Should gaming online be a mic only zone?

[DirgeNovak]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Fuck no. The vast squeaker population online would block out everything with their shrill cries.

 

[Karma168]

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]

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]

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)

 

[Zeema]

Yes

i hate playing Co Op games like COD Zombies and have no one to inform that there are zombies on my bum.

 

[Superior Mind]

Good God no.

The amount of people with mics who use them to squawk endless bulshit is enough. I agree they are useful in a good environment, think small squads, but I find myself having to use the 'mute' function more often than not.

 

[suitepee7]

never. gaming online can be fun, but i only EVER use a mic with my friends, and that isn't even in game, that is with an external program like ventrilo or teamspeak. i HATE talking in games, because the in-game mic controls are usually shite, so everybody speaks at different volumes, its either inpossible to hear or deafening. long story short, i mute everybody.

 

[Brownie101]

Dear Lord no.
If you're playing with a decent team (Or indeed, just one other player that you have some synergy with) you don't need a mic.

Story time.

Today while playing TF2, I had gone demoman. As I ran out of our 2Fort base, a medic had decided to tag along and heal me. At this point, we were losing 0-2 caps. Thanks to this medic, I killed 4 people with the Half Zatoichi and a further 5 with my 'nade launcher. And we capped the intel without a hitch. The medic just knew when I needed the Uber. I didn't have to type anything, or even use the quick-chat commands. We just worked well together.

 

[Trillovinum]

You are probably one of a very few people that actually want to strategise online.

most people I hear online are just making annoying noises, are swearing or have loud music on.
I usually end up muting these guys.

Personally I don't feel the urge to make myself heard and I don't want to listen to other people's ramblings, at least not in a competitive online environment.

for pc games you can type if you really want to say something in online rpg s or rts es but for quick pased shooters you don't really need communication.

 

[Bostur]

Hell no. Mouthbreathing 10 year olds making pew pew sounds is the worst immersion breaker ever.

Voice chat is great when playing with friends, but it needs to stay away from public multiplayer. Besides you don't need a mic to follow orders, text is much more effective for 20+ people typing "rgr", "rdy" or "help".

 

[Ocealot]

I understand completely. I mean when playing battlefeild BC:2 Mic's enhance the game and you rarely get annoying unintellgient trash talkers, but I wouldn't say mic only. Instead I would say a Mic encoraged zone.

 

[mjc0961]

As an owner of a Turtle Beach Headset PX21, every time I play online, I play with my $100 mic and gaming with other people has never been the same, but ever time I play online with no one but me using a mic, I feel lonely, and unable to strategise.

So... Should gaming online be a mic only zone?

Heeeeeeeeeeeeell no! I have nothing to say to all the people out there who use racial slurs, scream, flame, cry hax every time they die, brag way too much every time they get a kill, have their TVs up too loud so that all the noise from their TV is being played back to everyone in the game, are playing music too loud so we all have to hear it too, and so on and so on. Well, other than "shut the fuck up". And I don't need that crap being played right in my ear instead of from the TV where it's easier to ignore because it doesn't come out very loud.

I'll use mics when I feel its appropriate, which is very rarely. Otherwise, no thanks.