We do speak but unlike the Americans he heaps large praise on we usually keep the chat to relevant information, were as your average American will happily sit there and talk complete bollocks about anything and everything except the game you're playing.

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Depending on which culture you're from, those could be close to the same thing. I've seen the way Zoey looks at Bill ;)

I definitely prefer someone that speaks scarse (or not at all) but reacts quickly & automatically to a fellow survivor being pinned down than some chatty know-it-all kid that is completely oblivious to his comrades being smoked a meter in front of him.

It's a zombie horde, not twitter followers ! :)

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

I've heard, my girlfriend is big on Gears of War 2 (she's a manlier gamer than I).
Pointing out they're flirting with burly virtual men is usually good for a laugh.

I only talk on games that really need it, Like Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Apart from that i don't talk, Just of the fact of, I get the pissed take out of my English accent. So i stay in party chat with friends. Normaly it's by simple minded Americans, Telling me to f*** the queen or something like that. Which i find very rude. And Chet Faliszek should realize this.

Ammadessi:
It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Very true too. :/

ZombieGenesis:
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.

You forgot the " we saved your ass in dubya dubya two"
That one pisses me off the most. Dont get mewrong, i have a few ameican friends on xbl who are a pleasure to talk too, but most of the time, as soon as i open my mouth i get shouted down by americans just because i'm english. It doesnt exactly insire me to talk to them. Most of the time, when im in a game with americans i just leave my mic off.
Canadians, australians and people from the other parts of the uk are, in my experience, generally more civilised and friendly.

You know, I played in a clan that was nearly half Europeans, and half of them were British, and I've got the say, the Brits are pretty talkative, minding that there are rules like "treat all gamers with respect."

Anyhow, the argument by the people posting in this thread seems to be that they don't talk because of the trouble they receive in terms of their accent. So here's some helpful pointers to help Brits get through the rough times:

1) Try a new accent. Obviously, doing an American one would be best, but if you can't do that, here's a list of countries known for speaking a form of English whose asses Americans don't believe they saved in WWII:

Canada
South Africa
Australia
Ireland
New Zealand

You could also try doing another European accent, as though you were from a non-English speaking country but could speak English (***WARNING*** DO NOT use French or German. You think you've got it bad? We actually DID save the French's ass in WWII, plus we equate Germans with Nazis, and we beat them. Other countries to consider avoiding are: Ethnically Slavic countries, like Russia and Ukraine, where you'll be considered a Russian, and thus a dirty commie, or Spain, where you'll sound vaguely Mexican)

2) Failing a complete change of accent, why not try to emulate American gaming speech patterns? This is very simple: Every time you say something, put down a minority group. For gamers, gays and blacks are the primary targets, but don't forget to work the Mexican and Asian angle. And if you're playing a military game, you can probably get away with bashing liberals (or, for bonus points, famous black liberals, like Obama or Al Sharpton. Triple score if you claim Obama is also gay). This way, Americans will know that while you have a strange accent, you share their rabidly offensive ideology.

3) Don't play with Americans. Sometimes you just have to throw in the towel and accept that the US often ruins everything. We put Disney World in Paris. I mean, it's f***ing Paris. The two most commonly known words worldwide? "Okay" and "Coca-Cola." Yah, that's right, the second most well known word is an American brand name. We did that. When you reach that point where you've given up trying, you'll have to take advantage of the few games that allow you to play with your friends, and not with just random strangers.

I hope this helps out my fellow gamers on the other, less American, side of the Atlantic.

I just stay in party chat with my friends even if im playing with strangers although if i see them talking i invite them to party

before party chat on cod4 9/10 Americans were complete idiots :p

Leaving aside the accent biz, frankly I could do with less chatter, not more.

If even half what was said was relevant to the game I'd be a happy fella. More often it's some idiot gibbering on about his homework, how stoned he is, how much he likes Band New Wave Forgettable or similar crap. And it is usually a he; God forbid they should have brains as well as testicles.

We are not silent its called party chat as we can communicate well without making a big deal out of everything and being interrupted by some arrogant American with stupid questions.

I feel sorry for the decent Americans that get stereotyped just because of other idiots online.

Trust me Chet us brits will do fine in the upcoming zombie apocalypse.

Baron Khaine:
Chin chin old spice.

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

What What.

I think I love you.

They want British gamers to speak up? Alright, I'll give it a go.

Stop messing around, and release the damned HL2: Ep 3 already.

Dyp100:

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 thought that was what you were talking about.

Its weird i never run into much of this on L4D (few acceptations do apply), besides basic name calling, but i also play during the day. All the kids are in school so its mostly adults, and we don't care where were from were just trying to stay alive.

And i am female but no one seems to notice or care, in played with other girls but its all about the game.

