116480-global-channel-a-thing-everyone-should-automatically-have

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One of the biggest gripes I've seen from recent new players is that in lower zones. they feel like they're traveling through Ghost Towns. 
 
There obviously can't be any quick fixes to that, but what COULD help is making chat a little more lively by: 
 
Having EVERYONE that creates a character be subbed automatically to a Global Chat Channel.
 
People may grumble and moan about Global Channels being poisonous and spammy, but I know for a fact that there are cool people in this game that would love to help out others in different zones. 
 
Sure, we could create a channel for ourselves for this (and we have), but no one is going to stand in all the lower zones and advertise this so that new people can get the clue to join in. Unless someone were to bot a character account to spam chat, that's not going to happen. 
 
Anyone else feel this way? I can't be the only one. I would totally be down to help people level with alts if I knew they were out there somewhere.	
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			Nope. Lived with a year of Global Channels in this game in beta. We're better off without them, or having them as Opt In Circles and Guild Channels.	
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Nope. Lived with a year of Global Channels in this game in beta. We're better off without them, or having them as Opt In Circles and Guild Channels.
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			You prefer opt out. The devs prefer opt in (a decision they re-confirmed recently with the added channels for megaservers). I agree with the devs based on experience. People dumped into channels they don't want will often troll them just because they're there. Having to opt in makes that less likely.It's not rocket science when you start a new game to get the hang of different systems, Chat included. 	
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You prefer opt out. The devs prefer opt in (a decision they re-confirmed recently with the added channels for megaservers). I agree with the devs based on experience. People dumped into channels they don't want will often troll them just because they're there. Having to opt in makes that less likely.
 
It's not rocket science when you start a new game to get the hang of different systems, Chat included. 
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yet another "its on the players not the game" post, for real? how is seeing chat activity a bad thing? ok so when players come back and it gets overwhelming turn it off, or maybe make advice global, but having people able to answer noobs questions, without putting resonsibilty on new players for figuring out how to get said info, is not a bad t hing
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The second most common question I answered in the months of global channels, was "how do I turn this channel off?" The only reason "where do I go to learn tradeskills?" was more common was because there weren't any map markers for it yet.
 
Global Channels are a lot less desirable than some people think.
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You prefer opt out. The devs prefer opt in (a decision they re-confirmed recently with the added channels for megaservers). I agree with the devs based on experience. People dumped into channels they don't want will often troll them just because they're there. Having to opt in makes that less likely.
 
It's not rocket science when you start a new game to get the hang of different systems, Chat included. 
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Yeah. RP chat channel is a LOT different than global channel. That's like comparing apples with machine guns.
 
Why are they different? Because RP'ing is a very sensitive thing that a small portion of the community is into. Of COURSE it's going to be an opt in situation. 
 
On the opposite end of the spectrum, learning and trying to find out new things about the game is something that, almost guaranteed, everyone playing the game is going to need.
 
"It's not rocket science when you start a new game to get the hang of different systems, Chat included. "
 
 Not everyone is as experienced of a player in MMO's as you are. Assuming that everyone is just going to 'get it' is sort of a flawed concept. 
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BUMP = 
 
Recently this has become very apparent that something needs to be done to help sell the game to new players in lower zones.
 
Every day, we get posts on Reddit saying "should I play this game? I've never seen anyone anywhere or anyone talk in chat."
 
They have NO CLUE that there is a global channel some level 50 made in order to converse with people and that there are people willing to level, quest, dungeon, etc. etc. 
 
To these people, they're leveling in ghost towns with no sight or sound of anyone playing the game. It doesn't help sell it and it doesn't help build our community. 
 
I don't know whether there needs to be a generic advice channel or lfg - whatever it is, there needs to be a link between the new players in new zones and the players who want to lend a hand and let them know that they're not alone. 
 
I can only imagine how many people play this game without bothering to check reddit or the forums for info on how to find people... they just think that there is no conversation happening. :-/	
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I would agree with the Advice channel being global.  I would also agree with a server-brokered LFG channel, because player-made ones can get a bit unwieldy, especially if someone moves between servers at all.
 
However these things might help, they won't fix the real problem which is simply that new players don't see others very often in lower-level map areas.  A solution to that would be implementing quest content that sends those high-level players back into the lower-level map areas on a regular basis.  Perhaps the contracts system will help in this regard.	
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However these things might help, they won't fix the real problem which is simply that new players don't see others very often in lower-level map areas.  A solution to that would be implementing quest content that sends those high-level players back into the lower-level map areas on a regular basis.  Perhaps the contracts system will help in this regard.
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With respect, beta is a much different monster than five months after launch, Lemurian.
 
