POLL: Cussing?

[Joby]

What are your thoughts are on having cussing in the game? A strongly mature tone.

I've created a cussing idea in the Google Moderator: http://goo.gl/mod/QDqi

Please vote on it and leave your comments! Brian Fargo just walked up to me and asked... so this will definitely be heavily considered and incorporated in the game.

Thanks!

[The Beast Man]

If there is cussing, it should be used sparingly and to emphasize the vocal tone of the dialogue or a character's nature. AMC shows use cusswords sparingly with great effect. The Sopranos also used it sparingly and didn't make it feel like verbal porn.

[Preyer]

Well, cussing is natural, so I don't see any point in censoring it. If it's used too much it loses its power, but that's also something some people (too many?) do.

Used well, it can be great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sNZ7ulO1RQ (The Wire, season 1)

[Joby]

Thanks for the follow up, true... cussing can be a spectrum of use. I've added a poll with a scale of amount of use of cussing. Please let us get an idea of how much cussing you'd find acceptable.

[Atomkilla]

Cussing should be present, but only in dialogues with certain NPCs, and only when it's really needed (as to emphasize the frustration of a character etc.).
Adding it just enough so that it feels natural to characters and setting, but not so that it feels it's forced into dialogue or to vulgarize a good deal of NPCs. I believe FNV did this well, if I'm not wrong.

Oh, and no cussing in combat texts.

[Preyer]

As much as the writers want to use them?

Also one cool way to use cuss words is to make your own variations, like some scifi shows do. They use them continuously and before you know, they are a part of your vocabulary.

The best examples that come to my mind are Battlestar Galactica's frak and Firefly's gorram.

[The Beast Man]

As much as the writers want to use them?

Also one cool way to use cuss words is to make your own variations, like some scifi shows do. They use them continuously and before you know, they are a part of your vocabulary.

The best examples that come to my mind are Battlestar Galactica's frak and Firefly's gorram.

Yes. Language evolves, and the language used in the game would theoretically have evolved from 80s language and slang (we are going with the 80s theme, right? ). So in the game, it would make sense if cusswords were used but also insults that evolved from 80s insults like:
-buttmunch
-dickweed
-dweeb
-spazz
-hoser

Also, if it's set in SoCal, can't forget how prevalent Valley Girl talk was. "Like, ohmygod! WhatEVerrrrrrrrr. That's so grody." I think the language (and cusswords/insults) would've evolved from there.

[Tanglebones]

I think cussing should be situation appropriate, and different between NPCs. I mean, in my casual speech, I use "f-ing" like, once ever second sentence... more or less like an "ummm" (okay, so I'm a horrible person), but in a professional atmosphere, I drop it out entirely. In Fallout 2, Myron really stood out because he was just so excessively foul, but I think there's a place for maybe like a John Wayne type character, who doesn't really have a potty mouth so you really pay attention when he does swear.

[Flamekebab]

The idea of a post apocalyptic future without cussing is hard for me to imagine. I leave it in the writers hands as to when, and to what degree, to use it.

[Ausir]

I think Fallout 2 went a bit overboard with this, for example. The level of cussing in Fallout 1 was fine.

[Flamekebab]

I didn't even notice in Fallout 2. I only really notice in games where there's a great deal of spoken dialogue, to be honest.

[TwinkieGorilla]

What are your thoughts are on having cussing in the game? A strongly mature tone.

Just keep it realistic and don't arbitrarily add f-bombs in order to seem mature. It's easily recognized as a transparent attempt at covering up for poor writing talent (see ex. Fallout 3).

[undecaf]

What are your thoughts are on having cussing in the game? A strongly mature tone.

Just keep it realistic and don't arbitrarily add f-bombs in order to seem mature. It's easily recognized as a transparent attempt at covering up for poor writing talent (see ex. Fallout 3).

Agreed.

Although, I've heard people conversing in a casual manner and using half of their lines as all kinds of obscenities without even noticing it (and without being a tourette case). If excessive swearing fits with the personality of a given character, it should, imo, be done (though, of course, make it with care and not fill the game with such characters and thus making ridiculous).

[SniperHF]

Also one cool way to use cuss words is to make your own variations, like some scifi shows do. They use them continuously and before you know, they are a part of your vocabulary.

Yes. Language evolves, and the language used in the game would theoretically have evolved from 80s language and slang (we are going with the 80s theme, right? ). So in the game, it would make sense if cusswords were used but also insults that evolved from 80s insults like:
-buttmunch
-dickweed
-dweeb
-spazz
-hoser
.

I like both these ideas a lot. Also something to look at might be Planescape:Torment, where they created a whole vocabulary in the game world.

http://bootstrike.com/Torment/Online/tnfo7.php

[Crooked Bee]

I'm okay with some cussing as long as they don't overdo it.

[infestor]

Also one cool way to use cuss words is to make your own variations, like some scifi shows do. They use them continuously and before you know, they are a part of your vocabulary.

Yes. Language evolves, and the language used in the game would theoretically have evolved from 80s language and slang (we are going with the 80s theme, right? ). So in the game, it would make sense if cusswords were used but also insults that evolved from 80s insults like:
-buttmunch
-dickweed
-dweeb
-spazz
-hoser
.

I like both these ideas a lot. Also something to look at might be Planescape:Torment, where they created a whole vocabulary in the game world.

http://bootstrike.com/Torment/Online/tnfo7.php

i really liked the planes slang* in planescape: torment. it was done in a very nice way, couldnt get enough of it. i guess same can be possible for wasteland 2, why not?

*: " 'course i'll talk to her!
hey, i can bob a baatezu, charm an aasimon,
and get a modron to turn stag -
i can certainly talk to the lady of pain! "
— darel silvatong, rattling her bone-box for last time

[Jozape]

I like both these ideas a lot. Also something to look at might be Planescape:Torment, where they created a whole vocabulary in the game world.

http://bootstrike.com/Torment/Online/tnfo7.php

i really liked the planes slang* in planescape: torment. it was done in a very nice way, couldnt get enough of it. i guess same can be possible for wasteland 2, why not?

*: " 'course i'll talk to her!
hey, i can bob a baatezu, charm an aasimon,
and get a modron to turn stag -
i can certainly talk to the lady of pain! "
— darel silvatong, rattling her bone-box for last time

All you cutters are making me want to replay Torment. I'm supposed to be excited for Wasteland 2, sod it!

But yeah, I'd like to see a lot of setting specific slang. Loved it in PS:T. Just straight up usual 80s language would be good too though.

[Sycraft]

I'd say as much as necessary. Basically don't shy away from it, use it wherever appropriate, but don't go out of your way to put it in either. However the writers decide it should be, go with that. I find that the most authentic and best polished dialogue tends to be when it is used just as in real life. When games try to force lots of it in, it sounds, well forced. Likewise a total absence is unusual.

So whatever seems appropriate for a given character, go for it.

[TimeTrx]

Swearing is fine, just make sure its only used when needed, don't have a cuss every 3 words.

[purplespud]

This should be one of those things where initial game settings can adjust for the audience. Twist the virtual dial from sanitized to foul realisim. Let the user choose.

"We train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write "f***" on their airplanes because it's obscene!" Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, Apocolypse Now