VoIP do we need it?

[Helix]

VoIP is a necessity IMO, no reason for the game not to have it.

 

[rabirland]

the first thing I disable in games is VoIP, nobody is curious about no one's background noise, shitty tesco microphone, constant static, etc...

 

[Sloppy Stalin]

the first thing I disable in games is VoIP, nobody is curious about no one's background noise, shitty tesco microphone, constant static, etc...

Understandable but so many games are so greatly improved by VoIP. While certainly not something to be a priority, VoIP allows for very... colorful expression from one gamer to another. Though a public vicinity VoIP would be a hellscape in space stations, maybe radio-transmissions with different channels could be worked into ships?

 

[Yasko]

the first thing I disable in games is VoIP, nobody is curious about no one's background noise, shitty tesco microphone, constant static, etc...

As Sloppy Stalin said: understandable. On the other hand: don't be surprised if you get unexpectedly gunned down by someone, just because you didn't hear their warnings to not come closer / surrender your cargo / etc (provided VoIP would be included)

 

[Nobongo]

I think communication is a huge thing in games where meeting another player out in the middle of nowhere puts you on edge. Text chat is too slow when you need to know something quickly or throw out key information at a moment's notice.
I think VoIP is essential for a game like this.

 

[rabirland]

As Sloppy Stalin said: understandable. On the other hand: don't be surprised if you get unexpectedly gunned down by someone, just because you didn't hear their warnings to not come closer / surrender your cargo / etc (provided VoIP would be included)

For that, I prefer a voice-commands like in Tribes Ascend, or user-made macros. The added negativity of VoIP in games FAAAR exceeds the added positivity, so it doesn't worth it for me.

Plus, to make it "logical" and prevent heavy noise and spam at stations, the range should be really low, so either way pirates must use chat to notify a target from 30+ meters.

 

[Super Pig]

I think all of the cons of VoIP could simply be washed away by just saying that you can only contact on the radio of your ship kind of like what biglet said. This makes sense not only because radios and stuff but also because you can't speak in space. I know there is already noises in space in this game but still, they could just say you can't talk because you are in space. Also I think there should be quick emotes like putting your hands up for when you are not in your ship.

 

[Yasko]

For that, I prefer a voice-commands like in Tribes Ascend, or user-made macros. The added negativity of VoIP in games FAAAR exceeds the added positivity, so it doesn't worth it for me.

Plus, to make it "logical" and prevent heavy noise and spam at stations, the range should be really low, so either way pirates must use chat to notify a target from 30+ meters.

I haven't played Tribes Ascend, so I can't say much to that. Still I think it would be hard if not impossible to have a command for every eventuality. The issue of of heavy noise at stations could be solved by having the option increase/reduce the radius you hear in, or automatically reducing it at stations.

I think all of the cons of VoIP could simply be washed away by just saying that you can only contact on the radio of your ship kind of like what biglet said. This makes sense not only because radios and stuff but also because you can't speak in space. I know there is already noises in space in this game but still, they could just say you can't talk because you are in space. Also I think there should be quick emotes like putting your hands up for when you are not in your ship.

Personally, I wouldn't limit it to only ship radio, but maybe having the option of ship radio transmissions as way for relatively long way communication.

 

[El Jefe]

I disagree with VOIP in Starbase in terms of always-open, always able to talk into someone's ear.

The main reason is the development time to implement it isn't worth it. It barely gets used outside of messing with someone. Everyone generally remains quiet to not give away information, or to not let someone know their voice, or to not give away their position. Most bulk teamwork voice chat is done on Discord, Teamspeak and Mumble, so it's not like it adds much utility.

In addition, we're robots, and it doesn't fit the theme to hear someone's accent or human language coming across from robots. Although VOIP is useful in niche cases of heated combat, it's overall just a lot of noise that breaks people out of the game experience.

I think more effective than VOIP would be emote sounds, where unique beeps, boops and doots are sounded from our robots when we emote. We'll know that some random person said 'yes' by their unique emote, or 'charge!' or some other thing, and if we can get some variation on the tone of those sounds, we have somewhat unique voices, and a gameplay themed way to communicate in game. Although people running around spamming the latest meme-song at max volume seems fun, it's not worth the dev time, and more intricate and immersion-creating options should be looked at instead.

Some small form of VOIP like ship-to-ship hailing like what Elite does might be ok, but not something I'd expect at the start.

Honestly some of my fondest memories of playing online games involve some perfect comedy timing over VOIP.

