Voice Chat? Really?

[toddfx]

Exactly how classic is voice chat? Maybe I was just oblivious to it back then but I don't remember voice chat being a part of EQ in 1999.

Recently I am hearing about it a lot on this server. My guild uses it for their weekly meetings and I must admit I do not approve. Chances are I'll probably just quit the guild for that reason exclusively, simply because I will be left out if I choose not to adopt it. I straight up avoided the last meeting because I couldn't be bothered with a headset.

I understand it could be useful for raids when people need to quickly communicate between multiple groups and guilds, but otherwise...why? It seems like a step backwards as far as communication goes. Sure it might be faster than typing, but it's much more difficult to understand multiple people at once and much less reliable for relaying critical information.

The beauty of typing is that you have a log of what people have said. It is impossible to misunderstand somebody and it is unlikely that somebody has to repeat themselves. It doesn't matter how distorted anybody's voice sounds or what other noise may exist in the background. It is universal and generally pretty fool proof. Even if somebody types in broken english or types like a newbie, you can still usually get their point. If somebody speaks too softly or has a weak mic, it's simply impossible to understand them.

My experience with voice chat playing FPS games on PC and X-Box has been less than satisfying. Idiots who don't know how to use it tend to put the mic too close to their mouth or play their background music too loud. They abuse it by making obnoxious noises or constantly start shit because they now have the ability to make verbal insults.

Even on a technical level it has always seemed unreliable. The #1 reason being that you need an extra piece of hardware. And those who don't have it are just SOL. Even if you do have a mic, connections seem finicky and weak. Peoples volume levels are always all over the place and it generally sounds like pure shit. Maybe I have just had cheap brands, but it in my experience it has always been full of problems.

Imagine if half of the server decided to do away with OOC and just start voice chatting...the world would feel empty and the people remaining would be ignored. I think what would happen is that the population would turn even more immature than it already can be. It would be a pure flame-fest, like one of those lame WoW videos you see on YouTube of people cursing eachother out over some loot.

Lame :cool:

[Cyrano]

This alone has helped make raiding significantly easier on this server. While my guild uses it, I do miss the amount of text you got back in 99/00 compared to now.

[Dantes]

Couldn't agree more. I absolutely hate voice chat while gaming. I've tried it a few times but it never caught on with me. When I'm playing a game it's all about ambiance. I want to hear the sound effects and the music. And when I'm not wanting to hear those sound effects or that music, I'm listening to my own music. The last thing I want to listen to is a gaggle of voices arguing about loot (RPGs) or headshots (FPS) or some such nonsense.

You know where they also wear headsets? Call centers. It's like WORK. Fuck that.

[Toony]

Lame :cool:

Don't use it.

[Droxx]

Fuck voice chat. It just crushes your hopes when you talk to that cute high elf and she's actually a big black guy.

[MeldrathRN]

black guys play EQ?

[Kevris]

black guys play EQ?

Funny you should mention that, my good man.

In 2001, I took a job as a manager at a local Gamestop. I was an avid Everquest player at the time, so when people would come in to buy expansions, I would always have a side conversation with them.

Well, one day a black guy around 6'6 came to the counter, holding in his hand the Vellious expansion. We talked about Everquest for a good 10 minutes, swapping war stories and small strategies.

Then came the question: "What do you play?"

I stated I played a half-elf paladin...his answer: A female woodelf druid, and he specificly said "you know, the blonde one?"

I looked at him with disbelief, but he swore up and down he did it because people gave him items and money for free, and that he was now attached to the character.

True story.

[Virtuosos]

fuck voice-chat i use keyboards motha fucka...... sorry =/ the whole "im on a boat" song crept into my mind for the 5th time today.

anyhoo, i tend to mute teamspeak quite frequently unless raiding due to people talking about dumb shit or i just can handle their voice anymore....but it is extremely useful overall, much more faster communication then typing and whatnot..

but to each his own!

[Reiker]

ITT people whining cause they don't want others to hear their nerd voices.

