Earlier today, I posted my interview with thatgamecompany about Journey, the upcoming PlayStation Network game that has an innovative approach to online play, allowing players to randomly encounter each other in-game, doing away with things like voice chat and player profiles in favour of the simpler pleasures of curiosity and human company.
It got me thinking about online play in general. While I don’t want to disparage gamers with stereotypes, I’m sure we’ve all encountered antisocial behaviour on our connected travels, whether is a foul-mouthed teen thinking he’s John McClaine in Call of Duty or a rage-quitter switching off their console after going 2-0 down in a game of FIFA.
My question is: if you were designing an online game, what would you do to prevent all this naughtiness?
I read an article recently about CAPCOM taking an interesting approach to rage-quitting with Marvel vs Capcom 3, in which they track which players are prone to quitting and tries to match them up against each other, essentially created a giant online naughty step, leaving the way clear for the better losers among us.
Or maybe you think that it’s not such a big deal, and that it’s a free world in which you can do whetever you want without the game trying to punish you. As for swearing, well, welcome to the Internet.
Let us know in the comments how you plan to change the world.
35 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:03 pm by ShadowDoGGG
Freedom!
2
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:08 pm by moriarty1975
Hit ‘em with the ban hammer of justice!
3
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:21 pm by MohammedMK
Reward good manners!
4
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:22 pm by jerryhat
For a start you need to treat swearing and things like rage-quitting differently. One is a moral choice and the other is manipulating technology to one’s own ends. For that reason I can’t answer your online poll as I’d answer differently to each ‘offence’.
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 2:33 pm by James Gallagher
They are very different things, and rather than swearing I should have said insulting or abusive language. I’m pretty liberal and swearing doesn’t offend me, but I don’t like people whose modus operandi seems to be to insult others when hiding behind the veil of the Internet.
5
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:23 pm by Balflearspgc
Reward good manners and punish trolls/quitters
6
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:28 pm by cthulhu85
When on to this rage-quitting subject, it reminds me a lot about a friend of mine who was playing NHL (don’t remember which version) and there was some glitch that you scored no matter what from how I understood, Anyway, he really hated when people played unfair and used this, so while in an online match he got so furious about those cheaters he played against that he ejected the game and broke the game in two pieces.
7
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:28 pm by nickjd331
I voted for rewarding good manners as I think that is the ideal option, but I realise that does little to prevent quitting etc.
I just dislike being punished when my Internet disconnects through no fault of my own.
I think this idea of putting quitters vs quitters that you mentioned Capco
is adopting sounds like a great compromise.
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 2:34 pm by James Gallagher
I hate it when I’m punished for a disconnection, and it’s especially grating when the issue is with the game’s servers. This is why punishing players isn’t always the way to go.
8
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:32 pm by Saber_IV
I would personally go through a list of known hackers/cheaters and one by one brick their console, IP track them, then brick their next one. And so on.
9
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:32 pm by almighty-slayer
I’d be lying if i said i wasn’t guilty of bad language online…Often when i get killed in a way i deem to be unfair i will launch into rant of heavy swearing. I think lots of people do that though. It’s kind of expected really.
But rage quitting is just silly, and should definitely be punished. I like Capcom’s idea.
10
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:34 pm by CEK111
Stop Playing Call Of Duty,
Seriously, those dam kids!
11
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:36 pm by jerryhat
@8 almost impossible unfortunately, most people don’t have static IPs – and it’s doubtful if Sony have the right to stop anyone using a PS3 on any basis.
12
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:42 pm by MusterBuster
In an utterly ideal world, I’d have the resource to hire LOADS of staff and have them scour my game for the good, the bad and the ugly. Here’s what they would do with each:
The good would be rewarded by these staff, given exclusive content or even just have their name featured on the game website as a generally awesome kind of person that you should add to your friends list. Sort of like a secret shopper, but with presents
I would do interviews with them, give them early access to trials and other special in-game privelages.
