Simple request concerning the marine builder

includeinclude aka RpTheHotrodDallas, TX Join Date: 2003-01-08 Member: 12027Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
edited September 2010 in NS2 General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">"Personality" shift request</div>First of all, the natural selection universe and atmosphere has always been amazing...especially ever since that trailer of the marines opening the door, and the view shifting to first person and hearing him breathing loudly as he looks around just before he gets pounced.

The atmosphere and feeling has always been a dreadful and spooky feeling of what might be around the corner. It's a GREAT concept.

However, I really feel that the marine builder has way too much "humor" that really keeps you from being immersed in that atmosphere. The aliens are closing in, it's dark, the power is getting cut, you're low on ammo, and... "Okie Dokey!" "Nooo problemo." "I'm glad I'm on YOUR team." "Yes Sir, uh, Commander, whoever you are." (or something along those lines) as Bob The Builder comes zipping by.

Can we have the tone change from a cartoony WALL-E with big cute eyes and more towards something that would fit the atmosphere? Not only does it take away from NS' atmosphere, but what kind of real military team would even implement a robot who tells jokes on the battlefield?

Then again, some people might love the game gearing more towards a humorous game over a thriller game. There's lots of tastes, but I really prefer the game to retain that feeling of immersion.

I do understand that there are FAR more priorities in the development process, but could this be considered later down the line once more important factors are taken care of?
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Comments

  • alibialibi Join Date: 2009-11-20 Member: 69445Members
    in the rear with the gear
  • WarmongerWarmonger Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13126Members, Constellation
    edited September 2010
    I don't have too many opinions at this point with respect to the game since it's impossible to judge anything without having all the necessary elements in place. With that said, I have to agree with 100% with include on this. I think the Builder Bot needs to lose the personality / humor and just be a robot. Not that it couldn't sound cool or interesting but it should just be cold and impersonal. I would envision something along the lines of a Cylon from the original Battlestar Galactica - "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ccKPSVQcFk" target="_blank">By Your Command.</a>"
  • WirheWirhe Join Date: 2003-06-22 Member: 17610Members
    I could vote for this, since nothing annoys me more than a person not taking his job seriously (be it a designer or marine). Well, we'll see once the game is out.
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    Personally I enjoy the build bot.

    It makes the marines seem more to be composed of individuals than of clones.

    Just the thought that a tech did not like the default personality or soundfiles ;) of the MAC and changed them suits my understanding of military.
  • katzenkorbanfasserkatzenkorbanfasser Join Date: 2010-07-27 Member: 73224Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1797391:date=Sep 3 2010, 12:38 PM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Faskalia @ Sep 3 2010, 12:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1797391"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->[...] Just the thought that a tech did not like the default personality or soundfiles ;) of the MAC and changed them suits my understanding of military.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Commander, share your pain. Share your pain with me, and gain strength for the sharing.
  • AsranielAsraniel Join Date: 2002-06-03 Member: 724Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Playtester, Retired Community Developer
    i love the MACs, really, i think it really adds some humor to the game. love it.
  • HarathanHarathan Join Date: 2010-07-26 Member: 72845Members
    It's not so much what they say, rather than the fact they sound like the turrets out of Portal.
  • pSyk0mAnpSyk0mAn Nerdish by Nature Germany Join Date: 2003-08-07 Member: 19166Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, NS2 Community Developer
    Since this is NS2, aliens and marines have evolved and marines tried to match the funnyness and cuteness of the gorge by designing the MAC.
    They failed, but at least they got closer..
  • ChaosIncChaosInc Join Date: 2010-07-28 Member: 73283Members
    they should make that damn eerie big dog sound. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJJQ0zNNOM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJJQ0zNNOM</a>

    or just like the standard doid boob beep click.
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    haha that "Big dog" sounds like it is screaming and trying to run from something, but can't go any faster...
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    NS is a serious game for serious men.
    /me jumps onto a Gorge knife first while going on about how he needs an outlet for his aggression
  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    All enjoyable multiplayer games are inherently funny, because when people have fun they make jokes and laugh.

