So, because PC gamers like myself have a keyboard whereas console gamers don't, we end up with more ways to communicate with other players. What I've noticed however is that we never seem to have additional methods of...not communicating.
If you check a game with VOIP support you'll probably find the option to mute other players so that you don't have to listen to anybody you would classify as annoying or whiny. But where is the option to disable the chat box? Individual players?
Anywhere?
To this date I have rarely played a game with an obvious method of disabling any form of text chat; we have a form of talking that console games don't have but no way to disable it when it gets irritating.
Sure, all is well when it's being used as intended but let's face it, that's generally not the case. We can stop listening to mic chat, why can't we stop seeing text chat? Developers need to give players options for this kind of thing.
Give players the option to ignore certain players in all forms of chat, not just voice. Let us filter out the scum and keep the contributing players visible. I shouldn't have to wade through people insulting each other while I'm trying to receive some directions from the squad leader; it's downright distracting and just kills the atmosphere of the game. I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks this way.
Another point to make, never make a game with mandatory in-game voice chat; it's an awful idea. Too many times have I been in a Skype call with some teammates when we decide to play a game only to find out that the game makes us all speak to each other through their own system too; this just forces us to close our Skype chat for the purpose of a single game only to have to restore it when we're done. There is no benefit to the idea of not giving players options for this kind of thing.
I have to thank some MMOs for having separate chat tabs that can be configured to filter out certain groups, those things are on the right track.
If you are in a development team for a multiplayer game or even just know of somebody from one...make sure they give players options. It wouldn't go amiss.
Thanks for reading this little rant.
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