The dialogue tree

[Teppic]

I just watched a small part of the upcoming game, and what annoys me most about it (apart from the rope not looking like a rope) is how the dialogue tree works.

For those who don't know, you get a set of short lines to choose from, and the character (Guybrush) will speak something related to the short line you choose.

As for me, the fun in picking any dialogue option is to actually know what you are going to say. More often than not, when I play a game with this simplified type of dialogue tree, I pick a choice I want, but when hearing the character speak it, it wasn't what I wanted him to say, or what I had in mind, and would rather have picked something else.

Is it only me who works this way?

[seanvanaman]

Originally Posted by Teppic

I just watched a small part of the upcoming game, and what annoys me most about it (apart from the rope not looking like a rope) is how the dialogue tree works.

For those who don't know, you get a set of short lines to choose from, and the character (Guybrush) will speak something related to the short line you choose.

As for me, the fun in picking any dialogue option is to actually know what you are going to say. More often than not, when I play a game with this simplified type of dialogue tree, I pick a choice I want, but when hearing the character speak it, I wasn't what I wanted him to say, or what I had in mind, and would rather have picked something else.

Is it only me who works this way?

While we take your rope critique to heart, when it comes to dialog, each designer has his own style. Sometimes Guybrush will say what you select word for word, other times there's a little bit more flavor added in the delivery. This happens for multiple reasons and we're pretty vigilant about making the words match up to player intent. That being said, I think you'd be remiss to be discouraged without playing the game.

EDIT: I'd be happy to go more in depth about design choices in the pre-order forum

[LordKinbote]

Originally Posted by Teppic

I just watched a small part of the upcoming game, and what annoys me most about it (apart from the rope not looking like a rope) is how the dialogue tree works.

For those who don't know, you get a set of short lines to choose from, and the character (Guybrush) will speak something related to the short line you choose.

As for me, the fun in picking any dialogue option is to actually know what you are going to say. More often than not, when I play a game with this simplified type of dialogue tree, I pick a choice I want, but when hearing the character speak it, it wasn't what I wanted him to say, or what I had in mind, and would rather have picked something else.

Is it only me who works this way?

For many jokes, the humor is both in the delivery and the words themselves, and if you have the ability to read the line in its entirety and exact form before it's delivered, you've taken away some of the humor. Yeah, sometimes there is the feeling of "I wish I had picked choice B instead of choice A beforehand" but a good designer gives the player to choose all options so that no lines are missed.

[HoboStew]

I dunno I kind of like it. To me it feels like Guybrush is there waiting for me to tell him what to say and if he feels like what I tell him to say is inappropriate he changes it. Sort of like I am the writer and he is the actor who is free to ad-lib. I almost want the writers to exploit that further and have REALLY inappropriate things to say, and guybrush just sorta goes "nah I'm not saying that" and continues on. Then again I am working on about 5 hours sleep so don't take anything I say too seriously.

[PariahKing]

Originally Posted by HoboStew

I dunno I kind of like it. To me it feels like Guybrush is there waiting for me to tell him what to say and if he feels like what I tell him to say is inappropriate he changes it. Sort of like I am the writer and he is the actor who is free to ad-lib. I almost want the writers to exploit that further and have REALLY inappropriate things to say, and guybrush just sorta goes "nah I'm not saying that" and continues on. Then again I am working on about 5 hours sleep so don't take anything I say too seriously.

Reminds me of CMI when the Voodoo Lady asks Guybrush if he wants to see pictures of her kids. The options are like extreme and over the top but he'll only say "...perhaps later." I found it funny.

[Scapetti]

I love that in a Monkey Island game, definitely do it for this one guys!

[Toothless Gibbon]

It's another thing that makes Monkey Island Monkey Island IMO. It reinforces the idea that Guybrush is aware of the fact he's in an adventure game - something that I always found really funny.

I hope the technique is used often!

[ultima_keyblader]

Maybe we could have a lucasarts phone line and get told you need to talk to telltale? loved that in MI2