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[Sethbacca]

The modern attention span is measured in nanoseconds, unfortunately.

 

[Gaiff]

Oh yeah for sure but it was the first thing I thought of when I tried to think back on when this kind of thing started

"Hmm must be a Wyvern nest"

"Hmm cave trolls"

"Hmm there were drowners here"

Shepard never used to say shit unless he was talking with someone

I'm fine with that. It's just him thinking out loud about his trade. Just short matter-of-fact sentences. Nothing like the dumb shit in God of War.

 

[DR3AM]

I was silenced here and it's hasn't gotten any better

 

[Odinnii]

Part of the problem is that they are designing their games for retards.

 

[SupaComputa]

Luckily in shmups and other arcade games there barely are any dialogue.

Yes I've started to play arcade games and shmups in the last few years because of the low BS, no talking, no microtransactions, just a game. You select your ship, there's a 1 liner, and there you go.

 

[Cakeboxer]

Speech is silver, silence is golden. I've always liked the Doom Guy, who kept his mouth nicely shut. But I also enjoyed the one-liners and laughs in Build Engine shooters like Blood, Duke3D, or Shadow Warrior, because they were short, snappy lines and they weren't like crazy cat ladies constantly babbling to themselves.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

I also hate this trend, but I think there is a strong disconnect between online communities and the actual market where this stuff is sold. Probably, market research and the associated so-so implies that having this chatter is good for hooking the zoomer generation. We are in the minorance.
It's also possible it's just a leftover from 5 years ago (when design and development started) MCU success.

This is a broad misconception that other very rude guy tried to lecture me on in another thread.

From Software, Team Cherry, among others prove the opposite. People, even normies, appreciate when something is real quality. That's why certain games become classics whereas the likes of Avoided, Failguard and this one won't. People consume this shit, but don't really love it. That's why a Bloodborne sequel creates more hype than any Horizon game, having sold less copies.

I love to write stories and stuff. The difference between me and them is I know I'm bad at it.

I'm a self published writer and compared to these hacks I'm GRRM. It gets on my nerves when people in privileged positions dont even bother with developing their craft. Extremely unprofessional. You don't need Stephen King's or Sanderson's talent to write something decent, just to study the rules of storytelling and learn from the best. These chicks have Marvel and 50 Shades of Grey as cultural pillars.

 

[LordCBH]

I also hate this trend, but I think there is a strong disconnect between online communities and the actual market where this stuff is sold. Probably, market research and the associated so-so implies that having this chatter is good for hooking the zoomer generation. We are in the minorance.
It's also possible it's just a leftover from 5 years ago (when design and development started) MCU success.

I don't really understand targeting these towards zoomers. They don't spend $70 on games. They play Fortnite and Roblox and other "free" titles. Don't think I've ever seen any of them talk about wanting to play premium titles.

 

[LordCBH]

I'm a self published writer and compared to these hacks I'm GRRM. It gets on my nerves when people in privileged positions dont even bother with developing their craft. Extremely unprofessional. You don't need Stephen King's or Sanderson's talent to write something decent, just to study the rules of storytelling and learn from the best. These chicks have Marvel and 50 Shades of Grey as cultural pillars.

I don't share mine because I'm overly critical of what I make lol. But I'm making it for me and I'm fine not sharing. But I'm always trying to improve it.

 

[Pilsner1977]

For me its that not just that the main character's talk. Its treating me as if I'm a complete moron. I absolutely loved TLoU2, but so many times I would clear an area and look around for resources that are essential to the game and every fucking 30 seconds the game would alert me to where I'm supposed to go next. Like, I know where the exit is, just let me fucking look around first.

Main characters spoiling the puzzle while trying to figure it out is the same thing and its really annoying. I don't mind some talking as its can sometimes add some life and context to the story.

 

[LordCBH]

every fucking 30 seconds the game would alert me to where I'm supposed to go next. Like, I know where the exit is, just let me fucking look around first.

