Comments for Oddly Entertaining* Navel-Gazing http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog - Ben Hoyt on Video Games, Technology, Politics, and more... Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:06:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Opinion: Kony 2012 (Better Late Than Never) by Benjamin Hoyt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/yHDn9Bq3Mgk/ Benjamin Hoyt Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:06:28 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/03/opinion-kony-2012-better-late-than-never/#comment-501 Jen, There's no doubt that Invisible Children has some strange and potentially controversial backstory. For example, here's one of the places that they are spending money: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWACLKaOC08&feature=player_embedded. (It kinda makes my eyes bleed, not to mention the fact that it's a little troubling on a few other levels). SO, I'm not trying to say that giving money to Invisible Children is what you should be doing. On the flipside, you may really like some more of what they have to say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkB8o5VWAjE#t=9m10s. I think that my point is this: great! You're interested. Kudos to Invisible Children for making that happen. Now, if you really want to do something about it, start by educating yourself further. Here are some responses from Invisible Children to some of the criticisms that have been levied against them in the last week or so: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html. Ultimately, the video is NOT going to save those kids. But people getting interested, educated, and then involved just might (hence the funnel). Jen,
There’s no doubt that Invisible Children has some strange and potentially controversial backstory. For example, here’s one of the places that they are spending money: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWACLKaOC08&feature=player_embedded. (It kinda makes my eyes bleed, not to mention the fact that it’s a little troubling on a few other levels). SO, I’m not trying to say that giving money to Invisible Children is what you should be doing. On the flipside, you may really like some more of what they have to say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkB8o5VWAjE#t=9m10s. I think that my point is this: great! You’re interested. Kudos to Invisible Children for making that happen. Now, if you really want to do something about it, start by educating yourself further. Here are some responses from Invisible Children to some of the criticisms that have been levied against them in the last week or so: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html. Ultimately, the video is NOT going to save those kids. But people getting interested, educated, and then involved just might (hence the funnel).

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/03/opinion-kony-2012-better-late-than-never/comment-page-1/#comment-501 Comment on Opinion: Kony 2012 (Better Late Than Never) by Jen Panos http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/uwIrrXxz20k/ Jen Panos Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:42:05 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/03/opinion-kony-2012-better-late-than-never/#comment-500 I agree, Ben. I may not have bought into the video 100%, but the bottom line is that if there are still a couple hundred kids being abused by this crazy dude, then it's worth the time and money required to stop him. Yes, these efforts are years too late for thousands of children and their families- but that doesn't negate the importance of stopping him now. It's a sad reality that our government (and others, I'm sure) don't find this type of cause important because it doesn't hold financial or military significance. And I was slightly put off by reading that Invisible Children funds other military groups with some nefarious doings as well? Would my money be better donated to organizations like the Red Cross? And will my hesitation only enable Kony? In any case, I hope the video saves those kids. Period. I agree, Ben. I may not have bought into the video 100%, but the bottom line is that if there are still a couple hundred kids being abused by this crazy dude, then it’s worth the time and money required to stop him. Yes, these efforts are years too late for thousands of children and their families- but that doesn’t negate the importance of stopping him now. It’s a sad reality that our government (and others, I’m sure) don’t find this type of cause important because it doesn’t hold financial or military significance. And I was slightly put off by reading that Invisible Children funds other military groups with some nefarious doings as well? Would my money be better donated to organizations like the Red Cross? And will my hesitation only enable Kony?

In any case, I hope the video saves those kids. Period.

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/03/opinion-kony-2012-better-late-than-never/comment-page-1/#comment-500 Comment on “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” by cabin filter http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/qIEh7Kwh9J4/ cabin filter Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:07:29 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/?p=221#comment-499 I don't accept this article. Nonetheless, I had searched with Google and I have found out that you are right and I was thinking in the improper way. Carry on writing good quality articles like this. I don’t accept this article. Nonetheless, I had searched with Google and I have found out that you are right and I was thinking in the improper way. Carry on writing good quality articles like this.

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2010/05/what-we-have-here-is-a-failure-to-communicate-2/comment-page-1/#comment-499 Comment on Rant: Why so many video games have bad dialogue by Benjamin Hoyt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/gojmsIsV7Mo/ Benjamin Hoyt Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:07:11 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/?p=246#comment-498 @gakushya - You're correct. There is definitely an issue relating to the translation (or what we call "localization") of games. I think that it is probably most evident in the case of Japanese games being translated to English. There are several possible explanations for this, but you can basically add the translation process to the other reasons above for why localized games have an even more difficult challenge. @gakushya – You’re correct. There is definitely an issue relating to the translation (or what we call “localization”) of games. I think that it is probably most evident in the case of Japanese games being translated to English. There are several possible explanations for this, but you can basically add the translation process to the other reasons above for why localized games have an even more difficult challenge.

