New Hardware survey results!

[Quotidius]

Just over 1% of respondents can run a DX10 path for graphics.
About 78% of you have microphones plugged in for voice communication. This will help you out a lot in TF2.
A little under 5% of you have upgraded to Vista.
Around 20% of your PCs are running multiple CPU cores.

Check out all of the results here (http://www.steampowered.com/status/survey.html).

Note that only 245,403 users out of 3,009,765 participated in the survey.

[dontleave]

Yay, im in all but the voice comm percentages!

[Quotidius]

Yay, im in all but the voice comm percentages!

Heh, same!

[Prometheus]

No mics? Come on guys, you're gonna have to get on that.

[Quotidius]

No mics? Come on guys, you're gonna have to get on that.

Sorry, can't be arsed.

[Kanelgiffeln]

hmm,i didnt get much of that

[dontleave]

Mics are useless for me atleast... if my team has mics in L4D and we lose its their fault not mine.

[KashMunni]

mics are just so u dont have to type and leave your self wide open to get ur ass kicked

[dontleave]

Yeah, thats why you don't type. Or use the comma-rose/voice command.

[Prometheus]

if my team has mics in L4D and we lose its their fault not mine.

Not quite following you there.

But there are certain things in strategic gameplay, like L4D that you'll need to say where there won't be a voice command for it.

[sir monster]

lol. no mic.

[Synapse]

L4D doesn't require vista does it? :O

[dontleave]

L4D doesn't require vista does it? :O

No

Not quite following you there.

But there are certain things in strategic gameplay, like L4D that you'll need to say where there won't be a voice command for it.

Like what?

And it's simple, people with mics dont lead, therefore people WITH mics should make it as simple as possible to follow. So if all your saying on your mic is "Omg, this nub doesn't have a mic blablabla *2 minutes later* See what you fucking did now we're all dead" That's not my fault. Of course thats just me, I'll listen and do what I should, others might not.

The voice system in L4D is supposed to be fantastic, I doubt theres anything I need to say that I can't without it. Unless I need to exclaim something, land someone didn't hear. For that pupose alone L4D should have an active voice key, when you see pain killers you say pain killers, no one hears you? Press the key and your character screams it.

[Quotidius]

Press the key and your character screams it.


Actually, it's all done automatically. No pressing of keys whatsoever :p

[Drizzt]

yep well miks would suck if you haad to press a key to talk ,but isn't there a option it will automatically turn on at sound?

[The One]

Yeah, it does, I use mic, especially since I'm on xbox live a lot. Its better with mic, so you can slowly guide the noobies through everything. And maybe win

[candyman25]

everyone should use a mic, it makes communication so much easier and faster then typing

[The One]

Yeah, that would suck if your running from the infected horde and you see the door thats inches away from you and so is the infected, and you team is inside. Then you stop right outside the safe checkpoint just to tell them.......................lock the door...........by the time you finished GAME OVER

[No Shelter]

Mics ftw!

[The One]

Mics, what would I do with out them honestly.........I would just sit here and type n00b thousands of times if it wasnt for the mics, I bow down to your awsome power!!!

[dontleave]

Actually, it's all done automatically. No pressing of keys whatsoever :p

I meant like, SCREAM scream... Super loud so people don't ignore it. It's the mics equivalent of " HOLY FUCK I SAD xxxx xxx NOW GO xxxx xxx JESUS ITS RIGHT THERE AAAAAH xxxx"

everyone should use a mic, it makes communication so much easier and faster then typing

NO. Do you play CS:S

50% of the people are annoying brats. The other half you either cant hear, or spam. And some are all of those. Typing can get your point across just as fast as a mic, we dont play to have a chat, so if you say something that gets you kiled you probably never needed to say it anyway. Im a fast typer btw.

[The One]

I'm a fast typer too, but sometimes there are moments where you need to warn someone and you either type faster than the speed of light or make your character jump up and down just to get the other's attention. But on xbox live there is an option that lets you block out people that you dont want to hear. Thats a good feature

[Puscifer]

mics are shit...end of:P listening to ppl jabber through a game does my head, ive turned off all voice in css etc

[No Shelter]

Same here puscifer lol

[Synapse]

8 yr old kids with mikes singing PEANUT BUTTER JELLYYY....good times on CS:S

[candyman25]

NO. Do you play CS:S

yes i do play CSS, it is a fun game, if there is a mic spammer...use the holy, almighty, yet easy to use Mute Button

[sb_andrew]

NO. Do you play CS:S

50% of the people are annoying brats. The other half you either cant hear, or spam. And some are all of those. Typing can get your point across just as fast as a mic, we dont play to have a chat, so if you say something that gets you kiled you probably never needed to say it anyway. Im a fast typer btw.

Do you think any serious clan types while playing in a CS match? Only kids in pubs spam their mics, and then all you have to do is mute them.

It sucks to be you if you are only going to pub in this game. I'm going to play it with friends (online and real ones) so there won't be any spamming. I'm going to get it for the 360 as well so that everyone will have a mic.

Also, there is no way your fast typing matches my speaking. Seriously think about it. You stopping all movement (mouse and keyboard) to type "Behind us!". Or me saying in a fraction of a second without taking my fingers from the mouse or keyboard "Behind us!"

[dontleave]

That sort of statement is covered by the ingame voice command so :P, which I said in my original maybe second post.

