panic and massively multiplayer video games

[dodgy_mermaid]

I am still coming down from the horrible adrenaline rush I experienced when hosting someone in my town in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I had a good reason to panic, I think: the visitor suddenly took off running across my town where there are many flowers and delicate grass. (Other players of ACNL or, worse, ACCF will completely understand why NO

Comments

[kiba_fangurl]

1. All the freaking time! I have a mic for my ps3 but I've only used it once. I tried playing multiplayer levels online on littlebigplanet and flipped out when the other people started reaching out with "Hi! How are yous and the such". I ripped the mic off and turned off the the game. The only time I've been remotely ok with online multi is in the assassin's creed games. You're supposed to be stealthy and silent so nobody uses the mic. Except for the team modes which I avoid like the plague. I also don't like playing online with people because I think everyone else is secretly laughing at me for being a noob (enjoyed uncharted's online multi but I sucked at it and everyone probably could see that), The times I've tried tortimer's island in animal crossing, I've felt awkward trying to think of what to say. One person I met kept running past me so the bugs would fly away and then he'd hit me several times with the bug net. Couldn't tell if he was a noob or a jerk. Too scared to tell him off in any case

[dodgy_mermaid]

It may take me weeks or months existing within a guild or other multiplayer group before I will participate in voice chat. Major dealbreaker for my participation: a requirement for voice chat. MMORPG communities have gone overboard with this because, I think, most people are extroverts to one degree or another, and even I can admit that voice chat is easier even if it doesn't usually provide the tactical advantage most people insist it does. I just can't bring myself to feel comfortable with it in most circumstances. It's especially horrible because once I'm doing it, I think on all the irrational fear that kept me from it and feel moronic. :s

[renaimedore]

I have so many stories about extreme reactions to social video games I'd probably need two comments for them. The most recent case that stands out in my mind is when I decided to use the public online setting in Borderlands 2 for the first time, meaning anyone who wanted to could join my game. Not only that but it was my first time playing PC rather than PS3, so even though I was well accustomed to the game itself I was completely new at the controls. Almost immediately I was joined by someone else, and also almost immediately I found out something I hadn't been aware of- you can use mics to speak to other people during the game! It seems like a very 'duh' kind of thing but it hadn't occurred to me before, and suddenly having this person talk to me and try to converse with me shocked me so badly that after ten minutes of attempting to suck it up I panicked and told them I had to leave and closed the game before they could react. It didn't help that they (sounded like) a young boy and I'm a woman in my twenties, and I've heard far too

[bulmafox]

At the start I would panic whenever someone randomly sent me a message or sent a group invite, and I would avoid doing any quests that I couldn't solo and completely avoided joining any kind of legion. This takes away from a large chunk of the mmo experience but I was so completely afraid of screwing up terribly and having people yell at me for it that there was no way I could play with strangers.

Me too. This is the reason I go solo on MMORPGs and would avoid online multiplayer if I had it.

[dodgy_mermaid]

Maaaan.... D: You are very brave to have invited multiplayer in those circumstances! I'm so sorry you were startled by the voice chat function. Built-in voice chat makes me very uncomfortable, too, and I don't even understand why. I tend to panic just as you did. I think you're a badass for even going so far as to open yourself to multiplayer in a game like Borderlands, though! The most experience I have had of that kind is my one time playing with randoms in L4D, and it turned out abysmally with both strangers on our team being horribly incompetent, and not only unapologetic about it, but greedy and conniving. Ended up being a team-killing scenario. e.e Wow, the memories. Of course, while most people would respond to such an experience with temporary irritation (and the move the heck on), I had those lasting physical symptoms even though, emotionally, I was fine

[place_to_hide]

I play Animal Crossing New Leaf. I'm addicted. I haven't had a visitor though.

I don't have the same kind of panic. Because I don't play online gaming or MMORPGS games.

[dodgy_mermaid]

I'm glad you haven't felt this way, but I wonder if you avoid those situations for fear that you will respond as I described. :o

Always glad to meet another player. Would you like to exchange codes? Absolutely no offense if not! :3 I hope you're enjoying the game.

edit: I like your username. Fellow Whovian here. :D

[place_to_hide]

I think I'd be too nervous playing online games or whatever with people that I don't know. I think if I knew the person that I was playing the online game with or a game where I can communicate with the person then that would make a difference.

Friend codes? Sure. my friend code is: 4253-3635-7669

Thank you. YAY! Another Whovian. :)

[kiba_fangurl]

would you mind if I added you too? I only have one friend right now that has animal crossing: new leaf.

[kiba_fangurl]

my friend code is 4270 1162 8965 :) Nice! I just recently got the game so my town isn't that impressive yet