Wadjet Eye Games

Author Topic: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.  (Read 9823 times)

Nimdok

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Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« on: February 24, 2011, 12:35:02 PM »
I'm serious, the premise sounds good, two player characters, one an embittered ex-killer the other a chronic amnesiac under a shady organization, see how their roles cross and what they have to do with each other. I mean, it sounds great.

I played the demo, and the first thing that hit me was "MAN this dialogue is bad."

I mean, the core is there, the lines themselves say what they mean to say, but the words used make it sound stilted, forced, and not altogether well thought-out, like there was one or two editorial passes by the same couple of people who went "yup, checks out" and off it went; the voice-acting itself is passable, neither great nor horrible, which I suppose is good for a game like this, but the actual lines just come across... wrong. I'm sorry but it kills the game for me. I finished the demo and went "I feel no urge to play the full game if THAT'S what I'm going to be looking forward to."

While I do hope the game does well, so more like it can be made, I also hope the next game gets a better script.

Offline Nathan Allen Pinar

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2011, 05:27:57 PM »
Call me biased, but I find nothing wrong with the dialogue of the game really. Is there any particular line you're talking about?

Offline saikofish

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2011, 07:08:27 PM »
I noticed this too, though. (I've been beta testing this for six months.) I think we (the testers) made a number of comments regarding word usage throughout the testing process when we noticed something especially egregious, but let's face it, we're not script writers and neither is Josh. It's hard to say what's "off" about the writing because if we knew exactly why it was bad, then we'd also be better writers.

The thing is, as much as I would have loved the dialogue to be tightened up, it's not like I can go around suggesting that they hire a professional script editor to give the entire game a once-over. Can I? I fully expected the response to a comment like that to be "We don't have the budget for that."

Offline Nathan Allen Pinar

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2011, 07:42:09 PM »
I actually don't agree with VAs using perfect correct dialogue. To me it's not realistic enough in a sense. Especially with THAT world. There are probably areas that are mistakes, but I'd be curious as to what examples the OP can show us.

StingingVelvet

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2011, 09:31:39 PM »
I didn't feel the VO matched the world and dialogue well to be honest, but once I turned the VO off I thought the dialogue was very well written.  If you have not tried text only I would suggest doing so, the writing is good I think there is just something off about the VO, like it wasn't intended to be there.

Offline Nathan Allen Pinar

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2011, 01:50:02 PM »
VOs are subjective. Personally most commercial games to me have really bad and dry voice acting, but people still think it's better than most indie productions. To each his own.

StingingVelvet

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2011, 03:30:58 PM »
VOs are subjective. Personally most commercial games to me have really bad and dry voice acting, but people still think it's better than most indie productions. To each his own.

It isn't really bad VO to me, it's most just that it doesn't seem to fit the game's writing style or world or something like that.  I did turn it back on in chapter 2 though and it seems a bit better.

In any case I love the sound design in general, all the effects are perfect and the music is excellent when it plays.

Offline DaveGilbert

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Re: Wanted to like the game... really, really did.
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2011, 03:40:33 PM »
Quote
VOs are subjective.

If I've learned anything, it's this!  Which is why I always include the option to turn them off.