zehydra:

Shocksplicer:
I think it can be appropriate in RPGs, but not always. It works in artsy games, but maybe thats just because thats the approach taken by every artsy game ever.

I don't think it works in any other genre. there is just no logical reason why my character is mute, so why is he/she?

captcha: the cat lady.
The cat lady definitely shouldn't be silent! her mad shrieking is so amusing...

Why do they have to talk? Why can't we just leave what is to be said up to interpretation ala Zelda?

Because it's not a matter of interpretation, it's a conversation where one of the participants is staring blankly at the other without saying a word, and nobody seems to think this is odd.

Shocksplicer:

zehydra:

Shocksplicer:
I think it can be appropriate in RPGs, but not always. It works in artsy games, but maybe thats just because thats the approach taken by every artsy game ever.

I don't think it works in any other genre. there is just no logical reason why my character is mute, so why is he/she?

captcha: the cat lady.
The cat lady definitely shouldn't be silent! her mad shrieking is so amusing...

Why do they have to talk? Why can't we just leave what is to be said up to interpretation ala Zelda?

Because it's not a matter of interpretation, it's a conversation where one of the participants is staring blankly at the other without saying a word, and nobody seems to think this is odd.

It's not that the character ISN'T saying anything, it's that what the character says is not clear or is "unsaid". For instance, it's not that Link doesn't speak or talk; it's just not expressed through the game. It's up to interpretation.

zehydra:

Shocksplicer:

zehydra:

Why do they have to talk? Why can't we just leave what is to be said up to interpretation ala Zelda?

Because it's not a matter of interpretation, it's a conversation where one of the participants is staring blankly at the other without saying a word, and nobody seems to think this is odd.

It's not that the character ISN'T saying anything, it's that what the character says is not clear or is "unsaid". For instance, it's not that Link doesn't speak or talk; it's just not expressed through the game. It's up to interpretation.

...No, I'm looking at my screen and link is clearly standing there with his lips sealed. There's nothing to interpret: He isn't saying anything.

I wont say I hate, but I dont care for silent protagonists. But as it has already been mentioned before, there is a difference between silent and "unvoiced" protagonists. Im not bothered by my FONV character never saying a word, because they actually say alot, its just not voiced. But when you have a protagonist that is silent, and has no dialogue options, and people just keep talking to them like he is talking back, it actually breaks the already thin level of immersion I have.

It really depends on what they want to do with the character, and as long as they do it right, it doesn't bother me. The Warden from DA: Origins works because you're creating a new personality, and Adam Jensen works because the dialogue is crafted in a way which allows you to follow permeations of an already defined personality.

Shocksplicer:

zehydra:

Shocksplicer:

Because it's not a matter of interpretation, it's a conversation where one of the participants is staring blankly at the other without saying a word, and nobody seems to think this is odd.

It's not that the character ISN'T saying anything, it's that what the character says is not clear or is "unsaid". For instance, it's not that Link doesn't speak or talk; it's just not expressed through the game. It's up to interpretation.

...No, I'm looking at my screen and link is clearly standing there with his lips sealed. There's nothing to interpret: He isn't saying anything.

The lip movement phenomenon is fairly recent. I guess they didn't feel the need to add mouth movement where there was no actual dialog from a character.

as long as i have some input, it doesn't bug me either way (although sometimes one works better than the other, depending on the flow of the game and whatnot)

i just hate it when the story looks right at you, and you don't give any input or the other characters have to work your answers into their dialogue, while barking shit at you that you'll have to do after the cutscene/bleh.

DrVornoff:

FatalFox:
and if you're a girl and your first person character is a dude it's also hard to relate by that very fact.

My sister is an actress and has no problem roleplaying male protagonists.

so unless there is a certain disconnect to the character, like in third person games (only a change in perspective, but it's all mental) you can accept that nathan drake is kind of a douce sometimes, or that ezio is religious or whatever, because they're not "you", they're not someone you can project yourself on even if you can relate to them.

