PC Microphones (and the 4x community).

[Green1]

hmm... even some of the arena guys on twink info are starting to use Skype. They say it is better for very small groups. Unlike the large MMO guilds that need something that can handle 20+ folks and divide them into channels, PvP arena folks only need room for 2-5. When I finally get off my cheapness, I will check into what I need for skype.

[JarlWolf]

Skype isn't too demanding, if you have an email address you can use, all you have to do is download it and use that said address. And it costs nothing either.

Skype is for cheap bastards like myself. And the best part is, Skype has rather decent quality to boot. I personally don't bother with big groups in chat, but you can have a nice sized group if needed. Which I don't think you will, but its there if you need it.

[Green1]

Awesome.

When I get the nice mic I am drooling over, I will get that.

And you are right, it does not sound bad. I just listened a while back to the TGS Bloodbowl coverage on Youtube where Jessie Cox, Wowcrendor, Total Biscuit, and Dodger did commentary over Skype while playing Blood Bowl and it did not sound horrible. In fact, it was very listenable and high quality. I wish my cell phone had reception like that.

[JarlWolf]

I don't even own a cell phone, the things are just clunky for me.
Then again my knowledge and grasp of the newer models is sort of just at the -kaput- stone age level. My daughters laugh at me, im sort of archaic when it comes to communication, I still have an old radio system I use with my neighbours, because I hate phones and ringing in general. And I only want family to call me anyways, and for emergencies/notifications/ whatever that's important.

[Green1]

I do not know. The newer cell phones are pretty darn useful in an urban setting. Mine is also a wifi hotspot. On good days, I can play stuff with not to bad latency. Your area, it probably would be useless except for forums. In a large tourist city like New orleans, I had issues with latency during tourist times, but played stuff with 100 to 200 latency during good times which was not bad for cellular/satellite. Here, it is a bit better except for prime time like folks going to work or college American football games. (The Louisiana State Tigers are worshiped like a god here... sick, isn't it when soccer ..umm real football is a better game)

My internet connection is usually through a Optimus V LG Virgin Mobile phone hacked to activate ( of course against terms of use ) wifi. It also acts as a router.

[JarlWolf]

Signal isn't too bad for me actually. The town I am nearby has it's own tower so my signal isn't too bad at all actually... that and one of my neighbours well.. he likes to dabble with certain forms of pirating signal and re routing things.

I think I am going to shutup about this subject though because about half of what you said to me just confused me and made me feel stupid. I'm a metaphorical caveman, and a simple one at that.

[Green1]

I did not mean to confuse you..lol.

BUT- you have given me an incredible thrifty idea that I have heard in some circles.

These modern phones are basically computers running a version of Linux. Exception is the iphone which is Apple and must be destroyed for the sake of humanity. There are programs out there which will allow you to use skype on an Android linux phone as long as you can pirate a wifi connection. So... you basically have phone AND internet for free. Even if you have not paid for service and it is cut off.

mwuhahahah

I am inspired. And this tangent has nothing to do with mics or the 4x gamer's odd silence as compared to other gamers of other genres.

[JarlWolf]

Power to the people.
 


Either way, I find limited amounts of voice chat with intelligent folks/pleasing to talk to is better then an over influx of it with... unsavory individuals/ downright annoying people. So I tend to keep my voice chat groups small.

[Green1]

Power to the people.
 


Either way, I find limited amounts of voice chat with intelligent folks/pleasing to talk to is better then an over influx of it with... unsavory individuals/ downright annoying people. So I tend to keep my voice chat groups small.

That is the reason why I gravitate always back to the 4x community.

Now, in MMO community's favor, there are strategists and highly intelligent folks there. But it is drowned out by a sea of just really obnoxious people. Even Eve. Though, I will say Eve probably has the most civil and intelligent player base at the moment. I may try back in 3 years. But I think Everquest Next probably has what I am seeking. Voxel based player generated content and sanbox. But, we are still talking Sony.

Exception: the World of Warcraft twink crowd. You would not even think it. But even there, you do get into washed up nerds with unwarranted self importance who were kicked out of guilds/got broke/ whatever who wax on about "important" guilds on backwater servers no one cares about and how "they could have been great" blah blah. Thing is about twinks is there is no hierarchy. You can jot be "internet" important just because you have position and the games still go on and folks still have fun and can go in and out without "punishment".

Sorry, for FPS/RTS there is nothing I can say in their favor.

[JarlWolf]

 

The only REAL good RTS community I've ever encountered was that of Age of Mythology's, and that was only because of the fervent and devoted map makers they had on there. People were very creative on that game and the variety and amount of scenario's, maps and other things that came out of that community was incredible. Age of Mythology is still is to this day my favourite RTS because of that, Age of Empires 2 has nothing on it.

But most RTS communities are bland and full of egocentric, play solely to win types. Which makes playing those games online a chore and aggravating for the most part because people don't care about having fun oddly enough.

[Green1]

Yes... "chore" is the correct word. We play these games because they are intellectually stimulating and entertaining. Not to hear some dumb ass think he is a god or for some win/loss percentage or gear you have as some sense of worth.

The 4x folks do not know about the better stuff. I have married someone (I RPed a priest)in game from an RP server IRL and in game. Kind of a geeky thing, I know. But more common than you think. Get a whole bunch of geeks on a voice chat. Bring beer. The rest will follow. Bonus points if it is on an RP MMO server like some of WoW;s in its heyday. The player base was 40 percent women on there. Folks were literally taking planes and hooking up from only meeting in drunken conversations on voice. Even across countries.

These 4xers just do not know!

Now, my only gripe is that, unlike TV or radio, if you have someone else in the house who is not into it, It is kind of anti-social to that person. I do know people who have gotten divorced due to gaming. There really needs to be a way, especially with PC gaming that can make it more engaging.

That said, things are changing. My daughter happens to be addicted to Fallen Enchantress. I just regret that game has no MP. I heard a story of a father that gets online to play Civ with his daughter.It is how they visit though they live states away. No, unfortunately my daughter is not into Civ or sci fi like AC. She likes high fantasy and is a constant on fan fiction fantasy boards.

I taught her well

[JarlWolf]

Heh. My daughters personally like their RPG's, of which I do as well. Just I am more for post apocalyptic things like Fallout or more realistic medieval stuff, like Mount and Blade. I can tolerate fantasy in gaming but the only one I really liked was those old Warhammer fantasy games with Morgan Bernhardt, but other then that I am really not all that entranced by flying witch elves from mount fairybutt.

In short: I am more for survivalistic RPG's, the type where you need to eat, drink to survive, (but not so much where its like that horrid monstrosity of a game Sims, that's just incentive for developing depression or sociopathic tendencies) and has lots of gritty atmosphere and challenge to it, but also sandbox freedom.

Edit: Had to edit that 

[Green1]

Fallen Enchantress is pretty gritty. That world is out to kill you. I made a comment that i had not seen a more hostile world in a 4x since Alpha Centauri. Kael from CFC pretty much nailed it.

No elves from Mt fairybutt, either...

The daughter LOVES it!