Multiplayer games have come a long way since their early beginnings. From being able to communicate solely through the game’s mechanics to the implementation of written messaging, emotes, and voice chat, playing online with friends is now more immersive than ever. Stay with us as we explore the ways in which voice communication makes gaming better.
The Evolution
For a long time, multiplayer games were restricted to local networks. Of course, before that, we had the era of hot-seat games and split-screen titles that were mostly console-oriented. However, as dedicated multiplayer gaming came in, the text chat window became something that we would quickly get used to. In fact, most games keep this feature, from MMOs to co-op shooters.
Text chats were still the main method of general communication in MMORPGs and iGaming. Especially so with the new, more engaging methods of play like telegram gambling that connected text messages with casino play in a seamless and safe way. On the other hand, the age of game streaming and live games sneaked up on us, and it was easy to see that gaming was becoming even more social. The emerging fast-paced action multiplayer games demanded something more convenient.
Being immersed in the game and typing messages to coordinate with your team is not the most functional way to play. In fact, that’s how third-party clients came into the spotlight in the early years of online multiplayer.
Skype was an easy pick for most, but dedicated clients like Ventrilo or TeamSpeak, which used a smaller percentage of the then-limited bandwidth, had their advantages. The main problem was that most of them were not so easy to set up and use.
The Implementation
As the developers moved towards new ideas, we finally saw voice chat becoming an in-game feature. It came as no surprise that it was actually the first-person shooters that went for this. Titles like Battlefield and Counter-Strike went for simple but effective solutions, giving the players the rudimentary option to speak to their teammates. Many other studios followed, so now even MOBA giants like LoL and DotA are tempted to introduce the option to communicate via voice chat.
This step forward fundamentally changed the dynamics of gaming with other people. The previously depersonalized opponents and teammates became real people you could interact with, even if you weren’t able to see them. However, this new option also presented new problems, the biggest of them being trolls and toxic players.
The Challenge
It was soon clear that the open voice channel, without proper moderation, can invite some very unpleasant elements into the equation. Filtering, reporting, and mute functions were all good, but it was easy to see that most players prefer to only speak with their trusted circle rather than having to have a trigger finger ready on the block button.
Team channels and raid groups became a widely accepted solution. Many games enabled the option for players to only communicate with their teammates, and provided them with the advanced AI tools to quickly get rid of toxic elements. Some huge titles like FFXIV still rely on third-party tools for players looking to talk with their friends rather than having to deal with a potentially huge problem like this.
Still, positioning players in a preemptively cautious setting where they can introduce friends into their inner circle rather than having to kick out trolls every few minutes proved to be the right measure to fight toxicity and have communities self-moderate.
The Community
Although there is a huge mechanical role of voice chat for newer games relying on tactics and precise coordination, this has also become a way through which people connect online. Many players around the world enjoy games for their excitement and challenges, but with multiplayer titles, the main factor usually becomes the connection gamers achieve with others.
Guilds, raid groups, squads, parties, these are all communities through which people from all over the world communicate and enjoy gaming in a way that looked impossible just a few decades ago. With the new technologies, now it’s easier than ever to communicate tactics but also to make friendships through a shared love of gaming, even with thousands of miles between them.