[Reiker]

"Hey Toddfx wanna come to this kickin party?"
"Naw man I'll just text you from home, I don't do talking."

[YendorLootmonkey]

Voicechat is all fun and games until you forget your mic is in hands-free mode while you're jerking off to wood elf chicks in Kelethin.

[PhelanKA]

black guys play EQ?

Uhhhhh.... How do I answer this without comin off like Jesse Jackson?

Yes. We black folk are capable of doing things other than pimp hoes, rap to beats, and color coordinate our clothing with our vehicles.

[Seeatee]

I HATE voice chat , its a blight to MMOs, I always say if I want to talk to someone I will call them on the phone not play a computer game, probably my biggest gripe with it is everyone constantly talks over each other, its very rare ive ever been in a voice chat when I went to say something and not had 2 or 3 other people start talking at the same time.

in coming here from WoW the rampant over use of voice chat is one of the things i was hoping to avoid, sadly, I was mistaken.

one thing I always thought was funny, 10 years ago the computer was all about typing our messages out, and everyone wanted a cell phone so they could call and talk to their friends on the go,,, fast forward 10 years to today, and everyone wants to voice chat on the computer and type out their messages on itty bitty keyboards on their cell phones.

anyway down with voice chat!! :mad:

[Erasong]

black guys play EQ?

Id like to think myself a prominent figure in the community here and a member of 1 of the top raiding guilds. I'm also a native new york urban black guy. You wouldn't know it from my posts or my mannerisms but thatss the point of the internet after all. I donst have to be the stereotype here.

[Lazortag]

Uhhhhh.... How do I answer this without comin off like Jesse Jackson?

Yes. We black folk are capable of doing things other than pimp hoes, rap to beats, and color coordinate our clothing with our vehicles.

I bet you play an erudite.







actually when I was kiting spectres today and saw you, I believe you were a dark elf, but whatever, that arguably falls under the stereotype.

[PhelanKA]

I bet you play an erudite.







actually when I was kiting spectres today and saw you, I believe you were a dark elf, but whatever, that arguably falls under the stereotype.

That's "darkie" to you, cracker.

And yes; I am so well spoken aren't I? :rolleyes:

[Blancah]

You know where they also wear headsets? Call centers. It's like WORK. Fuck that.

^^ that

[Tork]

I'll also jump on the "fuck voice chat" bandwagon - screenshots are so lacking without context.

[Kluren]

Fuck voice chat. It just crushes your hopes when you talk to that cute high elf and she's actually a big black guy.

As a gay guy this totally turns me on...anyways... ;)



/agreed (meant to be in caps but why get flamed for it?) with the first post.

Amazing how even the smallest things can take away from that true classic magic that we all felt and love.

[Kluren]

And yes many black guys are the best err I mean hottest. :)

[Eternal-Elf]

Uhhhhh.... How do I answer this without comin off like Jesse Jackson?

Yes. We black folk are capable of doing things other than pimp hoes, rap to beats, and color coordinate our clothing with our vehicles.

Learn something new everyday lol

[dallammarr]

Exactly how classic is voice chat? Maybe I was just oblivious to it back then but I don't remember voice chat being a part of EQ in 1999.

Back in early 2000, i think just before or maybe right when kunark came out, my brother and I were in a guild on bertox. We were playing around with a voice chat prog called roger wilco. We set up our own server for it on a linux box. It didnt really catch on cause a lot of people complained it killed their game performance. It was around, just not widely used.

[Shannacore]

Voice chat rulez

[Striiker]

Hah, this reminds me of some story I read where some guy used to think so highly of this high level player. That player did great at putting together raids, etc. Later, they got on voice chat and the high level player turned out to be some 12 or 13 year old kid. This totally disturbed the guy (who was in his 40's). Hah! I think he said he felt violated or something because his mental images never came close to the reality.
I guess this can be another pitfall of voice comms in that it may cause issues with how they feel towards a character.
I always appreciated how EQ was great at totally leveling the field. It didn't matter how you looked or sounded or if you had disabilities.. People would give you an equal opportunity to shine or fail and to become a respected member of the community.