That drove me absolutely insane in that game.

 

[DEAD ORIGINAL]

I don't mind it in a game like Uncharted, where he's joking about or hurt, but Aloy is like is as annoying as a council estate mother.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Yup

I think the difference with how Geralt did it was that it very much seemed like internal thoughts. Not full sentences.

Characters these days don't shut up. Wolverine talking so damn much was waaay out of character. But everything about that game seems out of place.

 

[LordCBH]

I don't mind it in a game like Uncharted, where he's joking about or hurt, but Aloy is like is as annoying as a council estate mother.

I have no doubt an Uncharted made in 2020-2026 would have the same absolutely incessant yapping that these other games have.

Yeah he was quippy in 2016 when 4 came out, but not anything like games are now.

 

[EN250]

We even have a talking cube man, wth is even that!? What's worse is that to end up having those mundane to bad dialogues which cost money to record and don't add up anything meaningful, might as well not even bother

 

[simpatico]

I just got done with Space Marine 2 and there was not a single quip in the entire thing. It was so refreshing. Zero jokes, and if there was a woman I have no memory of her. Fucking incredible that they pulled it off. Literally went from wrapping up the ending of SM2 straight into my first watching of the Laufey trailer. There was contrast.

 

[LordCBH]

We even have a talking cube man, wth is even that!? What's worse is that to end up having those mundane to bad dialogues which cost money to record and don't add up anything meaningful, might as well not even bother

A cube voiced by a celebrity, no less.

Industry: "Games are too expensive to make!"
Also the industry: *hires endless celebrities to mocap and voice."

 

[LordCBH]

I just got done with Space Marine 2 and there was not a single quip in the entire thing. It was so refreshing. Zero jokes, and if there was a woman I have no memory of her. Fucking incredible that they pulled it off. Literally went from wrapping up the ending of SM2 straight into my first watching of the Laufey trailer. There was contrast.

Space Marine 2 is one of the best games of the 2020's. No bullshit, just good, gory fun without incessant yapping like a damn dog.

 

[Hypereides]

Because they are as retarded as the audience they are aiming at. They are bad writers. They are not even writers, to start with.

It's the same as making companions for every MC. Instead of using the environment, music, animations, and other elements to deliver the message, they need a chatty companion. But it's not because they think we are dumb. It's because THEY are dumb and can't do any better.

I get the feeling SIE's California studios have gotten infested with the PS equivalent of "DIsney adults". It might explain the decreasing quality in their creative craftsmanship and imaginative juices.

Seriously though, JP HQ needs to reel them in. Fast. Anyway, I hope Nishino is fixing a lot of this shit behind the scenes.

 

[Hadoukens]

My man, Agent 47 for the win.

 

[Dacvak]

My boy out here like

 

[YCoCg]

Huh, this thread is about a topic I agree with, I should reply.

I should reply to this thread by typing out a response.

I need to see where the response box is and type in my response.

No freaking way, I found and I'm typing in it right now.

"I agree"

I should click the post reply button to send my reply.

Where is that orange box with the post reply arrow on it?

It should be close to the response box if my memory serves me correct.

*Clicks Post reply*

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

Let me take in the atmosphere and emotion. The moment is ruined when I'm told how to feel and how to think.

 

[Baemono]

Joss Whedon ruined millennial writers. Sick and tired of these Marvel quipfests for yellow paint gamers.

That was my only problem with Ragnarok, the whole "2015 humour" which was fine in 2018 aged super poorly in 2022. I don't expect you to speak like a nordic mythological creature, but I also don't expect you to talk (and make jokes) like a Target employee in Seattle.

 

[Zannegan]

Telling you how to solve puzzles is a no-no. Having chatter however is excellent that helps make the game feel alive while also giving a sense of companionship with your character as if they are talking to you even if it's to themselves. In some games it makes a lot of sense given the characters often isolated relationship with other people in the world. I'll happily take all the quips than have another boring ass mute character.

