So is the In-game chat having issues, or is the in-game community unhelpful?

So I've been having a great time playing Defiance, but sometimes I have a question that could easily be solved be asking players in-game. The only problem is that anytime I ask a question I haven't gotten a response; not even a "i don't know" or a "lol learn 2 play noob". It's happened like 5 times now and I'm wondering if it's an issue with the game or an issue withe the players.

While I'm posting I'll ask what I tried to ask; I don't remember what i asked the first few times, but I remember what I just tried to ask; I have a detonator and I tried to figure out the controls to detonate it once it's fired but couldn't find it, how do you detonate the detonator?

Hit your reload key to detonate your grenade launcher's grenades.

issues the dev team are working on from there sticky post posted today

Connectivity – Being able to connect, patch and play. This has a number of things that can be plaguing you depending on platform and what version of the game you have. We’re on it like a shark during winter solstice.

Pre-order items – WHERE ARE THEY?!?!? We have a number of cases where they aren’t being delivered to you. We know. They haven’t disappeared nor will they. They might pop up suddenly over the next hours, the next time you log on or tomorrow.

Bosses and Arkfalls – They might be very difficult as they scale and the rewards not in any sane correlation to what they should be, being this difficult. You’re right, it’s not right. On it.

Chat and VOIP – This isn’t broken, we just believe people should use their psychic abilities more. Can you hear what I’m saying to you right now? Yes, exactly. We’re working on it.

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Originally Posted by Erithos

So I've been having a great time playing Defiance, but sometimes I have a question that could easily be solved be asking players in-game. The only problem is that anytime I ask a question I haven't gotten a response; not even a "i don't know" or a "lol learn 2 play noob". It's happened like 5 times now and I'm wondering if it's an issue with the game or an issue withe the players.?

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There is no actual zone chat in game. Closest to it is area chat where only those in close proximity can see your text .. so everyone ignores chat entirely

I ignore the chat. Not because I want to but because its more of a pain in the *** to pay attention to than it needs to be. Where its at and the area it takes up is not sufficient for me or my eyes.

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Originally Posted by Erithos

So I've been having a great time playing Defiance, but sometimes I have a question that could easily be solved be asking players in-game. The only problem is that anytime I ask a question I haven't gotten a response; not even a "i don't know" or a "lol learn 2 play noob". It's happened like 5 times now and I'm wondering if it's an issue with the game or an issue withe the players.

While I'm posting I'll ask what I tried to ask; I don't remember what i asked the first few times, but I remember what I just tried to ask; I have a detonator and I tried to figure out the controls to detonate it once it's fired but couldn't find it, how do you detonate the detonator?

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People just dont watch the chat, asked a simple question if some one could revive me, during a mission. 8 people around me, had to die, got a reply later saying "people ask for so much! Haha, sorry didnt c it"

PS3 its easy with a keyboard (wireless) i also have a headset but can't hear anyone. When at an arkfall i try telling people how to help and some do it spot on and some go wha??? it's all based on the player..

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Originally Posted by Mad

There is no actual zone chat in game. Closest to it is area chat where only those in close proximity can see your text .. so everyone ignores chat entirely

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it is an area chat only and only those that are near you can see unless you are in a group or clan

Why are there no damn chat bubbles

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Originally Posted by Fellwitch

Why are there no damn chat bubbles

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because it is not psn network

I'm almost always talking but I toned it down so much in this game cause I just don't have the time to type out as much but I usually watch chat and look to see if the bubbles to the side are blinking.

The box isn't big enough, and i can see why there is no zone chat, the arkfalls have screwed up all the sky and signals and communicating across long distances is difficult if not almost impossible while having every radio array tower operational, due to the constant raider attacks these arrays keep being disabled. Good enough explanation for the "no zone chat" :P. One of the main parts of this game is the sheer roleplay of a post apoc world, almost torn a'sunder hence the "no flying mounts" quote from one of the developer interviews I've watched. The wider chat function improvement I did mention in another thread. There should be a /shout function rather than just area chat :).

The big problem is that chat persists in the window for about 2 seconds, then disappears. So unless you happen to be looking at it at the right moment.. Seriously, Trion I know you guys are capable of making a good working chat system. This is not it.

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Originally Posted by Erithos

So I've been having a great time playing Defiance, but sometimes I have a question that could easily be solved be asking players in-game. The only problem is that anytime I ask a question I haven't gotten a response; not even a "i don't know" or a "lol learn 2 play noob". It's happened like 5 times now and I'm wondering if it's an issue with the game or an issue withe the players.

While I'm posting I'll ask what I tried to ask; I don't remember what i asked the first few times, but I remember what I just tried to ask; I have a detonator and I tried to figure out the controls to detonate it once it's fired but couldn't find it, how do you detonate the detonator?

