So, what about voices in Empire?

[Anonymous II]

Why would accents matter at all? If I buy the English version of the game, all factions speak English.
Far better to have a single voice and a balanced game

......Orda

Because all aspects/features of a game matters. Some things have higher value/priority than others, but all counts. Excuse me for being rude, but I think "Far better to have a single voice and a balanced game" is a really stupid argument that seems to only have one purpose: to make a fool of those who thinks voices and accents is of any importance of all.

I find it rather insulting. You make it sound as if one have to choose between good voices or a balanced game - it's not possible to have both. How many factors do you put into a game? Only two? The "game balance-thing" and sounds? And does the presentation of voices and accents draw as much resources from the devolpment team as all the different considerations and work with the AI, game engine, graphics, and so on, combined?

Everytime one ask about what I consider rather minor details, there is always somebody there to dumbify your inquiry.

I've asked about box art, limited editions, and so on, in several other gaming forums before, and I would always get one reply from somebody who appears to be one big questionmark; why on earth would I want that? It would be much cheaper to just download the game - it's the same game, you know!



But in order to reply "properly" to your thoughts: If I absolutely had to choose, I would rather have numerous accents of english - one for each faction - than a balanced game. If there is games that really, really bores me, it sure is games where everything is generic.

[Furious Mental]

An unbalanced game isn't fun for anyone to play so how can that possibly have lower priority than accents? If there were no sound bites at all it would make practically no difference so if the soundbites there are are so grating just mute them.

[Anonymous II]

An unbalanced game isn't fun for anyone to play so how can that possibly have lower priority than accents? If there were no sound bites at all it would make practically no difference so if the soundbites there are are so grating just mute them.

Who are you to decide that sound is of no importance to me? I would never mute a game. It's better to not play at all than to play without sound. For me sound is an important aspect of a game, and it is crucial for my general impression of the game, and how playable I find the game.

My point in my previous post, is that I'm sick of people trying to decide on behalf of others, what their priorities and preferences are.

By the way, where have I said that balance is of lower priority than accents? I just asked a question about why it's allowed to ask for other improvements, but not accents, because that would have to come at a cost - that of poor game balance. Why is this? I find it very, very strange... Accents shouldn't be something that draws great resources at all...

[A Norseman]

I most certainly agree with the above poster, language is hugely important, and will still be so in Empire Total War.
As I see it, different accents are a way of separating different cultures and underline the huge culture clashes seen in both Medieval and Empire: Total War.

However, unlike medieval, the sounds will have to be done properly; having my Infamous Viking ship answer me with “DAH” really destroyed some of the feel I got from playing Norway in Kingdoms.

My opinion is that all the ingame sounds should be in language of the faction playing. So that the charging Swedish infantry yells “kutt dem ned!” rather than “Cut ’em down!” The advisors should all be English however..

Of course, all factions cannot have their own language, it would have to be separated into language groups, with some variations within each of the factions in each group.
To illustrate, here is a suggestion on language distribution:

Languages. Factions

English: ...........................England*, Scotland rebels, 13 colonies.
French: ...........................France.
German: ..........................German states, Prussia*, Netherlands.
Slavic*2: .........................Russia*, Poland-Lithuania.
Latin: ..............................Spain*, Italia city states.
Scandinavian: ...................Sweden*, Denmark-Norway
Turkish: ...........................Ottoman Empire
Indian*3: .........................India factions
Native American*3: ............Indians, Mesoamericans.
African*3: ........................African Languages.

* The decisive accent
*2 Slavic languages may be split into west and east Slavic.
*3 Native languages, may be a lot more.

[Fisherking]

Not a bad plan Norseman. Just make the factions unique.

Someone early on asked what people sounded like 300 years ago. Well the English sounded a lot more like the Dubliners than they do today. British English made a much wider change than Irish or American English and after the period covered in the game. LOL

Maybe they should only hire Yorkshire men to do the English Nobility and get someone from Hanover for the Kings. Dubliners can do all of the Admirals and only West Virginians or People from the Ozarks to do the Americans.

Joking aside there should be more Irish speech in the game…as it is closer to what was spoken then.

I was shocked that the Danes didn’t have the right accent in M2 and all of the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italians sounded like they came from San Juan Porte Rico. I won’t go into the Turks… It may have been harder to find people with the correct accents in Australia. I hope the UK boys & girls can do a better job of it.

Just keep the wit and humor of the inspiring speeches and show us what whimsy you can come up with.

[Matt_Lane]

I can understand the frustration with the accents in M2TW but I would be disappointed if the pre fight speech were in that armies language. There were some real gems there and it would be a same not to be able to listen to similar next time around. I would prefer that CA take the harder option and have the speeches in English with accurate accents. However I don't know how far they should take this. The British army for example was led by English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh generals and staff. Should each accent be accommodated for or are we likely to just have crisp Eatonian accents?

