Can we just talk about chat for a second?
Battlefield has always had a robust, and shall we say, inflammatory and/or witty in-game chat. *Im talking about typing, (not voip). After hundreds of hours, I find 2042 to be a great experience, but there is something....hollow about the matches. I think Ive finally pinned it down. Its the one-sided chat. Not being able to talk to the other team detracts so much from online social gameplay.
After going back to BFV for a bit, it became more apparent. I feel like cross team chat, as gnarly as it was sometimes, was also a delightful part of the social experience of online play. A lot of players were witty and hilarious. Yeah, there were annoying people too, but that was also kind of amusing to watch. I find, you cannot build antagonists out of enemy players, specifically, which leads to a one sided and somewhat empty perspective on a battle of actual humans, collectively enjoying a match. (or dying over and over, lol)
Listen, if I get tea-bagged by DonnieDumper42, at the very least, I feel like I should be able to make fun of his Mom. On the other hand, if I take out an enemy helicopter, and I suddenly see a string of rage from the other team, it fills me with adrenaline, and make me feel as though Im part of a bigger story, that actually effects the conflict. I've got the ability to change their moment / experience. Its very powerful really, its the essence of Battlefield, and the essence of sport.
Lets not forget the small gestures of positivity too! A tiny gesture of "good game" or maybe a "wow, nice one" or "not gonna lie, that was badass" comment from the other team is the same as slapping hands after the game, or a fighters respect after the match. It feels good. It feels like we can all be friends, maybe, or at the very least know that we aren't trapped in 1 player.
I know, I know, its about the trolls. Sure, filters are fine, turn 'em on. I definitely don't want to see trolls saying racist, or homophobic things at all, but I always felt like good people would snap back with wit and humor (most of the time). It was more of a community, and I made a lot more friends online whom Id squad up with later knowing they were cool, and on my level as a person. I would think a developer as talented as DICE would be able to limit text input, or at least give you the option to, if it makes you uncomfortable. Please bring it to BF2042.
***Also bring back "Vote Kick" (2142 style). It was a stroke of social brilliance. If someone does act badly, spam, or hack, they can be removed by a simple vote, easy as that.
