Valve Guy Says British Gamers Need to Speak Up

Valve's Chet Faliszek says British gamers are "notorious non-talkers" while gaming online, but warns that such stiff-upper-lip silence won't cut it when it comes to the new "Realism mode" in Left 4 Dead.

As online multiplayer games have become increasingly sophisticated, the need for clear and immediate communication between players has grown accordingly. A handful of macros tied to keypresses is no longer adequate to handle the needs of large-scale battles, complex strategies and ever-changing situations in game types that are no longer about simply capturing a flag. But according to Faliszek, British gamers are still a bit shy when confronted with a microphone.

"You guys are notorious non-talkers on both 360 and PC. Americans are just chattering away, working together as a team. If you want to work together as a team you've got to talk!" he said in an interview with CVG.

"You can go into a random 360 game on US servers and it's crazy talk. It's fun," he continued. "I think a lot of people knock that community but again and again I'm surprised by how fun that is. I've played expert campaigns where by the end of it we're best buddies."

It's a hangup British gamers are going to have to get over if they want to have any success with the new Realism mode in Left 4 Dead, Faliszek said. The mode disables on-screen assistance, essentially forcing players to communicate vocally in order to survive.

"Realism mode will prod you - you have to talk. If you don't talk you're not going to make it," he said. "The first time you see people play somebody will go in a house to get some stuff, turn around a be like, 'shit, I can't see anybody.' It's a scary feeling. We'll see if that maybe stimulates the British sternness."

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They always talk when I play Counter-Strike:Source.

What game's the picture from by the way?

I think being asked if we want tea and crumpets every time we talk makes us less inclined to the whole idea.

If VALVe find a way to get rid of all the idiots on the internet, I might get a new headset.

EDIT - also, what's that picture? it's awesome!

Every time I talked on CoD4 I got berated for not being from the US.
Same with Halo 3.

I'd talk more if it didn't distract my team.

A lot of Americans online have a habit of being stupid while talking. I'd be silent too if I was British :<

Because we get asked irrating questions, or are repeatedly told "we saved your arse in world war 1/2"

Not funny.

Last time I (as a British person) said something in an online game (Call of Duty, I believe), I had my accent taken the piss out of. Sorry, but you guys are "notorious" for that kind of stuff. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of American friends, but I've met some reeeal pricks.

/rant.

I talk when I have to talk, but most of the time my opinion doesn't matter because my accent is different.

JugglerPanda:
A lot of Americans online have a habit of being stupid while talking. I'd be silent too if I was British :<

So apparently Internet microphone dumbassery only applies to Americans? Are we absolutely sure about this? Cause if you are I can introduce you to some recordings of a few foul-mouthed Aussies during games of TF2 I've played.

Yes I admit a lot of my countrymen are idiots especially behind the anonymity shield of the Internet, but personally I like vocal communication no matter what accent is applied to it...as long as I can hear what you're saying that is.

Speak up while they censor my legally purchased uncut game ?
I doubt they'd want to hear what I have to say because it's far from nice or polite.

Maybe I'll start talking when people aren't dicks to me so much...Also, maybe they lower the price of mics so I can actually TALK to people, my dysraxia gives my heavy hands and I'm breaking mics like 2 days after I get them.

I'll probably be avoiding the realism mode on whatever I buy it on, then, thanks for ruining a game mode by forcing you to talk.

Chin chin old spice.

I'm far to busy drinking Earl Grey to talk to those damn colonial's.

What What.

It's because American twinks make fun of their accents every 3 seconds as soon as they speak.

Dyp100:
Maybe I'll start talking when people aren't dicks to me so much...Also, maybe they lower the price of mics so I can actually TALK to people, my dyslexia gives my heavy hands and I'm breaking mics like 2 days after I get them.

I'll probably be avoiding the realism mode on whatever I buy it on, then, thanks for ruining a game mode by forcing you to talk.

I don't think you're talking about dyslexia, that's what makes you not able to spell things.

Oh good. Now I know to play with more brits. I really don't need some slack jawed yokel babbling on about shit no one cares about while I am trying to shoot zombies in the face.
The game tells you what is going on and if they do need help I would far prefer 2 words from a crisp british accent then 5 minutes of rambling from some 13 year old southerner.

I can say it's pretty much because anyone you're likely to meet gaming outside the UK isn't worth talking to.

