What do you guys think for in game communication, should it be possible for people to just chat as in a private messenger or should there be an in game communication device to allow this?

Game communication device? Are you talking about voice periferals like Roger Wilco?

I think that at this point, typing up chat messages is the only real option. Chat devices are either very low in options or very high in bandwith. Voice chatting is not very pleasant and makes for studdering C.B. communicaion. Besides, making a basic chat client should not be much work for a networked game.


I am dealing with communication in a MMORPG myself. The issue I have is whether all members of a kingdom can chat freely and privately with each other via chat channels, or if there should be specific rules for whom has permissions for such channels. The game uses rank to establish a hierarchy of power, so it may make sense to use chat priveleges as an extension of the hierarchy.

All players can talk in public, close range channels.

There are rival kingdoms. The only way to talk between the kingdoms is face-to-face. (Adds risk and allows other players a chance to catch traitors)

Some consciderations:
Players that are in some special circumstances can open chat channels at a cost. A spy, for example, could relay information long distances by using some mana or ability points. He would have to choose his contact carefully to make sure that messages are passed on properly. I want him to have bigger restrictions as he gets farther into enemy territory. Eventually he could be in the heart of the enemy's city, but would be completely on his own.

Using game items to facilitate chat permissions.

Chat limits can always be circumvented by players via telephone, LAN gaming, chat devices, etc. So it is pointless to try to base too much of the game on these limitations.

It can be frustrating. A player may want to talk to a friend who is in another part of the world. Would limits like these be too harsh?

Using a cost per chat channel system would keep freedom, and it would keep frivilous conversation down, making rank-related messages more prominant.

CDV

[edited by - Warsong02 on August 20, 2002 4:45:13 AM]

Always make your own chat method. It would be nice to build it off something like Jabber or IRC, since those are standards, to some extent.

I would like our people to use something that allows the player access to their external messaging services (ICQ/AIM/Yahoo!/MSN). It would require some cooperation with those entities though. In all likelihood it would mean you could do one, but not more than one

That brings up a good point. Especially for a MMORPG. If a player makes his chat messenger available, he can be contacted by players from in the game. This would be especially useful if the game is dynamic so knowing when something big is going on is important.

It would be sort of the direction Majestic was going. It pulls players in out of curiousity. It would also allow players to check in on friends without actually having to log into the entire game.

CDV