Text chat vs voice chat

Azalin76 · July 2015

I am wondering if this is more about age groups. I grew up before texting was invented, before cell phones became cordless, and when computers used DOS and floppy discs. Talking to another person involved a telephone or being in person. I agree that text chat does have its advantages in some cases, but it also has disadvantages as well.

It takes away from human interaction, just like texting.

It is a distraction in game to have to stop what you are doing, read text and then respond. In a live action mmo this could often lead to death.

It's easier to get harassed, players can type negative things in chat about you which can lead to fights or player grievances.

The only real advantage that text chat offers is for those who are deaf or hard of hearing get to interact with other players without limitation. Obviously they can play the pc version of this game to overcome this, so it's not really alienating them from playing the game. At least no more than it alienates players who are blind or have lost an arm and can't play. I am a disabled vet and would never ask a video game company to add in a special design just to appease my needs. If they don't want to offer assistance to those with special needs then we will find a game that offers what we need and play that. In the end it's up to us to find a way to make it work, not the other way around.

NewBlacksmurf · July 2015

I'm of the same or at least a very similar mindset.
Possibly due to our age but I believe it's more related to people's unwillingness to accept change.

You see a lot of comments in threads that say "all MMO should have...."

It's just a form of communication. With technology changes, so do the features.

Maybe we are just old....lol. Doubt it

Dahkoht · July 2015

So that's the "only" thing text chat does. A negative distraction ?

How do you talk with 10 people all around the zone in voice area chat ?

See you can do that in text chat. Carry on multiple conversations in town with people you've never met before and are no where near you.

How , HOW do you do that with voice chat only ?

Tell me how that's not MORE interaction being able to talk with more people in more areas via text in game ?

And you can't be harassed in open voice chat ?

Good god at least try to spin it less obviously than that.

. The short time I was in PS4 console had babies crying, screeeching, cursing, dogs barking , and racists slurs being screamed out.

Far , far more annoying to me than text.

And for the record I'm into my 40's and thank god for text on phones and email because the last thing I want to do is talk on the phone.

Azurulia · July 2015

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Maybe we are just old....lol. Doubt it

We're not old, we're just... well seasoned.

Also I prefer voice communication over text a vast majority of the time, partly due to laziness and ease/speed of communicating.

Mighty_oakk · July 2015

In b4 lock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Akavir_Sentinel · July 2015

If you don't want to be part of a trading guild, or even if you are part of one, and you want to sell items to the general population in the zone, with voice chat you can only advertise to players that are within earshot of you. With text chat, you can sell an item or post a trade request that will be instantly seen by everyone in the entire zone. That is one of the main benefits of having a text zone chat.

The LFG tool has no option for dolmens, world bosses, or just for general grouping. With voice chat, all you can do is beg to other players within earshot of you to help you. With zone text chat, everyone in the entire zone can see your request and instantly respond.

Zone chat wins, hands down.

BigMac_Smiley · July 2015

Azalin76 wrote: »

I am wondering if this is more about age groups. I grew up before texting was invented, before cell phones became cordless, and when computers used DOS and floppy discs. Talking to another person involved a telephone or being in person. I agree that text chat does have its advantages in some cases, but it also has disadvantages as well.

It takes away from human interaction, just like texting.

It is a distraction in game to have to stop what you are doing, read text and then respond. In a live action mmo this could often lead to death.

It's easier to get harassed, players can type negative things in chat about you which can lead to fights or player grievances.

The only real advantage that text chat offers is for those who are deaf or hard of hearing get to interact with other players without limitation. Obviously they can play the pc version of this game to overcome this, so it's not really alienating them from playing the game. At least no more than it alienates players who are blind or have lost an arm and can't play. I am a disabled vet and would never ask a video game company to add in a special design just to appease my needs. If they don't want to offer assistance to those with special needs then we will find a game that offers what we need and play that. In the end it's up to us to find a way to make it work, not the other way around.

I am around the same age group as you and my views are completely opposite of your. Some how you are relating text chat in an MMORPG with cellphone texting. These two functions have complete different uses. Text chat has many advantages in an MMORPG and I don't think peoples view differ because of age, but has something to do with past gaming experience. Text chat in a game has nothing to do with full on conversation but it is about using short phrase to reach the greatest possible numbers. It would be easy to reach you 100+ guild with a quick message saying guild meeting in 5min, where as right now on console your only option is to send individual message which takes forever. It is also easy to reach the 100+ people across PVP to say LFG, or if you need a group type "so and so" Text chat is not a replacement to social interaction. It is an aid to make reaching people easier.

NewBlacksmurf · July 2015

Dahkoht wrote: »

So that's the "only" thing text chat does. A negative distraction ?

