larrymurk
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It appears no one likes the voice used for Beethro in Odd Jobs, so I'm willing to insert new voice clips. Problem is, I still need a good substitute voice. I figure anyone interested in auditioning can just respond on this thread and attach their sample (any format and/or zipping fine). The voice can be an imitation of the real Beethro or it can be any voice you think would sound good. You can submit as many voices as you want.

Here's some sample dialog. Read as much as you'd like, maybe just the first lines if your trying many voices.

People can also comment on what voices they like, but I'd like people to wait a week or so before commenting/voting.


Guard: Welcome to Sgt. Tark's Odd Job Agency, what can I do you for?

Beethro: Well, I'm looking for a job.

Guard: Then you came to the right place soldier. What's your name?

Beethro: Beethro Budkin.

Guard: You got any experience Budkin?

Beethro: Yeah, I'm an exterminator.

Guard: Hah, you're the guy who cleaned out the king's dungeon aren't you?

Beethro: Yup.

Guard: As a matter of a fact you've exterminated just about every dungeon, cellar, basement, what have ya in the entire kingdom haven't ya?

Beethro: That's why I'm here.

Guard: No more critters to slice up so you came to Sgt Tark's to find some work..

Guard: I don't know that I can find you any exterminating Mr. Budkin...

Guard: Let's see here, you can clean out a harmonica.

Beethro: A harmonica?

Guard: You do know what a harmonica is don't you?

Beethro: Yeah.

Guard: I'm not asking you to play the doggone tootin' thing.

Guard: Sounds like a kid got some junk stuck in his harmonica.

Guard: Just clean it out and get back here on the double.

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[Last edited by larrymurk at 12-16-2005 08:09 PM]

vAmpir
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I LIKED THE VOICE!!! For me it sounds much more Beethroish than the original! I mean it realy!

larrymurk
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Thanks vAmpir, I thought it was OK too (or I wouldn't have used it). The only comments I've heard up to this point have been negative. What to do? I want to make the fans happy.

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[Last edited by larrymurk at 12-16-2005 08:56 PM]

vAmpir
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It's OK. The voice in odd jobs series sounds for me more closer to the image that I have for Beethro. I'm sorry for the lack of my comments, but I was in the hurry and didn't realy have time to post. I desided to give my opinion when I finish thé Expert version but now I see it's somehow too tough for me. According to the voice again, it is also original. And I think this is mportant. Shouldn't be undertaken the hudge work that you invest in designing these holds. The fans have to be heard out but if this voice agrees whit your vision I think you have to keep it as it is. Don't underrate your own work!

One more thing. Usualy I switch off the sound when I play drod. Odd jobs I've played WITH sound

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[Last edited by vAmpir at 12-16-2005 10:14 PM]

Blondbeard
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Avtually I too liked Beethros voice. It is kind of fun that he sound so... stupid... Fun and a bit insulting, but you gladly forgive that since it's so lovingly done. What I didn't like though was the voice of sergent for some of the later rooms. it's a voice that makes my ears hurt. Just a bit, but it still isn't a good thing.

larrymurk
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OK folks, that at least makes a tie me + 2 for it, 3 people against it. Let's just leave things as is for now. Sorry to bother everyone.

Chaco
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Am I counted in the "ear-hurtingly bad" column?

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Oneiromancer
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I didn't like Beethro's voice either. But I just disable voices when I play that hold. I play the holds for the puzzles, and they were good, and I really liked the Sergeant's voice, but not Beethro's. I'm surprised the testers didn't say anything, honestly, but perhaps the voices were added at the end and they didn't listen to them.

Everyone who I've talked to who didn't like Beethro's voice still enjoyed the hold and its puzzles very much. They just played with the sound down or the voices off at least. So I don't think anyone's not going to play the hold because of that. Obviously some people like the voice a lot, so there's no way you're going to please everyone. Do whatever you like best!

Game on,

____________________________
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eytanz
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I found the voice very amusing the first few times I heard it, but it kind of grated after several dialogues. The main issue isn't the voice itself, but the intonation - he sounds like English isn't his first language. The same actor, using the same voice but talking a bit more naturally would be easier to listen to, but still pretty funny, I think.

But I agree with Onieromancer, I just skipped the dialogues and concentrated on the great puzzles. Especially in medium/expert (which I'm just beginning), I just didn't bother with the dialogues at all since they were the same as novice.

vAmpir - just curious, since I saw you are from Germany - are you a native speaker of English? I have a feeling that if someone didn't grow up in an English-speaking environment, then the voice might not sound so unnatrually cartoonish to them.

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[Last edited by eytanz at 12-17-2005 11:17 AM]

Blondbeard
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You might have a point there. I'm not english either. I remember playing dungeon keeper translated to swedish severel years ago, and it sounded like crap.

Stefan
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As a tester of this hold, I have to say that I only ever heard the voice of the Sergeant during testing (and I thought that one was ok). Beethro's voice was added at a late stage, and when it was added, the hold ID had changed (meaning that the hold was treated as a different hold by DROD). Because of this, I didn't even notice that the hold had been updated with Beethro's voices until after the hold was released. I haven't heard the final version yet (I usually play with sounds disabled, except when playtesting new holds), so I can't really express my opinion on it yet.

On an unrelated note, I didn't like the change (removal of ortho squares in SE) in L14 (Scuba Dive, (at least in Expert version, I haven't had the time to play the others yet (after the release))). It's far too easy now.

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[Last edited by Stefan at 12-17-2005 03:33 PM : No reason.]

Chaco
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Stefan wrote:
On an unrelated note, I didn't like the change (removal of ortho squares in SE) in L14 (Scuba Dive, (at least in Expert version, I haven't had the time to play the others yet (after the release))). It's far too easy now.

Of course it's easy to you, Mr. I Killed Five Rows of Guards And Lived

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Banjooie
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I think the most jarring thing was hearing it after the sargeant. HE'S great. That's a very lively voice.

And then, all of a sudden, it's like someone slipped Beethro a cocktail of sedatives.

I dunno if it's worth the effort to completely re-do the voices, I'll just play with the voices off.

larrymurk
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1. Testers didn't hear the Beethro voice. It was added after the last version was posted for testing.

2. My first choice was to use the "real" Beethro voice. Beethro is actually voiced by a professional voice actor so I went to option #2. Option #2 was asking a fellow Drod player who is believed to do a fine Beethro if he could do the part. Unfortunately this person was very busy at the time so next came option #3. I didn't feel my brother or I did Beethro justice, so we decided to use a new voice entirely. I suppose I'll keep the voice as-is for now.

As per Stefan's unrelated point about the Expert Scuba level.. Yes, I did make it a few moves easier. The original ending was so exacting that it actually scared me every time I went to playtest it. Admittedly, Stefan did solve it the hard way without a hint. Go figure.

Yellow_Mage
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Beethro sounds like Banjo from that N64 game.

I didn't quite like Beethro voice either. It's gets irritating after some time and it doesn't seem to fit his character. While the sarg's voice is excellent, Beethro's voice doesn't have the same quality, which can be detracting. I listened thro it it all, and I was entertained how Beethro and Banjo where so alike . Some things can be bad (it wasn't that bad) and entertaining I suppose.

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vAmpir
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eytanz wrote:

vAmpir - just curious, since I saw you are from Germany - are you a native speaker of English? I have a feeling that if someone didn't grow up in an English-speaking environment, then the voice might not sound so unnatrually cartoonish to them.

Yes, English is not my native language but Beethro sounds quite unnaturaly for me too. However, just look on his picture! What is natural in this guy He has to sound like that!

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[Last edited by vAmpir at 12-19-2005 08:30 AM]