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The game designer for a day winners leave much to be desired

Mad MageMad Mage
edited August 2009 in Tales of Monkey Island
Okay, you guys know the game designer for a day contest telltale is running?

http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/contest

What do you think of the jokes that have won so far? Now I've gathered that the point of this contest is to get people to blog/twitter about Tales of Monkey Island. Which is fine. But it does mean that those who get the most friends to go to the site and vote will win, rather than having the jokes picked on their own merit.

Think I'm wrong? let's look at some of the winners. As a reminder, these are wrongings people will say Guybrush has committed.

I've a very thin friend, and every time that Guybrush meets him he tells "Murray?"

He insulfeated me in a major sword fight by claiming that my fighting skills were equivalent to George Bushes language skills.

Look into me eye. Do ye see me eye? Aye? Do ye? Well, I used to have TWO!

Despite humor being subjective, these range from not funny to both stupid and not funny. I'd be embarrassed to release a game with humor like this. Yes, all the Monkey Island games have had at least a few bad jokes, but I really don't think these particular jokes should be included in Tales.

What's even sadder is that some people made some really clever submissions that didn't win (mine wasn't special though; that's not what I'm getting at).

What do you guys think?
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Comments

  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited August 2009
    I think the leaderboards in the contest were a total joke and would have much preferred Telltale just pick 5 of their favorite each week and let us vote on them the following week or something like that.
  • ivan11111ivan11111
    edited August 2009
    Having actually won with "He sold me these not-so-fine leather jackets" only because i was the first of oh, so many to make that joke, I was a bit surprised at the quality. There were many of hillarious ones that were passed over. I did not win by vote but was on there by the telltale pick. I wonder if there could've been some sort of top five and then vote, as said by the previous poster. However, I won't complain, as I'm quite excited about hopefully seeing my joke in the game!
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    Yes, you'll note I didn't quote the jacket joke for a reason. While it is a bit cliche, there's nothing wrong with it, and it's appropriate to the situation described.
  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited August 2009
    Also, what the hell does "insulfeated" mean?
  • Super BoscoSuper Bosco
    edited August 2009
    Yeah, I think this was a tough competition to do mainly because of the variety of things you could think of. What puzzled me the most is people putting things that happened to specific characters in the past. It's not like these characters have been confirmed to be back in this series, or if they'll even say the line of dialogue. Otherwise it'd be strange to hear about the same incident twice. I tried to make mine the funniest and sensible possible but failed on most of em'. If the jokes that we got aren't too good, I think I'd rather have the minds at Telltale contemplate em' for a guaranteed laugh. Luckily, the ones Telltale picked aren't so bad so I can't complain.
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    As long as we are on the subject, can someone explain this one to me?

    I've a very thin friend, and every time that Guybrush meets him he tells "Murray?"

    Now I know Murray is the talking skull seen in MI3 and 4. But why would Guybrush mistake a "thin person" for a skull? is it because skeleton's are thin? Am I forgetting something from MI4 that would make this joke make sense? Did the submitter mean to say "says" instead of "tells"? So many questions. Assuming I am not crazy, and this joke is the dumbest thing ever, can anyone explain how it got voted to winner status?
  • TheMandingoTheMandingo
    edited August 2009
    Someone's submission said something along the lines of "He buckled my swash... improperly!"

    I think that not only was it funny, but it's the kind of joke I could totally see in a Monkey Island game.
  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage wrote: »
    As long as we are on the subject, can someone explain this one to me?

    I've a very thin friend, and every time that Guybrush meets him he tells "Murray?"

    Now I know Murray is the talking skull seen in MI3 and 4. But why would Guybrush mistake a "thin person" for a skull? is it because skeleton's are thin? Am I forgetting something from MI4 that would make this joke make sense? Did the submitter mean to say "says" instead of "tells"? So many questions. Assuming I am not crazy, and this joke is the dumbest thing ever, can anyone explain how it got voted to winner status?

    Probably by cheating.
  • Super BoscoSuper Bosco
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage I think tells is an old way saying says. I understand the joke but I don' think it makes sense either. I liked that one as well Mandingo, it was short and sweet and funny in its own way.
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    Yes, based on the guidelines given, it sounds as if these will be things random characters shout out, condemning Guybrush. Thus, short, catchy one-liners are probably all that is suitable.

    I shudder to think that one such line will be a long build up, only to end in a half-assed Bush joke. And not a clever Bush Joke at that. Not to mention Bush jokes are now dated, and really inappropriate for a swashbuckling adventure.
  • SurplusGamerSurplusGamer
    edited August 2009
    TheMandingo wrote: »
    Someone's submission said something along the lines of "He buckled my swash... improperly!"

    I think that not only was it funny, but it's the kind of joke I could totally see in a Monkey Island game.

    Thanks! :) I think that one was mine, and going from memory I think it was

    'He buckled my swash... incorrectly!'