    So if NS2 is fun, it's never going to be serious or scary, so I don't think it's out of place.
  • EzekielEzekiel Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3006Members
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->All enjoyable multiplayer games are inherently funny, because when people have fun they make jokes and laugh.

    So if NS2 is fun, it's never going to be serious or scary, so I don't think it's out of place.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I really don't agree. For something to be fun there is no way it needs to be amusing at all, and in this case I think it would detract from the game.
  • Dank McShwaggerDank McShwagger Join Date: 2009-06-10 Member: 67784Members
    I agree with OP. Not only does the voice come off as too humorous but I find even the color to be too bright for the NS2 universe. I understand that yellow is a universal color for construction but i think the macs should look a little more grittier and used.
  • Evil_bOb1Evil_bOb1 Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
    I haven't got any expectations on what NS2 is supposed to be, so I've never really seen bob as a problem. To me he fits in perfectly and is a whole new character of the NS universe. I understand the spirit of the times are dark, grungy and introverted, that some people want things to be all gray, silent, and sterile, but do we really have to take things so seriously? For real, no colors?
  • RothgarRothgar Join Date: 2009-11-13 Member: 69372Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1797407:date=Sep 3 2010, 09:59 PM:name=Harathan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Harathan @ Sep 3 2010, 09:59 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1797407"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's not so much what they say, rather than the fact they sound like the turrets out of Portal.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Haha maybe they should make them like bumblebee in Transformers where he loses his voice and uses clips from various audio to make his words.
  • Evil_bOb1Evil_bOb1 Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
    Or use the default windows voice synth :p
  • RuntehRunteh Join Date: 2010-06-26 Member: 72163Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I think giving the welder a more 'human' feel would make you want to protect it from death more, rather than some beeping to confirm unit with no personality.

    The problem is that it will (possibly) be taken down quite frequently, and its personality will become something more annoying.

    Reminds me of this character 'Hennimore!' from a UK show 'That Mitchell and Webb look'. He is a ridiculous personality combined with the inability to complete some stupid task based scenarios by his boss.

    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji9sdTHX0bc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji9sdTHX0bc</a>

    I think the welder could soon turn into this type of character. I think humour is key, but the voice and sentences are a little annoying.
  • Squeal_Like_A_PigSqueal_Like_A_Pig Janitor Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 66Members, Super Administrators, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Reinforced - Supporter, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer
    Sorry, the MAC voice and personality is here to stay, though we are always open to adding some new and different things for him to say. We just aren't interested in a cold, silent, impersonal robot. We want the little guy to be a little buddy for the marines, and we feel that a more humorous approach makes him more endearing. Also, dark and moody and scary are nice and atmospheric, but if the game is nothing but that all the time, it can get a bit tedious and oppressive.

    One thing, though, a lot of the things the MAC says, particularly all the command confirmation vocal bits, are meant to be for the ears of the commander only, though I don't think its set up like that at the moment. So, for the marines on the ground, he is meant to be a lot less chatty.

    --Cory
  • AsranielAsraniel Join Date: 2002-06-03 Member: 724Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Playtester, Retired Community Developer
    oh, i like hearing the mac.

    but i totaly agree on this design decision. NS2 needs so humor, and who doesn't love the portal drones?
  • EzekielEzekiel Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3006Members
  • WatchMakerWatchMaker Join Date: 2003-09-26 Member: 21233Members, Constellation
    I understand the need for a personality, but I hate silly robots with a passion. I suspect this will be one of the aspects of NS2 to see plenty of mods early on.
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1797443:date=Sep 3 2010, 09:21 PM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Sep 3 2010, 09:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1797443"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Sorry, the MAC voice and personality is here to stay, though we are always open to adding some new and different things for him to say. We just aren't interested in a cold, silent, impersonal robot. We want the little guy to be a little buddy for the marines,...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <3