The bad could be tackled through an innovative reputation system. The more that they purposefully disconnect/rage quit – the more colour drains away from their UI until they end up playing in black and white. Or even, if they team kill in an FPS, they can have periodic and regular flashbacks reminding them of the blood on their hands, as well as blocking the game screen from view for a few seconds.
The ugly? We would send them a paper bag in the post.
What do you think?
MB
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 2:39 pm by James Gallagher
Love the reputation idea – imagine if a FIFA quitter had to sit through a lengthy and boring FA tribunal the next time they booted up the game, or that their squad all played like they’d stumbled out of China White an hour ago.
13
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:45 pm by Dante_Zero
okay if i score from the half way line in fifa, just take it like a man and eat my goal. no need to rage quit as i’m sure if you scored a belter you wouldnt be complaining. Same goes for FPS, if it stresses you owt that much that you have to rant and rave abnd cuss at others, it’s time to give it up for the night or alternatively seek out singleplayer games instead of multiplayer ones. You should never go into any online game under the impression you are unbeatable.
Kudos to Capcom though for thinking outside the box.
14
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 6:47 pm by almighty-slayer
Like the way you think MB! Haha
15
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:05 pm by PFC_Hudson
I’m amazed so few people have voted for the first option as let’s face it you’re never going to stop people like that and employing one or all of the remaining three options is never going to get rid of trouble makers, trolls, cheaters and so on.
16
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:14 pm by deltaman-3
can i have the paper bag now….plz.
17
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:14 pm by strikkebil
cheaters should b banned from the games servers. quitters should lose their points from the match. ppl who finish matches should get a small xp bonus.
18
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:24 pm by tm2010swe
Reward the good ppl.
And we’ll reward Sony, when they start thinking about ALL their customers.
I’m talking about the Comic Store not coming to Scandinavia – but worse: not coming to countries where comics=culture (eg France, Belgium etc).
And in Scandinavia, Home has been down for over TWO weeks. Sony has done NOTHING to fix it. Home is “free”, but a lot of ppl have spent a lot of money on clothes, items and apartments, and now they can’t use Home at all. (Oh, I know it’s possible to change the DSN numbers to “fix” this, but that makes it very, very slow)
Shame on you, Sony! Thank you very much for caring about ALL your customers…
19
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:26 pm by Peetee36
Well, in terms of glitchers, cheats etc. I would severely punish them. They just ruin the game for everyone, and just make it unenjoyable.
As for swearing, insults etc. I don’t think it’s that bad. Obviously you do get some people who hate each other but it doesn’t really escalate, and it doesn’t effect the game. I wouldn’t really restrict it, as a lot of friendly banter takes place. I mean, Brits and Americans insulting each other is always fun. Although I’m not saying that “The Journey” should have voice chat. I understand why they’ve taken it out, and I’m really excited for it.
20
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:27 pm by obiadekanobi1980
off topic a bit but i now know why MAG vanished off the store for a week….. [Deleted] could put the price up from £19.99 to £24.99 thats just wrong and u are saying to us “ha ha screw u guys we want another £5 off [Deleted] and we know you’ll pay it Mwah” when its in game for £13.99 brand new. I was going to buy this on the PSN to support you guys in the great service you provide for free but You can now go up yourselves this is something that M$ would do shame on you.
So why have you increased the price and why put it up for £20 in the first place please answer me as id like to know as im sure others would as well
21
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:28 pm by XJaguar12X
Reward the good people in a way and punish other like they are planning to do in Marvel vs Capcom 3. Also a player rating system would be so useful, I mean rate a player you have played with out of 5 stars and after about 20 ratings average it out and say if they were abusive put a comment on like a profile system.