I understand if you don't, but that doesn't apply to me. I get embarrassingly into roleplaying. It doesn't matter if it's an RPG or not, I get into character. Mass Effect, DAII, Human Revolution, LA Noire, Freedom Force, hell even Rock Band. Doesn't matter. If I'm controlling something, I roleplay it.

of course, I roleplay my female shepherd for example, but I'm talking about a personal disconnect, you may not exactly agree with an action a developed third person character takes, because you follow along with the story, but if that was supposed to be you, and the model of you did something you wouldnt, or said something you wouldnt, then it becomes jarring in my opinion. (it's much easier to roleplay any character if you have choices in the matter off behavior or dialog responses)

I was specifically talking about first person games though, games that bring voice and opinions in that voice from a first person perspective. Where the idea of first person perspective can be argued to be a representation of you in the first place, because usually in first person games you don't have a name to be adressed to you, not a voice to be heard different from yours, and no opinions stated from that voice.

There are few exceptions where I'm completely fine with it, but putting a voice on the first person player character (extensively you) makes it really odd for me. Third person games I don't mind unless it's a create-your-own-character thing where you're trying to make that character you, and the character harasses a woman in a cutscene or something.

I don't mind silent protagonists so long as you are given realistic options to choose during conversation. However, this is a rare occurrence.

I actually prefer "silent" protagonists in RPGs. For many of the same reasons I prefer reading a book over listening to that same in audiobook. Not that I hate audiobooks or voiced protagonists or anything I just prefer giving them their own voice most of them time. It IS nice to occasionally turn my brain off and watch my game talk to itself though.

Are there any other thespians in here or am I one of the only ones who enjoys saying the "silent" protag's lines out loud?

Aircross:
When you yourself ARE the character -> Voiceless.

Examples: The Warden, The Courier, The Lone Wanderer

When you pick up the role of a character with an established background and personality -> Voiced.

Examples: Shepard, Hawke, JC Denton

more or less this, and it apply's, kinda, to RPGs with out VO to.

second you give a character lines, you give them personality

My view is that if everyone else is voiced the main character should be voiced. It just feels lazy otherwise I know that voice acting is expensive and all but I'll always feel that way.

The only thing worse is when characters are only KINDA voiced. Characters speak in nonsense mumbles while the actual words appear in text. This was the only thing that I HATED about Okami for example.

Maybe the fact that I never full on roleplay a game. I've never really seen the character in the game as myself. In fact I tend to make the character look as different from myself as possible. (I end up playing as females a lot due to this).

Closest to roleplay I've gotten was joking with my roommates about playing a female character in Saint's row 2 & 3. First game I was a heavily muscled black guy (I myself am a chubby white guy) I played the others as a redheaded girl. They asked why when it was intended to be the same character. I told them he got a sex and race change after the breakout to hide from the feds.

I guess I am strange in that I have never really cared. I just want the game to be fun.

mattttherman3:
I find that a silent protagonist only works for me from a first person perspective, it didn't used to be that way, but after Mass Effect, that is how I feel. Games like Skyrim, it works because the camera won't pan over to your character while having a discussion, I mean what the hell is the point of that when your character won't show an emotion or respond verbally? It is in fact what I hated about KOTOR (that and Mission Vao).

Of course the opposite is true as well, fully voiced would not be good in first person.

What do you guys think?

I prettymuch have to do my own character voice overs in Dragon Age: Origins now that i've started playing it.

I atleast want commander shepard's consoling voice guiding my character, though, I do understand their purpose for not adding in voice for the main character, even though they do yell out freakin war cries when opening doors.

I view silent protagonists as not speaking and you not picking dialog options. Which is why i cant stand silent protagonists, when it's supposed to you, give it a dialog tree so you can pick an option and don't voice it, but the characters who get asked a question and make no response are just annoying, I think they should really be removed from gaming because they come off as jackasses because they are just ignoring people talking to them. I think half life 2 did it the worst, Freeman is actually ASKED A QUESTION and says nothing, alyx looks at him saying nothing for about 5 seconds then goes "Ok!" and continues what she was saying

I liked to think the entire time I was playing Suikoden II, the hero was saying "Are you gonna join my party now?"

Silent protagonists and first person perspectives are suitable for all occasions and provide the best possible immersion for all scenarios.