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Making XBox Live Less Horrifying

Posted by Zonk on from the so-many-varieties-of-jerk dept.

Gamespy has an article talking about ways to make XBox Live a better place to play. The article lists ways to improve your relations with others and generally improve the community feel of the Live network. From the article: "Xbox Live isn't always a nice place. Everyone has horror stories about some of the things they've heard (or, in rare cases, seen) coming from some of the more 'unsavory' elements of the burgeoning online community. There's a good chance (especially if you play as much Halo 2 as I do) that you've heard more racist and homophobic comments than polite ones. Now, I'm certainly no prude, and there are plenty of moments when I'll spew a steady stream of profane invectives at whichever fool just blasted my avatar. Usually, it will be something along the lines of 'Oh man, &%&$# you, you $^%#& %$@&#! I should %*#(@ tear off your $*^%@^% head and %#@#*& it!' As the old saying goes, never trust anyone who doesn't swear."

5 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. A ratings system, maybe? by KingSkippus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Disclaimer: I'm not a member of Xbox Live...

    Perhaps it would be worthwhile to implement some sort of ratings system. You get to rate your opponent on his or her conduct and sportsmanship.

    Accrue enough "demerits" from different members, and you get tagged as a habitual asshole.

    1. Re:A ratings system, maybe? by LordNimon · · Score: 2, Interesting
      The rating system is not flexible enough. The only outcome of a poor feedback is account suspension or cancellation. In addition, you can only leave negative feedback for the worst offenses. Just being annoying doesn't qualify anyone for negative feedback.

      I hear that Xbox 360 will have a more robust system.

      --
      And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
      To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
    2. Re:A ratings system, maybe? by KingSkippus · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's what I had in mind, something that other users can see and use to decide whether or not they want to play with other people.

      Before I decide to waste time with some anonymous person, it would be helpful if I saw something like this:

      Of this person's co-players (teammates and opponents) in the past, 14% have taken the time to rate them.
      • 74%: griefer
      • 22%: incompetent
      • 4%: capable
      This person is on 31 other players' ignore lists.

      I'd probably avoid that person. The temporary suspension of someone's account doesn't help me as a player decide whether or not I want that person as an opponent or as a teammate. The account cancellation does, but that's only used as an extreme last resort, and only after the person has already caused a lot of damage. The beauty of the system is that it would be automatic; no game admins would have to get involved except under really weird circumstances.

      Using a system like this, players will generally behave not because they're afraid of being banned, but because they're afraid of being ostracized and publically displayed as an asshole.

      It's kind of like an idea I'd like to see implemented for drivers, something I call the "Stupid System." By law, everyone's car has to have a stupid meter installed in the window, which is a receiver. Everyone who wants one is also given a stupid transmitter. When you're driving, if someone does something really stupid, like cutting across three lanes in front of you because they weren't paying attention and were about to miss their exit, then you can use your stupid transmitter to tag their car. After they receive a certain number of stupid tags from different people based on the population in their area, they get a traffic ticket. After a higher threshhold, they lose their license. The number of stupid tags a person has at any given time is displayed on the stupid meter, so that other drivers will know what they're dealing with.

  2. All I want for Christmas... by Swanktastic · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is to be able to play XBox Live with people who have been verified as:
    - older than 18, 21, 25, etc...
    - graduated from college
    - Graduate Students
    - Ivy League Grads
    - whatever...

    I don't care what the criteria is, but I don't socialize with high schoolers in real life. Why should I be forced to in XBox Live?

    1. Re:All I want for Christmas... by Lepruhkawn · · Score: 2, Interesting
      but I don't socialize with high schoolers in real life. Why should I be forced to in XBox Live?

      I second the sentiment.

      When I first spectated a Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow match (I did this on PC but I imagine it's similar on Xbox), one Sam Fisher put a guard in a headlock while the other Sam Fisher crouched down to put his goggles in the guard's crotch. The two young men controlling the Fishers repeated this head-lock/head-in-crotch maneuver over and over. Each time it was just completely hysterical as evidenced by the maniacal laugher I heard coming over the voice channel.

      I have spent many hours playing online games without voice communication and found the immature people annoying but easy to tolerate when the communication is limited to text.

      But, repeatedly, voice communications ruined the experience for me because it makes it much harder to tolerate people I don't like (i.e. tune them out).

      --
      Jesus saves....And takes 1/2 damage.