[Orda Khan]

OK I can see these voices mean a heck of a lot to some people so why don't we go a step further and have each faction speak its actual language? Surely that makes more sense than a non English faction speaking English with an accent?

BTW AnonymousII, I didn't insult you at all, pity you took it that way

......Orda

[Bravedude]

I most certainly agree with the above poster, language is hugely important, and will still be so in Empire Total War.
As I see it, different accents are a way of separating different cultures and underline the huge culture clashes seen in both Medieval and Empire: Total War.

However, unlike medieval, the sounds will have to be done properly; having my Infamous Viking ship answer me with “DAH” really destroyed some of the feel I got from playing Norway in Kingdoms.

My opinion is that all the ingame sounds should be in language of the faction playing. So that the charging Swedish infantry yells “kutt dem ned!” rather than “Cut ’em down!” The advisors should all be English however..

Of course, all factions cannot have their own language, it would have to be separated into language groups, with some variations within each of the factions in each group.
To illustrate, here is a suggestion on language distribution:

Languages. Factions

English: ...........................England*, Scotland rebels, 13 colonies.
French: ...........................France.
German: ..........................German states, Prussia*, Netherlands.
Slavic*2: .........................Russia*, Poland-Lithuania.
Latin: ..............................Spain*, Italia city states.
Scandinavian: ...................Sweden*, Denmark-Norway
Turkish: ...........................Ottoman Empire
Indian*3: .........................India factions
Native American*3: ............Indians, Mesoamericans.
African*3: ........................African Languages.

* The decisive accent
*2 Slavic languages may be split into west and east Slavic.
*3 Native languages, may be a lot more.

Technically, both the Ottoman and Mughal Empires were started by military conquests by Islamic Turkish invasions from the steppes of central Asia.

[Arngrim]

[QUOTE=A Norseman] ...My opinion is that all the ingame sounds should be in language of the faction playing. So that the charging Swedish infantry yells “kutt dem ned!” rather than “Cut ’em down!” The advisors should all be English however.. ...

QUOTE]

"Kutt dem ned!" Would for a Swede be a little confusing since the worlds would mean something like "Hunch downwards them!". The frase "cut them down!" should be translated to "Hugg ner dom!". Anyway, the swedish order for assault in the Great Northern War was "Medh Gudz hielp, buzzar - Gå På! (contemporay spelling). In English "With Gods Aid, boys - Onwards!"

BTW; advance and assault should take place in silence, according to the regulations. No "HORRAAY!!!", "YAAAH!!!" or "...hooting like monkeys..!"

[Intrepid Sidekick]

"BTW; advance and assault should take place in silence, according to the regulations. No "HORRAAY!!!", "YAAAH!!!" or "...hooting like monkeys..!"

This all depends on the nation doing the advancing/assault. But nice to know thats what Swedes did.

[A Norseman]

You are absolutely right Arngrim, however I was making an example, and as I did not know the exact Swedish spelling, I used my own language, trusting that the difference was insignificant in the international forum. As you might know “kutt dem ned” is Norwegian.

While accurate accents and languages will be wonderful and really authentic and all, I really doubt that hardly 10% of the people who buy the game will actually know if that which is being said is accurate or not save for statements made in their own language and accent which they know and can find faults in.
I for instance wouldn't know if the French replies the troops gave would be correct or not, as I'm sure many other wouldn't know that what the Mugal-Indian troops are saying is Hindi, Farsi or Urdu...........
01-10-2008 04:25

I see that as part of the fun, Hearing other languages than English, like French, Spanish, Indian languages and Native American for that sake. Different language will both build character for the Empire: total war game, Add historical realism *Prussians not speaking English in 1756* and help differ the factions in a time where the standardisation of the armies all over Europe was at its worst.

[Arngrim]

This all depends on the nation doing the advancing/assault. But nice to know thats what Swedes did.

I was reffering to the Swedes, but maybe i was a little inprecise. The reason for the Swedish silence (I believe) is that while Swedish batallions advanced very fast towards the enemy lines whitout fireing, the adversaries kept fireing continously by line, or more propable by this time, platoons. Blackpowder produces enormous amounts of white, stinking smoke, so on a windstill, or nearly so, day it would be like trowing smoke grenades just in front of you. Even in a windy day the visibility would be impaired after a couple of salvoes.

At seventy steps away from the enemy the rear two lines of the Swedish musketeers would step up beside the front two lines and fire a salvo. At thirty steps, the grenadieers would throw their grenades, and they and the front two rows of musketeers would fire. After that all musketeers and grenadiers would draw their rapiers, the pikeneers would lower their pikes and all would immediatly assault.

The psykological impact of suddenly facing hundreds of enemies coming out of the smoke, as from nowhere, in complete silence, just in front of you, would create much more "chock and awe" than if they had been screaming like football hooligans all the time. BTW commands would have been given in a calm and somber voice, no louder than absolutely necesary. No silly "prussian" screaming in falsetto, like your trousers is to snug.