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People may or may not be helpful. Earlier I was waiting for a friend and noticed a person asking how to do this and that. I answered that person. But I have to admit most of the time when I am actually fighting running for my life w/e, I don't notice people chatting because it is hard to notice and only 1 line at a time shows up. So sorry if anyone has asked me for a rez etc and I ignored you it wasn't intentional.

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Originally Posted by Silverlight

The big problem is that chat persists in the window for about 2 seconds, then disappears. So unless you happen to be looking at it at the right moment.. Seriously, Trion I know you guys are capable of making a good working chat system. This is not it.

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Agreed i think they should up it to about 6-8 seconds its not horribly big but it's there i see it but alas i have a 50" tv and PS3

there is a full chat window but when it is open you can't do anything else

Sort of love/hate thing going with the chat atm.
Love the fact that i don't have a box full of gold, pro-wow, or just plain old spam.

BUT
It makes it difficult if you have an issue as only a few people will see it, and even if they are in range spotting something that appears on only one line very briefly in the bottom corner of the screen means its unlikely.


That said typed chat is and always has been a pain, and I tend to close my chat box to all main channels except if bored....
Honestly maybe there should be a toggle to keep it expanded during gameplay for those that wish it.

Both. I've seen quite a few people just ignore people when they're downed and the chat window is horrible.

If you turn off the voice option in AUDIO settings it will make your chat not work. So everyone that has turned it off so they dont need to hear other people while in groups also turned off their chat.

It really is ridiculous, this absence of proper chat functions. I guess Defiance was developed by those proverbial nerds living in mom's garage. I mean only they could think that being in a group of strangers without any communication is socialising.
I don't know how many times I wanted to thank someone for helping me or invite someone to do some quests together, ask for help, say hello, talk about game or life in general.
All just in one afternoon of playing.
It's MMO only in terms of having large numbers of players. And that's it. It feels like everyone is walking around with ball-gag in their mouth and it's just too much bother for anyone to try and communicate to others. Because first you have to take that ball-gag out of your mouth, spit excess saliva, breathe a bit of fresh air and then you are ready to talk.
Ridiculous!

Perhaps Trion felt it was a good business decision to make an MMO/FPS hybrid. They certainly want console players buying this game . So they tried to come up with a system that would satisfy everyone.

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Originally Posted by Fallenstag

Perhaps Trion felt it was a good business decision to make an MMO/FPS hybrid. They certainly want console players buying this game . So they tried to come up with a system that would satisfy everyone.

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That could only be possible with more options, not less.

There is a way to make your character speak in game to show approval/disapproval and I think ask for help and a few other quick things. Not going to be able to hold a conversation or anything but it may get their attention. Also a quick way to invite people to group as long as there in the immediate area, like text chat. Not sure what pops up or if anything pops up on the other persons screen but they do have thing in place to help console gamers. Its not like you can move a mouse to expand/shrink the chat window on the fly, and most people want to keep moving and keep playing and not bring up the better chat window that obscures the game, that's the plight of every multiplier console game I've played. And if they make the chat window more prominent there will be a new topic on here complaining that its to big or distracting (I'm talking about the average FPS/3rd person console gamer, not you guys). So try the quick chat thing on the d-pad, try the quick group things on the d-pad, and for god sake get a $10 crap headset so when/if you do manage to team up you don't need to hide behind something in a fire fight to tell your new buddy a joke or "look out for the HUGE...oh to late, nevermind".

Can you here someone with a headset from whatever speaker setup your using with the game when you don't have a headset plugged in?

Is this confirmed by the Devs?

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Originally Posted by Tripp

If you turn off the voice option in AUDIO settings it will make your chat not work. So everyone that has turned it off so they dont need to hear other people while in groups also turned off their chat.

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Originally Posted by WrrLor

Is this confirmed by the Devs?

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No it's confirmed by the players. I tried this out myself with a friend in group chat, couldn't see anything i was typing because he muted my audio chat.

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Originally Posted by Erithos

It's happened like 5 times now and I'm wondering if it's an issue with the game or an issue withe the players.

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It's the game. The chat system discourages any use of it simply because it's been surpassed by newer technology such as semaphore, Morse code, tin can & string telephony and smoke signals.

It's somewhat disappointing to see that one of the games 'social' elements was designed to make people antisocial.

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Originally Posted by Valethar

It's the game. The chat system discourages any use of it simply because it's been surpassed by newer technology such as semaphore, Morse code, tin can & string telephony and smoke signals.

It's somewhat disappointing to see that one of the games 'social' elements was designed to make people antisocial.

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OK that was damn funny! True but damn funny! :)

I'm on the same page too.. What's with the chat? I mean, how hard is it to get a chat client to work?

OK cant use the quick chat when your down, that sucks.