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Player's that don't use mics in MP centric games ruin them

If youre not playing ranked I think we can all agree this isn't a problem. But saying that "knowing the game means communication is unnecessary" is silly.

If I were playing a ranked game (which I wouldn't), then I'd wear a headset. Simply because I wouldn't want to ruin the game for those who take it seriously, and being in ranked mode, I'm sure they do.

I'll also mic up for Rainbow Six Siege.
 
If we could actually enforce the age limit on games then I'd be down. But being called a dickhead by a 12 year old is not my idea of a good time.
 
I remember playing the Friday the 13th beta.
Really fun game with people with mics.

Without mics, it's like a totally different game. Not as fun, and more frustrating since no one can work together.
 
I still remember that one match of Natural Selection 2.

I joined a random match and no one was communicating. We were just going through the motions and it was pretty evenly matched. I made some mistakes (I was new) so one of my teammates started giving me advice on what I should focus on. The other teammates got so impressed that they asked him to provide advice for them too. Pretty soon we started behaving like a well-oiled machine and that guy became pretty much our team leader. We won that match pretty handily.

Still think that games deserves more success than it got.

EDIT: lol that got off-topic. I was trying to say that mics in games are fine but most of the time people are assholes. It's usually more beneficial to mute everybody in random matchmaking/random servers.
 
I don't use mic in overwatch, but if a player has a plan and says it to the group, I'll support him/her.

Thats what I like

Hate jerks who dont take instruction. U dont have to mic up but just pay attention.


God, Battlefield is a nightmare without teamwork. I sold that game because it has the worst randoms
 
Rarely now has there every been a time that I was like "Dang, wish I had voice chat". Occasionally, in R6 it be nice but nah not worth it. At this point with my headphones, I just heard the movement. I think everyone I don't know is a trash person. And I have a much better experience online then I did back in 2007.
 
I agree with OP for the most part and expected most of the posts in here to be as they are. If you're playing casual mode or quickplay, who cares about being on mic (I usually prefer to have my own music on while playing these modes). But for something competitive where the objective is to win as a team and there is some type of rating system that will be affected, having a mic and using it to communicate the objective will absolutely make the experience much easier.

Mics in a competitive mode of a team based game like Overwatch will absolutely make the team work together better, as long as people are making productive conversation and contribution to the game and what's going on as far as call outs and planning coordinated attacks. Obviously there's gonna be a lot of people that have temper problems and are annoying/racist/etc., but that exists everywhere in life, and the mute function takes care of that online. And even if half the team is on mic and the other 3 are off mic but at least listening, isn't that better then pure silence where you can only use the in game prompts and hope that the team understands what you're trying to say?

Now I'm mostly speaking from console experience, I play Overwatch on PS4 and have actually met some now good online friends through random play. Not EVERYONE is a shit talking, whiny, racist scumbag that gets on mic, some people just like to be social in a game that's based around team work.

I personally grew up playing a ton of online PC games such as TF2 and Left 4 Dead and have a good number of online friends that are totally random people I met through voice chat on games and we still talk and play games to this day. I've even met some in real life and are totally cool people. I actually feel like it's made me a more social person in real life being comfortable talking to random strangers online and being able to start or hold conversations with these people I don't know. Again, you obviously run in to a lot of scumbags and terrible people, but that happens in real life as well (unless you never go out into public or don't have a job interacting with people).

In the end, people are free to play games however they want. Yeah it sucks when the experience is hindered in your opinion due to lack of communication, but again, that happens in all aspects of life and its easier to just accept that and deal with it. At least in online games you have some way to block or mute people. I think people could definitely benefit from being more social and comfortable talking to strangers, especially these days when it's becoming so much easier to just be anti-social, it's not necessarily healthy (but that's a whole different conversation to be had haha).
 
the only time this "play with mics" issue came up for me in OW it was some dude who entered the game and promptly announced "voice chat or i'll throw"

which meant he greatly overestimated my desire to win at all costs, because hearing one more word that came from his mouth would've meant taking a far bigger L than just losing an OW match and moving on. like, I want to win, but i want to never hear from you more.
 
Overwatch seems to piss people off, and it's always people who don't have a group to play with.

Solution is to get a group and create your own experience. Can't expect total strangers to feel the same way you do. Whether it's chatting, picking certain players, or playing a certain way.
 
I'd say the amount of people that have fucked my mom ruin MP centric games, but that's just my experience.
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If I were playing a ranked game (which I wouldn't), then I'd wear a headset. Simply because I wouldn't want to ruin the game for those who take it seriously, and being in ranked mode, I'm sure they do.

I'll also mic up for Rainbow Six Siege.

This! I don't really wanna talk to the average mic-er in Overwatch QP but I am using my mic in competitive.
 
Devs should design the game to automatically call out necessary info then.

Even in something hardcore like Siege they could have auto-callouts like "spotted {class-name} at {location}", "{class-name} down!".

Players who play together can always achieve better, but it'd establish a solid baseline for the game to be fully playable without mics.

This got me thinking about something recently (And yes, I understand if the tech is just not there yet).

