Editorial IGN discuss dialogue in RPGs

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: Dragon Age

In a two part (<a href="http://au.games.ign.com/articles/986/986281p1.html">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://au.games.ign.com/articles/987/987256p1.html">Part 2</a>) article IGN go through dialogue in RPGs and even offer some of their own suggestions for improvement:
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<blockquote><b>Agree/Disagree</b>: This idea for an RPG dialogue system is difficult to describe, but here we go. Imagine that each cut scene or conversation interaction took place without any actual input from the player apart from agreeing or disagreeing with what your avatar is doing/saying. So, if we imagine the game being played on an Xbox 360 console, the A button could represent Agree and the B button could represent Disagree.
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[...]
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<b>Colour/Mood</b>: A slightly modified version of the above example, our second suggestion revolves around colour as representation for mood responses. Many RPGs have used mood responses before, but this system would allow the player to express the strength of his/her desire through multiple button presses and possibly allow for combinations of moods.
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Agree / Disagree?
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Spotted @ <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com">RPGWatch</a>

 

[racofer]

Better yet. Make it a single button only for dialog, and the outcome of Agree / Disagree is determined by a dice roll, so it's more of a traditional hardcore rpg game mechanic that would appeal for true rpg players, like the ones that enjoy old school stuff like the KotOR series.

 

[wrathofdog]

Better yet. Make it a single button only for dialog, and the outcome of Agree / Disagree is determined by a dice roll, so it's more of a traditional hardcore rpg game mechanic that would appeal for true rpg players, like the ones that enjoy old school stuff like the KotOR series.

But does the player choose to push the button or leave it unpushed? There is such a thing as too much choice, you know. Personally, I like guidelines in a game. Too many options leaves me confused.

 

[Jaime Lannister]

All "innovative" approaches to dialog have made it worse.

 

[Kos_Koa]

RED

 

[poocolator]

I disagree with everything IGN puts forward, because I don't see them as a valid gaming "agency." Real RPG'ers wouldn't even consider the Agree/Disagree and Colour/Mood as legitimate options. Sounds like IGN is trying to be serious bzness.

Why are we referencing their bullshit material, anyway?

 

[Ogg]

Why are we referencing their bullshit material, anyway?

For the lulz?

 

[bhlaab]

The stuff about existing dialogue systems is interesting, but why'd they have to inject their own stupid fanfiction ideas.

Anyway, nothing beats the dialogue tree.

 

[Lingwe]

The sliding mood scale of a negative response.

1 Clcik - Disappointed
2 Clicks - Sad
3 Clicks - Upset
4 Clicks - Distresed
5 Clicks - Depressed
6 Clicks - Emo
7 Click - Cutter Emo
8 Clicks - Weak

 

[DraQ]

This idea for an RPG dialogue system is difficult to describe, but here we go. Imagine that each cut scene or conversation interaction took place without any actual input from the player

Epic fail detected.

 

[Micmu]

Why don't they make their FUCKING X-SHIT 360 "GAMES" all-animation and FINALLY BE DONE WITH IT. It's really tiresome.

 

[DraQ]

Also, IGN stands for IGNorance, amirite?

 

[KurtH]

You can't write "IGN is fucking retarded" without IGN.

 

[Talby]

Shit idea and a shit article.

 

[Stereotypical Villain]

Also, IGN stands for IGNorance, amirite?

:D

 

[poocolator]

LETS X-PLODE SUM HEADS Y4EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!111111111111

 

[Fat Dragon]

Shit idea and a shit article.

 

[DraQ]

Inversely Genial Numbskulls.

 

[JarlFrank]

So basically they want dialogues to be some silly one-click-minigame without even a stat-check?

Why am I not surprised.
Also, why do I think all they want is Western RPGs to play exactly like JRPGs? Linear dialogue without any player input so you can enjoy the EPIC story and AWSUM cutscenes with unchallenging grind combat in-between.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

I like how they want to turn dialogue into something more than info dump, but simplifying it isn't the way to go.

 

[elander_]

You are right. The way to go is to read a book or watch a movie.

 

[Morbus]

Dialog lacks interaction from the player, not the other way around.

The way I see it, people should be focusing on how to make that interaction as intuitive and non-intrusive as possible, to maximize consistency and gameplay. Nothing that starts with a premise of "lets make things more simple!" every gets good results.

:EDIT:
Also, and now that it has been mentioned, most games have dialogs as info dumps because they are designed in a way that they can't show you that info in the remainder of the game.

 

[RK47]

Shift Left click STRONGLY Agree
Shift Right click STRONGLY Disagree
Left + Right: Initiate Combat
Ctrl + Left Click = Give NPC a blowjob
Ctrol + Right Click = Demand a blowjob

 

[skyway]

Ctrol + Right Click