That was my opening controversial statement, and now for the real stuff! I know a lot of gamers who play online, many of whom are as loud as any other, but I will say this... if there is a majority of non-talkers who are British, it could well be because America seems more lax in letting its 12 year olds loose in L4D and Halo. That's pretty much fact.

EDIT: Christ and how could I forget?
"Omah gawd, you's from Great Britannia? Go drink some tea limey."
Yeah...we've all had that one.

If you wish to amend our conservatism, I'd recommend amending the piggishness of the American XBL player base.

Rather than get into a moronic conversation regarding "History according to Hollywood", stereotypes older than the civilised world and other baseless conjecture.

Until then, I will take the high road and remain silent.

P.S. L4D is nothing more than GoW, Halo, Other shooter Horde mode sold as a complete game to idiots.

That article reminds me that we really need a mute option ingame (not just in the lobby).

The picture, I'm damned sure, is from GIANTS: Citizen Kabuto.

ShredHead:

Dyp100:
Maybe I'll start talking when people aren't dicks to me so much...Also, maybe they lower the price of mics so I can actually TALK to people, my dyslexia gives my heavy hands and I'm breaking mics like 2 days after I get them.

I'll probably be avoiding the realism mode on whatever I buy it on, then, thanks for ruining a game mode by forcing you to talk.

I don't think you're talking about dyslexia, that's what makes you not able to spell things.

I meant dyspraxia, my spellchecker changed it automatically, IDK why...

I'd say that's a very ignorant statement from Mr. Chet Faliszek. It's not like we (as a nation) are completely silent.
However, I must be honest when I say I rarely use in-game chat because of multiple reasons, one of them being the incredibly annoying voice of underage kids screaming for ammo or telling us every time they get killed. Which, yaknow, we couldn't have ever figured out, I mean it's not like the HUD tells you these things ;D

However, first post, woo.

A reason why i play with UK friends or nice Americans i meet.

Unfortunatly my accent is the centre of ridicule if i do pipe up in a match.

God bless party chat.

I'd probably talk more if people didn't start asking if I know the queen every time I speak. However, I am more likely to talk if there are more British people in the game, or Europeans really. Well as long as there aren't any 12 year old Americans!

I find lots of my fellow countrymen speak, though its usually more to the point and game related rather then just generally commenting on things and chatting as I find with yanks, still theres exceptions on both sides.

I myself talk occasionally, but get mistaken for a cockney despite having a Kent accent, very strange.

*Doesn't talk, is British*.

I think it's more that british people don't want to talk to strangers, in a game like left 4 dead, you play with your friends, no one else.

I can't imagine joining a co-op game with a stranger, i've never even looked to see if you can do it in left 4 dead, borderlands, gears of war, anything.

Can't remember the last time i joined a ranked match in anything, probably cod4.

Replace "go drink some tea" with "get back in the kitchen where you belong" and maybe Valve would understand why female gamers aren't big on using mics either.

Man, that realism mode acutally sound very fun. I think once I understand the new zombies in that game I will play the realism mode.

Well it's a fine line, it'n'it? When there's a bunch of kiddies playing, they never shut up! Big difference between constructive helpful talk and youthful annoyance blabber. LOL

Ammadessi:
Replace "go drink some tea" with "get back in the kitchen where you belong" and maybe Valve would understand why female gamers aren't big on using mics either.

I think this deserves an honourable mention. I hadn't thought of that.

AceDiamond:

JugglerPanda:
A lot of Americans online have a habit of being stupid while talking. I'd be silent too if I was British :<

So apparently Internet microphone dumbassery only applies to Americans? Are we absolutely sure about this? Cause if you are I can introduce you to some recordings of a few foul-mouthed Aussies during games of TF2 I've played.

Yes I admit a lot of my countrymen are idiots especially behind the anonymity shield of the Internet, but personally I like vocal communication no matter what accent is applied to it...as long as I can hear what you're saying that is.

A lot of Americans =/= Only Americans.

I always use my mic, maybe he can't hear us from all those pings away.

I only talk when it is necessary, and I am an American.

Yet I only play PC games, but Vent/Mumble are plenty handy when it comes to pick-up games and scrims.

You want to here me talk then here. "When's the next episode of half life coming?!"

Yeah. No thanks.

I've had enough of obnoxious Americans blabbing off at me, and I'm generally not too enthusiastic about talking to some ten year old kid with an anger problem, or some weird fourty year old who keeps inviting me to private chat.

It's why the mic stays off.