How do you talk with 10 people all around the zone in voice area chat ?

See you can do that in text chat. Carry on multiple conversations in town with people you've never met before and are no where near you.

How , HOW do you do that with voice chat only ?

Tell me how that's not MORE interaction being able to talk with more people in more areas via text in game ?

And you can't be harassed in open voice chat ?

Good god at least try to spin it less obviously than that.

. The short time I was in PS4 console had babies crying, screeeching, cursing, dogs barking , and racists slurs being screamed out.

Far , far more annoying to me than text.

And for the record I'm into my 40's and thank god for text on phones and email because the last thing I want to do is talk on the phone.

-You would talk with 10 ppl the way you would in real life. One group would move away from the other but keep talking. No different that any normal behavior for communicating I public whether it's 10 ppl or 65,000

-Carrying on multiple conversations at one time ...well maybe I'm old but while possible it's rude. One convo at a time and let the others know you'll get back to them when your finished with the first conversation.

-Talking across zones....if you must, use group chat, guild chat or party chat, but multiple conversations at once...see above.

-Harrassment- it happens a lot less as people while talking sound a certain way. Voice inflection, tone, pitch all play a role. If a kids (by sound) is harassing me, I laugh and say to the kid...grow up and ignore them. If they keep on, mute in two clicks. And I keep playing

-PS4 experience with background noises from others....adjust your head set volume (or buy one that allows this) or the easy fix is turn off the voice chat in areas or mute the person that is bothers you. (Their name is on the screen and also in the recent interactions menu)

Perhaps tho you just perfer text over voice...PC is prob best for you and I assume that's where you play based on your comment "short time on PS4"

We all have options based on our likings. You like text over voice. It's all good

Edits- lots of typo on this phone sry

Xendyn · July 2015

No reason to be a VS anything. You can have both as options to choose from freely.

mrskinskull · July 2015

Azurulia wrote: »

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Maybe we are just old....lol. Doubt it

We're not old, we're just... well seasoned.

Also I prefer voice communication over text a vast majority of the time, partly due to laziness and ease/speed of communicating.

Me too. Voice is quicker and conveys info better.

mrskinskull · July 2015

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Dahkoht wrote: »

So that's the "only" thing text chat does. A negative distraction ?

How do you talk with 10 people all around the zone in voice area chat ?

See you can do that in text chat. Carry on multiple conversations in town with people you've never met before and are no where near you.

How , HOW do you do that with voice chat only ?

Tell me how that's not MORE interaction being able to talk with more people in more areas via text in game ?

And you can't be harassed in open voice chat ?

Good god at least try to spin it less obviously than that.

. The short time I was in PS4 console had babies crying, screeeching, cursing, dogs barking , and racists slurs being screamed out.

Far , far more annoying to me than text.

And for the record I'm into my 40's and thank god for text on phones and email because the last thing I want to do is talk on the phone.

-You would talk with 10 ppl the way you would in real life. One group would move away from the other but keep talking. No different that any normal behavior for communicating I public whether it's 10 ppl or 65,000

-Carrying on multiple conversations at one time ...well maybe I'm old but while possible it's rude. One convo at a time and let the others know you'll get back to them when your finished with the first conversation.

-Talking across zones....if you must, use group chat, guild chat or party chat, but multiple conversations at once...see above.

-Harrassment- it happens a lot less as people while talking sound a certain way. Voice inflection, tone, pitch all play a role. If a kids (by sound) is harassing me, I laugh and say to the kid...grow up and ignore them. If they keep on, mute in two clicks. And I keep playing

-PS4 experience with background noises from others....adjust your head set volume (or buy one that allows this) or the easy fix is turn off the voice chat in areas or mute the person that is bothers you. (Their name is on the screen and also in the recent interactions menu)

Perhaps tho you just perfer text over voice...PC is prob best for you and I assume that's where you play based on your comment "short time on PS4"

We all have options based on our likings. You like text over voice. It's all good

Edits- lots of typo on this phone sry

Yup. There are simple settings that the pro text chatters just don't bother with because thety WANT choice chat not to work.

So babies crying is worse than gold farmers and text spammers .

Text is just as bad for similar reasons. Its just they don't want to try actual human communication.

And for the record, I am also an full grown adult.

mrskinskull · July 2015

Xendyn wrote: »

No reason to be a VS anything. You can have both as options to choose from freely.

Text chat will splinter a very active and awesome voice chat community.

Even people who might have favored text are learning voice chat is bringing an actual sense of conversation and community to a really fun game.

