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

[TPiddy]

You know you can plug a USB keyboard into an xbox and type using that.

OP: I find that when I finally get my mic working I have nothing interesting to say.

Yes, I know you can, but one of the big reasons I'm NOT a PC gamer is because I don't like the keyboard / mouse combination for gaming. What can I say, I played a console before I ever touched a computer.

 

[TPiddy]

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

I'm not saying they're mandatory, just recommended.... I've already said that it's possible for people to be good team mates without communicating verbally... I don't have a problem with these people, but notifying people helps as well. It's not a huge make or break issue, I just prefer playing with other players that speak English and use their mics.

 

[teh_gunslinger]

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).

That actually raises a point I've been wondering about. I don't know if you play on Live or whatever, but I often hear stories from Halo that the opposing guys are screaming at you? Is that true? Is games played with 'All Talk' on? If so, why? At least in TDM and CTF it seems silly.

 

[teh_gunslinger]

Sorry for double post.

 

[Ammadessi]

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

I'm not saying they're mandatory, just recommended.... I've already said that it's possible for people to be good team mates without communicating verbally... I don't have a problem with these people, but notifying people helps as well. It's not a huge make or break issue, I just prefer playing with other players that speak English and use their mics.

I admit I don't play L4D, which seems to be the one that everyone brings up when they're talking about using mics, but is there no UI, is there no option for text input? While people with functioning ears and voiceboxes can go ahead and use mics, I just think that the direction that gaming is taking away from text based communication is making it a lot less inclusive for this with disabilities.

 

[Jonci]

Why do you need a mic to call for help in L4D? Are you guys playing with your UIs turned off?

The UI works in limited fashion. If the boomer gets you, most warning signs are blocked. If the smoker's gas is around you, you can't use the character's voice. Without a mic you can't tell your group that you need them to wait, go a certain way, or warn them about an infected you just spotted. You can't make plans.

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

If they are deaf, they are already a liability because they can't hear sounds and music important in most games, such as a grenade landing nearby or someone firing at you. If they are mute, they wouldn't have a mic and would get treated the same as any other no-mic. If they can't speak English, language barriers are almost as bad as no language at all. Other than screaming, they can't communicate.

 

[guardian001]

If you don't have a mic you're being a burden to your team. It doesn't make you an ass, but it makes you a lot less fun to play with, especially if you stop every few minutes to type something.

 

[Flames66]

In team games such as L4D a mic is very useful for speaking to your team mates. I don't personally rage as if someone doesn't but it doesn't help that, being dyslexic, it takes me a long time to read anything in the chat so I'll probably be dead by the time I've read it.

 

[Ammadessi]

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

If they are deaf, they are already a liability because they can't hear sounds and music important in most games, such as a grenade landing nearby or someone firing at you. If they are mute, they wouldn't have a mic and would get treated the same as any other no-mic. If they can't speak English, language barriers are almost as bad as no language at all. Other than screaming, they can't communicate.

So...deaf or mute people shouldn't be allowed to play? People with disabilities like to game too, just saying.

 

[Skylarm]

Actually, I would like to thank people like you who don't have a mic. I can't count the number of times I've had to mute to keep from losing my mind. I mean I know they are there to communicate with other players but it is very hard to get some of the players with rather large egos to shut up. The last time I played L4D I was looking for the witch. I knew she was around and was trying to listen for her when all I could hear was a guy counting how many zombies he had killed in the game. Long story short, I got my head given to me on a silver platter by the witch cause I ran smack dab into her. SO mics, when used responsibly are very helpful, in the hands of a prat, totally useless. If you feel you must run out and buy one, go ahead but they aren't necessary in my opinion.

 

[Jonci]

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

If they are deaf, they are already a liability because they can't hear sounds and music important in most games, such as a grenade landing nearby or someone firing at you. If they are mute, they wouldn't have a mic and would get treated the same as any other no-mic. If they can't speak English, language barriers are almost as bad as no language at all. Other than screaming, they can't communicate.

So...deaf or mute people shouldn't be allowed to play? People with disabilities like to game too, just saying.

They can play. However, if their disability affects my gameplay negatively, they can't play with me. I don't tolerate bad playing from anyone.

 

[Ammadessi]

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

If they are deaf, they are already a liability because they can't hear sounds and music important in most games, such as a grenade landing nearby or someone firing at you. If they are mute, they wouldn't have a mic and would get treated the same as any other no-mic. If they can't speak English, language barriers are almost as bad as no language at all. Other than screaming, they can't communicate.

So...deaf or mute people shouldn't be allowed to play? People with disabilities like to game too, just saying.

They can play. However, if their disability affects my gameplay negatively, they can't play with me. I don't tolerate bad playing from anyone.

It's a game, if you take it so seriously that somebody not being able to talk to you ruins the game play, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Chipperz]

Typing is always, always slower than speaking. Especially was you can't play and type at the same time.

No mic means you are a worse player. Some people don't wat to play with people who not only will be less fun to play with because you can't start up a conversation, but also have a giant handicap.

It's totally fair. Buy a goddamned mic.

Also, stand alone mics are not good enough. Buy a headset. We don't want to hear everything you hear.

A headset costs, like, $5. It's not a big deal.

OK, I have a massive speech impediment. Someone on the other thread about this was mute. Should we still have mics to appease you? Do you want to hear me mumbling and slurring that I'm under attack? Am I just banned from playing online co-op because I don't want to subject other people to my voice?

Come to think of it, what about deaf players? They can't hear you anyway. Are they banned because you say so?

So just out of curiosity, I have a question for everyone who says mics are mandatory.

What if the player is deaf, mute, or otherwise incapable of communicating (severe speech impediment, tenuous grasp of the english language)?

If they are deaf, they are already a liability because they can't hear sounds and music important in most games, such as a grenade landing nearby or someone firing at you. If they are mute, they wouldn't have a mic and would get treated the same as any other no-mic. If they can't speak English, language barriers are almost as bad as no language at all. Other than screaming, they can't communicate.

So...deaf or mute people shouldn't be allowed to play? People with disabilities like to game too, just saying.

They can play. However, if their disability affects my gameplay negatively, they can't play with me. I don't tolerate bad playing from anyone.

It's a game, if you take it so seriously that somebody not being able to talk to you ruins the game play, you're doing it wrong.

Yeah, this. I don't think I'd want to play with someone who NEEDS a microphone to be effective.

 

[Deleted]

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

So we can't talk, kinda self explanatory.

 

[JMV]

I don't have a mic either and honestly, most of the time I can't understand a word of what people say online besides "f**k" and "s**t". However, I usually don't mute them because what I can hear is completely hilarious. Soon I'll be getting a headset but I will be using it exclusively to play with friends.

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

Well, for L4D, not having a mic can be a problem in the more difficult settings. It's a lot faster to shout "There's a hunter behind you!" than to slowly type it out, at which point the person is probably already aware of this from the hunter ripping their ribcage out.

 

[Amnestic]

*snip*

For all that elitism, you've not even survived a campaign on Expert. *golfclap*

 

[Kiutu]

Be attentive if you dont have a mic and Im fine, but most mic people are in parties anyways and thats even worse than a no mic player.

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

In near enough every online game i play, nobody ever says anything. Most people with mics' are already in private parties and whatnot on live so it makes the whole thing pointless. Te only reason i even have a headset for live is so i can talk with my friends. Never turn the damn thing on when i play WaW or COD4 or anything