I talk all the time if my mics working, played a game with a guy from Germany and ended up playing exclusivly with his friends and mine, it was awesome, we spoke outside of L4d alot too.

I rarely play with Americans due to lag issues, I dont see why I shoudl when I have an entire friends list of close online and real life friends to play with.

Since someone has brought up the idea of disguising their voice I simply have to point this out. In a match of CoD4 my friend and I decided to have a little fun and tried on our Texan hats, making for a rather convinving (if cheesey) impression that seemed to keep them cool... until we thought it would be more fun for my buddy to do his outstanding Austin Powers act.

You have never heard anything funnier.

HobbesMkii:
*snip*

Yeah, maybe I'm just stubborn but I'm not going out of my way to put on a fake accent just so I can talk to a bunch of voices over the internet.

Karloff:
Leaving aside the accent biz, frankly I could do with less chatter, not more.

If even half what was said was relevant to the game I'd be a happy fella. More often it's some idiot gibbering on about his homework, how stoned he is, how much he likes Band New Wave Forgettable or similar crap. And it is usually a he; God forbid they should have brains as well as testicles.

Fairly good point. Generally most of the chat that goes on in games I join is complete rubbish.

I talk, hell, everyone i know talks like hell, and we're all british

although we could do without being insulted every time we talk though, its a little tiring getting onto the server for the 100th time, warning someone that a hunters about to jump them, for them to stop moving, stand stock still and call me a fag.

Avykins:
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.

THIS MAN SPEAKS SENSE

I barely talk in online games, I don't really think it's necessary so long as you're cautious.

As a Brit I maintain a dignified, stern, silence online. Nattering on isn't really fitting during a Zombie attack.

Chipperz:
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!

This is exactly what I was thinking. Although it's true that we don't talk much, it's because usually we're just berated as soon as we try.

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

Not funny.

Amnestic:
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.

It got tiring enough for me to stop bothing to plug in my mic, or just plugging it in so i don't have to hear.

or terrible cockney accents when I do speak, or both.

I have yet to be made fun of by an american attempting a northern accent though, a pseudo-liverpudlian accent from an american would be hilarious.

lol im the guy who makes other people talk in my brit games of l4d2. by the end of the match we are all friends! ive made 20(ish) friends on the demo alone.

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

we are British.

We dont talk, we KICK ASS.

we have no use for our vocal cords in video games, we only need a mouse MUHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA, and preferably a keyboard but a mouse will do just fine, for our level of kick assery we need only a mouse.

ehm sorry about that.

Rare is the FPS I've played where I didn't feel my IQ had dropped after a session listening to the voice com of the other players. I fear attempting to engage with them might make the drop permanent.

Vanguard_Ex:

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

I absolutely know you're joking, but I love the logic of asking a woman if she's hot. Like she's going to say no, or even be hot if she says yes.

Ammadessi:

Vanguard_Ex:

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

I absolutely know you're joking, but I love the logic of asking a woman if she's hot. Like she's going to say no, or even be hot if she says yes.

Makes you wonder what the reaction would be if they just outright said "No."

Ammadessi:

Vanguard_Ex:

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

I absolutely know you're joking, but I love the logic of asking a woman if she's hot. Like she's going to say no, or even be hot if she says yes.

It's a fun one alright. I just rest easy knowing the knuckle-draggers who talk to women like that will most likely end up in a relationship where communication is usually bawled over the cries of unwanted children.
Now I'm no American, but...

ZombieGenesis:

Ammadessi:

Vanguard_Ex:

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

I absolutely know you're joking, but I love the logic of asking a woman if she's hot. Like she's going to say no, or even be hot if she says yes.

Makes you wonder what the reaction would be if they just outright said "No."

most likely many people calling her an ugly whatever the hell you can put on the end of that.
people are not nice online

ZombieGenesis:

Ammadessi:

Vanguard_Ex:

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

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.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

I absolutely know you're joking, but I love the logic of asking a woman if she's hot. Like she's going to say no, or even be hot if she says yes.

Makes you wonder what the reaction would be if they just outright said "No."

They'd insult you for being ugly and fat and ugly and ugly and fat and ugly.

In that order.

I have faith in humanity, honest!

The Battlegrounds and Insurgency mods, are full of Brits using the mic to cap on Americans. It's good fun.

If I need to talk, like informing my squad that a tank is just around the next corner, I talk. If its nattering foolishness, then I count myself out (unless I'm playing with my mates). Never really had a problem with yanks (or anyone else, for that matter) putting me down because I'm a Brit.

To be honest, most games don't require a great deal of communication. Games like ArmA or Project Reality, where an individual cant deal entirely effectivly with a normal contact, do need more, but you can still keep it clipped and consice.