DeanWinchester88 · July 2015

PC needs its own discussion forum, this text chat crap is getting ridiculous. There's already a topic about it with over 70 pages, no need for another. Why can't you have your "awesome" voice chat community without trashing on the people that want text chat? SMH.

theforgottenking1779 · July 2015

DeanWinchester88 wrote: »

PC needs its own discussion forum, this text chat crap is getting ridiculous. There's already a topic about it with over 70 pages, no need for another. Why can't you have your "awesome" voice chat community without trashing on the people that want text chat? SMH.

If pc gets voice chat we should get text chat on console sad it has to be this way tho both versions of eso should have the same things available for both pc and console not one or the other it's getting to the point that most of the post being posted are about how one version has things better then the other only way it will stop is if they both become equal with the same features

Akavir_Sentinel · July 2015

Let's see here, which method would you prefer?

** Selling an item using text zone chat (which is instantly seen by 100+ players everywhere in that zone **

Player 1: WTS VR14 Ravager Cuirass 50k
Player 2: I'll take it. Either COD it to me, or we can meet up and trade.
Player 1: Let's meet at Belkarth wayshrine, I'd rather avoid the COD fee.
Player 2: On my way.

** Selling an item using proximity voice chat (which can only be heard by those within a few feet of you) **

Player 1 (trying to shout over other players): "Hey everyone, I'm wanting to sell this VR14 Ravager Cuirass for 50k"
Player 2 (with dogs barking and kids crying in the background): "I'll take it. COD it to me. My gamer tag is XxX420BlazeIt4LyfeYoloSwagLulzXxX"
Player 1: "What the? How the hell do you even spell that?"
Player 3 through player 100 can't hear you and know nothing of your sale request because they are elsewhere in the zone

theforgottenking1779 · July 2015

Akavir_Sentinel wrote: »

Let's see here, which method would you prefer?

** Selling an item using text zone chat (which is instantly seen by 100+ players everywhere in that zone **

Player 1: WTS VR14 Ravager Cuirass 50k
Player 2: I'll take it. Either COD it to me, or we can meet up and trade.
Player 1: Let's meet at Belkarth wayshrine, I'd rather avoid the COD fee.
Player 2: On my way.

** Selling an item using proximity voice chat (which can only be heard by those within a few feet of you) **

Player 1 (trying to shout over other players): "Hey everyone, I'm wanting to sell this VR14 Ravager Cuirass for 50k"
Player 2 (with dogs barking and kids crying in the background): "I'll take it. COD it to me. My gamer tag is XxX420BlazeIt4LyfeYoloSwagLulzXxX"
Player 1: "What the? How the hell do you even spell that?"
Player 3 through player 100 can't hear you and know nothing of your sale request because they are elsewhere in the zone

Your a *** but this is the truth just another reason why text chat needs to be added to the console version

DeanWinchester88 · July 2015

theforgottenking1779 wrote: »

DeanWinchester88 wrote: »

PC needs its own discussion forum, this text chat crap is getting ridiculous. There's already a topic about it with over 70 pages, no need for another. Why can't you have your "awesome" voice chat community without trashing on the people that want text chat? SMH.

If pc gets voice chat we should get text chat on console sad it has to be this way tho both versions of eso should have the same things available for both pc and console not one or the other it's getting to the point that most of the post being posted are about how one version has things better then the other only way it will stop is if they both become equal with the same features

yep, and it's pathetic that there's people against more options. Now that I'm on PC, I am happily using text chat, when they add voice chat, it's not going to affect me in any way. If I feel like acting like a 10 year old, I can whine on the forums and be against it because I prefer text chat only. But I'm not going to do that. I'm sure there's PC players who wouldn't mind using voice chat. The more people are satisfied, the better the community.

DeanWinchester88 · July 2015

mrskinskull wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

No reason to be a VS anything. You can have both as options to choose from freely.

Text chat will splinter a very active and awesome voice chat community.

Even people who might have favored text are learning voice chat is bringing an actual sense of conversation and community to a really fun game.

lol, what a bs excuse. First of all, people who don't like voice chat are most likely NOT using voice chat at the moment. Maybe there's a few that are forcing themselves cuz it's the only way they can communicate, but mostly, you're only talking to a bunch of voice chat fanatics like yourself. There's not going to be any silly "splinter" in your "awesome" obnoxious community because the people who are going to use text chat weren't using voice chat in the first place.

What kind of awesome community wants to prevent a portion of that same community from communicating in their own way? You are completely contradicting this "awesome" community you speak of. Nice going.

J2JMC · July 2015

mrskinskull wrote: »

Text chat will splinter a very active and awesome voice chat community.

Even people who might have favored text are learning voice chat is bringing an actual sense of conversation and community to a really fun game.

