So I don't have a mic. So what?

[Trivun]

Something I've noticed in the past is that people seem to be instantly hating of any person who dares to play a game online without a microphone. Apparently, if you don't have a mic, you can't play the game. And it makes me wonder. Am I the only person who thinks that's unfair?

Now, I have a PC and an Xbox 360. I have a headset for the Xbox but it's useless because I'm not on Xbox Live. I play online sometimes on my PC, especially L4D, but I don't have a mic. Yet whenever I see threads on the internet, especially on the Escapist, about people playing games such as L4D, TF2, COD and so on, people seem utterly disparaging of those who don't have a mic. To quote:

I haven't had anyone randomly add me from the GT in my profile, I have found some good players using the groups, though, and can't think of any bad players I've met from Escapist. I guess you should't expect to be annoyed by random adds, but if you actually want people to add you, use the groups.

You...don't really think we're all assholes...do you?

no just YOU!!! nah just kidding, i was just reffering to assholes in general. u know the people that think they are the best at codwaw or the assholes that play l4d without a mic for example.

Note the end of that last sentence.

the assholes that play l4d without a mic for example.

See what I mean?

I don't have a mic. Does this mean that I can't play L4D? Should I automatically be kicked from any online game because I can't actually talk to my allies, even though I can just as easily type something to them in the same amount of time? And the same goes for other online games. Is it really fair that people who don't have a mic shouldn't be able to enjoy online gaming like everyone else?

On a side note, what about dumb people? People who can't talk would have no need for a mic, yet may well enjoy gaming as much as anyone else. Where do people stand on that issue?

 

[EeveeElectro]

I don't have a mic, so they don't believe I'm a girl and kick me out.
Most of the time they just talk to each other and never even start the game -.-

 

[Sassafrass]

I think I was once kicked from L4D match for having no mic...then again they were kicking everyone and everything.

It doesn't mean you can't play anything, it just means you can play in peace without hearing random screeches and insults that people throw around over LIVE or on PC servers being feed personally into your ears. Sure, you'll hear them without a headset but it's even more annoying when a kid yells 'BBBAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! F**K YOU, YOU P***K!!!' into something that is a millimetre from your ear.

 

[wolfy098]

What sasquatch said...

 

[Armored Prayer]

I never use my mic online. But I also have never been kicked out of a match because of it. Most of the time the other players are either talking to each other or not talking at all.

 

[TPiddy]

I believe that if you go online with the intent of playing a co-op based game, it's just common courtesy to have a mic or a good method of communication.

I don't game on PC, but I'd imagine the full keyboard makes it easier to communicate without a mic. XBox live, however, has no support for keyboard messages to your party and the like. It's fine if you want to play like a competitive game or a deathmatch or something, but games where the emphasis is on co-op, you should really try to have a mic, unless you don't speak their language or can't speak at all (as some people in my other mic thread have brought up).

Some people can manage to be good co-operative team mates without the use of a mic, but these people are few and far between.

 

[Klepa]

I remember back when CS was the new hotness, people would get kicked out from servers if they had a mic. Nobody wanted to hear that useless 2KHz mumbling in their games.

The times they are a changing.

 

[7moreDead_v1legacy]

I've got a mic - Don't like using it though, I'd rather listen to the game sounds than people natter on. Yes it can give you a tactical advantage when playing comp, but when playing for "lol's" its not need -.-

 

[Mordwyl]

Yes, I'll go right ahead and appease the morons that scream in their mic as I'm trying to relax playing a videogame.

I'll use my headset when I damn well please. Who's right is it to tell me how to play the game, especially if I play it well?

 

[TheBarefootBandit]

I can't stand mics when you've got people screaming murder over one kill they got. It's just annoying, I just like playing and doing my own thing.

But like someone said above, if you're playing co-op a uselful way of communicating would help (like in RES5).

 

[Ciarang]

I do have I headset, but me talking into it is a rarity.

Also, if I had Left 4 Dead I'd make a few useful binds, "There's a hunter on me!" [small]Is that what they're called ?[/small] and some other ones.

 

[Amnestic]

Considering how most of the crap I hear online is unnecessary and not in the least bit pertinent to the game at hand, I never saw fit to purchase a mic for my 360 and my USB headset on my PC broke recently - not seen much point in replacing it.

Generally I'll feel better if no one in the games I join have a mic because at least then I'm guaranteed to not suffer any ear rape from the latest Soulja Boy track or some 13 year old treating Xbox Live like his personal karaoke machine.

So yeah, I play L4D (PC) without a mic, I play Halo 3 (360, obviously) without a mic. In fact, the only game I played with a microphone recently was WoW for Teamspeak purposes during raids and I quit playing shortly after my headset broke.

