Is it just me who took an automatic dislike to Duck?

edited June 2013 in The Walking Dead
I felt kind of bad that I could dislike a poor defensless little kid and not have a reason to back it up. I even kind of felt slightly ok that he turned into a walker and got shot in the head by his dad. I finished the game and watched Toy Story with my niece the day after.

I now know why I hated Duck so much. He is literally the identical twin of that evil shit that is known to all of us as Sid.
Did anyone else feel this way towards him or was it just my crazy deluded brain?

Comments

  • edited May 2013
    A ton of people, including myself, were not fond of Duck to begin with. Although, it seems popular opinion was somewhat swayed after Episode 3 came out. I'm not the only one who started to like Duck more after the whole detective thing.
  • edited May 2013
    Duck was the opposite from Clementine & also the scene at Hershel's farm did alot for nearly all of us to not like him (& Kenny).
  • edited May 2013
    My hatred towards Duck was automatic as well, as I hate kids. Clem, though, is an exception. :)
  • edited May 2013
    I didn't like him much at all either. I didn't let that influence any of my decisions(i chose to save Shawn for different reasons), though.
  • edited May 2013
    My brother said he really hated Duck and Kenny for some reason. I thought that was cruel; he's just a little boy. I didn't mind him, but looked after him since he was a kid. But when he revealed that he liked Batman and Robin, he kind of reminded me of me as a kid, and I took a real shine to him after that.
  • edited May 2013
    I never hated him, I liked him from the beginning but I thought he was amazing in Episode 3, which makes me think Telltale did that so we would like him, so his death would be that much sadder which worked on me.
  • edited May 2013
    I disliked that he was sort of responsible for Shaun's death (parked the tractor on his leg then just stared like a moron), but I wasn't happy about shooting him in episode 3. The detective thing did make me smile.
    I now know why I hated Duck so much. He is literally the identical twin of that evil shit that is known to all of us as Sid.

    I never noticed before! XD
  • edited May 2013
    I can't hate Duck; he's Robin.
  • edited May 2013
    Duck does...did...look like Sid haha I loved Duck my self, as soon as I saw him I thought no matter what I'm going to keep these two kids alive...I failed my original mission
  • edited May 2013
    That was one of many original missions I failed along with keep Kenny's family alive, keep Carley alive, and save Lee, but hay at least Clementine is still alive.
  • edited May 2013
    Cthulhu42 wrote: »
    I can't hate Duck; he's Robin.
    Exactly I can't hate Duck because he is a batman and robin fan. I wonder if he read any of the comics. Anyway to be honest I liked Duck there was just something funny about him and also because he Kenny cough my favourite character cough son.
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited May 2013
    The writers talked about Duck in an interview a while back, but damned if I can find it now. Jim Sterling sums up how I think more than a few players' feelings developed though:
    The character of Duck at first runs the risk of being the exact kind of character I’m critical of. When we first meet this secondary child, he’s annoying and quite stupid, yammering on about tractors and other banal topics. It’s not long before he’s grabbed by a walker and becomes the very burden Clementine manages to avoid being, and later finds himself at the center of an argument over whether or not he’s been bitten. However, by Episode Three, TellTale manages to craft Duck into an immensely likable character, playing on his annoying nature by turning it into a comedic trait, as he pesters Lee into being the Robin to his Batman. In investigating whether or not someone’s been stealing supplies from the group of survivors, Duck is not only funny, but actively useful in confirming the thefts.

    Full article: How Telltale’s The Walking Dead Makes You Think of the Children

    Basically at first the feedback on Duck was that players were kind of lukewarm about him. That wasn't awesome, because the writers had the events of episode 3 planned out, and for that stuff to hit you emotionally you really need to CARE about Duck. So they focused on adding some more interactions between Lee and Duck where you get to see more of the kid's likable side, including the whole "Batman and Robin" thing.

