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.”
