New Dungeons and Dragons online game to have integrated voice chat
In the online role-playing universe, sometimes it's hard to type when your character is getting roasted by a dragon. The upcoming Dungeons and Dragons: Stormreach online game will feature integrated voice chat that will let players concentrate on the battle, rather than fumbling with a keyboard.
Traditional online battles often require players to help each other by either helping attack monsters or healing fellow party members. Some players have coded keyboard shorts that broadcast text messages for help, but in a frenzied battle it is very easy to hit the wrong key. Hard-core players have turned to voice chat to solve this problem.
Chat programs are nothing new and FPS (first person shooter) players have used them for years. It is only recently that third party programs such as Team Speak and Ventrillo have come into vogue for role-playing gamers. While very effective, these programs require extensive setup both on the client side and the chat server side.
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach is being developed by Turbine and will be distributed by Atari. It is undergoing beta-testing and is set to launch in the first half of 2006.
