I wouldn't say "Quite often".
Well, i would ... and i did. ¯\_(?)_/¯
It's no more weird than having a character stare blankly at others who then start talking based on... You telepathically communicating to them?
Thats why there is no reason to swap camera on your character in dialogue. :P
In either case, the character is created for you.
Nah ...
One is created for you, the other is created by you ... there is difference.
the dialogue options are pre-created.
*extremely slowly said, In voice of Alan Rickman*
Obviously.
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Now when you mention it Rag... I don't think I can think of an RPG that wouldn't run into this problem.
Yup, that was my point.
As far as i know, so far nobody invented any other way to do voiced lines than one of those two.
I am pretty sure Mass Effect was the game that figure out how to do fully voiced protagonist aka. selection of short descriptors with a lot of illusion or choice (aka, three lines to choose from, after which protagonists said the same thing anyway).
Indeed ...
But that is bcs you are not actually making *a choice* in Mass Effect ... that game, if you think about it, is very strictly railroaded and all you can "choose" (for lack of a better word) is emotions of your protagonist.
You never "choose" if your Shepard will be a Hero or Missfit ... even tho, BioWare wants you to feel that way ... you are allways a Hero, all you can pick is that if you are going to be Smooth Hero, Rough Hero, or Silly Hero.
I don't think I have seen a game that tried no2. (giving full written text, and than rereading it after player picks one).
I only seen this thing in Fallout 4 ... after people moded it to have classic full text.
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The only benefit that non-voiced has, is your ability to imagine your character has a totally different voice
Have you ever wondered why AI voices sounds so dull?
*hint* Maaaaaybe its bcs in our speech patterns, other things than just words play a role?
And thats the thing ...
With voiced protagonist, this all is picked for you and you can do nothing about it.
With silent, its up to you to fill the gasps.
NO ...
obviously you cant say anything that isnt prepared for you ...
BUT! And this is the important part, you can imagine you said it however you want.
Prime example here is Astarion ... (funny when you think about it, we are NPC in that conversation)
When you first meet him, and go on with his dialogue ... wich you are forced to do, bcs nobody in Larian have balls big enough to actually allow you to smack his smug face ...
You get to the point, where he apologies ... and once again you have to accept it ...
Personaly i HATE this part of that dialogue, first of all bcs you have no other option than to accept it (since even if you dont, the scene goes on as if you did, as i stated thousand times ... really bad writing sometimes) but mainly, bcs Astarion VOICEACTOR ... makes him sound like he apologized bcs he simply have to, but didnt mean a single word about it.
And that my dear, is the benefit of silent protagonist.
I do apologize ... bcs that is dialogue option im going to pick.
But i can apologize in mean way, in mocking way, in honest way, i can do that angrily, calmly, diplomaticly ... the options are limitless.
With Voiced, all those stuff are picked for you and there is nothing you can do about it.
//Edit:
Few more points:
Of course ...
Lets not forget about that tiny biny insignificant detail ... that voice acting is quite usualy (i would dare to say almost all the time) THE most expensive thing in game development.
Also ...
I would dare to say that is well known fact that in voiced games, your dialogue options often tend to be MUCH more limited than in silent ones.
And last but not least ...
You and OP are talking here about Immersion and stuff ... those are cute excuses, for certain specific characters.
But once you leave that area:
Can you please point me towards "immersive" voice for a Half-Orc or a Dwarf in this game? :P