 

[Elo]

Maybe some options for people who dont like it could be.

Reduce all VOIP to background radio chatter, that way you know someone is trying to hail you and you can respond with a message.
Switch it off but have an icon when someone broadcasts near you.
Have it switched off except for direct communication (Privat channel)

 

[FailPr00f]

Voip would add an infinite amount of content and play time by making it easier to connect with random people

 

[voscero]

Yeah a hailing mechanic would be awesome. I feel like you could also do a long distance comms, but with the ship having send/receive hardware and the base/other ship also having it. Then you could only hail long distance if you knew the address of the send destination.

 

[TheBrandolorian]

For that, I prefer a voice-commands like in Tribes Ascend, or user-made macros. The added negativity of VoIP in games FAAAR exceeds the added positivity, so it doesn't worth it for me.

Plus, to make it "logical" and prevent heavy noise and spam at stations, the range should be really low, so either way pirates must use chat to notify a target from 30+ meters.

I get it - and to your earlier comment as well - you clearly don't play games like Day Z, do you? Games like that (which have definite similarities with Starbase) absolutely need VOIP or a huge element of the game is missing. Fortunately, Starbase is much bigger than Day Z and similar games, so it wouldn't be a deal breaker... it still would really really miss out on something amazing, IMO.

 

[Sasquatchias]

Personally I think a mixture of VoIP and some pre-existing dialogue options would be best, with certain limitations built into the VoIP.

For VoIP - Voice Chat is limited strictly to parties, with players able to hail others and invite them to join their communications. Players not in each others groups would not hear other player's mics.

The dialogue option would be a handful of basic responses for potential situations - a bit barebones, but it'd get the job done. Think like Sea of Thieves, where you can use the pirate wheel of text to post phrases that let you get your intentions across, like demanding a player's items or threatening them to show you're hostile or some kind of phrase to show you're interested in something more peaceful, like trading.

 

[Yasko]

For VoIP - Voice Chat is limited strictly to parties, with players able to hail others and invite them to join their communications. Players not in each others groups would not hear other player's mics.

That pretty much would be VoIP without what makes it useful. If I can only talk to players I already know anyway, what's stopping me from just using Discord?

 

[Sasquatchias]

That pretty much would be VoIP without what makes it useful. If I can only talk to players I already know anyway, what's stopping me from just using Discord?

Discord's inability to talk to players outside of other discord users?

The hailing / invitation wouldn't just be for friends but anyone else in-game - like if you find a buddy during a mining excursion or something you can invite them to comm with you. Or if you're a pirate / fighter you could hail an enemy's ship, inviting them to comms as well so you can make your demands known.

Basically if you're wanting to chat in a group you can, but the random guy at base sitting next to you isn't forced to have to listen to your chatter nor everyone else's chatter.

 

[Elo]

Maybe add VoIP and "emote like" voice bits like "yes" "no" "gib cargo!" "leave me alone". Have settings to disable only VoIP or both.

Reduce the range for it at stations severely but not in space. That way if you dont want VoIP you disable it but can still be contacted with the voice bits?
If some pirate is about to blast me to smithereens Id liked to be threatened first

 

[Yasko]

Discord's inability to talk to players outside of other discord users?

The hailing / invitation wouldn't just be for friends but anyone else in-game - like if you find a buddy during a mining excursion or something you can invite them to comm with you. Or if you're a pirate / fighter you could hail an enemy's ship, inviting them to comms as well so you can make your demands known.

Basically if you're wanting to chat in a group you can, but the random guy at base sitting next to you isn't forced to have to listen to your chatter nor everyone else's chatter.

With this clarification, I like your idea better.

How about having different VoIP channels you can toggle on/off seperately? group channels for those who want/need it, and a proximity based channel with everyone provided they didn't turn it off.
That way everyone could use what they're most comfortable with.

Maybe add VoIP and "emote like" voice bits like "yes" "no" "gib cargo!" "leave me alone". Have settings to disable only VoIP or both.

Reduce the range for it at stations severely but not in space. That way if you dont want VoIP you disable it but can still be contacted with the voice bits?
If some pirate is about to blast me to smithereens Id liked to be threatened first

Reduced range for VoIP at (crowded) stations would be necessary.
Another option would be to have relatively limited range on VoIP no matter where you are, so you can talk to people on the same ship as you are on, but not others. That would require a radio transmission to their ship, maybe with speakers installed on their ship from which incoming messages on opened frequencies would be broadcast.