    That's one of the cool things about the episodic model - you can adapt to feedback like that as the game is being created.
  • edited May 2013
    I agree that is a advantage to episodic gaming, and by the way Puzzlebox, the Batman and Robin part of Episode 3 was nothing short of genius.
  • edited May 2013
    Well, that Batman and Robin part of Episode 3 was sorely needed, not just to make us care about Duck but to give us something other than all the heartbreak of that Episode. That was, literally, the only truly happy moment in the episode.
  • edited May 2013
    At best I was indifferent towards Duck. Anything he did didn't sway my opinion of him one way or another until he got bit. I never hated the kid but I did feel bad for him when he was dying.
  • edited May 2013
    puzzlebox wrote: »
    The writers talked about Duck in an interview a while back, but damned if I can find it now. Jim Sterling sums up how I think more than a few players' feelings developed though:



    Full article: How Telltale’s The Walking Dead Makes You Think of the Children

    Basically at first the feedback on Duck was that players were kind of lukewarm about him. That wasn't awesome, because the writers had the events of episode 3 planned out, and for that stuff to hit you emotionally you really need to CARE about Duck. So they focused on adding some more interactions between Lee and Duck where you get to see more of the kid's likable side, including the whole "Batman and Robin" thing.

    That's one of the cool things about the episodic model - you can adapt to feedback like that as the game is being created.


    for me,it worked ! it went from the start of trying to protect the kids,to actually liking Duck and listening to him,he was so full of life and energy...so to see the atmosphere and what he had turned into on the train,i felt very sad to see him like this,at the end of the day seeing him cared for by his mom was heartbreaking,good job telltale! great writing!
  • edited May 2013
    I agree Rock, I would say the Batman and Robin moment and talking with Carley are the only truly happy moments in Episode 3, and then they both die a hour later.
  • edited May 2013
    I think that running over Shawn only to appear happy-go-lucky a few hours later was a bit of a soured introduction, but I don't think I ever hated the kid. Though unlike Clementine, we didn't get much chance to properly interact with him until episode 3.

    His moment to be helpful and think that Lee was incredibly awesome was just enough for me to start warming up to him before the end. Then you see his hyperactivity effectively juxtaposed with him slowly dieing..
  • edited May 2013
    I had story notifications turned off, so I didn't see the "Duck thinks you are incredibly awesome" thing when I high fived him. When I found out about it later, I got really sad for some reason.
  • edited May 2013
    I liked that Clementine liked him, but apart from that, my feelings towards him were very much similar to Pewdiepie's. :/
  • edited May 2013
    I was more or less indifferent towards Duck, and at times annoyed. I figured he was there to fill the role of the stereotypical hyperactive, nagging child. But it was sad to see him go in Ep3.
  • edited May 2013
    I thought he was an irritating little turd and hated him for causing Shawn's death but he grew on me and I cried when he was killed off.
  • edited May 2013
    I do not think anyone hates Duck as much as Pewdiepie, and I think he was faking the hate.
  • edited May 2013
    Jspiteri wrote: »
    I felt kind of bad that I could dislike a poor defensless little kid and not have a reason to back it up. I even kind of felt slightly ok that he turned into a walker and got shot in the head by his dad. I finished the game and watched Toy Story with my niece the day after.

    I now know why I hated Duck so much. He is literally the identical twin of that evil shit that is known to all of us as Sid.
    Did anyone else feel this way towards him or was it just my crazy deluded brain?

    i thought he looked more like Andy

    2266716-ducknewclothes.pngandytoystory.jpeg
    toy_story_34_corde.jpg

    secret origin of how kenny was borne
    toy_story_duck_and_kenny_by_thestalkinghead-d5i889f.png
  • edited May 2013
    I thought he was annoying as well, basically filled the role of the annoying child you see in every video game, although i taken a liking to him on episode 3.

    About 6 minutes before he was bitten.
  • edited May 2013
    Not even the Batman thing could do it im sorry i was glad to shoot Duck in the head
    I know im a horrible person :(
  • edited May 2013
    Jspiteri wrote: »
    I felt kind of bad that I could dislike a poor defensless little kid and not have a reason to back it up. I even kind of felt slightly ok that he turned into a walker and got shot in the head by his dad. I finished the game and watched Toy Story with my niece the day after.