Respect your opinion, but absolutely feel the opposite. Give me a mute character any day rather than a schizoid, self-motivating run of chatter any day. In fact, I prefer a mute character by default.

To me, the chatter feels performative rather than authentic—like a drama kid in a bad improv troupe trying to cue the others what he's seeing/how to react—and constructed rather than living. That, and the quality of game writing in general makes me want to pull my hair out. I'm hoping the trope goes the way of the QTE as soon as possible.

 

[Digity.exe]

Developers probably think that players are dumb. So you need to have the main character constantly explaining to you what is happening, what you are seeing and what you should do. Everybody must be able to complete the game.

That's because the general gaming populace is actually retarded.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Square might be going too far with the adventures of elliot. At first I was like, Yes! A 2D Zelda with proper graphics and voice acting!!! Quickly turned into, oh, she doesn't shut up and they even added a button to see the log for all the things you don't catch cause she was talking while you were trying to fight.

 

[LordCBH]

That was my only problem with Ragnarok, the whole "2015 humour" which was fine in 2018 aged super poorly in 2022. I don't expect you to speak like a nordic mythological creature, but I also don't expect you to talk (and make jokes) like a Target employee in Seattle.

To be fair, 2018 absolutely used moments of silence and contemplation to further the stories of the characters.

The part where Kratos went back home and picked up his blades of chaos once again is a good moment. He stared at them things for a good like half minute or minute and it was great for it. Even the dialogue that came after served the moment well.

2026 writers would have had Kratos wax poetic about his past while holding the blades instead of letting the silence and his demeanor do the talking.

 

[Puscifer]

Developers probably think that players are dumb. So you need to have the main character constantly explaining to you what is happening, what you are seeing and what you should do. Everybody must be able to complete the game.

Matt Damon said the movie he did with Netflix that they mentioned to him when writing the script to have the plot recalled to the viewers throughout the movie. Attention spans are fucking cooked lmao

 

[Fbh]

That new GOW demo was so hilariously close to the "classic game if it was made now" meme that if I didn't know better I'd almost assumed it was intentional. They even said "Focus, Faye" like twice lol.

There are exceptions, but I feel like this often happens in games that have boring gameplay outside of combat. If there's no interesting traversal, platforming, level design or puzzles in their games, devs feel the need to add this dialogue to make these segments more "engaging" and distract from the fact that what you are doing is walking through basic linear environments and doing auto pilot yellow paint platforming (or blindly following the GPS if it's a generic open world).

Look at the new GOW, up until the combat segment at the end the "gameplay" involved slowly walking through corridors and occasionally pressing R2.
Older action adventure games didn't need the characters to constantly talk because they were often also engaging outside of combat.

(not the best gif, but it's what I found with a quick google search)

 

[AJUMP23]

The inner monologue must be made external in order to under stand a characters motivation.

 

[Idleyes]

Yeah, don't look at me like that bitch! You sounded better silent.

 

[StueyDuck]

The problem isnt talking, its bad writing...

One thing days gone actually got right, many barks but deacon just sounds like an unhinged nutjob instead of fat people dialog youd find at a comic con

 

[LordCBH]

That new GOW demo was so hilariously close to the "classic game if it was made now" meme that if I didn't know better I'd almost assumed it was intentional. They even said "Focus, Faye" like twice lol.

There are exceptions, but I feel like this often happens in games that have boring gameplay outside of combat. If there's no interesting traversal, platforming, level design or puzzles in their games, devs feel the need to add this dialogue to make these segments more "engaging" and distract from the fact that what you are doing is walking through basic linear environments and doing auto pilot yellow paint platforming (or blindly following the GPS if it's a generic open world).

Look at the new GOW, up until the combat segment at the end the "gameplay" involved slowly walking through corridors and occasionally pressing R2.
Older action adventure games didn't need the characters to constantly talk because they were often also engaging outside of combat.