You know how, every E3 or major game presentation, when they're showing off a multiplayer game played, the players are spewing off obviously scripted chatter during the video. I think it would be more interesting to have the characters dynamically recite similar lines while playing. You can clearly assess the situation with random teammates without the racist misogyny. Everybody wins.
 
If I were playing a ranked game (which I wouldn't), then I'd wear a headset. Simply because I wouldn't want to ruin the game for those who take it seriously, and being in ranked mode, I'm sure they do.

I'll also mic up for Rainbow Six Siege.

I think were on the same page then.
 
I have to say looking for group on Xbox has made this easier to find players who want to use a mic and are not complete idiots.

I play a lot of RS:Seige and if you don't have a mic your getting kicked from the game. The thing is constant communication is not needed but when we need to switch up things it's invaluable. And RS:S can switch so quickly that knowing what's happening is the difference between your team winning or getting steamrolled.

It's no surprise that when I play something like BF1 or BF4 on a mics only server the actual gameplay and experience is a lot better as people know what the hell is going on and can coordinate.
 
I find my online experience actually improves if i don't have to listen to children with microphones.

But that's shitty matchmaking, as well as a poor rewards system on the part of the console manufacturer/game designer for encouraging gamers to play. You being matched up with horrible gamers is a problem that should be overcome with better services connecting you to good gamers, not just the abandonment of service overall.

Mic play is just such a great feature, when done right, and I hate that we have gotten to the point where it's considered a hopeless waste of a feature. That's tragic. Recalling my time back playing SOCOM and R6, we built communities and had great experiences beyond what the game designers could have provided us. I'm not sure what it'd take to make that happen again, but right now, it feels like the trolls have won, and that sucks.
 
I always thought team based mulitplayer games were weird considering the innate nature of human and gamers being awful especially online.

OP, couldn't you just join a serious voice chat team if you want to win that bad?
 
People are definitely using mics, it's just they are in party chat with other people.

I will never play an online game with random people with mics ever again. Haven't since 2006.
 
Get a group of people together who actually want to talk to you or people by and large will avoid talking to you in these types of games with fast, short PUGs due to the sheer toxicity of them. Until that community aspect changes nothing else is gonna.
 
I was introduced to online gaming with Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow where you play 2vs2. To put it simply, if you didn't communicate with your partner, you couldn't win. The best way to be victorious was to play with someone you knew and that's what I did. I played with the same guy for 2-3 years almost exclusively. That was almost 15 years ago. Nowadays the only people I hear in-game are kids trying to degrade my mother or make fun of my accent because I'm not american.

So no, I don't mind not listening to other players.
 
I don't use mic in overwatch, but if a player has a plan and says it to the group, I'll support him/her.

This has largely been me up until now but when it gets ugly I can't help but say it has an impact on me. On the other hand the idea of muting people and then missing the "PLLLLEEAASSSSEEEE SWITCH"s that might be directed at me despite the knowledge they could be there is kind of a hurdle for me I think.

So basically I'm not sure what to do.
 
9 times out of 10 in most MP games, I won't use a mic unless I'm playing with friends or something.

That said, I think Battlegrounds has been the one game where I'll use my mic with randoms if I'm playing with a random squad and people are chatting and don't seem like weirdos.

There have definitely been some weirdos but also a fair amount of really helpful and not creepy people playing random squad games in Battlegrounds. Especially if your squad is getting to the end of the game, communication can be pretty key in winning or not.

On the other hand, it can be kind of obnoxious when you have a really pushy person screaming at the beginning of a match whether everyone has mics or not.
 
i usually say no mic even though I have one. Just mute it and put Special Herbs Vol. 1-9 on in the background. Helps me focus.
 
If you're not using mics in Overwatch competitive, you're likely losing the game for us. You may think you're doing fine without mic, but you may not be on the same page as the rest of your team. Winston/Genji players are the prime example of this, you're not on mic, you jump in while I'm literally in spawn as the healer and you die. And then you blame me/the team.

Like you don't even have to talk, just listen. I just want people to respond when I say, "Reaper low in saloon"

Makes the game hella easier.

Toxic players in this game are seriously overblown, I rarely encounter someone on the mic like that. And if I do, usually you're better off muting them anyway, they only bring down morale.
 
I guess the thread is full of backfire, but I get OP's point. I don't think verbal communication is necessary (although helpful, when not used for verbal abuse) but communication of some sort is highly beneficial, else you might as well play w/ bots. I'm a notoriously active mic user.
 
Completely agree with you OP.

The silver ranks in CS:GO are filled with people who don't use a mic and its infuriating. What separates a winning team (usually) is their ability to communicate. Call-outs are so damn important in a game like CS:GO.

Also, I am not telling a person HOW to communicate, just that its a critical part of the competitive experience. Your choice of words or expressions may be different and that is expected in matchmaking, but even the slightest bit of information is helpful.

In fact, I'd go so far as to not allow players without mics to play competitive multiplayer games. There are a lot of other modes that justify your $15 purchase you non-using mic a-holes in CS:GO. Damn, I'm tilted just thinking about it.
 
