by Matthew Garrett

Created on: December 27, 2009

Voice chat is probably one of the most innovative gaming technologies created. It allows a player to communicate in almost real-time to anyone, anywhere in the world.

However, the saying "with great power, comes great responsibility." comes into play when using voice chat. Voice chat can be one of the greatest tools a gamer has at his or her arsenal, or it could be the difference between playing a great round and shutting the console off. There are a few guidelines every user should observe before picking up the microphone.

1. Be respectful.
The point of in-game voice chat is to be able to help each other. Voice chat was not invented to insult other players, and it shouldn't be used as a tool to harass people with. Screaming cuss words and racial slurs into the microphone is not the way to get someone's attention. Just because they can't hit back doesn't make being an insensitive jerk okay. If someone is bothering you, mute them- most games have that option. Yelling at them will only make things worse.

2. Use your "inside voice"
Flashback to kindergarten! Unless your microphone has SERIOUS issues, yelling into a microphone will not allow the other players to hear what you're saying any better, in fact, it will do exactly the opposite. Nobody likes to hear fuzz and noise over their headsets. Keep it audible, but not screaming.

3. Turn off sounds in the background
If you have music or a movie playing in the background, turn the volume down or off. It's very annoying to the other users to have to hear random music / audio clips while trying to hear you speak. External sounds can set off sensitive microphones, and are generally irksome.

4. Talk One at a time.
Don't talk over other people. The noise will just garble, and no one will understand either of you. Wait for your chance to speak, take turns saying things.

5. Keep it Short and Sweet
Not many people want to hear about your day. If you want to talk about your day, use a chat room. People generally detest talking about your outside life in the game. Don't go on and on, keep your voice chat quick and to the point. Allow other users to get a chance to talk too.

Another important element in any game is properly setting up a microphone. Whether it be PC, XBox, or PlayStation 3, configuring your microphone for your voice volume, room echo, and sensitivity will help everyone understand you better.

Voice chat is a great tool, and when utilized properly, can be the tool that wins your clan the match. Remember these tips, and share them with your friends.

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