(not the best gif, but it's what I found with a quick google search)

The modern industry could NEVER make a game like any of the PS2 Prince of Persia's.

 

[IAmRei]

my top three games, rarely talk, almost never talked.
i like blank character for my main character, although i'm fine with normal style character.

 

[Minsc]

I think FFXVI has a 6 line quota for every dialog, at a minimum, no matter what you pick, you and the person you're talking to will go on for at least 6 lines of spoken dialog.

Pretty sure not skipping the VA and exhausting all dialog adds a good 20 hours to that game.

 

[TintoConCasera]

I miss characters like Duke Nukem or Garret from Thief. Those barely talked but when they did you knew they were about to say some cool shit.

 

[Zannegan]

I miss characters like Duke Nukem or Garret from Thief. Those barely talked but when they did you knew they were about to say some cool shit.

I feel like a fake fan because I only player Thief 3 on Xbox when 1 and 2 are considered the classics, but what a game, what a world, and what a character. I was so bummed by the reboot.

 

[TintoConCasera]

I feel like a fake fan because I only player Thief 3 on Xbox when 1 and 2 are considered the classics, but what a game, what a world, and what a character. I was so bummed by the reboot.

I like to pretend Thi4f never happened.

Thief 3 has some pretty cool moments but man you deserve to play the older ones. They can be a bit hard to get into due to their age but trust me, once you "get into" them, they'll suck you in and immerse you like not many games are able to.

 

[Zannegan]

I like to pretend Thi4f never happened.

Thief 3 has some pretty cool moments but man you deserve to play the older ones. They can be a bit hard to get into due to their age but trust me, once you "get into" them, they'll suck you in and immerse you like not many games are able to.

Maybe someday when I get PC hardware again. I don't have the time to put into games that I used to though, so my patience for clunky/older mechanics is limited. I do want to play them though.

The Cradle sequence in 3 was masterful.

 

[LordCBH]

Maybe someday when I get PC hardware again. I don't have the time to put into games that I used to though, so my patience for clunky/older mechanics is limited. I do want to play them though.

The Cradle sequence in 3 was masterful.

Tbf you could probably run the originals on the shittiest modern laptop you could find. But you def should give em a go.

 

[SpokkX]

Sony thread?

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Sony thread?

The last couple of Gears games were pretty chatty too. This is an industry-wide problem.

 

[winjer]

It's a double edged problem. One that that modern western characters don't shut up. The other is that 90% of what they say is trash that is very poorly written and has no interest.
It's like filling up a game with constant filler, that only serves to annoy the player.
This became one of the reasons why I rank the modern God of War so low. It's like they put that kid in the game to grind on the players nerves.

 

[Danjin44]

My issue isn't the actual chatting because it's done well it can be very entertaining….good example is NieR Replicant.

My issue with most western game chatting is basically wanna be Marvel with cringy Deadpool like humour which I hate so much.

 

[Physiognomonics]

The worst part is that we can be pretty sure the AI is going to spoil all the puzzles of the whole game and we won't be able to turn it off like in Ragnarok. Where to look, what to do, how to do it etc. So infuriating. I hated that in Ragnarok.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Joss Whedon ruined millennial writers. Sick and tired of these Marvel quipfests for yellow paint gamers.

100 percent. All of his work is like this, even before Marvel, but that work took his shitty influence to a whole new level.

 

[mayham2199]

Geralt saying flavor text like "wind is howling" or whatever is on a completely different level than the fucking character literally telling you how to solve a puzzle if you stand idle for more than 5 seconds.

I like the talking in games personally but yea I don't want them telling me or even giving me clues on puzzles.

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

Reviews build hype, hype sells games, journalists drive reviews.

If a game is unclear or a reviewer can't finish a segment they penalize a game in the reviews.

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy in which the games which need to sell a truckload of copies to recoop dev costs can't afford a bad review.

 

[JimmyRustler]

Gen Z is unable to deal with games if there is not constant stimulation. So no, I guess it's not going away.