Gordon Freeman to Remain Mute
- Thread starter Logan Westbrook
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I think that Gordons disposition towards silence is a blessing rather than curse. It allows the player to project, and fill in some blanks for themselves. Valves very good at telling a story without words, but I do think that Gordon speaking at some points, or at least once at the end of the game would fit well.Onyx Oblivion said:
At least if just to tell one of the other characters to go fuck themselves. (Alyx not withstanding)
I think this is good news. It would make absolutly no sense at all if he started talking in episode 3 when he didn't talk in any previous games. The only reason I can possibly come up with is that he had lost his voice for like 10 years. Thumbs up Valve don't break the tradition.
I'm sticking to my theory that Gordon Freeman isn't mute because of some artistic direction or other, but because he is actually mute. As in, uncapable of speaking. That's why the Valve devs took those hand language lessons a few months back. Which now I'm remembering were exactly twelve months back. Boy, this game's been in development a long time, eh?
As I mentioned earlier, that was actually because they're mentioning a hearing-impaired Resistance member Alyx had a crush on, and learned sign language for. He's presumably dead, but the S.L. sticks.The Random One said:
... Although it would be awesome if they did decide to make Gordon's being a mute official, and incorporate the sign language. Heh. Ep3 is probably taking so long because there's gonna be a whole little thing to teach players sign language. Who said games aren't educational? xD
It should be obvious, and it's been said before, but apparently people are missing the point of Gordon Freeman. He isn't supposed to have much of a personality; you are supposed to project your own personality on to him. It's for immersion's sake; it's a convention exclusive to videogame narratives, and it works.
And I'd say Valve does a pretty good job at making all those one-sided conversations seem realistic enough.
And I'd say Valve does a pretty good job at making all those one-sided conversations seem realistic enough.
After being a mute for so long it would just be stupid to give Gordon a voice now. Don't fix what isn't broken.
If he spoke it would be disservice to the entire series and would remove the whole point of what he was ment to be.
the top three main characters
gordon freeman - half life. hes pretty much YOU except that the call you "gordon" not <your name here
the marine - doom. same as above except there is no one else alive/they don't no your name.
your character - scz. he/she has an actual, brave/tomboyish personality and nice levels of sarcasm (greatly enhanced by lack of voiceovers) led me to be that I was truly the man i saw slaying zombies in the game
"Have I Got A Suicide Mission For You!"
"Nice To See You Too."
gordon freeman - half life. hes pretty much YOU except that the call you "gordon" not <your name here
the marine - doom. same as above except there is no one else alive/they don't no your name.
your character - scz. he/she has an actual, brave/tomboyish personality and nice levels of sarcasm (greatly enhanced by lack of voiceovers) led me to be that I was truly the man i saw slaying zombies in the game
"Have I Got A Suicide Mission For You!"
"Nice To See You Too."
That, and it'd be really fucking random and out of character if Freeman just walked into a room and yelled
"WAZUUUUUUUUUUUP!?!"
Personally, I like him silent.
"WAZUUUUUUUUUUUP!?!"
Personally, I like him silent.
Giving Freeman a voice and personality could greatly increase his appeal or decrease it. Why mess with something that works? It would be like giving Link a voice or putting Samus in a game with her own dialog and narration and cutscenes...
Oh wait.
Oh wait.
I'm sure Valve could easily give Gordon some dialog, but I don't think there is anything wrong with him the way he is. Attaching yourself to the main character is always a good thing, and I still feel without dialog, I still do with Gordon. He may not talk, but he is a man that can get shit done, and by golly, I can relate to that.
I think I shall use that now.Grampy_bone said:
"Duh Gordan Freeman should speak"
*Points to Zelda CD-I games*
Gordon Freeman is silent. In other news, water is wet.
This is just the way it should be, in my opinion--it would just seem weird to shove in a voice actor and make us think that the good doctor finally figured out was his larynx was for after all this time. At this point, it's too late to go back on that--plus, Gordon's personality is effectively that of the player, and any fixed lines would have to define him in some way. I know that, in my case, Dr. Freeman is a generally heroic fellow, but has been known (on occasion) to blast the shit out of teammates, but only when he's having a really, really bad day. If Valve tried to recast him as a shy physicist or a reckless badass, I'd be a little bit pissed and a little bit confused. While these examples may be extreme, the insertion of a voice actor WOULD require some sort of personality.
