231 réponses à ce sujet

[Handsome Jack]

That's Bioware's voice direction. Mark Meer is the quintessential example. His non-Shepard characters have so much character it's ridiculous. 

 

I don't think any of the voice actors were bad but that all of them were given the same instructions to sound nearly as neutral as possible.  Such a missed opportunity with four different VA's.  I tried both Male VA's and British female and they all sounded alike aside from the accents and natural tones.  When you have four VAs who all sound neutral, then I blame the company more than the actors.

 

True.

 

The actors/actresses were probably great, truth be told, but Bioware pulled an awkward Witcher move and seemed to force them to be cold and neutral, for no real reason. They seemed to forget lots of people hated Geralt's voice acting too. Being monotone and neutral doesn't make you badass or cool, it makes you boring as all hell.

[Heimdall]

That's Bioware's voice direction. Mark Meer is the quintessential example. His non-Shepard characters have so much character it's ridiculous. 

I've heard people say that's why they prefer his Shepard to Hale's.  They say Shepard sounds unstable and erratic when swapping from an aggressive renegade response to a more diplomatic tone with Hale.  They got similar responses about Hawke if you didn't keep a consistent tone throughout.  You know, we need a name for this sort of thing, seeing as Bioware does it so often.  How about "Bioware Over-correction Syndrome"?

[Heimdall]

True.

 

The actors/actresses were probably great, truth be told, but Bioware pulled an awkward Witcher move and seemed to force them to be cold and neutral, for no real reason. They seemed to forget lots of people hated Geralt's voice acting too. Being monotone and neutral doesn't make you badass or cool, it makes you boring as all hell.

Not no reason, see above post.

[AresKeith]

I've heard people say that's why they prefer his Shepard to Hale's.  They say Shepard sounds unstable and erratic when swapping from an aggressive renegade response to a more diplomatic tone with Hale.  They got similar responses about Hawke if you didn't keep a consistent tone throughout.  You know, we need a name for this sort of thing, seeing as Bioware does it so often.  How about "Bioware Over-correction Syndrome"?

 

That's why I feel Bioware should adopt the "tone" wheel they had in DAI into their overall dialogue period

[Handsome Jack]

That's why I feel Bioware should adopt the "tone" wheel they had in DAI into their overall dialogue period

 

I honestly want them to go back to not using a VA at all. Allows for more verbose and expansive dialogue with the player deciding their own tone and voice.

[midnight tea]

 

I've heard people say that's why they prefer his Shepard to Hale's.  They say Shepard sounds unstable and erratic when swapping from an aggressive renegade response to a more diplomatic tone with Hale.  They got similar responses about Hawke if you didn't keep a consistent tone throughout.  You know, we need a name for this sort of thing, seeing as Bioware does it so often.  How about "Bioware Over-correction Syndrome"?

 

That actually sounds reasonable, even if not necessarily enjoyable for people who prefer more 'pizzazz' to cut-scenes or voice acting. As someone who enjoys subtlety, I don't mind the more toned-down approach, even if I think sometimes things could be done somewhat differently.

[In Exile]

I've heard people say that's why they prefer his Shepard to Hale's.  They say Shepard sounds unstable and erratic when swapping from an aggressive renegade response to a more diplomatic tone with Hale.  They got similar responses about Hawke if you didn't keep a consistent tone throughout.  You know, we need a name for this sort of thing, seeing as Bioware does it so often.  How about "Bioware Over-correction Syndrome"?

 

In fact, this is why I prefer Meer to Hale. I don't actually mind the generally boring neutral tone with some inflection of character approach to a PC, since that's how Bioware writes all of their dialogue anyway. 

[Hazegurl]

I actually enjoyed Meer's Shepard more due to him not being extermely emotional. Hale was just too much for me, esp, whenever she talked to Jacob, then it was *cue cheesy 70's porno music* time.  Although I think Meer was better in ME 2 & 3 moreso than ME1. He sounded too robotic in ME1. I think what saved Meer the most was his comedic timing and the way he delievered the Renegade dialouge.   None of the IQs had that special something about them I can pick out and say "This VA did it better."

 

They were all just...there. I personally think BW needs to go back to adding some sort of personality system in their dialouge.  The Renegade/Neutral/Paragon and Diplomatic/Sarcastic/Aggressive systems at least gave the PC some sembalance of life.

[midnight tea]

Oh, it's still there, just toned down.

