31 January 2010
A Rally Call for Proximity-based Voice Chat in MMO's
February 06, 2010
"Are you talkin' to me?
I don't see anybody else here so you must be talking to me."
A rally call for MMO "Proximity-based voice chat"
Recently I have heard a few podcasters such as, Jeremy from MMO Voices and Darren from Shut up we're talking, mention Proximity-based voice chat for MMO's. It got me thinking about how for many years I have heard developers and gamers talking about implementing this technology. Socom and Killzone on Playstation 3 most notably included Proximity-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Socom seems to be the most successful example in FPS gaming circles. However, the MMO community has not fully embraced the option of this technology.
A brief Introduction to "Proximity-based Voice Chat"
A Definition: A method for use in processing audio includes receiving audio data associated with each of two or more characters in a virtual world, determining a proximity of the other characters in the virtual world for each of the characters, altering the received audio data based on the determined proximity of another one of the characters for each of the characters, and providing the altered audio data to a client associated with the other character for which the audio data was altered for each of the characters.
That is way too technical. How about this instead "Your friend can hear you call him a noob if you are next to him. He can't hear your incessant harassment if you are far away".
Proximity-based, spacial audio chat has been used in Second Life as early as 2006. Vivox was running a client in April of 2006 where you could gather near a group of people the software would detect your presence and be add you into a voice channel with the players in that area. February 2007, DiamondWare and Vivox began a collaboration which would name Second Life as the first MMO to have integrated voice 3D-positional sound. DiamondWare developed what they call "3D Voice Positioning". In September 2007 DiamondWare announced at the Austin Gaming Conference its "Next-generation 3D voice platform". This technology boasted up to 10,000 active users in the same audio space. Sounds good! But… Where the heck is it?
I haven't played an MMO yet that implements DiamondWare's technology and although I love all gamers but, I just can't bring myself to jump in Second Life to see if it actually exists on a large scale in the game. I do know that Vivox has supported "Proximity Services" in the game. An example would be a microphone that players can stand next to and they join in the same chat channel. However, the object (microphone) is the catalyst for the group to converse which is different from a player being the catalyst for the voice interaction. I cannot find any evidence of any MMO's that fully implements Proximity-based voice chat. The technology exists and its ready!
Sticks & Stones
MMO gamers are known for their rants exclaiming "There is nothing new". Audio certainly doesn't seem on the surface to be the game-changing answer to the second-coming of MMO's. However, according to studies done by communication educators in Australia, MMO players actually prefer proximity-based chat over traditional chat and wanted it in addition to server-style chat such as Ventrilo. Players said that they felt it encouraged them to stick together in groups and play together.
We've been saying for years MMO's are getting more "single player oriented". New ways to communicate could be what brings us closer together. Sure you're going to have the occasional 13 year-old screaming "noobsauce" at you as you ride through town. Imagine the possibilities of where a simple "Hello" could lead you. When people are encouraged to socialize without the safety of a chat window, it could result in a very immersive and emotional experience.
Always play with the audio on
www.PacifierMusic.com
I don't see anybody else here so you must be talking to me."
A rally call for MMO "Proximity-based voice chat"
Recently I have heard a few podcasters such as, Jeremy from MMO Voices and Darren from Shut up we're talking, mention Proximity-based voice chat for MMO's. It got me thinking about how for many years I have heard developers and gamers talking about implementing this technology. Socom and Killzone on Playstation 3 most notably included Proximity-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Socom seems to be the most successful example in FPS gaming circles. However, the MMO community has not fully embraced the option of this technology.
A brief Introduction to "Proximity-based Voice Chat"
A Definition: A method for use in processing audio includes receiving audio data associated with each of two or more characters in a virtual world, determining a proximity of the other characters in the virtual world for each of the characters, altering the received audio data based on the determined proximity of another one of the characters for each of the characters, and providing the altered audio data to a client associated with the other character for which the audio data was altered for each of the characters.
That is way too technical. How about this instead "Your friend can hear you call him a noob if you are next to him. He can't hear your incessant harassment if you are far away".
Proximity-based, spacial audio chat has been used in Second Life as early as 2006. Vivox was running a client in April of 2006 where you could gather near a group of people the software would detect your presence and be add you into a voice channel with the players in that area. February 2007, DiamondWare and Vivox began a collaboration which would name Second Life as the first MMO to have integrated voice 3D-positional sound. DiamondWare developed what they call "3D Voice Positioning". In September 2007 DiamondWare announced at the Austin Gaming Conference its "Next-generation 3D voice platform". This technology boasted up to 10,000 active users in the same audio space. Sounds good! But… Where the heck is it?
I haven't played an MMO yet that implements DiamondWare's technology and although I love all gamers but, I just can't bring myself to jump in Second Life to see if it actually exists on a large scale in the game. I do know that Vivox has supported "Proximity Services" in the game. An example would be a microphone that players can stand next to and they join in the same chat channel. However, the object (microphone) is the catalyst for the group to converse which is different from a player being the catalyst for the voice interaction. I cannot find any evidence of any MMO's that fully implements Proximity-based voice chat. The technology exists and its ready!
Sticks & Stones
MMO gamers are known for their rants exclaiming "There is nothing new". Audio certainly doesn't seem on the surface to be the game-changing answer to the second-coming of MMO's. However, according to studies done by communication educators in Australia, MMO players actually prefer proximity-based chat over traditional chat and wanted it in addition to server-style chat such as Ventrilo. Players said that they felt it encouraged them to stick together in groups and play together.
We've been saying for years MMO's are getting more "single player oriented". New ways to communicate could be what brings us closer together. Sure you're going to have the occasional 13 year-old screaming "noobsauce" at you as you ride through town. Imagine the possibilities of where a simple "Hello" could lead you. When people are encouraged to socialize without the safety of a chat window, it could result in a very immersive and emotional experience.
Always play with the audio on
www.PacifierMusic.com
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