You do realize, that the only people that will use textchat are the ones not using voicechat right? How does this splinter the voice chat community. If you like voice chat you'll keep using voice chat. I know I will. I can't believe you actually feel threatened by letting others have the option of text chat. I played DCUO. I disabled the text chat because it was in my way. Never had to deal with it again. You might get lucky enough where ZoS implements it already disabled. Even better.

Mighty_oakk · July 2015

An mmo is just not an mmo without text. There is nothing massive about it

Voice is a must for group play but group play is severely limited without text.

Tholian1 · July 2015

So many times I am trying to concentrate on what items need to be saved for research or deconstructed and this is all I hear every 10 seconds by the same person...

"Motif for sale"
"Motif for sale"
"Motif for sale"
"Motif for sale"
"Motif for sale"

Until I have no choice but to turn off voice.

Mirra_Halfelven · July 2015

I would use both ... voice is great when in a group for dungeons & raids. Text is better for just about everything else.

Psychobunni · July 2015

I hate speaking over mic and only use it when necessary. During day hours I pop in and out with a housefull around me, and I mean full. Bunnies do what bunnies do

I don't want to be midway explaining something and whomever else just hears "Mom xxxxx won't give me a turn" or "I did dishes last night"....or whatever else going on in my house atm.

Evening is the only time I can watch what I want to on tv, I don't want to share that either...maybe its derpy, maybe its inappropriate..

I sat through someone having a conversation with their girlfriend, some guys Mom yelling at him, hacking/belching, etc already on TS...I don't want that all the time

Anyway, with all the complaints about voice only on console it would be the worst thing ZOS could do to make it game wide.

(and I'm pre-cell phone age and don't text unless forced to)

Azalin76 · July 2015

I can see your view on text chat, though I do see that the biggest problem is talking over one another, especially in guild chat. I have not joined any guilds yet. Mainly because I really don't know how to on console. I relied on text chat on pc to join and talk in guild, that part I do miss on the PS4. I wonder if they decided not to add text chat because they wanted to remove the zone sale chat and force people to join trade guilds to make better use out of the guild traders. If we can sell in zone chat then the guild traders have less of a purpose to other players.

I also to agree that the background noises can be very annoying at times, but it can be an easy fix to just add someone to the ignore list who is causing the problem. People should be more aware of background noises when playing a game that relies heavily on voice chat. Otherwise they get ignored by players they will eventually need for groups like me who is a healer.

I think that voice chat just helps remind players that they should be more respectful and responsible with talking to other players. I do agree that there should be an option for text chat but it should be an option that can be turned off. But then that leads to further problems. Whith a guild of 100+ players if you want to text chat with someone you would have to scroll through 100+ names to make sure that they are even in text chat or online. I feel it would be easier to just add people to my friends list so that I can contact them directly. Sure you could poll text chat and ask hey are you on? But then you have 100+ players doing that and suddenly text chat becomes an annoyance.

Or even if someone is on but in cyrodiil or a dungeon and can't respond with text. Then voice chat becomes easier. I think that if players can control their background noises voice chat would win over text chat every time. It's just a change we would all have to get used to.

King Bozo · July 2015

I can't talk to you or reach on voice all over the zone without text chat. I think it is much harder to meet others by voice only. Voice is very important but comes up short reaching others in many different situations. I think that's why both together would help the communication process in this game. Voice only comes up short were text chat would help meet the full potential of communication. I can't imagine why anyone would not want the full potential.

Ace_of_Destiny · July 2015

@ZOS_JessicaFolsom @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_RichLambert

Shouldn't this have been closed by now?

Or are ZOS Mods only closing threads which are for textchat?
Has ZOS become that bad?

We can't have a Poll, and a Thread open at the same time asking about textchat.
But, somebody posts against it and....*crickets*

.

Azalin76 · July 2015

Ace-2112 wrote: »

@ZOS_JessicaFolsom @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_RichLambert

Shouldn't this have been closed by now?

Or are ZOS Mods only closing threads which are for textchat?
Has ZOS become that bad?

We can't have a Poll, and a Thread open at the same time asking about textchat.
But, somebody posts against it and....*crickets*

.

This thread isn't about for or against text chat, it's about how age plays in to the concept of voice chat vs text chat. We are giving our views based on age, not really as we want it or don't want it. Sure there are a few here and there that add comments that don't apply to that but that can't be helped. Plus the Mods usually only close threads that are becoming destructive to the forums or other players.

Ace_of_Destiny · July 2015

Azalin76 wrote: »

Ace-2112 wrote: »

@ZOS_JessicaFolsom @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_RichLambert

Shouldn't this have been closed by now?