I kinda agree with OP, game could use a global channel with opt-out. And I don't think the channel would get trolled alot, haven't seen much abuse in this game (especially compared to earlier WoW). But... I could see global chat becoming a pipeline of complaints and general misery about the game.	
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With respect, beta is a much different monster than five months after launch, Lemurian.
 
I kinda agree with OP, game could use a global channel with opt-out. And I don't think the channel would get trolled alot, haven't seen much abuse in this game (especially compared to earlier WoW). But... I could see global chat becoming a pipeline of complaints and general misery about the game.
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Nope.
 
Global channel in TERA.
Elinware
Elin Honey
trolling
public erotic roleplaying
naruto this, one peice that
latest dyrus/InSec play chat
more public Trolling
Random anime
loudmouthing
e-peen contests
Pedophilia pandering
 
And you wan't to give a megaphone to the servers trolls and attitude problems?	
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 I mean, global chat is already LFM chat - on any server. You're always going to get random conversations that no one cares about. For the most part though, WarhoundLFM (PergoLFM) has been totally fine and really helpful. The only difference between the player created LFM chat and a potential global LFM/advice chat is that EVERYONE has it (including new people).
 
My point is - people can always ask "how do I turn this off?" - and then they can leave, but at least they know that people exist.
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			Wouldn't mind a global chat really or even a level bracket based one like in rift(not sure if they still have it) So long as the UI makes it easy to and capable of turning said channel off, I see little harm with it.	
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If you don't think that a global channel should exist - then how do you suggest new people find people... who play the game? No one is psychic, and there is no way in game to let people know THERE IS LIFE OUT THERE.
 
Also, is it so hard to turn off global chat? Really?...
 
People have this argument that there are trolls in global chat that might deter new people. Just like the real world, there's always going to be people who suck. No matter if you join the global chat right away or never join it at all, you're going to deal with 'people who suck' in the game. Guaranteed. 	
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If you don't think that a global channel should exist - then how do you suggest new people find people... who play the game? No one is psychic, and there is no way in game to let people know THERE IS LIFE OUT THERE.
 
Also, is it so hard to turn off global chat? Really?...
 
People have this argument that there are trolls in global chat that might deter new people. Just like the real world, there's always going to be people who suck. No matter if you join the global chat right away or never join it at all, you're going to deal with 'people who suck' in the game. Guaranteed.
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			Why can't we try it and see how it works? If it indeeds gets abused turn people away then it is just a simple command for carbine to close it. I've recently leveled an alt, and there's noone around, this game feels like Skyrim, but less populated when being in the lowlevel zones, and until said lowlevel persons finds another soul, he or she can't know if there's any other real human beings on the server, more than assumptions	
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Map chat worked in Guild Wars 2.
 
Don't get me wrong Stabbie, if everyone was like you in game global chat would be great, unfortunately most people are dicks and douchnozzels.
 
And yes it really is that hard to turn off global chat.
Many people are compulsed by it, they'll turn it on and off, and many wont keep their hands off of it.
plus many others will feel as though they are missing out on possibilities if they do turn off the chat.
 
In fact Global chat is such a strong device in some games that companies will successfully sell global chat cash shop premium items.
 
The problem with global chat is that more shitty people use it than good people.
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Why can't we try it and see how it works?
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But this isn't GW2. GW2 was successful because they HAD people at other zones because of rewards. No matter if there is map chat that expands across the entire continent or not, NO ONE WILL BE THERE to talk. 
 
Again, I'd love to hear any other ideas to help people know about the option to join chat and find other people. I haven't heard one idea to help this problem.
 
Something needs to be done. 
 
As it is, poor Flo X has to sit in lower zones as an alt to use his player time to advertise the Warhound Leveling Circle so people aren't alone. He shouldn't have to do that.
 
What would you rather have? A majority of people leave because no one plays this game or some people leave because they can't handle turning off a chat / using the ignore button?
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I agree with you that I don't want this game to die. I agree with you that something needs to be done with the communication system.
 
I just wish that there was a straight-forward way to fashion a bridge between lower zones and max level maps...
 
This is all just my opinion though - I just thought / still think that global chat would be an easier bandaid for the loneliness of starting out this game - the loneliness that SHOULDN'T be there.
 
