Prompt's TechBlog
Racists, Bigots and Horny Teenagers - Welcome to 21st Century Gaming
22 January 2008
Posted by Duncan HeaneyBut first some positives. Xbox Live works. With the right set-up it's fast, easy to use, and seemingly hassle-free. I understand the service suffered over the Christmas period, but it seemed fine last night. I also appreciate the head set that allows you to speak to fellow players, but this was responsible for almost all the problems I experienced.
I started Halo 3 and connected and was playing a game within minutes. A simple and competitive free for all shoot 'em up, the game was quick, friendly and fun. And although I came last, I enjoyed myself and was ready to have another go. I joined another game, inevitably started losing, and was suddenly subjected to verbal abuse of a level I have never experienced before.
I admit I wasn't very good, and I don't mind a bit of gentle mocking, but the racist, puerile drivel I was subjected to genuinely shook me a little. I simply wasn't expecting it. Obviously, I can't repeat it on this blog, but rest assured, whatever religion / race /nationality / appearance / haircut you are, this chap was on a mission to abuse and offend.
I quit the game, annoyed at the prat who had ruined it for me and joined another. And so it went on for two hours - some games were fun and friendly, and some were populated by confrontational idiots (largely pre-pubescent teenagers, though there were a few notable exceptions). I wasn't alone feeling like this. Many of my fellow gamers who I spoke to also had similar problems.
I understand that none of this is Microsoft's fault - they can't control people (at least not until their brain reading device become reality), but it did sully the experience for me considerably. Perhaps it's just Halo 3, due to its incredible popularity, but these people prevented me from having fun - surely the point of the service.
I was really looking forward to experiencing modern online action gaming, but my experienced has been soured somewhat. Maybe I'll just go back to Scrabble - the most offensive that gets is when someone gets IDIOT on a triple word score.
Comments:
The social norms aren't quite established yet for online gaming in the way they are for the web and even youth hangouts like MySpace. I think people feel bolder because they can't be seen. While Microsoft can't be responsible for users' behaviour, it needs to start enforcing controls to stop antisocial behaviour otherwise the technology will die.
It's kind of ironic too though that with all the killing and maiming that is commonplace in games, it's the language that people most object to. (And I know I would, too).
A good point actually. I didn't even consider that I was 'killing' people. Have I became completely desensitised to the violence? That's a worrying thought.
And it's not so much the language as the attitude. These people are going out of their way to try to ruin the experience for others.
It's hard to see what Microsoft can do though. Even if they freeze an account, the perpetrator can just get a new one and start again.
Bad luck, that's not good at all. I have found in the past that it is the perceived makeup of the community of the game, however large, that keeps you playing, and not necessarily pure game play or technical innovation.
Some games just seem to be populated by idiots. Even certain servers within some games can be idiot magnets. Of course not all kids are idiots and not all the idiots are kids, but it's certainly a good idea, if you're a grown-up gamer, to do some research on forums up front and get a feel for the average age / maturity of a particular gaming server.
I'm guessing there are also 13-year olds out there who genuinely get a kick out of running around screaming abuse at each other who would like to avoid censure on quieter servers - I'd advise them to scope their territory similarly.
The exception is of course the racism you mention. "Pure drivel" is one thing, but racists should be as unacceptable to Microsoft as they are to the rest of society.
Xbox Live has a reporting system in place to flag up, block and ban such users. Although a quick search online predictably reveals both positive and negative experiences of using this service, I think you should definitely go ahead and report the user you mention if you haven't already done so.
Anyway, be careful out there Duncan, and good luck with your future fragging!
I've played more than a fair share of Halo 3 in my day (proudly I'm a level 42) and I can't even begin to describe the horrible things I've heard during games.
The rampant racism and homophobia is enough to drive me out of the game- it completely ruins what should be a fun and social experience. But due to the immature, and blatantly idiotic, behavior of online gamers I'm forced to mute half of the players I come across online (an amazing addition to xbox 360). I find it ironic that I'm forced to take the social aspect out of playing online with other gamers.
I couldn't agree more, that it's the perceived anonymity online which creates a breakdown of social responsibility. It just shocks me that there are people out there that would say these things, just because they think there will be no consequences.
It's always refreshing to play a game where no one is yelling or cursing- so Duncan: want to play some time? I promise to go easy on you...
<< Home