I really doubt you can fill a 50 man server with friends, and im actually sorry for you if all you play are clan matches. I play with friends also, we can't help it if the other 35 people are strangers.

Mute doesn't always work, hard as it is to believe because CS:S has been out however longi t has been.

[Synapse]

The CS:S community in general is very full of children, I for one hope L4D has a slightly more mature playerbase.

[dontleave]

They should just make it rated M+. Which would mean im technically now allowed to play, but here in Canada no one cares.

[sb_andrew]

That sort of statement is covered by the ingame voice command so :P, which I said in my original maybe second post.

I really doubt you can fill a 50 man server with friends, and im actually sorry for you if all you play are clan matches. I play with friends also, we can't help it if the other 35 people are strangers.


I have actually never been in a clan, so I've never played a clan match. I was just trying to refute how you said a keyboard is better/equal to a mic in terms of communication. You say there is the menu for yelling out commands. Good luck to you memorizing 20 different (more if the game covers so much commands as everyone seems to indicate) key strokes to always say the right thing. I know the game covers some (like identifying bosses or w/e) but you're still going to have to s=use an annoying menu, when simply speaking (something so natural) would the job better and faster.

I don't use a mic in cs pub either because it's useless. No one is playing as a team or helping each other out, it's all about personal score. In L4D though teamwork defines the game. And for teamwork a mic is hands down an easier and more effective means of communication.

And since when does L4D have 50 player server slots? All I need is 3 other friends. If I join a crowded cs server with some friends we aren't going to be talking using in-game voice chat, we'd be using a third party program such as xfire, vent, or teamspeak.

[dontleave]

And since when does L4D have 50 player server slots? All I need is 3 other friends. If I join a crowded cs server with some friends we aren't going to be talking using in-game voice chat, we'd be using a third party program such as xfire, vent, or teamspeak.

CS:S

I have actually never been in a clan, so I've never played a clan match. I was just trying to refute how you said a keyboard is better/equal to a mic in terms of communication. You say there is the menu for yelling out commands. Good luck to you memorizing 20 different (more if the game covers so much commands as everyone seems to indicate) key strokes to always say the right thing. I know the game covers some (like identifying bosses or w/e) but you're still going to have to s=use an annoying menu, when simply speaking (something so natural) would the job better and faster.

No dude, voice system.... read about it.

I wasn't argueing which is superior or not (although I may have suggested) im arguing anyone will be fine without a mic even in L4D.

[Teknobry]

Having a few mates on teamspeak, chatting to them and shouting abuse when things on the game get hectic adds a whole new dimension to game playing. Seriously, those without a mic are missing out.

[Shrubberyjsc]

I think mics are definitely useful. The pros outweigh the cons. That being said, I'm not using my mic for this game too much.

Maybe to talk strategy when we are in a quiet spot, or maybe to scream for help when I'm down, but as far as all the other stuff, I think it'd be more fun to let the game stand on its own. Let the in-game character yell 'Boomer!' and the immersion will be complete. Anything that isn't quite covered is perfect for a mic.

But for goodness sake, don't talk when the characters are saying their funny lines. I wanna hear that. =)

[Rannos]

I hated mics for a long time until I finally got one for when I used the cell phone. It took a bit of getting used to (I'm still a little shy about using it too much,) but now I use it tons. Its alot easier to press the talk button and say "sniper in the building with the caved in roof." than it is to type or go through all those voice chat menus trying to find the one that says "sniper!" hoping people will get the hint. And let me tell you from experience, no one ever gets the hint!

EDIT: Oh, and if you are complaining about 9 year olds mic spamming then find a good sever. I play the good ole original DoD on a relatively mature server (Blumpkin's House of Wankers,) and have really no problems with immature mic spam. Occasionally we get some enlightening political discussion (meaning: no "bush sux" or bush rulez" crap,) though most of the times its more like a LAN atomosphere.

[Deek]

I think mics will be more important for the infected side, easier to coordinate combo assaults and whatnot. The voice system for the suvivors sounds badass, and might very well render VoIP unnecessary ... but I'm willing to bet mics will be a big advantage for infected players trying to keep things tight.

[snarkeater]

Occasionally we get some enlightening political discussion (meaning: no "bush sux" or bush rulez" crap,) though most of the times its more like a LAN atomosphere.

Do I detect a Gordon Frohman reference here?

Anyways, I will be using a mic, but I don't think it will seriously harm the gameplay if others don't.

[Deadly]

the voice system in l4d will be amazing, even with the hit z and a menu pops up so you dont have to type thing, but even then you have to take your eyes off of the screen to look at the menu to say something, with a microphone you just have to say it without pausing or looking away so there :P

[hooray for zombies]

Do I detect a Gordon Frohman reference here?

Just to reiterate, I love that comic

[Prometheus]

There are plenty of applicable things that a mic is useful for in which automated voice commands wouldn't be reasonable.

Sure, the characters will automatically say things you see, but not necessarily what you hear.

The placing of explosive barrels during a finale.

Deciding who deserves a medipack the most in a tight situation.

Any situation in which you'll have to plan something/split up.

And many more.

--

I'm not saying that the automated sounds won't be useful, I for one am very hyped about their application, but there is no contest on the advantage of using a mic over strictly using voice commands.

And as for only leaders using one, without feedback from the subordinates the team wouldn't be nearly as effective.

[dontleave]

And as for only leaders using one, without feedback from the subordinates the team wouldn't be nearly as effective.

So not true.