[General Discussion] Video Game Commentary

Like DVD commentary, but in a videogame that you can play and listen to!

Either you have a continuous commentary automatically once you reach certain points, or they are markers throughout the game or pop ups on your screen to activate it.

I was actually unaware about any games having such a feature until recently.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Butcher Bay has it. 4 and a half hours worth!
Riddick Gets Map Pack, 'Commentary Mode' DLC - Shacknews - PC Games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads And they made this in 2004.

And I heard Orange Box does as well.
Orange Box designer commentary. Significant Bits


I have not listened to either, but should this not become more common in games. This seems like a great feature for us video game nerds. Are there any other games AT ALL with this feature? And why don't you think it has not become more common, especially with AAA titles like Halo or Metal Gear?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'd figure this is what streaming video games online is for, but nice to see that you could program certain parts into commentary for games.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I listened to some of the orange box's and its a nice insight into how they develop the games and what goes through the mind as they are designing the level, enemy placement, music, etc., For that alone I like the whole concept.

I think a DLC of Free Commentary should certainly be made in the future for more games... could even turn into an entire cottage industry if done right. However, not every game would adapt to it well, so depends on the title.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I actually found a decent informative article about what I was talking about. Game Developers Tell All In Audio Commentary - Video Games News Story | MTV

It talks with Valve and Factor 5 and the first commentary.

here is a quote from the article that gives an explanation of why there isn't more of them...

Quote:

What will it take to get more game makers to spill like this? The most significant obstacle is time. Movie directors have the luxury of recording commentary for DVDs that arrive months after their film is completed and released in theaters. Game makers, if they want to include commentary with their title, need to record it in the 11th hour of a game's development, right at crunch time. Insomniac Games has included a behind-the-scenes interactive "museum" in two of the company's four "Ratchet and Clank" games, but has never provided an audio commentary. Company president Ted Price told MTV News that he's wanted to since the first "Ratchet" game, but never thought they'd have the space on their game disc and never planned early enough to record it. "Ironically our conversation now is providing the impetus for me to go back to our guys for our next title and say, 'Let's start working on it right now,' " he said. (Insomniac fans, he's talking about the game after "Resistance.")

One way developers could get around the timing problem would be to offer commentary as an after-release download, the kind of so-called micro-transaction that publishers currently reserve for bonus cars and multiplayer maps that, for a few dollars, can be tacked onto a game a few weeks after a game is released.

I would definitely buy them if they release it after. I would love an in depth RPG one.

WIKI's list of confirmed commentaries.

* Half-Life 2: Lost Coast
* Half-Life 2: Episode One
* Half-Life 2: Episode Two
* Left 4 Dead
* Portal
* Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
* Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
* Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
* Team Fortress 2
* The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
* Tomb Raider Anniversary

half are Valve. The butcher bay one I am going through now. Good stuff, besides not being able to make out the occasional word because of their accents.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

The only commentaries I personally care for are ones that are actually FUN to listen to: Directors talking to actors. Anecdotes are much better than tech speak, IMHO.

I don't think we can get those with games. Give me "deleted scenes" instead, plz.

I was speaking idiomatically.