[Heimdall]

 

 

 

That actually sounds reasonable, even if not necessarily enjoyable for people who prefer more 'pizzazz' to cut-scenes or voice acting. As someone who enjoys subtlety, I don't mind the more toned-down approach, even if I think sometimes things could be done somewhat differently.

 

I like it too, that's why I disagree with those who complain that the Inquisitor was too bland.  I didn't feel bound to choose a consistent tone, which was quite liberating compared to DA2's personality system.

[midnight tea]

Same here. It was nice that I could pick, for example, more humorous dialogue options to accentuate that my IQ has a sense of humor, and more confrontational at times when I'd feel that she's losing her patience with someone, instead of being forced to pick one route in order to maintain consistency. Allows to build more complex characters, even if differences in tone may be too subtle for some people.

[AresKeith]

I like it too, that's why I disagree with those who complain that the Inquisitor was too bland.  I didn't feel bound to choose a consistent tone, which was quite liberating compared to DA2's personality system.

 

That's why I feel DAI is a step in the right direction but still need a few tweaks 

[The Elder King]

I honestly want them to go back to not using a VA at all. Allows for more verbose and expansive dialogue with the player deciding their own tone and voice.

While I'm not against voiced protgsonists, I'd like a silent one again, but I don't think it's going to happen.

[midnight tea]

In DA? Don't think so. Elder Scrolls? I put my bet on silent protagonist.

[The Elder King]

In DA? Don't think so. Elder Scrolls? I put my bet on silent protagonist.

Yeah, I Was referring to DA, not in general.

[snackrat]

Doesn't sound like a great argument. Returning companions only have value to those who played the first two games. If that were the primary reason, DAI sales wouldn't be much different from those two.

 

For DAI's sales to be so good compared to those two, it must have provided or done something they didn't to attract new people altogether (whom you wouldn't expect to care about returning characters). New people moving into gaming, marketing broader, more/different features, etc.

[Hazegurl]

That's why I feel DAI is a step in the right direction but still need a few tweaks 

I think DA2 was the better step that needed the tweaks.  There's nothing wrong with establishing a central personality type in a character. They just didn't take into account that special circumstances can cause a person to have a different tone at times.  If they had kept the DA2 system but added the DAI tones it would have been more of an improvement than just turning down the volume all the way to one on the personalities, then give us small shifting tones that don't even matter.  I also think the rivalry/friend system should have stayed in place but tweaked.  The IQ came across as too much of a limp noodle compared to Hawke and even the Warden when it came to companion interactions and just in general.

 

 

As for the topic somewhat: I think the DA team should stop adding cameos unless it's from very minor characters.  Like Bodan and Sandal or Wade and Herrin or something.  Major character cameos mean nothing when the protagnist is a brand new person who has no connection with them.  You're pretty much stuck in a loop of meeting them all over again and after a while it gets tired.

 

"Flemeth, who's Flemeth...I think I've heard of her." zzzzzzzzzzz

 

It's not like Mass Effect where the central protag has a past connection with the returning character and you can continue the story forward in some way with them. Just look at the Morrigan cameo. The IQ can come across as a nosy busy body more than natrually experiencing a continuing storyline with her.  As much as I believe Hawke should have been the IQ, I think the Morrigan/Flemeth/Kiren scenes would have been better and more intimate if the Warden was there.

 

I do think fanservice makes fans happy but I think DAI was a success because it came out during a time when not many good games were out, especially for the consoles and there entire marketing campagin was "See this isn't DA2!"

[AlanC9]

I honestly want them to go back to not using a VA at all. Allows for more verbose and expansive dialogue with the player deciding their own tone and voice.

Of course, the NPCs will react to the tone the writer intended rather than the one the player imagines, but if you're adept enough at making up explanations for the NPC's reactions you can work around that. Doesn't really matter, though; Bio is never going to change their minds on this.

(Hey, what happened to your "canon" thread? Did you nuke it when it went south on you, or did it get ugly enough for Bio to pull the plug?)

[In Exile]

Of course, the NPCs will react to the tone the writer intended rather than the one the player imagines, but if you're adept enough at making up explanations for the NPC's reactions you can work around that. Doesn't really matter, though; Bio is never going to change their minds on this.

(Hey, what happened to your "canon" thread? Did you nuke it when it went south on you, or did it get ugly enough for Bio to pull the plug?)

 

I just don't get why the voice prevents the mental fantasy. 

