Of course there is nothing immersive about typing, but it's also a seemless and silent process.
I can tell a lot of you haven't played many MMOs or probably just played World of Warcraft and don't know any better, but back in the days when little kids didn't sit on Xbox Live all day bitching about lag over their mics, there was a small level of immersion in games.
UO, EQ, DAoC, SWG.... All of those games actually kept you in the game. Of course, it wasn't totally real or anything, but you actually played in the world that was created with a fantasy mindset. And even people who talked out of character or had names like "OMgNewblet" weren't really noticed. If you weren't looking, you didn't care.
I don't think voice chat is bad as a 3rd party program that people might want to use themselves, but when you implement it in a game it almost becomes a necessity to keep up with the other players that are using it. And that is where the problem lies... You are almost forced to listen to little kids screaming "Pull! MoB! OMG WTF JUST HAPPEN I DIED! lolllz" instead of enjoying the in game sounds or music... or maybe music of your own.
Voice chat is fine. To me it doesn't ruin immersion, so long as its used in small doses. Back in UO, EQ, etc my friends/guilds used voice confrencing/teamspeak/vent when we played. We didnt force people to join in on it, and while grouping with non users we typed to the group, using voice for idle chit chat.
But, I do see your point.
People rely heavily on voice these days. In WoW it was like it was mandatory (even before they added it to the game). Groups went silent, save for the occasional "Pull" "Heal" "brb serial killer at the door". I even had friends yelling at people in PUGS yelling at people over vent who weren't even on the server.
People just need to learn that voice chat is nice to have, not everyone uses it, and when in a group with people who dont use it, type. Even if its just random nonsense. Make a joke, tell a simple story. Get to know your fellow player.
As for games including voice chat? Keep it to the third party apps. Most games impliment it horribly, and there are better things the devs could spend thier time on doing. Plus I don't want to join a group and be told I HAVE to join the voice chat, or have the voice chat auto on so I can hear some whiney dingleberry or overly passionate douche yelling and screaming because the healer didnt heal fast enough, or the stealth aggroed, etc.
There are 3 types of people in the world. 1.) Those who make things happen 2.) Those who watch things happen 3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
I should try it. I have been playing WOW for a while but never use voice chat.
Is it common? I would love to use it. Saying "almost out of mana" is a lot more efficient than typing "almost OOM" when I am trying to DPS, keep a sheep under control and watch for patrols.
Any game that requires some teamwork, voice chat is way better. Even if people say "No man, my guild can do a 200 man raid without voice chat..." A group with voice chat that also work well together will do better in the end.
Yes, in an FPS settings, Voice chat is crucial and we would never allow a member to play a match without voice chat. Every game I've played on Quake 3 or RTCW or Unreal, I was using voice chat and it was a requirement for my team. unless you're playing a cal-open game then I don't see it happening.
Hate or love it, I personaly love it and use it like MSN.. therefore, my computer starts and ventrilo logs on.
I should try it. I have been playing WOW for a while but never use voice chat. Is it common? I would love to use it. Saying "almost out of mana" is a lot more efficient than typing "almost OOM" when I am trying to DPS, keep a sheep under control and watch for patrols.
Somehow I think if the words "Almost out of mana" actually came out of my mouth, I'd feel like my ability to obtain vagina on a daily basis would plummet drastically.
Comments
Of course there is nothing immersive about typing, but it's also a seemless and silent process.
I can tell a lot of you haven't played many MMOs or probably just played World of Warcraft and don't know any better, but back in the days when little kids didn't sit on Xbox Live all day bitching about lag over their mics, there was a small level of immersion in games.
UO, EQ, DAoC, SWG.... All of those games actually kept you in the game. Of course, it wasn't totally real or anything, but you actually played in the world that was created with a fantasy mindset. And even people who talked out of character or had names like "OMgNewblet" weren't really noticed. If you weren't looking, you didn't care.
I don't think voice chat is bad as a 3rd party program that people might want to use themselves, but when you implement it in a game it almost becomes a necessity to keep up with the other players that are using it. And that is where the problem lies... You are almost forced to listen to little kids screaming "Pull! MoB! OMG WTF JUST HAPPEN I DIED! lolllz" instead of enjoying the in game sounds or music... or maybe music of your own.
I dunno... just seems like crap.
Voice chat is fine. To me it doesn't ruin immersion, so long as its used in small doses. Back in UO, EQ, etc my friends/guilds used voice confrencing/teamspeak/vent when we played. We didnt force people to join in on it, and while grouping with non users we typed to the group, using voice for idle chit chat.
But, I do see your point.
People rely heavily on voice these days. In WoW it was like it was mandatory (even before they added it to the game). Groups went silent, save for the occasional "Pull" "Heal" "brb serial killer at the door". I even had friends yelling at people in PUGS yelling at people over vent who weren't even on the server.
People just need to learn that voice chat is nice to have, not everyone uses it, and when in a group with people who dont use it, type. Even if its just random nonsense. Make a joke, tell a simple story. Get to know your fellow player.
As for games including voice chat? Keep it to the third party apps. Most games impliment it horribly, and there are better things the devs could spend thier time on doing. Plus I don't want to join a group and be told I HAVE to join the voice chat, or have the voice chat auto on so I can hear some whiney dingleberry or overly passionate douche yelling and screaming because the healer didnt heal fast enough, or the stealth aggroed, etc.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
I should try it. I have been playing WOW for a while but never use voice chat.
Is it common? I would love to use it. Saying "almost out of mana" is a lot more efficient than typing "almost OOM" when I am trying to DPS, keep a sheep under control and watch for patrols.
Any game that requires some teamwork, voice chat is way better. Even if people say "No man, my guild can do a 200 man raid without voice chat..." A group with voice chat that also work well together will do better in the end.
Yes, in an FPS settings, Voice chat is crucial and we would never allow a member to play a match without voice chat. Every game I've played on Quake 3 or RTCW or Unreal, I was using voice chat and it was a requirement for my team. unless you're playing a cal-open game then I don't see it happening.
Hate or love it, I personaly love it and use it like MSN.. therefore, my computer starts and ventrilo logs on.
Somehow I think if the words "Almost out of mana" actually came out of my mouth, I'd feel like my ability to obtain vagina on a daily basis would plummet drastically.