A word once used to check how laggy your game is going to be, “Ping” has taken on a whole new meaning in modern gaming, and the gaming sphere is all the better for it. The concept is simple: you press a button and it “pings” the area or object you’re looking at. That’s it, you’re literally pointing at something so your team can see it.
As simple as the concept is, I do not exaggerate when I say this might be one of the biggest changes in gaming history. To understand that, we need to know why it became so popular and break down how pointing at something revolutionized gaming.
History of the Ping
I think it’s agreed upon by the gaming community that the progenitor of the modern ping system has to be Apex Legends. Aside from being the game that brought me to rage-filled tears, Apex Legends is famous for introducing us to the maximum potential of what a ping system should be. But before Apex Legends sent ripples of change throughout the industry, there were already bits and pieces of the ping system in other games. Personally, I credit the ping system to Valve more than I do to Respawn.
One of the earliest examples that comes to mind was the inclusion of a ping system in MOBAs like DOTA 2 or League of Legends. Of course, being a top-down game with a massive map, it made sense for players to be able to point and communicate at the press of a button. But probably the most overlooked early example of a ping system is Valve’s radial menu in Left 4 Dead 2. Although it isn’t as expansive as the ping system we have today, it could still identify items at the press of a button and call them out using in-game character dialogue.
So while Valve technically laid the foundation, Apex Legends perfected the system. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but thanks to EA’s generosity, other games can now implement this same patented contextual ping system into their own games for free. I need to wash my mouth.
“Over there!”
Probably the biggest step-up that Respawn Entertainment added was the visibility and contextuality of pings. Visibility plays a big role in why the ping system was praised so much, making information easy to digest at a glance. If you found equipment that you wanted to share with your team, you could ping the item, and your teammates would instantly see an icon of what you were pointing at. Not only that, but you could also call dibs on an item regardless of how far away you were from the ping. It’s these visual aids that helped elevate the system to new heights, but that isn’t the most impressive thing about it.
Probably the most impressive thing about Apex Legends’ ping system is how it can identify contextual information. I cannot explain the sheer joy I felt when I realized I could just ping open doors and containers, and my character would instantly communicate that someone had been there before. Gone are the days when we have to painstakingly describe what enemy is behind which specific rock, because suddenly we can just highlight the area in bright red, clear as day. But while this is the more impressive technical feat, the ping system also unlocks a whole new world for a different demographic of gamers.
Breaking Barriers
We all lead different lives, and it’s essential to recognize that not everyone is capable of the same things. I cannot imagine how difficult it is to be deaf or mute in a game that requires a constant stream of communication between you and your teammates, but thankfully, we have technology. As different as our capabilities may be, we are all united by our love of gaming, and the ping system helps bridge that love by a great deal. If anyone can’t communicate or hear, due to health reasons or even hardware reasons, the ping system ensures that they are never out of the loop when it comes to information.
I also have to praise the ping system for breaking down language barriers. It may surprise you to hear that only 20% of the world’s population actually speaks English, and the ping system ensures that you can play with the other 80% regardless of what language they speak. A player from America can now confidently communicate with another player from Germany, but at that point, I think you have to worry about a different kind of ping.
There is a lot more that can be said about why the ping system is revolutionary and how well-integrated it is in modern gaming. But perhaps the biggest win for me is that I can now mute toxic player Xx_Shadow_Reaper_xX and still enjoy the game.
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