Difference between revisions of "Voice chat"

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[[Image:Speech_voice.png|150px|right|A speech bubble indicating a speaking player.]]
 
{{Quotation|'''The Spy''' to the late Scout|May I borrow your earpiece? "This is Scout! Rainbows make me '''cry'''! Over!"|sound=Spy_DominationScout06.wav}}
 
{{Quotation|'''The Spy''' to the late Scout|May I borrow your earpiece? "This is Scout! Rainbows make me '''cry'''! Over!"|sound=Spy_DominationScout06.wav}}
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[[Image:Speech_voice.png|200px|right|The speech bubble that shows above a player's head when talking with all-talk enabled.]]
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'''Voice chat''' is a communication feature available in all versions of the game, used for coordinating team play and general conversation. In the PC version, voice chat functions in a push-to-talk manner (default key: '''V'''). Voice chat on the Xbox 360 is activated simply by plugging in your headset into your controller. On the PlayStation 3, a wireless Bluetooth earpiece can be used.
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'''Voice chat''' (default key: '''v''' for PC) is an in-game feature that can be used by those with a microphone to help coordinate tactics and [[strategy|strategies]]. Voice chat on the Xbox 360 is activated simply by plugging in your headset into your controller.   On the PlayStation 3 you can have the option of buying a wireless blutooth earpiece.
 
  
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When a player is using voice chat, a speaker icon appears above the players head. Also, a bar appears on the middle right side of the [[HUD]] to both the player and his teammates, displaying which player is currently speaking.
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{{clr}}
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== Uses ==
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By default voice chat can only be heard by your own team, but can be heard by all players on servers with '''''sv_alltalk''''' set to "'''1'''".  The talk to everyone feature is not available on the Xbox 360 version.  Voice chat is limited as text chat is by death: while you are waiting to respawn, only other dead teammates will hear your voice chat.
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[[File:Scouttaunt2.PNG|150px|thumb|The [[Scout]] communicating vital information to teammates.]]
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Voice chat is helpful in situations that require detailed or rapid communication, such as:
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On the PC version, voice chat is commonly augmented via third-party programs such as [http://www.goteamspeak.com/ Teamspeak] and [http://www.ventrilo.com/ Ventrilo].  Currently the most popular VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) used by TF2 players is [http://mumble.sourceforge.net/ Mumble]. Using these solutions allow the player to bypass the death limitation on voice chat and still coordinate with teammates while awaiting respawn. One noteworthy combination of Team Fortress 2 and third-party voice chat would be a clan practice match where the server would be set to alltalk while the two teams would be in their own third-party voice channels.  This would allow for public pre- and post-game discussion and in-game private coordination.
 
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==Uses of Voice chat==
 
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Most situations where faster-than-keyboard or long and detailed communication is needed, such as:
 
  
 
*Warning of incoming enemies.
 
*Warning of incoming enemies.
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*Coordinating with a [[Medic buddy]] (or vice versa) without having to resort to the default voice phrases, or text chat (great for telling the Medic when to activate his [[ÜberCharge]]).
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*Communicating with your [[Medic]] or [[Medic buddy]], especially timing [[Übercharge]]s.
 
*Coordinating an attack with a group of other players.
 
*Coordinating an attack with a group of other players.
 
*Rooting out disguised [[Spy|Spies]].
 
*Rooting out disguised [[Spy|Spies]].
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*Indicating the locations of enemy [[Sentry Gun]]s and other [[buildings]].
 
*Telling people the exact location of the [[intelligence]].
 
*Telling people the exact location of the [[intelligence]].
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*Informing teammates of fallen enemies or destroyed buildings.
 
*Calling for backup.
 
*Calling for backup.
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*Indicating the locations of enemy [[Sentry Gun]]s and other [[buildings]].
 
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*Keep in mind that when cloaked, your chat bubble will still appear, revealing your location when you speak.
 
