Teamspeak and hosting.

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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 15:49 #35800
Stephen Fulcher
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First of all, before I even state my query, I am not intending to provoke an argument here, but am interested in gauging opinion on something.

There was a Teamspeak server set up some time ago to enable persons playing multiplayer games to converse by voice rather than in game messages. There are a lot of people who have been on there at various points, and the use of the server has evolved from being purely an aid to gameplay at its beginnings to being a social area in its own right now, with quite a few people logging on every evening whether there is any SimSig multiplayer game in progress or not.

There have been quite a few occasions where there has been a gathering of people in there and a "spur of the moment" game has been started, and subsequently not advertised on the forum, a situation which tends to happen quite often these days.

There seem to be a lot of players both hosting and playing multiplayer in the last few months that have not done so much in the past, which is good for the SimSig community, but very few have used Teamspeak.

When I host a game, I do tend to prefer people to use it if they have it - communication is much easier and happens more often - it is far easier to talk and listen whilst signalling a panel than it is to take the time to write in the message box, and people may not necessarily read the message anyway if they are busy.

What my main query concerns, is would people still join any multiplayer game if the use of Teamspeak was mandated by the hosting player?

Last edited: 23/09/2012 at 15:55 by Stephen Fulcher
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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 16:00 #35801
John
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I personally would have no problem with that.

(Needs a poll)

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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 17:24 #35808
guyh
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I don't currently have a microphone, so wouldn't be able to join as it stands.
I have occasionally logged in to teamspeak when playing for listening purposes, although on those instances not a lot more was happening verbally than textually.
I also tend to join multiplayers on my laptop whilst sat next to my other half with her watching tv, so there would be too much noise.

On balance, prob 10% yes I'd join, 90% no.

Guy.

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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 17:37 #35809
headshot119
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" said:
I don't currently have a microphone, so wouldn't be able to join as it stands.
I have occasionally logged in to teamspeak when playing for listening purposes, although on those instances not a lot more was happening verbally than textually.
I also tend to join multiplayers on my laptop whilst sat next to my other half with her watching tv, so there would be too much noise.

On balance, prob 10% yes I'd join, 90% no.

Guy.
Just cause you don't have a mic doesn't mean you can't join.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 17:40 #35811
John
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" said:
I don't currently have a microphone
Doesn't your pc/laptop have an inbuilt mic?

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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 17:52 #35812
settlecarlisle
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When hosting it can be really helpful if others are on TS. The person hosting is attempting to cope with people coming and going, reorganizing panels (often at short notice), helping with questions that only the host can answer (e.g. is that train moving?, can you shunt this for me?) as well as (sometimes) having to run panels themselves to keep things moving. In other words multitasking heavily! TS is very helpful to increase the pace of communication and allow listening to a question while responding to the previous question. So I think on balance I'm in favour of trying to encourage it's use where possible.

I would join a session if TS was mandatory.

One other comment - there are TS apps for iPhone and Android for TS, which might help those without microphones.

Maybe the default template for a new mutiplayer game could be edited to include the text "The use of TeamSpeak is encouraged - See <link> for details".

Tim

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Teamspeak and hosting. 23/09/2012 at 17:58 #35813
Peter Bennet
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" said:
" said:
I don't currently have a microphone, so wouldn't be able to join as it stands.
I have occasionally logged in to teamspeak when playing for listening purposes, although on those instances not a lot more was happening verbally than textually.
I also tend to join multiplayers on my laptop whilst sat next to my other half with her watching tv, so there would be too much noise.

On balance, prob 10% yes I'd join, 90% no.

Guy.
Just cause you don't have a mic doesn't mean you can't join.
Depends on how you interpret the original poster's terms.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Teamspeak and hosting. 24/09/2012 at 17:35 #35825
Josie
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Teamspeak is very useful for all the reasons stated. I can't speak on it but when I play multiplayer I usually listen in and reply by text. I don't think not being able to speak (either by technical limitation or speaking impairment) is a problem.

The main problems with mandating it are:


  • not everyone is able to install software (depends on their computer setup)

  • not everyone is able to hear, again technically or by impairment - this makes Teamspeak considerably less useful since most people using it are talking



If you don't allow connections from anyone not using it, you exclude anyone in either of those groups.

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Teamspeak and hosting. 24/09/2012 at 18:11 #35826
Albert
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Some hosts allowed people without a microphone to join TS for listening only. Then you're already ruling out less people. But indeed, I consider it important that people unable to use TeamSpeak can join as well.
AJP in games
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Teamspeak and hosting. 24/09/2012 at 18:50 #35827
postal
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" said:
I also tend to join multiplayers on my laptop whilst sat next to my other half with her watching tv, so there would be too much noise.
Probably affects quite a few people who would find it difficult to either speak or listen on a loudspeaker without getting grief from those sitting with them. But it is surely down to the host; if he/she mandates TS then that is the rule for their particular session and that is their call. If you can't or don't want to comply that is your call, but you don't get to take part.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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