    I now know why I hated Duck so much. He is literally the identical twin of that evil shit that is known to all of us as Sid.
    Did anyone else feel this way towards him or was it just my crazy deluded brain?

    He reminded me a bit of the main bad guy-- so to speak-- in Toy Story I.
  • edited May 2013
    My hatred towards Duck was automatic as well, as I hate kids. Clem, though, is an exception. :)

    lol, man I havent seen honesty like that in a while. I didnt hate Duck, per se, as he was only doing what 10 yr old boys do: touch stuff and get into trouble.

    Kenny's attitude after the event is what really rubbed me the wrong way
  • edited June 2013
    pewdiepie!! he made me hate him. kill him!!!
  • edited June 2013
    fabi777 wrote: »
    pewdiepie!! he made me hate him. kill him!!!

    Kill who? PewdiePie or Duck? O_o

    And as for my answer, I was pretty indifferent towards him.

    I saved Shawn over Duck not because I didn't like the kid, but because I knew that Kenny was on his way to save his son and Hershel went off to get his gun, leaving no one around to save Shawn so I took up the resonsibility.

    My opinion of him improved in Episode 3 after we got to know him a little better, whats with being a fan of Batman and Robin and being helpful with the investigation of the missing supplies and all.
  • edited June 2013
    I honestly am not of fan of children in games since they are mostly annoying but for some reason I just did not hate Duck, and he was similar to the type of child that annoys,and do not get me wrong I don't hate kids it's just game children just annoy me more then real life, I guess he reminds me of my self when I was younger.
  • edited June 2013
    I dont know how TTG thought we were going to immediately warm up to Duck when he inadvertantly kills the person who saved us from certain death and gets us kicked from the 1st safe haven we find in the game. Not the best 1st impression and immediately the kid struck me as a dim bulb and trouble in the upcoming Eps- but kids are kids so I didnt hold it against him
  • edited June 2013
    It was not a happy intro for him but he was Clem's friend so I guess I could not hate him as everything the great Clementine likes is liked by me, which got me into trouble at a few points.
  • edited June 2013
    I didn't dislike Duck, but he does essentially lead to the death of Shawn, a guy who seems to take an instant liking to Lee.

    Mind you, the fact not a single one of the adults in the area mentioned that sticking a hyperactive child behind the wheel of a piece of heavy machinery might be a bad idea means it probably wasn't entirely down to him.

    He definitely redeems himself in Episode 3 and his death was a real surprise to me, one of the saddest moments in the game. It didn't help that I assumed he had infant immortality.
  • edited June 2013
    Everyone I've gotten to play the game and those I've watched play via YouTube have hated Duck from day 1, save for one. I myself liked him immensely upon introduction- I thought he was rather cute, if dumb.

    Just going to throw this out there - Duck gets a lot of hate for the tractor scene especially, but consider the fact that Shawn had to have either left the keys in the tractor or left it on for the whole thing to have even happened. Not exactly the smartest.
  • edited June 2013
    The Duck thinks you're totally awesome pop-up was awesome
  • edited June 2013
    I definitely liked him a lot more after he helped me find out if anyone had stolen medical supplies in the group even though I didn't accept his help but I wouldn't say I hated him or anything before that. If there was anything hindering our relationship it was my decision to save Shawn instead of him in the first episode.
  • edited July 2013
    I'll admit I don't really like kids, especially the obnoxious ones like Duck, but I still chose to save him over Shawn and I was nice to him. Even when I wanted to use him as zombie bait. Truthfully, I wasn't sad at all when he died. I felt sorry for his parents, but earlier at the motel, I remember wishing he would leave me alone. I know that sounds bad, but I like Clementine.
  • edited July 2013
    At first I thought Lee, Carley, Clementine and Duck would survive season 1...
  • edited July 2013
    thats why they make duck, just like they make clem cute to make your mind like her, it didn't work for me because im not a sheep
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