Difference between revisions of "Dialogue"

Revision as of 12:40, 18 October 2011

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Synopsis

Relationships

Many contexts, including:
Sound Layers and Semantics File:M385px-SoundLayersAndSemantics-front-v20.png, Narrative , Emotional Script , Character Soundprint , Seeking for PC , Chitchat , Audio Logs File:M385px-AudioLogs-front-v20.png, ....
Peers:
Ambiance , Foley , Sound Effects , Music .
Calls for:
Requisite Variety File:M385px-RequisiteVariety-front-v20.png, Acoustic Ecology .
May call for:
Subtitles and Captions .

Description

Dialogue consists all forms of discourse presented along the game.

Dialogue is instrumental in communicating the story (Narrative), aspects of the Gameplay, what the characters think (e.g. Thoughts), their state of mind (e.g. Unaware NPC, Suspicious NPC, Seeking for PC), and their feelings (other messages contributing to the Emotional Script).

Dialogue is usually associated to characters – and it can even constitute an important element of their Character Soundprint – but it can also have other sources in some cases of Narrator and Helper Voice.

Dialogue can be implemented through actual Voice Acting (and possibly Dubbing). Yet, there are noticeable cases in which designers decided not to have actual voicing of Dialogue and opted to have Subtitles and Caption instead. Subtitles and Caption may also be pertinent, considering that not all players may be familiar with the language(s) used, and also the ear impaired.

Dialogue may also be used as instrument to enrich a confer more liveness to an Acoustic Ecology, for instance by "allowing" NPC to talk to each other (e.g Chitchat) or giving voice to a crowd.

One aspect that tends to be more noticed in Dialogue than in other Sound Layers (Foley, Sound Effects, Ambiance, and Music) is the need for Variety, most probably because repetition is perceived as less plausible.

Examples

Katamari:

Oblivion:

Grand Theft Auto 4:

Litlle Big Planet:

Half-Life 2: This scene includes disparate explorations of Dialogue. For instance some of the action is experienced exclusively through the discourse, with no visual support.

iGadget: 'No Dialogue' as a design option (no sound in Dialogue, that is). All conversations are mute and their contents are graphically presented through subtitles.

Papa Sangre:

Patapon:

Ico:

Deadly Premonition: In this game Dialogues add a lot to the experience, not only by the contents of the discourse but also by the intonations and general Aesthetics of the conversations.