how To… uSher in an online uToPia

We share some simple tips on how to be less of a multiplayer menace andmore of a multiplayer messiah adam BrYant

You will need An XbOX One / AnY MULTIPLAYeR GAMe / XbOX LIve GOLd optional A heAdseT / A cOnscIence

Before the advent of online gaming for consoles, just after our species stopped smashing things with rocks, many of us resigned ourselves to sharing a sofa with a friend or family member to get our multiplayer or co-op kicks. If any saltiness occurred, disagreements were usually settled in person with a bout of tantrums, roughhousing and/or a stern telling off from a parent, which left everyone involved both humbled and wiser.

Now we’re surrounded by the malignant world of online anonymity and with it toxic online behaviour. The scale has been tipped so far that the fire-and-forget hurl of abuse from the minority can leave a lasting impression on the player, the game and its community as a whole, marring otherwise fantastic titles. Well, Team OXM is here to help and offer you a selection of sound advice (from an apparently inexhaustible list) on how to be nicer to your fellow humans and combat the hate to bring forth peace and prosperity in a digital landscape that’s become saturated in well-fed trolls.

Take a calm breath and come with us…

01

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Nothing feels better than getting free stuff in games, which is why, if possible, it’s imperative to practise philanthropic ways. The effect of simply giving away those items that are no longer of value or offering help and advice to new players is three-fold; the fledgling player will be overjoyed by your generosity, it’ll serve as positive reinforcement of the game for them, and you’ll feel good about yourself. Everyone wins.

02

GIVE A LITTLE RESPECT

Drop into any online game and there will be as many insults thrown around as there are bullets. Competitive wisecracks are acceptable but things can turn nasty too often. So make sure you blast away the misogyny, disintegrate any prejudice and most of all, call out your friends if they’re being moronic. Always remember that we’re there to have fun and it’s so much better when everyone gets along.

WHY BOTHER?

videogames are one of the most powerful forms of entertainment. They have the incredible ability to not only entertain but challenge our perspective on all manner of subjects and allow us to experience things outside of our normal lives. The world is becoming an increasingly scary place, and playing videogames is a perfect way to unwind. If there’s an opportunity to add a little bit of happiness, then lets take it. Games are fun, so let’s enjoy them!

03

FINISH YOUR GAME

You’re in the middle of an online competitive match and you’re losing. For a fleeting moment you consider quitting out of the game or worse, turning off your console, but don’t do it! Finish your game. Better yet, if it’s a particularly hairy match, send a message to your opponent congratulating them on their win. You never know, you may make a new friend, and we could all do with more friends, right?

05

BE PATIENT

We hate to admit it but we’re not able to play games as often as we’d like now, so it’s a spectacular event when the stars align and your co-op partner appears online. If you’ve made a commitment to finish a co-op game with them be patient and don’t be tempted to continue it without them. Figuring things out and witnessing every moment of triumph together makes for a worthwhile experience.

H O w TO ...

04

KEEP CHAT MUSIC-FREE

We’ve all known that person who’s excited to share their latest top tune by blasting it down the microphone of their headset. But not only is this extremely annoying, it makes it almost impossible to shout call-outs and discuss tactics with teammates. We’re not saying you shouldn’t listen to music, but if you’d rather bask in your musical delight than coordinate with others, then kindly leave the headset off.

06

LAUGH IT OFF

Unfortunately we can’t control the actions of others, but we can control ours and that’s a far more effective tool in dealing with someone being, well, a tool. How we react to particular events dictate how we feel about them, so if someone griefs you, take the high ground and kill them with kindness. Break down their oozing armour of inadequacies and pierce that still heart with a little bit of warmth.

USHER IN A REAL UTOPIA

live a little

be born. This step is rather tricky as it relies on the cosmic improbability of humanity’s mere existence in this particular pocket of the universe. Swot up

Read a plethora of science, philosophy and history books. Take advantage of this accumulated knowledge and build yourself a time machine. simple enough. Stop hitler

Travel through the fabric of space and time to 1907 and convince the vienna Academy of fine Arts that enrolling young Adolf hitler will probably be a good idea. loop around

disregard the butterfly effect and hop around history fixing humanity’s wrongs. Get back in time to introduce your parents to one another, ensuring success of step 1.