 
The lower level ghost zones are such a huge wall for new players. This is a game genre where people play together. Why play a game when you don't know if anyone is playing?
 
From my perspective, I was in beta and global chat was fine. It wasn't great, but it had your run of the mill commentary.But that's my opinion.
 
Now compare BETA population with NOW. 
 
There isn't going to be anyone new in global channel. It's just going to be the same people that are in Thayd Zone chat and PergoLFM chatting and asking for stuff. There are trolls, but they are so few and far in between that it won't matter. Regardless if they have global chat or not, people are going to meet our community through Thayd chat eventually, so why drag out the inevitable? Global chat would be / is Thayd Chat / PergoLFM. 	
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I might be wrong but, isn't Advice channel already a global channel? That is, you can read it across all server? It's just that no one uses it.
On the other hand zone chat seems to be bugged because when I was searching for more players in /z Galeras I got an answer from a player in Celestion.
 
On Luminai, everything but guild chat is dead.	
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			I'll have to join the No crowd on this. Guild chat and Zone banter are more than enough for me already	
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Nope. Lived with a year of Global Channels in this game in beta. We're better off without them, or having them as Opt In Circles and Guild Channels.
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The global Advice channel in beta was wonderful. Just have it assigned by default into its own chat tab so that it doesn't fill up the first one, and problem solved. People could enable it in the main tab if they wish, or just switch on over to the global channel when they wish.
 
At the moment, the global channel for Warhound is PergoLFM, but it would be so much appreciated if there was a default one that people didn't need to be told to join.	
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While we completely understand that the current tighter community could benefit from Global Channels, making a design change solely based on the current status of population isn't good.
 
At the moment there isn't any plan to reintroduce Global Channels.
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Pretty much this.
 
We used to have Global Channels during beta, while these worked fine at the beginning because of the beta being really closed (CBT3 and before). The moment it the beta did expand, Global Channels were just a complete mess and that's one of the reason why they got removed.
 
While we completely understand that the current tighter community could benefit from Global Channels, making a design change solely based on the current status of population isn't good.
 
At the moment there isn't any plan to reintroduce Global Channels.
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Prime Example of the MULTITUDE of comments we get like this:
 
"When I played the game I felt like I never did anything with people just grinded solo. No one seemed to talk and I definitely did not make many friends unless I knew them IRL. It's the same problem I had with WOW people just seem to already have their groups and I feel like a new kid on the block I suppose. Maybe I should try a different server or something... I'm just not sure"
 
http://www.reddit.com/r/WildStar/comments/2o22bu/should_i_come_back/cmiz2so
 
This was posted an hour ago. 
 
These comments happen EVERDAY on the forums and reddit. 
 
People stop playing because this is an MMO and they don't see anyone to play with. I don't know if a global channel helps, but SOMETHING needs to be the bandaid for this occurrence, otherwise - this is just a large wall keeping people from exploring this awesome game.	
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			They could always just make some epic looking costume pieces and decor and throw them on rares in low level zones. Problem solved. 	
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They could always just make some epic looking costume pieces and decor and throw them on rares in low level zones. Problem solved. 
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glittering unicorn mount that shat rainbows.
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Beta is not live. Players in beta aren't paying a sub, they're not invested in an ongoing game with a community that will remain mostly static. I don't know why you'd point to beta and claim that's a valid reason why a social tool isn't necessary six months post-launch.
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			totally wish there was a global chat to this dead game.	
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totally wish there was a global chat to this dead game.
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Beta was actually similar to Live in the respect that there was a static community invested in the ongoing game, and a regular cycle of people dropping in and out (on Friend Passes, 7 Day Passes, and the free 30 days) who have no plans to subscribe and stay. Even then, we dealt with people who were allegedly invested in the game who just logged on to complain for days at a time. Kind of like the forums where there are certain regular posters who regularly threaten to leave, complain often, and yet still just hang around acting miserable (and by extension trying to make other people miserable).
 
There's a system out there for people who want global comms. It takes a bit more work *gasp*, and the people already tied into it would be well served to go around and make it clear to new people that the system exists, but it is there and it works fine. No need to force feed it to everyone and deal with all the problems that would cause, when a small amount of work from the people who want it would get them exactly what they're looking for.
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 There's a system out there for people who want global comms. It takes a bit more work *gasp*, and the people already tied into it would be well served to go around and make it clear to new people that the system exists, but it is there and it works fine. No need to force feed it to everyone and deal with all the problems that would cause, when a small amount of work from the people who want it would get them exactly what they're looking for.
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Pretty much this.
 
