Curse

fgarvin · May 14, 2008, 03:35 PM // 15:35

From Gamasutra:

May 13, 2008

NCsoft, Vivox Partner For Voice Middleware Deal

The U.S. division of South Korean MMORPG publisher NCSoft has partnered with communications services provider Vivox to deliver support for scalable, full-featured voice chat within and across NCsoft games through an NCsoft branded game communication portal.

Vivox also plans to bring additional features, such as voice fonts, voice mail, and in-and-out of game communication via regular phones and text messages. Vivox has worked with several other high-profile companies to add to their voice communication offerings, including Multiverse, Sony Online Entertainment, and Linden Lab.

NCSoft currently maintains several MMORPGs which can potentially benefit from Vivox’s voice chat and features support, such as Lineage II: The Chaotic Throne, Guild Wars, and Tabula Rasa.

Said NCsoft North America’s vice president of operations Peter Jarvis: “Voice is a significant feature for the ongoing development of the NCsoft community. By partnering with Vivox, we will be able to offer our players a commanding set of communication tools that will simplify communications amongst the player base with far reaching options. Vivox is the clear leader in quality, features and operational excellence and we anticipate a successful integration and long-term relationship.”
POSTED: 06.02AM PST, 05/13/08 - Eric Caoili -

Proff · May 14, 2008, 03:43 PM // 15:43

In GW2 probably, in GW I doubt it.

natural_Causes · May 14, 2008, 03:48 PM // 15:48

would be nice, but probably not till GW2

miskav · May 14, 2008, 04:11 PM // 16:11

Oh god no, god no >_<
Every game that vivox has been used it, has started to lag like mad for 60% of it's population orso, I seriously hope that either the quality goes up, or it doesn't get added (And with lag, I mean the game ITSELF, not the voice software)
(+ It's impossible to disable)

Avai · May 14, 2008, 04:24 PM // 16:24

If it's impossible to disable, I would agree with Miskav's reaction. I prefer GWing from my couch rather than at my desk, and sometimes I need to log off Ventrilo for GW to run more smoothly (low-quality wireless). However I like to be able to use voice chat with guildies and have no lag when possible.

I think if something like this was to be implemented in-game it should be able to be turned off. Besides, what if I still prefer using Ventrilo over the integrated voice chat?

Aera Lure · May 14, 2008, 04:29 PM // 16:29

I wont play a game with integrated voice chat. Period. Lag is one concern, sure, but I dont want to be forced to chat with random people, given what many of them type. Even if it can be disabled, most groups would want it on or they'd kick you just as quickly as any other reason they could come up with.

Dont get me wrong - I used to love to PUG until they went completely downhill - but I draw the line at fully enabled voice chat. I want to voice chat with guildies and friends, but not with every random group I enter.

I also dont really see the need for it. Anyone who wants chat can use TeamSpeak, Ventrilo or something else. I have that installed for when I wish to use chat.

Gift3d · May 14, 2008, 04:36 PM // 16:36

VOIP? In my Guild Wars?

I love this idea. Voice chat is just so much freaking fun. Anyone who doesn't like it or doesn't want to use it i'm SURE there will be an option to entirely disable it. And i'm SURE that if it was to result in a huge lag issue it wouldn't even be a consideration anyway.

I'll just have a jolly freaking time making fun of the abundance of 40yr old carebears "HAAAAAAAY GUUUUUYS CAN'T WE JUST HAVE A LIIIIIITTLE BIT OF FUUUUUUN?"

Can't go wrong with this one, you really can't.

miskav · May 14, 2008, 04:43 PM // 16:43

Gift3d, take Warrock as an example, they added Vivox for 1 month, they lost over 40,000 subscribers. (Yes, due to the lag)
Vivox's quality is also terrible compared to FREE alternatives.
(And for a game that used to run at 60~ fps, to drop to 10 FPS as soon as some-one logged in that had vivox enabled, is unnacceptable)

MirkoTeran · May 14, 2008, 04:55 PM // 16:55

While I would love VOIP in game I haven't heard anything good about it so far. Personally I have no experience with it yet, but a few of my friends used to curse it. I know that most of them went back to using TS and Vent. But, if they fix it so it works as it should, or at least give us an option to disable if they mess it up, why not.

A Poet Named Virgil · May 14, 2008, 04:57 PM // 16:57

this is starting to sound like a bad idea. I always wanted an integrated VOIP system in GW, but by the looks of it, Vivox would be more of a burden than a blessing.

slowerpoke · May 14, 2008, 05:01 PM // 17:01

as long as theres a mute button, its all good

zamial · May 14, 2008, 05:06 PM // 17:06

If it can not be disabled, this is a horrible idea. I don't have local on unless I'm in an instance or guild hall. I even make it a point to turn it off before I jump into a town. I do not need to listen to nonstop commercials of morons selling there crap in VoiP. This is a shitty Idea. Anyone that doesn't believe me go to a public Vent room sometime.

Keekles · May 14, 2008, 05:13 PM // 17:13

EVE Online has vivox available (I've used it in EVE ~5 fps drop, no additional lag), but my friends and I still prefer using vent.

In EVE you can disable it (which I ended up having to do, leaving audio on mem-leaks).

miskav · May 14, 2008, 05:21 PM // 17:21

Meh, I haven't played eve, so that's a good thing then.
But there is no option to disable it in other games, and it really eats connection >_>; Even for some-one who can run everything fine, in most games it'll eat your connection dry.

Witchblade · May 14, 2008, 05:24 PM // 17:24

Dont need that, useful for PvP only
Dont want useless lag

Sanji · May 14, 2008, 05:25 PM // 17:25

If voice chat is not a disableable feature in Guild Wars 2, chances are I won't buy it.

I like Guild Wars enough but I have a very strong feeling tha I absolutely do not want to hear what most of the players have to say.

Vinraith · May 14, 2008, 05:30 PM // 17:30

I prefer to choose when and with whom I wish to voice chat, and that's best done through the use of external programs. Integrated voice chat is just a means to poor sever performance and unnecessary irritation.

Buster · May 14, 2008, 05:52 PM // 17:52

Well I wouldn't get bent out of shape until we actually know we will be getting this feature in GW2. If by chance we do get it in GW2 as long as they keep it an optional feature it shouldn't be an issue with players.

Longasc · May 14, 2008, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Calm down.

World of Warcraft has already integrated Voice-Chat. And nobody uses it.

PUGs do not use it, and due to the low quality sound of the voicefeature, all who really want to use VOIP use Teamspeak or Ventrilo.

Painbringer · May 14, 2008, 05:59 PM // 17:59

Free anywhere minutes - sounds intriguing just have to get my friends and family to all play GW