Zip it! Ten Reasons Why Voice Chat Sucks

How naive we all were. Now that voice chat has entrenched itself as a standard feature of online gaming, it’s become quite clear that it’s not all puppy dogs and peppermints when donning our headsets and firing up Xbox Live or PSN. So what are the most annoying aspects of this, one of the most overrated features of online video gaming?

[JoelR]

personal aside : I Think many of the points in this article are valid but I also think there is a valid argument for voice chat

As for the report - I really think this aside should be in the section because while I am posting it I am definitely not in agreement with it which as the person putting it up for publishing it looks like I am. (did that sound weird or what)

[ProjectVulcan]

Better to have it, and not need it, than need it and not have it.

So goes my view of voicechat in public online games.

[poindat]

You are correct. It is not voice chat that ruins the experience, it is the people that use it.

Maturity, respect, and teamwork all very well validate the existence of voice chat and automatically pushes it over the cons. Team based games, when playing with an intelligent team, take on a whole new dimension when everybody exhibits those three qualities. I'd even go as far as saying that to get the most out of any multiplayer game, headsets (and intelligence) are a must.

It's just such a shame that a (seemingly) large portion of players take the ability to communicate for granted.

[BrutallyBlunt]

Everything the article mentions can be true but with that said (no pun intended) I'd still rather have the option to hear others and most times I have my headset on regardless of how bad some can be.

There's also nothing like playing with a group of cool people or friends online while talking and having a fun time. Games with no voice chat remind me of playing A.I. opponents. You lose that sense of what to me online play is all about, which is interacting with others.

[Reibooi]

Great article.

Every single point is totally valid and truly are the things that keep me from playing games online as many others do.

When I do play online I prefer to talk to the friends that aren't flaming morons on Vent or something so I don't have to deal with crap.

[DJexs]

I do not think it is valid. Why in the introduction do they make it seem that voice chat was a microsoft invention when they had xbox live. Computers and the ps2 both came before it and they had voice chat. This article just talks about microsoft in the introduction.

[xDaRkModEx]

for 9/10 problem the article states the mute button can be great. use it.

@1.5 your are totally right. I used to used the long wired headset back then for my ps2. But back then the people wasn't so messed up like now. Almost any game you'll go you'll hear profanity and or racism mark.

[insomnium]

Oh boy am I happy Sony doesn't include a headset with every ps3. This is the one mistake MS is making and has been making. I want to play against human enemies but I do not want to hear all the swearing and BS online. Me and my friends all have mics so I can talk to them. Still the way Sony handles mics has kept most of the BS at bay. I never want things to change.

[ape007]

his personal cons, I do simply disagree, voice chat is a key part of the online play especially xbox live parties, if you don't like it just turn it off from the system board

I hate these kind of articles, when someone tries to PROVE SO HARD that this thing sucks even if he could just totally ignore it

[El_Colombiano]

The option to ignore it is there, true but he still has the right to moan about it. You should take your own advice and simply ignore these articles that you say you hate just as you say he should ignore the chat feature he obviously hates.

[lowcarb]

Ape has a point so relax. If your going to post personal cons then prepare for people to tell respond.

[El_Colombiano]

I was simply responding to ape's personal cons against articles like this. No harm done.

[BrutallyBlunt]

I've actually had a positive impact on some of those in the top 10 by trying to communicate with them and show how silly they are acting. Lots of times the community can change the behavior of others if it's handled in a civilized way. A lot of people don't even realize they are breathing hard or talking too loud for example. Plus using wit and humor can get the community on your side to add extra pressure for them to change their behaviors.

Sure you still have those who purposely come into games to be annoying, that's what the mute button and kick features are for.

[TrailerParkSupervisr]

This is exactly why I want PSN to get Party Chat. I have plenty of friends that have proper chatting skills and would LOVE to just jump in a room and not even have to deal with the morons that plague the online community.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

We have a mute button in most games don't we?

Also agree TrailerparkSupervisr.

[unrealgamer58]

If you're going to troll at least be good at it, for once in you're life be good at something.

[PotNoodle]

There are quite a few on here that isn't a blanket rule. So many PC games i play have respectful players in nearly every match, you'll have the random idiots on every now and then, but it is the reason i don't use voice chat on my PS3, 360 or Wii.. (heh) unless i actually know the people i'm playing with, whereas on PC i'll mostly use voice chat regardless of game and who is playing it.

Then there is the voice quality. I don't know why but the consoles have such terrible voice quality that i don't even bother.

[earbus]

I use party chat everyday on 360 love it so many laughs given up with ps3 mics people dont know how to adjust volume levels it sounds like 20 people on cb radio at once lack of party chat makes ps3 feel like your alone in the gaming world lol.

[webeblazing]

you gotta have voice chat that why it they made this feature this gen thank you ms and sony its hard winning without voice chat for our run and gun games

[lowcarb]

I love voice chat but just find it odd to be chatting with kids as young as ten at times. Not sure where the parents are but I wouldn't want my kids talking to grown ups in private party chat. Seems like a lot of parents are clueless and should really start paying attention.

[AliTheBrit19]

I only use voice chat with friends while playing online games

[DarkSpawnClone]

i just hate all the trash talkers,and people calling you a noob for using certain things seems like most people for get about manners as soon as they put there mic on,and always playing loud music in the back ground is the most annoying thing ever and what even more annoying is when they start singing rap or some thing and never shut up,i rarely use my mic,only use my mic with random ppl if they ask if i have one and i feel like talking,most of the time I'm lone wolfing it :P lol

[polestar4]

some kid getting told off by an angry mother, and that, you have to admit, is pretty hilarious.

I could not stop laughing.I find voice chat like rolleing dice or like a box of chocolate you'll naver know what you wil git [forest GUMP]

[divideby0]

mute or dont play with a headset...its OPTIONAL to use it... guess the author doesnt realize that

[Shendow]

Yes you can mute players but some games that go back to the lobby unmutes them and not having a headset doesn't stop you from hearing them.

[Lucreto]

Voice chat doesn't bother me. I play online infrequently and the first thing I do is mute everyone just in case they start talking.

[TABSF]

What the point muting everyone the point of voice chat is to improve gameplay and teamwork on the games

[TABSF]

Sound like a wide spread problem

I have witnessed it frequently on XBL and a bit on PSN but I rarely play online because of these reasons
On PC I hardly ever hear any sh!t on TF2 for instance people are friendly but very competitive guess this proves the point that the consoles are full of 12 years old

[roguewarrior]

been guilty of most of the list, over the years. But playing COD4 in full party, with everyone taking it serious. " sniper on the roof of grandmas house" "not anymore" is fcken awsome.

[nefertis]

jessica alba nipples hard lol.

[bakaPX]

Stupid. The article doesn't make sense. Here's what I say. There's something called MUTING the voice chat. Or else mute the T.V. DUH! Common Sense.

[KimoNoir]

who wrote this? a basement boy?

[bjornbear]

but, i still don't think voice chat is bad

i just don't think its ESSENTIAL

there's the odd bad squad mate or wtv but not enough to make voice chat a bad thing

people just make it out to be way more than it is

personally x-game chat is not for me but squad chat n stuff is sweet =)

[BannedForNineYears]

Bookmarked.
I'm so linking that when someone says
"PS3 doesn't haz cross game voice chatz1111111 looooooooooooooool"....

[s45gr32]

It all depends on the community..