I understand that not using mics in multiplayer games like that may be detrimental to other people's fun, which is one reason why I stay away from them.

I don't like to talk on the mic with random people. Whenever I used to(admittedly a while ago) it took like 30 minutes tops to find someone trying to make fun of my accent and therefore blaming me for everything. So I don't like to use voice chat unless I'm playing with friends.

So I just stay away from online games for the most part. Kinda been wanting to give them one more shot, but I don't know.
 
I barely play multiplayer, but when I do I refuse to use mic or to listen other players who aren't my friends.

Multiplayer games are full of assholes and toxic kids or people with the mic on but without saying anything an with music in the background.
 
I always thought team based mulitplayer games were weird considering the innate nature of human and gamers being awful especially online.

OP, couldn't you just join a serious voice chat team if you want to win that bad?

Theres a number of problems for me regarding this and the games I play. Specific to OW, I play on console so finding people that wanna 6 stack and are within 500 has been an issue (Ive joined several forums and FB groups but no luck). My friends who play are all well below 500 sr which means if I want to play with them I need to do so on a smurf which sucks for the other team and isn't really fun for me. PLus its hard to find a group that wants to 6 stack in OW at master and above, or for me at least.
 
i've been playing OW ranked and Skyforge w/o a mic and had no problem. And yes, it's been fun!

i bet you are super fun to play w/ on mic...
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If you find people who stick strictly to gameplay information without trying to force you into anything rough to play with, that's your issue.

I've long since realised antagonising just about anyone about something they're already decided against is more likely to result in them being spiteful than helpful, and that's harmful for trying to win too. Same goes for trying to be a "funny guy" or bantering with people whom I've no idea what they're like, it's just a bad idea.

That said, we'd probably have a different definition of "no problem" with how fast paced OW is and the amount of coordination required, I just don't mention it to the one that doesn't speak while in the match. But since this is on a forum thread for discussion, well.
 
Winston/Genji players are the prime example of this, you're not on mic, you jump in while I'm literally in spawn as the healer and you die.

this has nothing to do with the mic. this is a complete lack of situational awareness by the player. mics are not going to help that player. i don't know how it is on ps4, but on pc you just hit tab and you can see who is alive and who is dead. feeders and lone wolves aren't going to stop just because you force them into voice chat. they're going to keep doing because they think you're the idiot and they know what's best.

maybe i'm wrong but i've never seen a feeder stop. ever.

like, i get people are frustrated but using bad players as the example is the wrong way to go about it.
 
Players that have mics on while not talking and only snorts and puff in their mics during MP centric games ruin them.

I prefer someone that do not talk and still do a correct job than someone that just breath in its mic during the whole game.

Also, if I am playing with randoms, I mostly hear insults toward enemies AND teammates during the whole game instead of strategy­.
This is literally the main reason why I don't use mics that often and mute: except in Faction TLoU, I always mic up for that (and ESO).
 
this has nothing to do with the mic. this is a complete lack of situational awareness by the player. mics are not going to help that player. i don't know how it is on ps4, but on pc you just hit tab and you can see who is alive and who is dead. feeders and lone wolves aren't going to stop just because you force them into voice chat. they're going to keep doing because they think you're the idiot and they know what's best.

maybe i'm wrong but i've never seen a feeder stop. ever.

like, i get people are frustrated but using bad players as the example is the wrong way to go about it.

A better example is a Genji popping ult without a mic to communicate and not having anyone follow up because no one knew he was going to use it. Sure you can use the "My ultimate is ready to be unleashed" emote to communicate that but that doesn't tell you when its actually going to be used. Lack of awareness is a separate issue but having a mic would greatly help that issue none the less given how easy it is to rectify players doing something silly and saying "hey you know, Zarya had grav which could have combined with your ult to maximize their usage". In that case, youre fixing both problems by communicating.

I understand toxic players wont be civil about that particular hypothetical but there are players out there who would and the toxic ones can easily be muted while keeping a line open for everyone else on the team trying to communicate.

If it's not technically mandated by the game, you don't have a leg to stand on.
By this logic I could be standing in a corner doing nothing because the game does not mandate me to play to win. I don't think thats a useful argument because in games nothing is mandated given the level of control players exert over the operation of the game itself. However games are designed specifically to be played a particular way so while many mechanics and abilities are not mandatory, they are encouraged and designed to be used.
 
See this is exactly what I'm saying. If it isn't working, mute them and youre fine and back to square one for all you anti social people out there. If it is, then youve just helped your chances of success.

Additionally, like I pointed out in the original post, if its going to come down to "I'm going to do what I want", then were essentially saying that no one should complain when someone is intentionally throwing the game or playing in a disruptive manner since the underlying reason is, "I do what I want". Not that I have an issue with it coming down to that, because it is interesting thinking about the individual player vs team gameplay, but in essence that argument would be problematic given how we view trolling and throwing vs non communication and such a view would essentially support players that intentionally ruin the game for others.



Ok I mean, obviously I am not including this group into the argument come now.

Aye dawg you never know who can and cant talk
 
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