Game Guides Archive
Thread: Headsets to communicate with others?
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Neshameh
Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:06 pm
#1
Probably a dumb question, but hey, I like being in the dark, heh.
I have heard people talk about communicating in groups with headsets and voice chat rather than
typing all of your chatter, does anyone have a good idea how to do this?
I am assuming it is not a thing supported by the game, however is this somethng people are doing
I am assuming it is not a thing supported by the game, however is this somethng people are doing
through yahoo, or aim?
RebelKnight64
Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:03 am
#3
Voice comms are not supported by SWGbut there are programs (like Roger Wilco) that will allow you to do the trick.
Obviously all the players involved will need to use the same program and you will have to do some preparatory work.
Have a look on google or altavista.
JoeyNipps
Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:31 am
#4
Val_Hunter wrote:
I'm just going to add that a game like SWG can't support it natively because of the huge amounts of bandwidth that would be involved. (Besides, who wants to hear audio loops of all the spammers' RL voices in coronet)
I keep hearing people use this excuse and it is simply invalid. First, XBox Live does it - so yes it can be done. Secondly (for those who won't have cable or DSL connections) it merely needs to be an option in the game just like all the other high end eye candy. If a player has the bandwidth to accomodate it, then he can use it. Thirdly, MAKE IT AN OPTION. Fourth (again options) if it is made so that you can limit who you hear (group only for example), then you WON'T hear spammers. Fifth, the game maker has the GREATEST chance of optimizing the voice code for his specific game rather than players having to try out various third party systems. Sixth, the developer incorporating it into the game design means that it will be the MOST user friendly for all players of all computer skills (remember the time when games didn't have text messaging and we had to use ICQ?????).
Cry4Dawn
Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:37 am
#5
I just started using Team Speak and it seems to be near flawless for sound. I am amazed how well it works. You can find them at www.teamspeak.net or it might be www.teamspeak.org
bLink1971
Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:33 pm
#6
I recommend TeamSpeak. Our guild uses it 24/7. It does not cost anything to create a server and works great. I have noticed no performance issues with SWG while using it and I'm the server for the guild TeamSpeak.
Val_Hunter
Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:34 pm
#7
JoeyNipps wrote:
Val_Hunter wrote:
I'm just going to add that a game like SWG can't support it natively because of the huge amounts of bandwidth that would be involved. (Besides, who wants to hear audio loops of all the spammers' RL voices in coronet)I keep hearing people use this excuse and it is simply invalid. First, XBox Live does it - so yes it can be done. Secondly (for those who won't have cable or DSL connections) it merely needs to be an option in the game just like all the other high end eye candy. If a player has the bandwidth to accomodate it, then he can use it. Thirdly, MAKE IT AN OPTION. Fourth (again options) if it is made so that you can limit who you hear (group only for example), then you WON'T hear spammers. Fifth, the game maker has the GREATEST chance of optimizing the voice code for his specific game rather than players having to try out various third party systems. Sixth, the developer incorporating it into the game design means that it will be the MOST user friendly for all players of all computer skills (remember the time when games didn't have text messaging and we had to use ICQ?????).
When you play on Xbox live, the chat isn't hosted by Microsoft. You're each sending your voice directly to the other players. You're also only talking about what 32 players max?
For a massive online game you have thousands of simultaneous users per server. Also, all the connection would have to go through the server, otherwise people could write spam type apps to send advertisements directly to peoples' clients. To get decent voice you need at least 3.2kbit. Multiply tis by 1000 and you have 3.2mbit, then multiply that by the average number of people who heard the person (we'l be kind and say 2) Now you have 6.4mbit. This is going to cost at least a couple thousand per server per month. And would introduce problems like lag getting bad when to many people talk at once. (Remember when they had to make the spammers in coronet slow down, that was just text)
I don't think I'd want to pay an extra 2-5$ per month to have to hear all your voices
Val_Hunter
Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:30 pm
#8
Like the others said, you can download programs for this. I'm just going to add that a game like SWG can't support it natively because of the huge amounts of bandwidth that would be involved. (Besides, who wants to hear audio loops of all the spammers' RL voices in coronet)
DoDG3
Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:01 am
#9
Communication over voice is pretty necessary.
My guild, and clans I play in for other games all use Ventrilo.
I like it, and have no problems with it.
My guild, and clans I play in for other games all use Ventrilo.
I like it, and have no problems with it.
DeportedSquirrel
Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:52 am
#10
To the original poster of this message!
programs like Ventrilo or Team speak allow you to communicate with other people. you set up a server, you may have to pay a fee to have it hosted somewhere, and install a client on each computer that will connect to it. that is how it is set up, so you can give the server IP and password to whoever you want to be able to connect and chat with you.
I recently joined a guild and installed Team speak, it is great when coordinating hunts. you spend less time typing and more time playing the game. there are some links in the other posts if you want to look it up in more detail.
SinaxEuko
Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:57 am
#11
Ventrilo is probably the best in terms of overall quality, but you would be extremely hard-pressed to find a place willing to host it for free, most companies are moving to a small monthly fee to host it. With teamspeak, providing you keep the number of people using it small, I've seen it successfully hosted off a cable modem connection before.
Ventrilo: http://www.ventrilo.com/
TeamSpeak: http://www.goteamspeak.com/news.php
There are also other alternatives that have been mentioned, such as Roger Wilco, but I find that Ventrilo & Teamspeak generally provide better quality. Keep in mind also that the headset and/or microphone you use can impact the quality -- products from Plantronics or Sennheiser seem to do well, and if you're looking for an inexpensive set, try the Audio .90's from Plantronics -- most places sell them for under $20 and they work just fine.
Neshameh
Thu Nov 11, 2004 10:16 pm
#12
Thank you all for the help, now I just need to undumb myself to the teamspeak controls, hehe.
Downloaded it and installed, has anyone used the public servers they offer? It appears that you can create
a channel to invite folks to chat in, you would just need to make a new one each time the way I read it.
I dont think my system would handle being server, and playing at the same time, or is this mainly bandwidth
of your isp that it sucks up?
Ive a Win XP system with 512mb, 3.06g P4.
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