Years ago when online gaming was “the future” I poo-pooed it as an excuse for developers to give up on AI. If multiplayer games could be filled with real people there would be no need to create more human-like bots. After all when playing with strangers is there really much of a difference between that and shooting at computer controlled players?
Yes, I was wrong. There is most certainly a difference. Even without voice chat there is still something psychological about knowing there is a person on the end of your gunfire. Taking someone out is far more satisfying in Burnout knowing that someone out there is yelling at their TV. In fact Burnout Paradise actively encourages the multiplayer rivalry.
Once voice chat is thrown into the mix gaming with strangers can be a very mixed bag. I have “met” some really nice people playing online who are happy to chat away and even give good advice on how to play… Then there are “those” people. I don’t think I have to give examples everyone has heard racist, homophobic, foul-mouthed rants from users hiding behind a gamer name. Anonymity seems to turn some people into really unlikeable characters.
I remember feeling out right cheated by bots in Perfect Dark as their ridiculous accuracy and perfect knowledge of your situation left you ripped to shreds. When someone out foxes you on Call of Duty you know it was probably pure skill or dumb luck that was your demise. Some games think “good” AI is being hard for hard’s sake: the cheating Pro Evolution Soccer computer springs to mind.
If you look at playing with strangers through my old cynical eyes the idea can be stretched further. Instead of just replacing bots perhaps actual enemies in a single player campaign could become human controlled. It is something that Left 4 Dead is going to attempt by allowing players to attack the 4 survivors as the zombies. Convincing gamers to play as enemies in a non death-match capacity could be tricky and is maybe more of a gimmick than it is the future. Again this could all be seen as a laziness with regards to AI development.
As I said there are “those” people out there who you would rather not play against, but when you do find someone fun to play with it makes it all worth while. If you are playing a game online with strangers you know immediately you at least have that game and probable gaming in common. It allows you to meet people you would otherwise never speak to, be they from another part of the world or completely different peer group.
Anything that allows me to make new friends and talk to new people can’t be a bad thing. Now how to make sure everyone plays nice and get rid of the low-lives. Once we can properly punish people end discourage bad behaviour gaming with strangers could really go mainstream.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Some people really shouldn’t be allowed to own a mic. Fortunately, I think that the gamers behaving badly are in greater numbers on Xbox Live than on PSN, probably because the 360 comes with a headset for everyone so the kids can yell at people too, rather than the separate Bluetooth headset purchase for the PS3. This might encourage people who actually want to chat and behave properly to get a headset instead of it being available for all the screaming kids. Then again, I feel there’s very little good voice chat that works, either because people don’t own a headset or because their headset mic is so shitty that you can’t understand a word they’re saying. Friendly, cooperative talk is nice and should by all means be encouraged.
fredrikpedersen Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
We’ll let’s hope the headset gets bundled in more games than just SOCOM.
fredrikpedersen Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
*Well
cc_star Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Tom Clancy’s marvellous looking End War
Los Havros Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I really enjoy competitive play. Most fun I’ve had so far online? Warhawk, probably.
What do I hate about online play? Kids screaming rubbish through their mics and campers.
Metalgsean Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
The Playstationeye works as a very good mic in most games, burnout tends to be the highest quality. It is good not having to turn anything on or whack anything in your ear, although you do have to adjust output volume on some games as the viop comes from the tv rather than going direct to your ear.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I hate when one player in Burnout just doesnt want to take the challenges, and instead he block’s the ramp we’re sUpposed to hit. Annoying little kids.
October 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Personally I think TF2 and CS:S get the moderation spot on. With the way the servers are ran it’s up to the admins to decide what goes on the server. So once you find a server that is run by mature like minded people (admittedly hard on CS:S) then the experience is usually a lot better.
Julzzey Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
yeah i think that CS:S and TF2 and basically all ‘Valve’ Games are really good when it comes to online chat how u can mute anyone even an admin an there are lots of servers which are run by systems like internode which is a really good server list im not advertising and i dont work for them or anything but lookout ffor the internode servers if ur on those
October 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I look forward to the day I can chose to have my matchmaking based on personal profiles and not just on gamer skill…maybe then I will play nicer people online.. if you are a nice person though, feel free to add me on PSN: glennpfc
October 19th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Unfortunately, this world is made up of, o i’d say 90% DICKHEADS! The best thing we can hope for in all games is the option to mute, and/or the option to kick the DICKHEADS out. AMEN
artefx Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
That’s all I seem to do in Burnout. Kicking people who don’t wanna do the challenges. Its the single most annoying thing imo.
Metalgsean Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Tell me about it, i got all Burnout tropheys apart from the 10 freeburn and 10 timed challenges because everyone just cocks about, drives me mad!!
gazo69 Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Add me guys, i love doing the chalanges.
psn id: gazo69
Metalgsean Says:
October 20th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I will do, im Naes21 on PSN
GamerRiley Says:
October 19th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Call of Duty 4 has to be the worst for dickheads. I thought these guys just loited outside Tesco Express all night? Apparently not there all playing COD4
Shadow0410 Says:
October 20th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Yeah sadly they all noticed that they could stay warm at home and still hurl abuse around at random people with no real risk to themselves. I find myself muting more people in CoD4 than I do shooting them sometimes.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I only use my headset to talk with friends (the ones I have IRL) during ganmes.. 99% of the time, if Im playing against strangers I dont tend to say anything (unless spoken to, of course).