This game doesn't seem very social

[Tiggy Skibbles]

I went into this game thinking it is a very social game but that has not been the case. at least in my experience. The chat is always quiet and my attempts to start conversation usually get ignored. I actually thought it was a bug and my messages weren't going through. the only time people do talk in chat is for either flow trees/groves and that's it.

I don't know if this is a game problem or a community problem, or maybe it's not even a problem and I just went in with the wrong expectations.

Has any one had a similar experience?

Edit:
Hello everyone, firstly I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this chat. I have a much better understanding of the social situation in Palia.

My conclusions

- Best ways to socialize are, visiting player houses, and fishing, I've tried both of these and have gotten pretty good results

- Switch users have a hard time communicating, hopefully there will be a solution for that in the future

- I still think they could add more things for players to do together but as this game is still pretty early in development I expect that would come later. But I have already filled up their feedback form with my thoughts

Overall after making this post I have gotten many social encounters, but only if you actively go out looking for it. So it does take some leg work and a little bit of luck, but the tips here definitely helped quite a bit.

Take care everyone, have a good day

[mana]

You can sometimes end up in a chatty instance, but I feel in my experience that it has been mostly a quiet game. Even cooking parties I participated in discouraged talking because it would "distract" from duties, lol. I'm not sure if that's the case much any longer.

Fishing is probably the opportunity for the most socializing so if you see folks fishing, try to strike up conversation then.

[stacie_ww]

Okay its a FREE game, you arent losing anything if you do play.

[DeadInside]

Aside from the fact that the game is currently a broken, buggy mess:

Palia launched on Nintendo Switch on December 14th, 2023. Because it is the exact same game as PC with cross-play enabled, what you see as far as chat functionality goes is the exact same as what they see on Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch players have to type either by touchscreen, in-game cursor, or by a USB/bluetooth keyboard they bought and attached to their Nintendo Switch. When typing, the in-game virtual keyboard takes up the entire screen. They were never provided any quick messages or any tools that could help them pump out a message faster/easier.
Therefore, Nintendo Switch players usually don't chat as it is a major burden upon them.

In addition, sometimes players are never even able to successfully connect to chat. Their chat box is basically an error message that 24/7 states it is unable to connect.

For this reason, most players - once friends or in the same community - will chat via Discord or facebook.

[Tiggy Skibbles]

Originally posted by mana:

You can sometimes end up in a chatty instance, but I feel in my experience that it has been mostly a quiet game. Even cooking parties I participated in discouraged talking because it would "distract" from duties, lol. I'm not sure if that's the case much any longer.

Fishing is probably the opportunity for the most socializing so if you see folks fishing, try to strike up conversation then.

Ahhh I see. Yea perhaps i just haven't got luck with getting into the right server, I'll keep trying. But thank you for the tip. I'll see if I can get some conversation while fishing.

[Tiggy Skibbles]

Originally posted by Three Words:

Aside from the fact that the game is currently a broken, buggy mess:

Palia launched on Nintendo Switch on December 14th, 2023. Because it is the exact same game as PC with cross-play enabled, what you see as far as chat functionality goes is the exact same as what they see on Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch players have to type either by touchscreen, in-game cursor, or by a USB/bluetooth keyboard they bought and attached to their Nintendo Switch. When typing, the in-game virtual keyboard takes up the entire screen. They were never provided any quick messages or any tools that could help them pump out a message faster/easier.
Therefore, Nintendo Switch players usually don't chat as it is a major burden upon them.

In addition, sometimes players are never even able to successfully connect to chat. Their chat box is basically an error message that 24/7 states it is unable to connect.

For this reason, most players - once friends or in the same community - will chat via Discord or facebook.

Ahhhh okay. I haven't thought of that. That makes sense. Yea I can imagine how difficult it would be to type

[Tiggy Skibbles]

Originally posted by stacie_ww:

Okay its a FREE game, you arent losing anything if you do play.

True you have a point.

[DeadInside]

And Nintendo Switch players have asked for quick messages, customizeable quick messages, quick replies, or even a companion app for chat like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but because Palia is the exact same on all platforms, I just don't think it'll ever happen.

[Tiggy Skibbles]

Originally posted by Three Words:

And Nintendo Switch players have asked for quick messages, customizeable quick messages, quick replies, or even a companion app for chat like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but because the game is the exact same on all platforms, I just don't think it'll ever happen.

Could be possible if they just add it to all platforms, would be useful to those who play with controller on pc as well

Ohh I didn't know Animal crossing had a companion app for chat, that's a pretty cool solution

I was actually thinking a proximity voice chat would be pretty cool too

[Relle]

Tbf Idk a single MMO that I play that is actually social. or actively encourages being social. RS3, I never speak to anyone. Never had a party or friends in FF, etc. I think it's pretty common these days for MMOs to have content that makes people discuss it. Even if you are in a party in FF for example it's rare to have a conversation.

