35 replies to this topic

[elite879]

So I was in the server on Overwatch earlier and we got into a discussion about voice commands. This I think would be quite a useful feature for Overwatch as I use it frequently in TF2.

Of course the downside is you may have to employ voice acting if you can't find good enough files, but here is what I was thinking

Z menu:-
1. Help - To let other people know you need help, Obvious, this would also appear as "Help!" in the chat.
2. Health - I heard you were adding the ability to heal other players so this would be useful. This would appear in chat as "Medic!"
3. Ammo - Maybe you can also add the feature to give people ammo? Like in Human Error - co-op. This would appear in chat as "Need Ammo!"
4. Go left! - Tell your team a better way to go.
5. Go right! - See above.
6. Console! - Tell your team to come to the console you're at, might drop this in favour of "help"
7. Health Charger - Tell your team there's a health charge nearby.
8. Ammo - Tell your team there's ammo crates, boxes or on the floor

X menu:-
1. Turret ahead! - Tell your team there's a turret.
2. Sniper! - Tell your team there's a combine sniper.
3. SMGs - Tell your team there's an SMG squad.
4. Shotgunners! - Tell your team there's a shotgun squad.
5. Manhacks - Shout the infamous "HAAAAX" to tell your team there's Manhacks.
6. Mortar - Tell your team there's either headcrab canisters or a mortar incoming.
7. Breaching - Tell your team a door is about to be blown open.
8. Trap - Tell your team the way they're going has a trap in it "ITSA TARP"

As for the C menu this can just comprise of random sound files from the rebels like in TF2, such as

C menu:-
1. Thoughts - Say what's on your mind "I can't remember the last time I had a shower"
2. Answers - Maybe with a bit of coding you can have this intergrate with thoughts for a suitbile response "I'm not even gonna tell you to shut up"
3. Go! Go! Go! - Tell your team to move their asses.
4. Shield - Tell your team to grab a riot shield
5. Incoming - Tell your team there's a grenade or maybe a massive squad of mixed troops making the commands in the X menu commands worthless.

I can't think of another 3 for the C menu. Maybe you guys can suggest something?

[PixilatedPunk]

elite879, on 15 July 2010 - 01:28 PM, said:

...I use it frequently in TF2.

So do I. Even if you are on a voip system using the in game voice commands can be quicker than transmitting and it is very easily done once you get the hang of it. I think keybound voice commands are very important for a polished multi/coop game. I will not comment on the specifics just yet but I like where this is going.

[Twitwi]

elite879, on 15 July 2010 - 01:28 PM, said:

5. blah
6. blah
7. blah
8. Trap - Tell your team the way they're going has a trap in it "ITSA TARP"

Couldn't resist.

However (some feed back on your idea) I think voice commands are useless there are a lot of games that have them, but none were they are used (for the right thing, need a dispenser here, need a dispenser here, need a dispenser here)

[elite879]

Yeah, I only use "NEED A DISPENSER HERE" when I'm running through several guys with Bonk! For a laugh.
It's because a good engie knows to build a dispenser anyway so it is useless.

But the voice commands are used alot in TF2 by most people, especially me. "Sentry ahead" "Go! Go! Go!" "Incoming" and of course "MEEEEDIIIIC!"

This is why I thought it would be a good think to add as TF2 and CS:S both have their voice commands used, although not as much in CS:S.

Thanks for the feedback also you two

[AndY]

Linear or Radial?

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[DaFox]

I definitely prefer linear, its quicker to use your keyboard rather than your mouse.

[AndY]

DaFox, on 15 July 2010 - 03:20 PM, said:

I definitely prefer linear, its quicker to use your keyboard rather than your mouse.

You can still use your keyboard with a radial menu.

[Firespray]

Radio looks pretty cool, gives it a bit more of a eye candy feeling.

[PixilatedPunk]

I am in favor of linear but only because that is what I'm used to and it works best for me.

[elite879]

Yeah linear is my choice too. I do like the Radial menu in the battlefield games but linear is what I'm used too

[Twitwi]

like above, linear is my choice

[Kil]

I'd go with Linear. It's easier to make more sense of the order for the numbers, as it's just one column, thus easier to use and memorise making it a very quick system. Those who played RTCW or ET will know how fast it becomes.
It also does not block your main view as it's off to the side, so you can still see in front of you clearly if you're busy browsing through the menu.

[offe]

i realy like the idea, and i think it should be a linear menu.

[Shisnopi]

I prefer radial but if you could make it like a number pad (assuming most of the people here are right handed) then a quick hop from your mouse to your number pad is faster and easier to read than a linear menu.

[Tucker]

I find it's faster to select one if it's radial and you can freely move the mouse.

[Typhonarick]

i prefer when it is linear (no choice with the mouse plz)

[Halsh]

I personally find the radial menu with mouse control to be the best. I don't know about you, but with 1 hand on the WASD keys and the other on the mouse, pressing the 8 key kinda screws my immersion in the game and makes me a sitting duck while I have to drag myself out of the FPS mindset to press a single button, and then somehow get back into the mindset before I get preyed upon.

Although, with my mic I tend to never use them unless I just want to spam the other team too and alltalk is off. Or it's the heavy, the heavy is fun to listen to.

[PixilatedPunk]

Kilrageous, on 15 July 2010 - 05:52 PM, said:

It also does not block your main view as it's off to the side, so you can still see in front of you clearly if you're busy browsing through the menu.

Yes. The linear menu is compact and off to the side and a player with a tiny bit of experience can move, shoot and see all while using voice commands. I think this reason and the fact that it is very simple and intuitive is why it is seen so often in games and also why I myself prefer it.

Halsh, on 16 July 2010 - 02:21 PM, said:

I personally find the radial menu with mouse control to be the best.

In my opinion of a faced pace game like Overwatch where micro second decisions count for or against the entire team, the view of the FPS player should never be obstructed and the FPS player should always be able to shoot. The design of the menu and how it functions will be the deciding factor for me personally although I admit I am heavily biased from my years of DoD and TF2.

Halsh, on 16 July 2010 - 02:21 PM, said:

I don't know about you, but with 1 hand on the WASD keys and the other on the mouse, pressing the 8 key kinda screws my immersion in the game and makes me a sitting duck while I have to drag myself out of the FPS mindset to press a single button, and then somehow get back into the mindset before I get preyed upon.

I think multiplayer games in general go overboard with the amount of voice commands and most are not even used. I would suggest for Overwatch to have a limit of five per menu, although I don't think more than one menu is required. For example;

1. Incoming!
2. Stay here.
3. Follow me.
4. Negative.
5. Shields up front!

In most situations this should be sufficient and any other communication can be done another way. This would alleviate the need to reach clear across the keyboard for us WASD'ers.

[braddollar]

I think linear would be best.

That said you could easily do a radial menu that is off center, down in the corner or something so that it's not in the way. Personally I hate radial menus. Pain in the ass to navigate quickly, while also trying to move and shoot.

[Halsh]

By radial menu I was reffering the L4D2 style: only text, with lines connecting the words, with the selected phrase made larger. Radial menu with half the screen blocked is not wanted.

I do like that suggestion for only 4-5 (4 really, I find even the button 5 a little too far for my tastes) per voice menu; it would make my life easier.

My opinion sums up as this:

Radial text-only center screen menu for mouse control, list menu ala TF2 for buttons.