Plus, what the hell is he going to say half the time? Valve has already proved that he can be an effective part of conversations without saying anything, and unless they plan to set loose a monologuing physicist on the Combine, there aren't many other places to insert dialogue.
However, I'm with Furburt on this: if LRR's Paul is up for the job, all of my complaints are illegitimate. That would just be badass, and I wouldn't care that Gordon suddenly sounded like a Canadian comedian.
This is just the way it should be, in my opinion--it would just seem weird to shove in a voice actor and make us think that the good doctor finally figured out was his larynx was for after all this time. At this point, it's too late to go back on that--plus, Gordon's personality is effectively that of the player, and any fixed lines would have to define him in some way. I know that, in my case, Dr. Freeman is a generally heroic fellow, but has been known (on occasion) to blast the shit out of teammates, but only when he's having a really, really bad day. If Valve tried to recast him as a shy physicist or a reckless badass, I'd be a little bit pissed and a little bit confused. While these examples may be extreme, the insertion of a voice actor WOULD require some sort of personality.
Plus, what the hell is he going to say half the time? Valve has already proved that he can be an effective part of conversations without saying anything, and unless they plan to set loose a monologuing physicist on the Combine, there aren't many other places to insert dialogue.
However, I'm with Furburt on this: if LRR's Paul is up for the job, all of my complaints are illegitimate. That would just be badass, and I wouldn't care that Gordon suddenly sounded like a Canadian comedian.
I think that Gordon's fine just the way he is. No reason to shoehorn in some random ass personality when really, I don't think I care what he has to say throughout the game anyway. I mean, they'd have to get it PERFECT in order to satisfy fanboys (myself included). Think of it this way, this means they can spend more time on the development of characters that everyone grew to love.
You know I've felt more involved playing games such as Mass Effect and Grand Theft Auto then I ever have playing a fucking Half Life game. You know what makes me puke? The level of fanboyness towards Valve that people like you display.Treblaine said:
Care to elaborate on your unsubstantiated statement?Iron Criterion said:
You say you are more "involved" with Mass Effect but do you really feel like you ARE Commander Shepard or do you feel like you are "just controlling him" and that he is his own unique character. I mean why is it SOOO important that the protagonist must be this impenetrably deep and complex character, he is not a "role" you can "play", he's just an entity you can order around at best or let loose.
That can be fun... but it's just fun to watch, not so fun to play.
Mass Effect is still a damn good game, but the cutscenes can only be as good as a movie as it depends on you empathising with the character, you have him say what you want him to say so you can empathise with Shepard more not to naturalistic-ally express yourself. Do you feel one-ness with the character?
"You know what makes me puke? The level of fanboyness towards Valve"
Glad we could keep this so civil. How about you just stop this right here. No, accusing fanboyism is is cheap and discourages reasoned debate. If you just want to ninja insults, this is not the site for that.
You haven't disputed a single one of the points I have made expect for you to flatly state your prejudice and insult me, do you think anybody is impressed? Are you impressed with yourself?
Have you ever considered the possibility that Valve are so loved... because they MIGHT actually be quite good at what they do? And i don't worship the ground they walk on, they are fallible, Left 4 dead 2 being one of them.
How about you be a bit more open minded, tell me precisely what you apparently hate bout the Half life games.
Right, I said I felt more involved playing Mass Effect because I felt like I controlled the fate of not only Sheppard but my crew. I formed bonds with each of them and my very actions could result in their deaths, which is good narrative. You don't get that with Half-Life, what you get at best is several hours of the game dragging you around at it's pace, telling the story how it wants. And the fact that Gordon Freeman has no personality doesn't help immerse me in this world. For a game to be truly involving the most important thing isn't for a character whose shoes you can step in (though that helps) it is being able to feel like your actions effect their fate and by extension the story. All I was doing as Gordon was killing shit, my entire experience could have been replicated by anyone, how is that immersion?Treblaine said:
Secondly don't condescend to me saying I'm being insulting and forcing my opinions when you are the one being tyrannical against people who say anything about the 'mighty' Valve. So please don't tar me with your brush.
I didn't say Valve weren't good at what they do I mean I fucking love Portal and Left 4 Dead as much as the next man. I just hate how they can seemingly do no wrong, and that Half Life is praised as the best game ever when it simply played like an average first person shooter which was only worth playing for its story. But it doesn't matter what I say as you'll point out why I'm wrong and portray me as an arsehole so have fun I'm going to bed.