Voice chat is

telecommunication Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that fe ...

via

voice over IP Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also called IP telephony, is a method and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. The terms Internet t ...

technologies—especially when those technologies are used among players in

multiplayer online game A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system ( couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...

s. Users might use either a

VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also called IP telephony, is a method and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. The terms Internet t ...

engine system that is built into the game, or a separate program.

Video game consoles

In 2000,

SegaNet The Dreamcast is a home video game console by Sega, the first one introduced in the sixth generation of video game consoles. With the release of the Dreamcast in 1998 amid the dot-com bubble and mounting losses from the development and introduct ...

released the first voice-chat-compatible browser for the

Dreamcast The is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998, in Japan; September 9, 1999, in North America; and October 14, 1999, in Europe. It was the first sixth-generation video game console, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Nint ...

. Internet services such as YahooChat! worked on the Java-compatible web browsers with the ability of voice chat with the microphone, although it was already available for use in its HTML servers. This browser web integration became a standard in future game consoles. Long-distance telephone programs such as Dream call were already integrated within the browser. Other games such as Seaman and Alien Front Online included voice chat via the microphone. In 2001, Sony released the

Network adapter A network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter or physical network interface, and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network. Ear ...

for their PlayStation 2

video game console A video game console is an electronic device that outputs a video signal or image to display a video game that can be played with a game controller. These may be home consoles, which are generally placed in a permanent location connected to ...

, which allowed voice chatting with a headset. In 2002, Microsoft launched the Xbox Live service, which supports voice chatting. Later,

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...

required all Xbox Live console game developers to integrate voice chat capability into their games and bundled a microphone and headset with the Xbox Live retail unit. In 2005, Nintendo launched the

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC) was an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS and Wii games. The service included the company's Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop game download ...

, an online multiplayer service for both the Nintendo DS and for the Wii. '' Metroid Prime Hunters'', which was released in March 2006, was the first game that allowed voice chatting through the Nintendo DS's microphone. Nintendo also released a Nintendo DS headset for voice chat alongside the release of ''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' (2006). While voice chat has become a big hit in console games, it also created problems such as griefing or the persistent harassment of other players online. Voice capability is said to present the greatest risk of traditional

cyberbullying Cyberbullying or cyberharassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment are also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital ...

and harassment. For instance, it is being used to send sexist and

misogynistic Misogyny () is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. It is a form of sexism that is used to keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely practiced f ...

communications towards female players. A specific example was a publicized audio recording of

EVE Online ''Eve Online'' (stylised ''EVE Online'') is a space-based, persistent world massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by CCP Games. Players of ''Eve Online'' can participate in a number of in-game profes ...

players perpetrating the so-called "Bonus Round" scam over voice chat. Portions of the audio contained graphic language.

Ventrilo Ventrilo (or Vent for short) is a proprietary VoIP software that includes text chat. The Ventrilo client and server are both available as freeware for use with up to 8 people on the same server. Rented servers can maintain up to 400 people. T ...

was popular among online gamers to coordinate group gaming efforts until Mumble, TeamSpeak and Discord came out. In 2021,

Discord Discord is a VoIP and instant messaging social platform. Users have the ability to communicate with voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media and files in private chats or as part of communities called "servers".The developer documenta ...

has become very popular voice chat among gamers. While games like

World of Warcraft ''World of Warcraft'' (''WoW'') is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment. Set in the ''Warcraft'' fantasy universe, ''World of Warcraft'' takes place within the world of Azeroth ...

have integrated a

VOIP Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also called IP telephony, is a method and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. The terms Internet t ...

voice chat the preferred way to coordinate as a group in chat is

, TeamSpeak or Mumble.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Voice chat Online chat Voice over IP Online video game services

Video game consoles

See also

References