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2011/12/rant-why-so-many-video-games-have-bad-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-498 Comment on Rant: Why so many video games have bad dialogue by gakushya http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/CRH-Rl9ff5g/ gakushya Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:11:25 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/?p=246#comment-497 That was an interesting and appreciated rant from which I have learned several things that I was kinda incorrectly tacitly assuming about the nature of this kind of work. But I actually came here from a google search "bad dialogue in video games" and i still feel unanswered. Let me point out what i think is in need of explanation (at least for me). Take just text-based dialogues as our data ignoring the complications of voice/audio. And also exclude dialogue that has been translated (as easy a target as that is). Examining the line-by-line details, and not at the discourse level, there are still agents of bad dialogue. For example, inappropriate diction, repetitive use of idiomatic expressions, overly simplified grammatical structure, a discomforting lack of adjectives and adverbs (leading to ill-described discourse), and sometimes downright unrealistic semantic constructions (eg "I was supposed to be the one to fill your dark soul with light" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qG4AlK1qk&feature=player_embedded Capcom's Devil May Cry ). This line taken here is semantically trite; metaphorically it doesn't make sense. Its also very hard to imagine a context or discourse where this line would be natural. Hence this is one way in which "bad dialogue" can be realized. Although the scripts the English voice actors were using were definitely translated from native Japanese, so this is just another example of poor translation, I just wanted to mention it by illustrating what I mean by unrealistic semantic constructions (usually via metaphor). That was an interesting and appreciated rant from which I have learned several things that I was kinda incorrectly tacitly assuming about the nature of this kind of work. But I actually came here from a google search “bad dialogue in video games” and i still feel unanswered. Let me point out what i think is in need of explanation (at least for me). Take just text-based dialogues as our data ignoring the complications of voice/audio. And also exclude dialogue that has been translated (as easy a target as that is). Examining the line-by-line details, and not at the discourse level, there are still agents of bad dialogue. For example, inappropriate diction, repetitive use of idiomatic expressions, overly simplified grammatical structure, a discomforting lack of adjectives and adverbs (leading to ill-described discourse), and sometimes downright unrealistic semantic constructions (eg “I was supposed to be the one to fill your dark soul with light” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qG4AlK1qk&feature=player_embedded Capcom’s Devil May Cry ). This line taken here is semantically trite; metaphorically it doesn’t make sense. Its also very hard to imagine a context or discourse where this line would be natural. Hence this is one way in which “bad dialogue” can be realized. Although the scripts the English voice actors were using were definitely translated from native Japanese, so this is just another example of poor translation, I just wanted to mention it by illustrating what I mean by unrealistic semantic constructions (usually via metaphor).

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2011/12/rant-why-so-many-video-games-have-bad-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-497 Comment on The Case for a Transmedia Producer on Film-Based Games by Benjamin Hoyt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/1A6zyFFIolU/ Benjamin Hoyt Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:51:34 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/#comment-487 Michael, yes, you're correct. Though, to be fair, there are definitely some instances of this already happening. Michael, yes, you’re correct. Though, to be fair, there are definitely some instances of this already happening.

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Comment on The Case for a Transmedia Producer on Film-Based Games by Michael Annetta http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/JDZYgwGx9zM/ Michael Annetta Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:18:56 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/#comment-486 Ben, great article and, you're right, way overdue. I think you can add something to point number 2 above, though. Since most games based on movies are going to be based on effects movies (although one could argue for a really great game based on a romantic comedy), something else that can be shared early on in the pre-production process are assets (3D Models, etc.) Yes, to your point #5, the game assets will almost certainly have to be simplified over the film assets, but they're all being created in Maya or Max, regardless of their final use. How much more streamlined could the process be if, instead of having to recreate the wheel (or even the whole car), assets can be shared across production teams so the look and feel is maintained and the game artists can focus on other assets that might not be created for the film. It would hopefully tighten the entire production schedule. Ben, great article and, you’re right, way overdue. I think you can add something to point number 2 above, though. Since most games based on movies are going to be based on effects movies (although one could argue for a really great game based on a romantic comedy), something else that can be shared early on in the pre-production process are assets (3D Models, etc.) Yes, to your point #5, the game assets will almost certainly have to be simplified over the film assets, but they’re all being created in Maya or Max, regardless of their final use. How much more streamlined could the process be if, instead of having to recreate the wheel (or even the whole car), assets can be shared across production teams so the look and feel is maintained and the game artists can focus on other assets that might not be created for the film. It would hopefully tighten the entire production schedule.

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/comment-page-1/#comment-486 Comment on The Case for a Transmedia Producer on Film-Based Games by Benjamin Hoyt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/0OQGdtTpCCA/ Benjamin Hoyt Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:43:10 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/#comment-485 Robi, it's a good question. And, honestly, not having worked with all of the studios it's hard for me to answer. I sure haven't heard of anyone that is doing a great job of addressing this issue, though, so I'd be surprised. Robi, it’s a good question. And, honestly, not having worked with all of the studios it’s hard for me to answer. I sure haven’t heard of anyone that is doing a great job of addressing this issue, though, so I’d be surprised.

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/comment-page-1/#comment-485 Comment on The Case for a Transmedia Producer on Film-Based Games by Robi Ganguly http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/KESav6prmVQ/ Robi Ganguly Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:53:39 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/#comment-484 Ben, really thought-provoking piece. It sounds to me like the distance between developer and studio causes a lot of issues. Are there any studios that work with developers well? If so, what are they doing differently - are they utilizing transmedia producers? Ben, really thought-provoking piece. It sounds to me like the distance between developer and studio causes a lot of issues. Are there any studios that work with developers well? If so, what are they doing differently – are they utilizing transmedia producers?

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Comment on The Case for a Transmedia Producer on Film-Based Games by Fortunato Vega http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForOddlyEntertainingNavel-gazing/~3/oDINdeVFy1U/ Fortunato Vega Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:15:32 +0000 http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/#comment-480 Incorporating some of the basics in the film making processes to avoid pitfalls is good. However, the real challenge is in the execution. Who is and/or what are the resources needed as well as the model to assure a sustainable, profitable and great business? Incorporating some of the basics in the film making processes to avoid pitfalls is good. However, the real challenge is in the execution. Who is and/or what are the resources needed as well as the model to assure a sustainable, profitable and great business?

]]> http://www.benjaminhoyt.com/blog/2012/02/the-case-for-a-transmedia-producer-on-film-based-games/comment-page-1/#comment-480