footnote]"Tech Tip: You can use voice_show_mute and voice_mute # to target and mute unwanted chatter, respectively."[/footnote] Once posted, said obnoxious guys will usually start gunning me before getting themselves kicked.

Of course there's plenty of folk who are obnoxious even when not in their cups. Some will get offended if we don't cordially welcome them into the game via mic. And then there are those who will pipe in their own music, clipped movie audio or other soundtrack, because they can. These were the guys who drove me to learn how to cut off specific-player audio input in the first place.

So, no. Until the human race becomes an entirely more civilized bunch, I'd say no. In fact, I look forward to a time when speech-to-text is fast and accurate enough to be integrated into games.

238U.
 

TheScientificIssole

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Jun 9, 2011
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No, I sometimes play games to get away from having to talk to people, and that's people I like, so random people don't make it any better.
 

Clive Howlitzer

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Jan 27, 2011
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No thanks. I own a headset and I use it sometimes for certain games with friends. However I have no desire to listen to random people on voice chat. Text is fine with me.
 

darkfire613

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Jun 26, 2009
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Fuck no. I never play with a mic online (unless I'm in a party with friends) and I mute everyone else so I don't have to listen to the whiny racist 12-year-olds that plague Xbox Live. I'd cancel my Live subscription if I had to use a mic.

By the way, my captcha was Kalakaua [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalākaua] scifi. Would be an interesting mash-up.
 

DirgeNovak

I'm anticipating DmC. Flame me.
Jul 23, 2008
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Fuck no. Competitive games have no need for them whatsoever and co-op games should have communication tools built within it, like Portal 2 and to a lesser extent Resident Evil 5. Headsets are a plus in co-op games - me and my Portal partner have had a few misunderstandings during our playthrough of the game that could have more easily solved by one - but the comm tools built in the game are sufficient.

Besides, would you imagine the aural clusterfuck that would make if everyone had a mic in, say, Resistance? 60 people all trying to speak at the same time? My ears are bleeding already.

Also, fucking twelve years old. That point stands on its own.
 

Athinira

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Jan 25, 2010
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sravankb said:
Co-op gaming should. Games like L4D, Portal 2 (you're a nuisance to the other player if you're not using a mic here), and Gears of War 2's Horde mode.
Short answer: No.

Don't like the quality of your partners in Co-Op games, then there is an easy solution: Get (or make) friends who play the game as well.

I own several of the games you mention, and if i want to play in the middle of the night without waking up my sister next room, then that's what I'll do. I'm still more than capable of listening even without a microphone.
 

Ultima Shadow

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Apr 8, 2009
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Some days, no matter what the game, I just don't feel like using a mic. At all. Especially when I'm just playing to unwind or whatever.

That said, when I'm playing L4D2 without my mic plugged in, I make a point to avoid any modes except Campaign, and any difficulties above Normal. There's a fine line between not wanting to talk, and just being a silent, uncooperative douche.
 

Evil the White

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Apr 16, 2009
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cameron196789 said:
co-op games, but not MMO, everyone just gets annoyed at the one guy shouting orders on tf2.
Hence why if more people had mics, then it would be easier, as it would be easier to get some cooperation.

Also, because it's more satisfying to shout at the dude you just ubered (with allspeak on, for added effect) because he ran in the opposite direction to the enemy when you ubered him.
 

timithy4569

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Aug 18, 2009
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Everyone should have the availability to use a mic they should however be forced to use a mic. A mic is invaluable to multiplier experience and in some situation it is required. The easiest way to make good friends online is to have a mic and it's great to be able to make new friends. You can't/shouldn't force people to make friends.

Mic use shouldn't be forced but everyone should use a mic every once in a while.
 

scar_47

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Sep 25, 2010
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Absolutely not theres no reason to force gamers to have a mic, most people don't use them and 90% of those that do are just talking smack or conversing with friends or having really weird conversations, most games don't require teamwork to win which is nice since its so rarely used even in games where theres an emphasis on teamwork like bad company 2 your in squads rarely does anyone do anything but use you as a mobile spawn point. Theres no reason to force the use of mics if it doesn't further the game, I play with a mic but almost always just mute everyone but my buddies I don't care to hear people and their music which is always horrible if your listening to music mute the mic for heavens sake or you get the people who are cussing everyone out for doing poorly theres no reason to subject everyone to that.
 

MoNKeyYy

Evidence or GTFO
Jun 29, 2010
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Umm, are you insane? I wouldn't even endorse this in a co-op only game.

Some people (Like me) are just anti social dicks who want to eat their cake.
 

LegionDre

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Sep 2, 2010
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You don't need a mic to play a game but if you want to communicate well you damn well better. It is so easy to miss something someone is typing in the heat of battle. Just being able to say "2 at B!" really quick just to let people on my team know that some baddies be defending the B capture point is valuable. If I were to type that out, granted it would take no time but there is no sure way of knowing that anyone will read it. Most guilds have a mandatory ventrilo activity rule. If your online your on vent.

Communication is always better than no communication. You can mute the ass-clowns. Just calling targets and giving info will make everyone on your team benefit. If you don't have a mic your probably not going to be making to many friends online anyway. Unless they have a proper chat like in an mmo where people will actually read it.
 

Karma168

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Nov 7, 2010
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Definitely not! I feel no particular need to talk to some complete stranger halfway round the world when i'm playing multiplayer. I'm there to have play the game not socialize.

Co-op however i agree that you need to be able to communicate to play efficiently.
 

Rawne1980

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Jul 29, 2011
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Not all the time no.

If it relies heavily on teamwork then yes but if it's workable without then I really don't want to talk to random people if it can be helped.

Not that i'm unsociable or I hate people (well some people I do but not all) but everytime i've hopped onto a game with people I don't know i've always had that 1 moron that shouts and screams and seems to think "beyatch" is a fun term to use.

Although the first time I heard someone say that I thought they were bee keepers saying bee hatch.
 

Quid Plura

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Apr 27, 2010
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I use a mic when playing with people I know. Otherwist it's just a game of Russian roulette. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Besides, my first language isn't English. For me that isn't too big a deal, but for some it means they can't communicate (for example 12 year olds)