    But, yeah, close enough.
  • EduardoEduardo
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage wrote: »
    Okay, you guys know the game designer for a day contest telltale is running?

    http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/contest

    What do you think of the jokes that have won so far? Now I've gathered that the point of this contest is to get people to blog/twitter about Tales of Monkey Island. Which is fine. But it does mean that those who get the most friends to go to the site and vote will win, rather than having the jokes picked on their own merit.

    Think I'm wrong? let's look at some of the winners. As a reminder, these are wrongings people will say Guybrush has committed.

    I've a very thin friend, and every time that Guybrush meets him he tells "Murray?"

    He insulfeated me in a major sword fight by claiming that my fighting skills were equivalent to George Bushes language skills.

    Look into me eye. Do ye see me eye? Aye? Do ye? Well, I used to have TWO!

    Despite humor being subjective, these range from not funny to both stupid and not funny. I'd be embarrassed to release a game with humor like this. Yes, all the Monkey Island games have had at least a few bad jokes, but I really don't think these particular jokes should be included in Tales.

    What's even sadder is that some people made some really clever submissions that didn't win (mine wasn't special though; that's not what I'm getting at).

    What do you guys think?

    Aren't they doing that in a way? I thought the second lines of each week, the ones with the TTG where picked by the company's staff.

    The Bush one is horrible, sorry to whoever wrote it.
  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited August 2009
    Eduardo wrote: »
    Aren't they doing that in a way? I thought the second lines of each week, the ones with the TTG where picked by the company's staff.

    The Bush one is horrible, sorry to whoever wrote it.

    Yeah it's utterly awful, and I wish Telltale would just drop it from the competition entirely.
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    You're right, Eduardo. It does look like Telltale is picking the 2nd one each week. Heh, my third example of the 'bad ones' is actually one Telltale picked.
  • SpadgeSpadge
    edited August 2009
    I would have liked a rating sistem when you can rate every joke from 5 to 1.
    Some of the top jokes don't work at all. A George Bush joke might work in Sam&Max or something set in modern times, but for a pirate game it's pretty lame. Even my joke (Something like "He keelhauled my fine washables.") made more sence than that.
  • EduardoEduardo
    edited August 2009
    Telltale will post Submitted Material from certain Contest entrants on its website, telltalegames.com. From all Contest entries, Telltale reserves the right to select only a limited number of entries that may be posted to the website or to select no entries. One winner will be selected from among the entries submitted that week based on the highest number of votes received. Telltale may advise prospective voters of criteria upon which selection will be based. Additionally, Telltale reserves the right to select a different weekly finalist or no weekly finalist at all from among the entrants to the Contest that week if Telltale determines that such finalist's Submitted Material does not meet Telltale's quality and creative standards for written material in its games, as determined in its sole discretion

    Just saying.
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    Dude, Telltale: USE THAT RESERVED RIGHT.

    ...please?
  • SpadgeSpadge
    edited August 2009
    Oh, well I can sleep safely then.
  • SurplusGamerSurplusGamer
    edited August 2009
    They would have been insane not to include such a caveat in the rules...

    But the thing remains that it seems a shame that the contest was set up this way in the first place - the obvious ulterior goal of generating publicity for the game by making it a popularity contest is distinctly at odds with the prize of ending up with something worth putting into the game.
  • MarzhinMarzhin
    edited August 2009
    On the other hand, we can assume the line will be said by a random secondary character and not any of the main cast. So even if the winner is not the funniest line ever, I doubt it will damage the overall quality of the game.
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    I liked "He sunk my battleship". I wish that had won.
  • MarzhinMarzhin
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage wrote: »
    I liked "He sunk my battleship". I wish that had won.

    Sorry to ask, but... What is so funny or clever about it ? It looks like a fairly unimaginative line to me, or is there some subtlety or pun I don't get ?
  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited August 2009
    Marzhin wrote: »
    Sorry to ask, but... What is so funny or clever about it ? It looks like a fairly unimaginative line to me, or is there some subtlety or pun I don't get ?

    They used to say it in the commercials for the board game "Battleship"
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    Yup, just a pop culture reference that's somewhat clever because it can have a double meaning within the Monkey Island world, in that Guybrush could have literally sunk the guy's battleship, or perhaps the guy is just pissed that Guybrush beat him at the game Battleship.

    Man, jokes suck when you explain them.
  • Astro GnocciAstro Gnocci
    edited August 2009
    Man, jokes suck when you explain them.

    This should be the dictionnary's definition of the word "joke".
  • MarzhinMarzhin
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage wrote: »
    Yup, just a pop culture reference that's somewhat clever because it can have a double meaning within the Monkey Island world, in that Guybrush could have literally sunk the guy's battleship, or perhaps the guy is just pissed that Guybrush beat him at the game Battleship.

    Man, jokes suck when you explain them.

    So true ^^
    Thanks for the explanation, I understand better why so many people seem to like that line.

