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(Partial rant) Why are gaming communities for multiplayer games so often filled with toxicity? Why aren't game developers doing more to stop this? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago* by to c/gamedev@programming.dev
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There are plenty of multiplayer games I adore. However, it seems like every community has these "brain dead", patronizing, or out right toxic elements that are just nasty. I'd rather debate politics than make suggestions in some gaming communities because the responses are just so ... annoying.

As an example, I once dared to suggest that a game developer implement a mode to prevent crouched status from rendering on death cams so that players that are bothered by t-bagging could avoid it (after a match where a friend rage quit because someone just kept head shotting him -- possibly with cheats -- and then t-bagging). This post got tons of hate, and like -50 upvotes on reddit because of course someone should be forced to watch someone t-bag them.

Another example on a official game forum... I made a forum post suggesting Bungie use Mastodon (or really just something else being my intent)... The response I got was some positivity but mostly just "lol nobody uses that sweetie" and other patronizing comments.

Meanwhile studios themselves often seem to be filled with developers that understand this stuff is a problem, and the lack of sportsmanship (or generally civilized attitudes) does push away players. It just doesn't make sense to me that no studio is saying "get lost" to these elements or implementing anti-toxicity features. I just want to play games with nice normal people, is that really so much to ask?

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[–] 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I'm not sure I even regard this as a developer studios responsibility.

What has the game to do with how it's players behave? Your teebagging example is great for this: You seek a technical solution for a behavioural problem of the player base? That's a bit too far.

I'm pretty sure I know the players you describe. I've played against them, I've played with them and talked to them. I've let them get to me and ragequit. They are clearly cunts and bullies. Not much you can do about them.

Change what is in your control: Play in a good state of mind where this stuff does not get to you (not when you're tired after work). Turn off voice comms. Don't let it get to you. Worst thing you can do to a troll is ignore them.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Not much you can do about them.

    Most of the games have ignore/mute. I've learned to automatically block anyone at the first sign of mild toxicity, so I don't have to see the rest and have it ruin my experience. I'm never going to see the people again anyway, so there's no reason to give them the benefit of a doubt, and by blocking them early I can play in peace and still have fun.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 2 years ago*

    I'm not sure I even regard this as a developer studios responsibility.

    I mean, they're the ones running the servers and ultimately providing admittance. There always going to be "bad people" unless owners of establishments actually exclude them (or as I've suggested -- since this is an imaginary world -- just take away their ability to be a jerk in said world).

    Change what is in your control: Play in a good state of mind where this stuff does not get to you (not when you're tired after work). Turn off voice comms. Don't let it get to you. Worst thing you can do to a troll is ignore them.

    Definitely good advice. Part of it is genuinely just friends too though. Like this isn't "my friend", this is my friend (though that's not to say I enjoy this crap either)... and sometimes it's hard to gage their mental state, or even though they're in a bad mood, I'd really like to do something more challenging ... and of course they get t-bagged or abused on comms ... and then everybody is having a bad time.

    I wish I had access to these game's source code... then the whole thing would be in my control ☺️

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