Enough with the subtitles, already

[Kpt._Rob]

I prefer the subtitles. And I don't generally give half a shit what quality of voice actor is used. In fact, if they want to use the worst voice actors around, that's fine by me. Good voice actors cost money, money that could be better used developing the game part of the game. Either way, the subtitles don't detract from the experience, and they often make things easier to understand.

 

[Planeswalker817]

For the record, disliking subtitles puts you in the minority.

However, I fully agree that there's really no excuse for not having an option.

 

[The Night Shade]

Oh come on you can spend 4 seconds turning the subtitles off whats the big deal?

 

[lazinesslord]

I'm very use to subtitles because I watch a lot of anime so it doesn't bother me.

 

[no oneder]

I do understand you. Its annoying.

Unless its a DVD, in which case I will put them in french, just to annoy friends and family.

 

[T-Bone24]

It more annoys me when a game has no option for subtitles, for example I recently went through Web of Shadows, only to find out that there are no subtitles. I like to listen to podcasts when playing games, and it really got on my nerves not having subtitles.

 

[Isaac The Grape]

I'll admit to using closed captions in Valve games to cheat at HL2 singleplayer. It made Ravenholm much, much more nerve-racking when you're told something is coming but have no idea when.

 

[Sevre]

So what about people who are hard of hearing/deaf? What are they going to do if there are no subtitle options?

You can't just leave them out for the sake of "Words ruin my experience". Other people would like to have an experience too.

But hey, Audiosurf doesn't have cutscenes.

 

[Lionsfan]

Subtitles are awesome. If someone is making noise or there is an outside sound it allows me to pick up on everything the game is trying to do. And sometimes part of a voice actor is to have a certain accent, maybe I can't understand that accent so it's nice to see what they're saying. Subtitles should stay.

 

[Lukeje]

Which games have subs on by default? I always have to turn them on (when there's an option). In an ideal world they would not be needed; in an ideal world one of my sisters wouldn't start shouting with almost uncannily accurate timing just as a vital plot-point were being revealed. In the ideal game you could show that you didn't hear and ask for a repeat of the statement, but this does not in general happen in story-driven narratives.

I should point out I also watch films with subtitles for the same reason. If I had a cinema for just me to play games in, then it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[asam92]

I havnt seen a game for a while with the Subtitles on by default.
Most of the time you have to turn them on in the menu, which I dont do anyway.
So no problem, besides how do you expect deaf people to listen to the cutscenes huh?
Dissing subtitles is basically dissing the entire Deaf community.
Are you going to diss Brail next?

 

[CultistRat]

All I can say is "Awww, muffin"; it takes less time to turn them off than it takes to complain about them.

 

[Endocrom]

Clear as a bell [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyQ8nGMTuqY#t=6m09s]

okay, bad example :Þ

 

[Ren3004]

What's wrong with subtitles? It's not like they don't let you see what's going on in the cutscene. And having subtitles is handy for when you don't understand something a character says. I personally hate it when a game doesn't have subtitles.

 

[Tony2077]

i rather like them to be on sometimes to see whats being said sometime it hard to hear because of accents or what have you

 

[Mstrswrd]

I prefer subtitles in everything. It always annoys my dorm-mates, because when it's your turn to choose the movie, you have complete control. I always turned subtitles on.

Also, if the movie was foreign (any language), than I insisted on it being in the native language (Spanish, Sweedish, Japanese, Cantonese, etc). I just like subtitles.

 

[DarkRyter]

Because all the explosions, gun shots, booming music, and Italian(lol AssCreed) can make spoken dialogue a bit hard to comprehend.

If you don't like it, turn it off.

 

[SpireOfFire]

When I watch a television show or a movie, I'm expected to pick up on what's going on by listening to what the actors say, and by watching the videos. Closed-captions aren't turned on unless I go in and turn them on.

But modern video games always have subtitles turned on by default. What gives? This isn't 1996 any more. You have high-talent voice acting and Dolby sound. I can hear you.

If I can't understand your game without subtitles, then your cinematic has failed to inform me of what's going on. Go re-do it, correctly. Hire better writers and better directors; the video-game industry makes more money than the TV and movie industries, so you can hire better talent, if you need it. (Stop burning out those interns. I'm looking at you, Electronic Arts.)

Or better yet, leave the cinematic out and let me play my own damn game. Yes, we're very proud that you have FMV technology, now celebrating its 25th year. Is it so hard to let me push my own buttons?

No wonder Roger Ebert doesn't take us seriously. He thinks cut scenes are made by people who can't tell a good story succinctly, dramatically, and excitingly. He thinks we have to READ it.

this is quite possibly the weakest rant ever.

you dont like them? turn them off. thats all there is to it.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

Personally I like subtitles. It helps ensure that I hear every word even if an explosion of something interrupts the conversation. However, if I find that the subtitles aren't necessary I turn them off.