Games are surprisingly anti-social these days, haha!

[DeadInside]

Also, once you've played more and are on the grind for palium ore, flow-infused heartwood, and completing bundles/accomplishments, you'll see more chatter in Bahari Bay.

Bahari Bay Late Game:

• Calling out, flaring, & mining medium & large palium veins is a common practice.
  
• Calling out, flaring, & waiting for help to cut random large flow trees is common practice.
  
• Calling out, flaring, & waiting for others to cut the flow-tree grove (event in Bahari Bay at 12 a.m. each in-game day, cut at 3 a.m. if no1 else is on the way) is common practice.
  
• Calling out, flaring, & picking rare foageables like dari cloves & heartdrop lilies.
  
• Hunting Proudhorned Sernuk (disco deer, glambi, etc.), Bluebristle Muujin (disco wolf), or Azure Chapaa with others who need their first kill, quality horns, mane, tail, or meat.
  
• Calling out, flaring, & picking the rummage pile (both Kilima & Bahari have a daily rummage pile, but Bahari Bay's is found along the coast around Coral Shores, Lighthouse Lagoon, and Beachcomber Cove).

The opportunities/situations can help players put themselves out there to start. Where they go from there is up to them.

[DeadInside]

Originally posted by Relle:

...RS3, I never speak to anyone...

Games are surprisingly anti-social these days, haha!

I miss when RuneScape was social, like back when the Internet, being connected with people from all over the Earth, and able to instantly communicate with one another felt new.

With RS3/OSRS being on mobile, most players tend to AFK certain activities while at work or playing something else. Otherwise, after they join a clan, the clan chat is where they talk if anything.

[Stinboi]

tbh, they have totally failed on the social/multiuplayer part, its one of their strongest selling point and its feels more like a singel player game

[TGC> The Games Collector]

Originally posted by Relle:

Tbf Idk a single MMO that I play that is actually social. or actively encourages being social. RS3, I never speak to anyone. Never had a party or friends in FF, etc. I think it's pretty common these days for MMOs to have content that makes people discuss it. Even if you are in a party in FF for example it's rare to have a conversation.

Games are surprisingly anti-social these days, haha!

I've seen games where you could just play cards or some other small game with a group, or at least have some more things to interact with other players with.
It just doesn't seem to be there in this game.

[Relle]

Originally posted by TGC> The Games Collector:

Originally posted by Relle:

Tbf Idk a single MMO that I play that is actually social. or actively encourages being social. RS3, I never speak to anyone. Never had a party or friends in FF, etc. I think it's pretty common these days for MMOs to have content that makes people discuss it. Even if you are in a party in FF for example it's rare to have a conversation.

Games are surprisingly anti-social these days, haha!

I've seen games where you could just play cards or some other small game with a group, or at least have some more things to interact with other players with.
It just doesn't seem to be there in this game.

I missed the Maji Market this time around, but I believe the Hotpots were exactly something like that. Chappa chase is also great fun.

At the moment, I've found cake parties and hunting sernuks is creating in game conversation for me, but then again I don't feel the need to be social in games I guess. It's nice when it does happen, but not a requirement for me, so I'm not too bothered by this aspect of the game.

I believe there is a lot more coming to support the community side of things however. They have confirmed a community/guild house will be added at some point, so a direct place to hang with your community. I also think they're planning to add more group content, but I have no idea what that looks like at this time.

But it's in beta, the game could change a ton by the time it's at full release. There's supposed to be at least 12 regions in total, so lots in store down the line.

[Logan.]

Originally posted by TUXiBluu:

I went into this game thinking it is a very social game but that has not been the case. at least in my experience. The chat is always quiet and my attempts to start conversation usually get ignored. I actually thought it was a bug and my messages weren't going through. the only time people do talk in chat is for either flow trees/groves and that's it.

I don't know if this is a game problem or a community problem, or maybe it's not even a problem and I just went in with the wrong expectatio

Originally posted by TUXiBluu:

I went into this game thinking it is a very social game but that has not been the case. at least in my experience. The chat is always quiet and my attempts to start conversation usually get ignored. I actually thought it was a bug and my messages weren't going through. the only time people do talk in chat is for either flow trees/groves and that's it.

I don't know if this is a game problem or a community problem, or maybe it's not even a problem and I just went in with the wrong expectations.

Has any one had a similar experience?

Using the switch version makes it hard to type so I normally don't talk much.