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 2:43 pm by James Gallagher
I like this idea but it has to be able to differentiate betweeen a quite and an accidental D/C. I had to stop playing FIFA Ultimate Team because, unknown to me, the servers were under maintenance when I wanted to play and I got booted from three games in a row, only to be punished by a DNF modifier when I logged back in, which made it much tougher to earn coins for ever more. I thought that was a bit harsh.
22
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:53 pm by fluffy-rabbid
@ MB I think your on to a winner there lol, I dont really understand what the need for hate mail or calling someone out who you dont even know…
I find that if Im playing a mp game and then I a) kill them and b) they find out Im a girl, that my inbox fills up rather quickly.
So I like you way of thinking!
23
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 7:59 pm by WhiteWolfDK
Tbh I don’t play shooters like MAG online anymore, stupid teens or even adults shouting profanity, having arguments with GFs or shouting at the kids, lame music – all makes me quit play games online.
Problem is it’s virtual impossible to punish them, because you can’t report them as you can with PSN messages, you can’t have someone listening in (that would be illegal in some countries) – quiters you can monitor and punish, in my game I would remove all XP if they did it more than 3 times.
//WhiteWolf
24
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 9:15 pm by MRigz
Burn their house down.
That’ll teach them.
25
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 9:53 pm by BLAKE_
when someone try’s to rage quit, the pop up from Jurassic park (1?) comes up with that guy saying ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahhahahh ahah hahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh ahahh….
26
Posted on 4 February, 2011 at 10:31 pm by Project2insanity
Would get a laugh by constantly matching offenders up with significantly better players until they tone down. Quitters must suffer a humiliating defeat before being allowed to play their own skill level. And if an offender is one of the best? Kick him in the groin and post it on YouTube!
27
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 3:24 am by auburnfan2324
There is no place for a bunch of idiots ruining the game online with profanity..
Playstation 3 Problems:
http://playstation3problems2.blogspot.com/
28
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 8:17 am by Mutt
Reward and punish. Although the punishment needs to be considered a bit. UC2 online has a penalty system which wound a lot of people up who I wouldn’t all rage quitters.
A rep system (as suggested above) is open to abuse. Play well and the same people that currently rage quit and give abuse will rate you badly.
As for swearing, it’s a difficult one. I’m a bit sweary, but there’s a difference between the occasional swear and full on, non-stop abuse. I joined a KZ3 game yesterday and it was “F the ISA, F the ISA, you guys are **** ….” non stop. I mean, get a life. It would be nice not to have to go for the mute everytime when joining an online game.
29
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 9:07 am by Erorrless
Let people do what they want and stop trying to police our games
just punish the people who send hate mail containing slurs.
30
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 11:53 am by Hi-Q47-NL
What I’d vote for is not there as an option. Just get rid of all this multiplayer nonsense.
31
Posted on 5 February, 2011 at 11:23 pm by evanom2003
I like the idea that MvC3 is going to be experimenting with, other than that I don’t mind people messing about and trolling in multiplayer games.
32
Posted on 7 February, 2011 at 3:31 pm by PlayDude77
Rewarding good manners and friendly play is the way to go in my opinion.
Not sure though if it should be implemented in game or on the PlayStation Network platform instead.
33
Posted on 8 February, 2011 at 11:18 am by danjonzi
Reward good manners & friendly play – 100% best way to deal with a user’s antisocial behaviour I think…
34
Posted on 9 February, 2011 at 6:31 am by Aureilia
I really prefer the PS3, it’s just that one feature it really lacks that could solve so many complaints. Voice blocking, available through XMB, I’d love that, It’s on XBOX 360, so why not here?
As for quitting, people paid for the game? it’s up to them if they want to quit, Why should someone sacrifice fun for you? I know it works the same other way around for the person being left alone in a game while the other person runs away happily accepting a quit.
I’ll quite happily stay and lose a closely fought game, but really is there a point in staying in a match where I’ll repeatedly die or lose for sure? Waste of my time is it not?
35
Posted on 18 February, 2011 at 10:24 am by figody
interesting
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