We used to have Global Channels during beta, while these worked fine at the beginning because of the beta being really closed (CBT3 and before). The moment it the beta did expand, Global Channels were just a complete mess and that's one of the reason why they got removed.
 
While we completely understand that the current tighter community could benefit from Global Channels, making a design change solely based on the current status of population isn't good.
 
At the moment there isn't any plan to reintroduce Global Channels.
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Guess what? The same amount of effort to turn it on, you use to turn it off. 
 
However, I think that assuming new people automatically know there is a global chat somewhere out there is a seriously flawed concept. Most, if not all new people, have NO CLUE that a global chat exists. That's the problem.
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Or an equally small amount of work from the people who are paid to work could be applied to potentially fix some of the problems that are caused by inaction.
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There is. Go use it.
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I'd really love to see a global chat channel for lowbies.  I returned to WildStar a few weeks ago with level 1-15 characters and i've found it virtually impossible to find anyone to do group quests and adventures with.  I think I've only seen a couple of people in the lowbie zones since I've been back.
 
There are a couple of player run global chat channels in The Secret World for helping newbies (#sanctuary and #noobmares) that in my opinion have been very successful with helping new players with builds, missions, and running dungeons.
 
I've seen several comments that global chat channels during beta were a mess.  I'd think that the population now is very different than during beta.  All the people here, vets and lowbies, are here because they want to be.  A global chat channel would be a great way to connect the vets with the newbies; I help out new players in #sanctuary in TSW every day I log on.	
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But that's a problem that can be solved without turning on automatic global channels. Hang out in low level zones a couple times a week, encourage people to join channels and explain how to do it, and eventually there's a natural momentum even when there aren't people out there actively recruiting. I know this for a fact, since that's exactly how things went in City of Heroes which had Opt In global channels.
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Pretty much this.
 
We used to have Global Channels during beta, while these worked fine at the beginning because of the beta being really closed (CBT3 and before). The moment it the beta did expand, Global Channels were just a complete mess and that's one of the reason why they got removed.
 
While we completely understand that the current tighter community could benefit from Global Channels, making a design change solely based on the current status of population isn't good.
 
At the moment there isn't any plan to reintroduce Global Channels.
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I'm new, I'd like some kind of global chat, there's noone around and i feel a bit lost tbh.
 
and, just on the topic, i think you players who have been here a while are being quite, um, selfish in your analysis, "but there might be trolls" is a concern for you, because you have a network of people already. being out in the cold i'm happy to deal with a barrens chat situation, just as long as there is some easy way for me to see other people are actually online and somewhere i can ask my noob questions and get an answer right away. 
 
i don't think you veteran types know how cold and empty the game feels for a new person, it's completely off putting, far more off putting than a few trolls.
 
..and I've been looking through the thread and i still don't quite get it, is there a global chat i can access or not? and if so how?
 
thanks a bunch, and a pre-emptive thanks for not dismissing what i say just because i'm new, hopefully.	
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I agree that there ought to be a global chat channel no matter how toxic that you can opt-out of.  The 'inconvenience' of opting-out is non-existent. If you consider taking a few seconds out of your life to type a command in a video-game (already assumes you clearly aren't busy if you have the time to be in a video-game, and an MMO no less) to be undue hardship, your priorities and reality have never met.
 
Frankly, at this point, even if someone in zone chat was telling me to go *cupcake* myself, I'd just be happy anyone was talking at all...  Even if a new player logged in to a wall of arguing trolls at the very least they'd see that someone was actually in the game.
 
I'm a 'veteran type' and this game still feels as quiet as a grave yard often enough.	
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Areto - yes, there are global channels made by players on your server. Warhound's is /chanjoin Pergolfm. 
 
I leveled an alt this last week (my first alt and leveling process since launch) and the experience was so solitary. So incredibly lonely. Zone chat is not a thing. There is no such thing as advice chat. Thank God I have an active guild because if I had just started playing this game, I'd be like - 'where in the actual *cupcake* is everyone and why should I play a game with no people?'	
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Pretty much this.
 
We used to have Global Channels during beta, while these worked fine at the beginning because of the beta being really closed (CBT3 and before). The moment it the beta did expand, Global Channels were just a complete mess and that's one of the reason why they got removed.
 
While we completely understand that the current tighter community could benefit from Global Channels, making a design change solely based on the current status of population isn't good.
 
At the moment there isn't any plan to reintroduce Global Channels.
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