    How about:

    Roger Roger (Star Wars I Droid Army Style)

    or

    Next time I want to be the MASC.

    or

    I need an upgrade.
  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    edited September 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1797433:date=Sep 3 2010, 06:31 PM:name=Ezekiel)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ezekiel @ Sep 3 2010, 06:31 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1797433"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I really don't agree. For something to be fun there is no way it needs to be amusing at all, and in this case I think it would detract from the game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Fun doesn't come from it being funny, funny comes from it being fun.

    A game with no overtly comedic elements will often become funny due to the moods and actions of the people having fun with it, if you're laughing and joking with people because you're in a good mood because of the game, the game will rapidly become funny. Getting an unusual or difficult kill becomes something you laugh about and find amusing, because funny is a very basic and common method of expressing enjoyment.

    So, it follows that any fun game automatically becomes funny.

    Shooting guns = not funny, alien monsters = not funny, pressure to survive = not funny, shooting aliens because you want to survive and managing to do so against probililty while in the company of other players = hilarious.

    From that may follow people doing things that don't entirely make sense, the kinds of things you see brought up in machinima videos, things like pointing out how the game itself doesn't make a lot of sense, why do you keep fighting over this apparently useless lump of rock and metal? Why doesn't TSA put a few shotguns on every space ship and save money? Stuff like that. Fun games are funny.
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    Gorgy finally has a serious contender in terms of comic relief this way, he/it/she (whatever) has had monopoly on this for far to long.
  • TheGivingTreeTheGivingTree Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12070Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1797443:date=Sep 3 2010, 02:21 PM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Sep 3 2010, 02:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1797443"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Sorry, the MAC voice and personality is here to stay, though we are always open to adding some new and different things for him to say. We just aren't interested in a cold, silent, impersonal robot. We want the little guy to be a little buddy for the marines, and we feel that a more humorous approach makes him more endearing. Also, dark and moody and scary are nice and atmospheric, but if the game is nothing but that all the time, it can get a bit tedious and oppressive.

    One thing, though, a lot of the things the MAC says, particularly all the command confirmation vocal bits, are meant to be for the ears of the commander only, though I don't think its set up like that at the moment. So, for the marines on the ground, he is meant to be a lot less chatty.

    --Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Exactly, I personally enjoy the MAC's the way they are now, and if you ever watch a scary movie you would know that they purposely add humor to make the fear and mood more intense by having the people drop their guards for a few seconds just to tear them down again. As Cory stated anyways it's mostly for the commander anyhow so..
  • OmnicastOmnicast Join Date: 2010-09-03 Member: 73882Members
    edited September 2010
    The Mac isn't even funny! The admins should remove his entire sound file and replace it with Gir's voice!

    Example 1: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r258Jca9e0A" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r258Jca9e0A</a>

    Example 2: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62QTzvsAiSY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62QTzvsAiSY</a>

    You know what? Replace the model too!

    When the aliens are about to wipe out the marines it can also sing the Doom song!
  • BAshhBAshh Join Date: 2003-08-26 Member: 20222Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    I personally love the personality.
  • RobBRobB TUBES OF THE INTERWEB Join Date: 2003-08-11 Member: 19423Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    If you want something funny, do it like claptrap. i especially like the red one. insulting humans as walkting talking s.containers allways gets a chuckle out of me.

    but on a serious note, I want to see something menacing. I allways liked that movie where a lunatic ###### was locking himself up in a tech bunker below a cybernetics corp and killed everyone who tried to stop him with his pet, including his boss who got replaced by a hot woman who he developed a psychotic crush on. That robot tracked down by heartbeat and had a humorously spinning shark teethed head if i remember right.
  • OmnicastOmnicast Join Date: 2010-09-03 Member: 73882Members
    What movie are you talking about? Atleast give us the name.
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