[toddfx]

ITT people whining cause they don't want others to hear their nerd voices.

"Hey Toddfx wanna come to this kickin party?"
"Naw man I'll just text you from home, I don't do talking."

haha you sir are a typical example of a voice chatter we know so well from X-Box Live. Idolizing yourself as some sort of "cool guy" among nerds.

It isn't my own voice I'm worried about, it's the douchers like you who I don't want to have to listen to :D

[Dantes]

Yeah! Woooooooooooo! We're partying, bra! At home. On our computers. Alone. This rocks. Let's talk!

[wrxBRAH]

There are a lot of unclassic things on this Emu. It comes down to if its something the mods/devs/community approves of, its ok but if its something thats a nuisance like two boxing/training/shit talking etc etc, its not allowed.

meh whatever.

[Reodd]

Back in early 2000, i think just before or maybe right when kunark came out, my brother and I were in a guild on bertox. We were playing around with a voice chat prog called roger wilco. We set up our own server for it on a linux box. It didnt really catch on cause a lot of people complained it killed their game performance. It was around, just not widely used.

This is correct. Back in 1999, we were running 250? 333? mhz single core processors and Voodoo was the prime video card. We also experimented with voice chat on Roger Wilco on Mithaniel Marr, but found it killed the ability to actually play. I was even running dual screen back then and couldn't get any voice chat programs to run worth a damn.

I enjoyed voice chat in WoW and EVE, but I am just getting into p99, and boy do I hope it's not totally pervasive, particularly for pickup groups.

[Toony]

I enjoyed voice chat in WoW and EVE, but I am just getting into p99, and boy do I hope it's not totally pervasive, particularly for pickup groups.

I'm only 36 but haven't been asked once to use it so far.

[Bodeanicus]

So, I have to listen to 20 male nerds flirt with 1 female nerd. I have to listen to never ending "weed" conversations by teens and early 20-somethings who just discovered the "joys" of being an annoying high asshole. I have to listen to nerd insult contests.

Uh, no. Fuck that.

[Harrison]

It's okay, we still get to see "ugly old-man-is-angry-at-younger-people" posts by you for months on end instead.

[ShadowWulf]

So, I have to listen to 20 male nerds flirt with 1 female nerd. I have to listen to never ending "weed" conversations by teens and early 20-somethings who just discovered the "joys" of being an annoying high asshole. I have to listen to nerd insult contests.

Uh, no. Fuck that.

Thats why I dont get on 99% of game voice chats. EvE is the only exceptions and thats because its a requirement with 700 people in a fleet. Of course they have something called "Comms discipline" also, nobody talks but the fleet commander.

[Bashee_Feind]

I don't log in Everquest without first logging in 1 or 2 vent servers. If you don't like it, well that's your call. Don't download it. But there are quite a number of people who like to use voice chat. Not everybody is your stereotypical "nerd" and you can't base your experience with 1 or 2 bad voice chat servers. Just because that ass clown on your old fps ventrilo, teamspeak etc griefed you or whatnot, doesn't meant that'll happen on every server.

Also, there's a cool feature on these.. Called mute. If you don't want to hear what someone has to say, just mute them and carry on.

Either way, It all comes down to personal preference. Like talking? Cool, grab a server and chat away to your hearts content. If you don't want to bother, more power to ya. Peck away :D

[sleepingwolf]

I remember using roger wilco and battlecom in early eq so yea, it's classic.

[Reiker]

The only reason people didn't use voice communication "back in the day" was bandwidth restrictions.

[nicemace]

all these people whining just sound like they hang out in voice with douchebags.

ive been using vent/teamspeak for the last 6 - 7 years, tho the people that i play with are generally friends and we arent dicks.

our guild raids in wow using vent were the funniest fuckin 4 hours every night. so many lols were had.

thing is, when we us raid leaders wanted to talk, we just shut out SHUT THE FUCK UP until everyone is quiet and then we can say what we need to say then can get back chatting.

as for having no logs of it. you can log everything in vent, very easily.