Or are ZOS Mods only closing threads which are for textchat?
Has ZOS become that bad?

We can't have a Poll, and a Thread open at the same time asking about textchat.
But, somebody posts against it and....*crickets*

.

This thread isn't about for or against text chat, it's about how age plays in to the concept of voice chat vs text chat. We are giving our views based on age, not really as we want it or don't want it. Sure there are a few here and there that add comments that don't apply to that but that can't be helped. Plus the Mods usually only close threads that are becoming destructive to the forums or other players.

I bolded, and italicised the relevant section above.

Now, let's look at the original post...

Azalin76 wrote: »

I am wondering if this is more about age groups. I grew up before texting was invented, before cell phones became cordless, and when computers used DOS and floppy discs. Talking to another person involved a telephone or being in person.

I agree that text chat does have its advantages in some cases, but it also has disadvantages as well.

It takes away from human interaction, just like texting.

It is a distraction in game to have to stop what you are doing, read text and then respond. In a live action mmo this could often lead to death.

It's easier to get harassed, players can type negative things in chat about you which can lead to fights or player grievances.

The only real advantage that text chat offers is for those who are deaf or hard of hearing get to interact with other players without limitation. Obviously they can play the pc version of this game to overcome this, so it's not really alienating them from playing the game. At least no more than it alienates players who are blind or have lost an arm and can't play. I am a disabled vet and would never ask a video game company to add in a special design just to appease my needs. If they don't want to offer assistance to those with special needs then we will find a game that offers what we need and play that. In the end it's up to us to find a way to make it work, not the other way around.

I bolded the part about "age", italicised your "personal biography", and made red the part speaking against textchat.

See why people might think this is just another "anti-textchat thread"?

As for Mods closing threads...they have closed EVERY other thread that even hints about being related to somebody thinking about someday mentioning textchat.
Even simple "Do you want textchat?", "Yes" or "No", POLLs have been closed as soon as it starts showing that over 90% of the players that get to vote in it want it added.

I am not trying to be an arse.
But, what's good for the goose...ya know?

And, just for the record...I was born January 15th, 1970...been playing MMOs since Ultima Online Beta...and am for textchat because it just makes things easier in so many ways.

Good luck to You, Mate!

I hope you enjoy your game...the way you want to enjoy your game.

mrskinskull · July 2015

DeanWinchester88 wrote: »

mrskinskull wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

No reason to be a VS anything. You can have both as options to choose from freely.

Text chat will splinter a very active and awesome voice chat community.

Even people who might have favored text are learning voice chat is bringing an actual sense of conversation and community to a really fun game.

lol, what a bs excuse. First of all, people who don't like voice chat are most likely NOT using voice chat at the moment. Maybe there's a few that are forcing themselves cuz it's the only way they can communicate, but mostly, you're only talking to a bunch of voice chat fanatics like yourself. There's not going to be any silly "splinter" in your "awesome" obnoxious community because the people who are going to use text chat weren't using voice chat in the first place.

What kind of awesome community wants to prevent a portion of that same community from communicating in their own way? You are completely contradicting this "awesome" community you speak of. Nice going.

OK let me put it a different way.

You seem smart. You likely assessed the experience offered on each system and chose.
You want text chat and migrated towards the PC experience because that's what you wanted. You also expressed your opinion on the forums. The majority of the console player base just don't have the same values you have, apparently. Its not bad. You're not wrong. It just seems that limited resources have been spent elsewhere and the text guys already have a 60 fps alternative.
See, me im the opposite. I would love to play this on the PC, but with all of those bawdy add ons and the camera pulled out to a satellite view. It just looks nothing like the console experience which i favor. I think more people favor that on console bit we shall see.

Why muddy the thriving community on the console when guilds, groups, private parties, and psn messaging along with mail are sufficient?

Voice chat was already on the PC in a way. Many people were using various programs to facilitate this.

Adding voice chat to PC will have a gathering effect because now PC players will know exactly where the voice people are and be using the SAME program.

Console is already very bundled. Text chat will look awful IMO, be full of spam and dismissive full page argumemts, along with that purple you are selling s
Hidden between'some troll spamming obscenities.

Again don't mistake my opinion or your opinion for anything but.

I am very happy text was scrapped in favor of voice chat.

ZOS_Racheal · July 2015

Greetings everyone,

There is a thread already located HERE in which players are discussing the pros and cons of a text chat option. In order to consolidate feedback, we ask that you post your comments in that thread.

Additionally, please remember that it’s fine to debate or disagree while providing feedback, but it’s also important to keep your posts civil and constructive. Thank you for your understanding!