Poll: Do we really need xbox live mics?

[Chunko]

I'm really sick of the communication on Xbox Live.

Every time I play online the only thing people seem to use mics for is harassing other players, and commenting on peoples' usernames. I've never seen players use them used for strategy. They seem more like a distraction than anything else. The worst bit is whenever I try to play Left 4 Dead 2 without a mic I'm instantly kicked from the lobby.

However I do understand that some people do use them for strategy, though I've yet to be put on a team with them. I like the concept of people communicating, but whenever I try to strategize people just ignore me.

I'm looking forward to Halo Reach for one reason and one reason only; they're providing settings on matchmaking with the option to play without mics, as well as letting people play with people who use them for strategy as apposed to trash talking. I think all online games you have matchmaking settings to let people play without mics.

Are xbox live mics a nuisance, or are they central to gameplay?

 

[Cabisco]

I have my mic on right now and have met some nice people.

Most people just stick in parties now anyways. Still i'm just gonna suggest you take your mic out and turn the volume for the peoples mics off.

 

[sneakypenguin]

THey are fun to annoy the piss out of people, and good for team play in co-op games. However things like halo or COD where you can pretty much carry a team on your own they aren't needed but are fun to trash talk with.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

This is why I play with friends and almost never leave a party.

The odd occasions I try and make peace with the natives I end up regretting it as some idiot starts ranting about lag switches, hacking and general idiocy.

But then again why limit this to xbox live?

Does the PS3 need microphones? Does the PC? Does the PC even need text chat?

Why not just remove all of it so people have to use 3rd party chat programs.

 

[Judgement101]

Its central to gameplay in some games, L4D2 for example, needs a mic to instruct the other players. The reason you were kicked is probably because most people want to set up a plan, if one person doesn't have a mic and someone is downed then they are left screaming "Get me up! No stop attacking zombies and revive me! What the hell, get me up!" Where if you do have a mic it would go "Get me up!" "Ok" "Thanks"

 

[Chunko]

Its central to gameplay in some games, L4D2 for example, needs a mic to instruct the other players. The reason you were kicked is probably because most people want to set up a plan, if one person doesn't have a mic and someone is downed then they are left screaming "Get me up! No stop attacking zombies and revive me! What the hell, get me up!" Where if you do have a mic it would go "Get me up!" "Ok" "Thanks"

Usually I plug in my mic and then once I get in a game I unplug it. It's never affected how well/poorly my team does.

 

[Grey_Focks]

Battlefield Bad Company 2. Not many people use their mics on that game (sadly) but when they do the community is actually pretty nice. I've met some good people in that game, and us talking together discussing strategy even led to us winning a couple games.

 

[Xyliss]

I've just done Dead Centre on expert for the first time and wouldn't have been able to do it without a mic. So yea, I'd say we still need them. There was no harassing or anything, we just all worked together and did it (eventually)

 

[enzilewulf]

Can be used for strategy considering Thats what me and my friend did on crackdown to kill all the cell strongholds. Any who. That "only people who use if for strategy" option will fail. Horribly. How can you tell? does Bungie record everything you say?

Battlefield Bad Company 2. Not many people use their mics on that game (sadly) but when they do the community is actually pretty nice. I've met some good people in that game, and us talking together discussing strategy even led to us winning a couple games.

Thats because you can only hear up to 4 people in your squad. Yet there is a lot of people in the game with mics.. just not always in their party

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I have my mic on right now and have met some nice people.

Most people just stick in parties now anyways. Still i'm just gonna suggest you take your mic out and turn the volume for the peoples mics off.

I agree with this. During my early days on XBL was pretty cool. I met interesting people and have maintained some of those friendships as well.

 

[Chunko]

Battlefield Bad Company 2. Not many people use their mics on that game (sadly) but when they do the community is actually pretty nice. I've met some good people in that game, and us talking together discussing strategy even led to us winning a couple games.

I always thought it would be kind of cool if they could let you use the D-Pad to communicate in that game.

Can be used for strategy considering Thats what me and my friend did on crackdown to kill all the cell strongholds. Any who. That "only people who use if for strategy" option will fail. Horribly. How can you tell? does Bungie record everything you say?

I feel like it's going to work. Trolls will get more of a reaction out of people who use mics for chatting.

 

[2fish]

Yes afterall when I do find a good team in a party I like to warn them of danger. It is important to be able to funtion as a team. This may not always work but it is how I add people to my friends list. If you get sick of the mic then take it off, problem solved.

 

[enzilewulf]

Battlefield Bad Company 2. Not many people use their mics on that game (sadly) but when they do the community is actually pretty nice. I've met some good people in that game, and us talking together discussing strategy even led to us winning a couple games.

I always thought it would be kind of cool if they could let you use the D-Pad to communicate in that game.

Can be used for strategy considering Thats what me and my friend did on crackdown to kill all the cell strongholds. Any who. That "only people who use if for strategy" option will fail. Horribly. How can you tell? does Bungie record everything you say?

I feel like it's going to work. Trolls will get more of a reaction out of people who use mics for chatting.

What I don't get is there has to be some sort of restriction on people who do troll. Because anyone could go in and troll the hell out of it. Seems weird. O well we will see.

 

[Srkkl]

I don't use them unless I'm playing with friends, to strategize. And usually I'm in party chat so no one else can annoy me. They are only useless when you don't play multi-player with friends.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Every time I play on Live without my headset (the wiry goddamn thing requires untangling every time I take it out of storage) I end up regretting it. Just last night, I decided not to use it, and ended up having to shoot at an enemy chopper at wild angles from my own copter's gunner seat, because I couldn't tell my pilot that an enemy Apache was right behind us.

Didn't end well. But on the other hand, I usually like to leave it off because Bad Company 2 has caused me to come down with a unique, extremely violent temper exclusive to the frighteningly common occurrence of being put on a team of sergeants versus an entire team of level 50's, as though the game expects me to carry my entire team to victory.

 

[Chunko]

Battlefield Bad Company 2. Not many people use their mics on that game (sadly) but when they do the community is actually pretty nice. I've met some good people in that game, and us talking together discussing strategy even led to us winning a couple games.

I always thought it would be kind of cool if they could let you use the D-Pad to communicate in that game.

Can be used for strategy considering Thats what me and my friend did on crackdown to kill all the cell strongholds. Any who. That "only people who use if for strategy" option will fail. Horribly. How can you tell? does Bungie record everything you say?

I feel like it's going to work. Trolls will get more of a reaction out of people who use mics for chatting.

What I don't get is there has to be some sort of restriction on people who do troll. Because anyone could go in and troll the hell out of it. Seems weird. O well we will see.

Maybe I should explain a bit; you select what kind of server you want to play on (chatting, silent, strategic) and then get matched up with other people who picked the same option. Trolls will select chatting so that when they smack talk people they'll get a reaction. Then they won't bother the people who actually want to play the game who are on the other servers.

 

[Gralian]

I don't use my mic unless i'm in a party with friends. Other than that, i either can't be bothered, never speak up anyway, or can't see the point.

 

[sovietkitty101]

there are always going to be dicks on xbl, but i have met some nice people from america on halo 3 who i still talk to. But these days i mainly go on xbox now to talk to school friends.

 

[Nouw]

A mic can save your life. That should be enough of a reason

 

[open trap]

This is why i use the mute button.