    Just to come clean about it, my line was meant to make reference to the tatoo parlor in Grim Fandango (in which you must make a sailor drunk in order to steal him) and something that actually happened in real life (a belgian girl accused a tatoo artist to have tatooed her face while she was asleep).
  • Mad MageMad Mage
    edited August 2009
    Oh, I had thought it was in reference to something dumb American (possibly other countries as well) kids do at parties. When their friend drinks to the point of passing out, they draw a penis on his face. Yes, I realize it is stupid, but it happens.
  • milesmiles
    edited August 2009
    I think it would be in very poor taste to use the Bush joke, but that's just my two cents. I don't care about whether someone's making fun of him (it's been done to death), but I don't think it has any place in a Monkey Island game.
  • SirBlueFlikSirBlueFlik
    edited August 2009
    "Threepweed? He couldn't even pronounce my surname properly."
    I know, why didn't I win?
    Completely agree though, the ones on the leaderboard are pretty awful. They're not really funny and they don't really reference any past/other games to the potential that some of the other entries do.
  • Jace TaranJace Taran
    edited August 2009
    I was kind of dissapointed that they closed the entries; I had one more I would have liked to enter.
  • bigdondoobigdondoo
    edited August 2009
    You write it! You vote on it! You complain about it!

    Really?! Complaining about the quality of a fan submitted and voted on contest. Really?!

    I'm willing to say that everyone who's complaining is just bitter they didn't win.
  • MarzhinMarzhin
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage wrote: »
    Oh, I had thought it was in reference to something dumb American (possibly other countries as well) kids do at parties. When their friend drinks to the point of passing out, they draw a penis on his face. Yes, I realize it is stupid, but it happens.

    Lol
    Now I think I understand why some people seem to hate my entry so much (especially on the mixnmojo boards)
  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited August 2009
    bigdondoo wrote: »
    You write it! You vote on it! You complain about it!

    Really?! Complaining about the quality of a fan submitted and voted on contest. Really?!

    I'm willing to say that everyone who's complaining is just bitter they didn't win.

    I'm willing to bet that everyone who's on the leaderboard cheated their way there, because almost all the entries that were on the leaderboard are horrendous, not to mention that the "he tells Murray" one was on there for more than one week.
  • Super BoscoSuper Bosco
    edited August 2009
    I guess I might as well share my leftover quotes that I didn't have the chance to put in:

    "He told me he was he was a mighty pirate so he could see my autograph book and signed over Dominic Armato's signature!"

    "He told me I should be the decorator for his ship because I have an eye for detail.... I'm blind!"

    "He swabbed my poopdeck... with a dirty mop!"- Someone else might have done something similar, which was one of the reasons I debated whether or not to put it up.
  • Lennie MelvinLennie Melvin
    edited August 2009
    How about; "He ruined the next Monkey Island game with his stupid jokes"?

    Okay, okay I'm sure it won't ruin the game but some of those jokes were bad...
  • Astro GnocciAstro Gnocci
    edited August 2009
    How about; "He ruined the next Monkey Island game with his stupid jokes"?

    Reminds me of mine : "He ruined the Monkey Island Series !"
    It was pretty bad and wouldn't have been fun at all in the game, but i was seeing so many "telltale ruined MI!!!1!1" threads that i couldn't resist :p
  • ivan11111ivan11111
    edited August 2009
    Just to help out, and not that i think it was that funny but i did understand it, "Insulfeated" is a mixture of the words "insulted" and "defeated". I didn't write it, and I'm glad I didn't. Just helping out here.
    Also, the one about Murray, i guess if the friend was inordinately thin then they mightn't have seen his body, just his head, so they might've mistaken him for a skull? I agree, Lame.
  • Angel SummonerAngel Summoner
    edited August 2009
    Mad Mage wrote: »
    Okay, you guys know the game designer for a day contest telltale is running?

    http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/contest

    I've a very thin friend, and every time that Guybrush meets him he tells "Murray?"

    He insulfeated me in a major sword fight by claiming that my fighting skills were equivalent to George Bushes language skills.

    Look into me eye. Do ye see me eye? Aye? Do ye? Well, I used to have TWO!



    What do you guys think?


    I'm sure there's been a mistake, and these are actually the worst entries, in line for some sort of comedy consolation prize, right? Either that or I'm a lot funnier than I thought I was before I read this thread. :D
  • tim333tim333
    edited August 2009
    I thought all along that having the winners decided by vote was a terrible idea. The contest itself, no - there are at least a few fans out there who can write clever enough lines. But trusting all of us to vote for the best? Yikes, no.

    By the way, why did you include the "eye" one with the bad examples? That one's pretty funny, it contains comedic misdirection and a punchline, which is more than I can say for a lot of the entries.
  • Jace TaranJace Taran
    edited August 2009
    I liked the entry that said, "He caught my girlfriend's eye, and it was a different color when he returned it!"
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