[Cyberstrike nTo]

Dragon Age Inquisition is BioWare's epic third installment in the Dragon Age franchise. It is also likely BioWare's most successful Dragon Age title because of fan service rather than any actual, original substance. Why? Do you ask? This is primarily a story about companions, side characters, and advisors, not the Inquisitor.

 

I'd just like to preface this isn't an attack of BioWare's method with respect to DAI, but rather an analysis of why so many fans, especially those who played DAO and DAII, enjoyed DAI. It was after over 120 hours of play time that I realized why DAI was so entertaining to me. It wasn't because of the Inquisitor, the Inquisition, or anything remotely tied to the main story, but primarily reasons I had experienced previously in the Dragon Age franchise.

 

Leliana. Hawke. Cassandra. Morrigan. Flemeth. Varric. Dagna. It was familiar characters such as these, due to my playthroughs in DAO and DAII that brought credence and legitimacy to my world in Dragon Age Inquisition. They made the game entertaining, memorable, engaging, and kept my attention.

 

Corypheus, who was also familiar, and the Mark had little impact on my actual experience. It was hearing about how my Warden was fairing. How Hawke had been continuing the fight behind the lines and what Isabela was up to. There were so many characters of the past that made a return that were integral to the story that I felt I was playing DAO and DAII more than I ever was playing DAI.

 

Is this wrong? Should BioWare give so much attention to fan service? Maybe. Maybe not. However, DAI is largely a creation based on the writing team paying homage to what we had done more so than what was happening in the game. Obviously, we made new friends as well, and I particularly enjoyed characters such as Sera and Vivienne, who kept things wild and unpredictable.

 

However, what made me truly enjoy this game was seeing the parallels of what connected it to DAO and DAII, not necessarily because the story was so strong on its own. Is this an approach BioWare should do more of? Do you believe DAI had too much fan service and little attention for original thought? What is the perfect balance? Discuss and decide.

 

I think fanservice is/was/has a factor in DA:I's success but I don't think it was the ONLY or the #1 factor for the games' success. People play the game for many different reasons.  

[AlanC9]

I just don't get why the voice prevents the mental fantasy.

Hmm. Yeah, I see it. You're already imagining stuff, so what's one more thing?

[In Exile]

Hmm. Yeah, I see it. You're already imagining stuff, so what's one more thing?

 

Like, in DA:O I could imagine Duncan never died at Ostagar, he's always leading the party, and Alistair had just a complete psychotic break following the Tower. We're just having him tag along because we need a third GW just in case. 

[Cyberstrike nTo]

I didn't know SJW progressive-libs liked American Psycho. It kinda goes against all of your ideology's psychotic ideas.

 

 

 

 

Considering how the right-wing including both conservatives and libertarians have damn neared destroyed the USA and much of the planet. I think you got that backwards. 

 

American Psycho is a movie about an 80s rich white wall-street cannibal yuppie who kills homeless people and people he works with because they don't like his taste in music and it ends with him getting away with it, because he's so boring to his "friends" they think his confession is a joke. That sounds like every crazy right winger nut ball I've known,

 

And BTW you can also kiss progressive liberal SJW ass too, 

[Majestic Jazz]

I honestly want them to go back to not using a VA at all. Allows for more verbose and expansive dialogue with the player deciding their own tone and voice.

 

I disagree and I'll explain why. With games becoming more and more cinematic, VOs is becoming essential to videogames, including RPGs.

 

There is a reason why Mass Effect 1 was such the hit that it was. Besides, I rather have VOs because it makes my character more immersive and less of a blank stare dude like the Warden and Revan. 

[Torgette]

Doesn't sound like a great argument. Returning companions only have value to those who played the first two games. If that were the primary reason, DAI sales wouldn't be much different from those two.

 

For DAI's sales to be so good compared to those two, it must have provided or done something they didn't to attract new people altogether (whom you wouldn't expect to care about returning characters). New people moving into gaming, marketing broader, more/different features, etc.

 

I think it was the move to frostbite and the open world that sold the game, it was also the only big rpg during the holiday season.

 

I disagree and I'll explain why. With games becoming more and more cinematic, VOs is becoming essential to videogames, including RPGs.

 

There is a reason why Mass Effect 1 was such the hit that it was. Besides, I rather have VOs because it makes my character more immersive and less of a blank stare dude like the Warden and Revan. 

 

Most people probably didn't have an issue with the voice acting, most probably had issues with the molasses-like speed of the game itself, also to go back on voice acting would be a big step back and probably not make the game better anyways.