ITT: bunch of ragers who dont have friends and dont know how to socialise. seriously i cant see how anyone can think of voice chat being bad.

[Malrubius]

The only reason people didn't use voice communication "back in the day" was bandwidth restrictions.

That, and the same reasons people don't use it today.

[nicemace]

That, and the same reasons people don't use it today.

they are males pretending to be females, and with all the pressure to join vent as its a common thing now days, they think they might be found out? makes sense as to why so many people in this thread dont wanna join!

[Serith]

Funny you should mention that, my good man.

In 2001, I took a job as a manager at a local Gamestop. I was an avid Everquest player at the time, so when people would come in to buy expansions, I would always have a side conversation with them.

Well, one day a black guy around 6'6 came to the counter, holding in his hand the Vellious expansion. We talked about Everquest for a good 10 minutes, swapping war stories and small strategies.

Then came the question: "What do you play?"

I stated I played a half-elf paladin...his answer: A female woodelf druid, and he specificly said "you know, the blonde one?"

I looked at him with disbelief, but he swore up and down he did it because people gave him items and money for free, and that he was now attached to the character.

True story.

Velious*

[Overcast]

The only reason people didn't use voice communication "back in the day" was bandwidth restrictions.

Yeah, at first the wife and I did a shared 56K connection, bleh. Then we upgraded to ISDN - neither was good for voice chat. Didn't use it either with our first DSL.

20M cable now, but.. well, I might use it. I have before, but I guess I'm old skool and just prefer text.

[eqdruid76]

The thing I hate the most about voice chat with my friends is that they tend to talk softly anyways because of the time of day, and they have no concept of keeping the mic close to their mouth. I have to turn sound completely off just to hear them, and even then I have to strain to understand what they say. Then they get pissed when I ask them to repeat and put the damned mic inside their mouth....

[Ridikulus]

I can't talk on the phone and play at the same time, my brain isn't equipped to handle it.

However I was able to six box on live extremely well, so go figure.

[Shannacore]

In mumble atm: Swishahouse is calling free sex lines, broadcasting it over mumble, and using a Chris Hansen soundboard as the reply.

YOU ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS?

[eqdruid76]

In mumble atm: Swishahouse is calling free sex lines, broadcasting it over mumble, and using a Chris Hansen soundboard as the reply.

YOU ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS?

Why don't you have a seat over there?...

[nicemace]

The thing I hate the most about voice chat with my friends is that they tend to talk softly anyways because of the time of day, and they have no concept of keeping the mic close to their mouth. I have to turn sound completely off just to hear them, and even then I have to strain to understand what they say. Then they get pissed when I ask them to repeat and put the damned mic inside their mouth....

guess you should teach your downie friends how to setup their vent.

i have a $5 mic strapped to the side of my monitor, best quality sound ever, just gota setup your shit correctly.

[Overcast]

The thing I hate the most about voice chat with my friends is that they tend to talk softly anyways because of the time of day, and they have no concept of keeping the mic close to their mouth. I have to turn sound completely off just to hear them, and even then I have to strain to understand what they say. Then they get pissed when I ask them to repeat and put the damned mic inside their mouth....

Then someone else comes on and says...


HAY GUIES!!!!!!!!!!!

[wrxBRAH]

Best vent moments:

-The warlock that used to que up his mic everytime he'd open up a beer can or rip a bowl while raiding Naxx. Yea leading those raids sucked lol.

-The same warlock forgetting to turn off his mic while hes laying pipe in his girlfriend for 30mins. Yea good times.


I would have to say the #1 reason for not using voice servers back in 1999 was bandwidth and #2 reason was because all the manginas would be found out.

[Taluvill]

black guys play EQ?

Majik is black. *cough cough*

[Aum]

Majik is black. *cough cough*

Someone has to do the farming...