  
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You can also Mute players by pressing Esc (PC) and then clicking the button with a crossed over ear on it. The button is located at the bottom, between the Report A Bug button and the Developer Community button.
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{{clr}}
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== Limitations ==
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[[Image:Mute_Players.png|thumb|The ''Mute players'' button.]]
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A player's voice can only be heard by their own team by default, and dead players can only be heard by their dead teammates. On servers where ''alltalk'' is enabled (with the setting {{code|sv_alltalk 1}}), all players can hear each other, including players who are on opposite teams or waiting to respawn. The alltalk feature is not available in the Xbox 360 version.
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Specific players can be muted in the PC version via the [[main menu]] by clicking the ''Mute players'' button near the bottom of the screen. Voice chat can be disabled altogether in the Voice tab of the options screen.
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On the PC, in-game voice chat is sometimes complemented by the use of third-party {{W|VoIP}} software, such as [http://mumble.sourceforge.net/ Mumble], [http://www.teamspeak.com/ Teamspeak] or [http://www.ventrilo.com/ Ventrilo]. This allows players to coordinate with their teammates regardless of server limitations. For example, using an alltalk-enabled Team Fortress 2 server and two external voice channels simultaneously allow for public discussion between the teams, and private in-game coordination among teammates.
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{{clr}}
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== Speech bubbles ==
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When a player is using voice chat, a speech bubble icon is displayed on the right side of their [[HUD]]. Another bubble appears above the player's head, visible to teammates. On alltalk servers, a team-colored speech bubble is shown over all talking players, including cloaked and disguised enemy [[Spies]]. Additionally, a talking player's name and team are displayed as a colored bar on the right side of the HUD.
  
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Voice chat is also used in [[Glossary of player terms|micspam]].
 
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Image:Speech_voice.png|The voice bubble that appears in the corner when you (The player) speaks, or above a player's head if they are speaking.  
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Image:Speech_voice.png|The default voice chat bubble.
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Image:Speech_voice_blue.png|[[BLU]] voice bubble, seen over the head of someone on BLU.  If alltalk is enabled, and you see a team mate with the opposite-colored voice bubble, then they are an enemy Spy.
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Image:Speech_voice_blue.png|The [[BLU]] voice bubble, used on alltalk servers.
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Image:Speech_voice_red.png|[[RED]] voice bubble, seen over the head of someone on RED.  If alltalk is enabled, and you see a team mate with the opposite-colored voice bubble, then they are an enemy Spy.
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Image:Speech_voice_red.png|The [[RED]] voice bubble, used on alltalk servers.
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Image:Speech_typing.png|An apparently unused typing bubble.  A similar bubble can be seen in Left 4 Dead when a player is talking through their microphone.
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Image:Speech_typing.png|An unused bubble, similar to the one used in {{w|Left 4 Dead}}.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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[[Category:Strategy]]
 
[[Category:Strategy]]
 
[[Category:Gameplay]]
 
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Revision as of 17:16, 21 January 2011

A speech bubble indicating a speaking player.
“ ”

Voice chat is a communication feature available in all versions of the game, used for coordinating team play and general conversation. In the PC version, voice chat functions in a push-to-talk manner (default key: V). Voice chat on the Xbox 360 is activated simply by plugging in your headset into your controller. On the PlayStation 3, a wireless Bluetooth earpiece can be used.

Uses

The Scout communicating vital information to teammates.

Voice chat is helpful in situations that require detailed or rapid communication, such as:

  • Warning of incoming enemies.
  • Communicating with your Medic or Medic buddy, especially timing Übercharges.
  • Coordinating an attack with a group of other players.
  • Rooting out disguised Spies.
  • Indicating the locations of enemy Sentry Guns and other buildings.
  • Telling people the exact location of the intelligence.
  • Informing teammates of fallen enemies or destroyed buildings.
  • Calling for backup.

Limitations

The Mute players button.

A player's voice can only be heard by their own team by default, and dead players can only be heard by their dead teammates. On servers where alltalk is enabled (with the setting sv_alltalk 1), all players can hear each other, including players who are on opposite teams or waiting to respawn. The alltalk feature is not available in the Xbox 360 version.

Specific players can be muted in the PC version via the main menu by clicking the Mute players button near the bottom of the screen. Voice chat can be disabled altogether in the Voice tab of the options screen.

On the PC, in-game voice chat is sometimes complemented by the use of third-party Template:W software, such as Mumble, Teamspeak or Ventrilo. This allows players to coordinate with their teammates regardless of server limitations. For example, using an alltalk-enabled Team Fortress 2 server and two external voice channels simultaneously allow for public discussion between the teams, and private in-game coordination among teammates.

Speech bubbles

When a player is using voice chat, a speech bubble icon is displayed on the right side of their HUD. Another bubble appears above the player's head, visible to teammates. On alltalk servers, a team-colored speech bubble is shown over all talking players, including cloaked and disguised enemy Spies. Additionally, a talking player's name and team are displayed as a colored bar on the right side of the HUD.

  • The default voice chat bubble.

  • The BLU voice bubble, used on alltalk servers.

  • The RED voice bubble, used on alltalk servers.

  • An unused bubble, similar to the one used in Template:W.

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