Summary? Mic or no, you're welcome in my game. Just don't start playing your shitty music or singing down the internet and we're cool.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Mics are vital for L4D, they're the most reliable way of communicating, you can type when it's quiet but when there's a horde rush or a tank you can't expect people to stop not dieing to read your message and/or location.

It's incredibly annoying to have players get silently dragged to their death only to ***** on the rest of them team for not noticing when they made precisely no noise.

Plus you get to hear people's anguished cries for help in versus...


A mic's not vital and you'd never get kicked off the servers I play for being silent, but in any team based game sooner or later you will need to communicate. A mic's the fastest and most likely to noticed method of doing it, it's convienience more than anything.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

The headset provided with the 360 is uncomfortable, utterly un-ergonomic, and a flimsy piece of shit.

It makes my damn head feel unsymmetrical.

No wonder people don't want to use it.

 

[setting_son]

I have the mic for the 360 but it's hardly worth it. Either nobody talks and it's pointless or EVERYONE talks and they're obnoxious 14 year olds broadcasting hip-hop, which is equally pointless.

 

[soulasylum85]

Something I've noticed in the past is that people seem to be instantly hating of any person who dares to play a game online without a microphone. Apparently, if you don't have a mic, you can't play the game. And it makes me wonder. Am I the only person who thinks that's unfair?

Now, I have a PC and an Xbox 360. I have a headset for the Xbox but it's useless because I'm not on Xbox Live. I play online sometimes on my PC, especially L4D, but I don't have a mic. Yet whenever I see threads on the internet, especially on the Escapist, about people playing games such as L4D, TF2, COD and so on, people seem utterly disparaging of those who don't have a mic. To quote:

I haven't had anyone randomly add me from the GT in my profile, I have found some good players using the groups, though, and can't think of any bad players I've met from Escapist. I guess you should't expect to be annoyed by random adds, but if you actually want people to add you, use the groups.

You...don't really think we're all assholes...do you?

no just YOU!!! nah just kidding, i was just reffering to assholes in general. u know the people that think they are the best at codwaw or the assholes that play l4d without a mic for example.

Note the end of that last sentence.

the assholes that play l4d without a mic for example.

See what I mean?

I don't have a mic. Does this mean that I can't play L4D? Should I automatically be kicked from any online game because I can't actually talk to my allies, even though I can just as easily type something to them in the same amount of time? And the same goes for other online games. Is it really fair that people who don't have a mic shouldn't be able to enjoy online gaming like everyone else?

On a side note, what about dumb people? People who can't talk would have no need for a mic, yet may well enjoy gaming as much as anyone else. Where do people stand on that issue?

wow first time i said something in one thread and it got quoted in another. i dont know about l4d on pc as i cant stand pc gaming (not flaming i just personally cant stand using a mouse and keyboard as i have always played consoles)but as far as the 360 goes you are hindering both yours and everyone elses chance of survival by not using your mic. for competitive games i really dont care either way but in games that are co op i think a mic should always be used, not only does it aid in performance but usually everyone has a much better time. and yes i have kicked people out of my lobby in l4d for not having a mic.

 

[johnman]

I remember back when CS was the new hotness, people would get kicked out from servers if they had a mic. Nobody wanted to hear that useless 2KHz mumbling in their games.

The times they are a changing.

Css is still the hotness, I havent found a multiplayer experiance that is better than it yet.

 

[Sonicron]

I remember back when CS was the new hotness, people would get kicked out from servers if they had a mic. Nobody wanted to hear that useless 2KHz mumbling in their games.

The times they are a changing.

Funny, this is exactly what I was thinking. In my opinion all that useless jabbering is detrimental to the atmosphere of the game and, therefore, has no place in it.

 

[Spleenbag]

I believe that if you go online with the intent of playing a co-op based game, it's just common courtesy to have a mic or a good method of communication.

I don't game on PC, but I'd imagine the full keyboard makes it easier to communicate without a mic. XBox live, however, has no support for keyboard messages to your party and the like. It's fine if you want to play like a competitive game or a deathmatch or something, but games where the emphasis is on co-op, you should really try to have a mic, unless you don't speak their language or can't speak at all (as some people in my other mic thread have brought up).

Some people can manage to be good co-operative team mates without the use of a mic, but these people are few and far between.

What this man said. Common courtesy to use our new technology. ESPECIALLY on PC, in my opinion, which is why I'm bothered when people turn on All-Talk in TF2: you're taking away the primary advantage of shooting and talking at the same time!

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

even though I can just as easily type something to them in the same amount of time?

I actually think it's easier if someone types something. It can become impractical if hordes of undead are attacking though.

A combination of terrible hearing and God-awful sound quality means I hate mics a lot. But then again, I don't even like playing online with people, mainly because it involves other people.