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Brain Age: bloody racist, or are you daft?

SimBenSimBen Hodor?Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
edited February 2008 in Games and Technology
How do you like my silly attempt at a Manchester accent?

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26197674&sid=6185557&action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;1
Gamespot wrote:
The BBC's consumer affairs programme Watchdog has run a report on the popular Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training [Brain Age in the US] game, investigating claims of virtual bias against local dialects.
It seems that those with strong regional accents, such as those found in Scotland or Manchester, are having some issues being understood by the good doctor.
A radio journalist from Manchester, Michelle Livesey, complained to the show that, "Basically you have to say the different colours that flash up on the screen as quickly as possible. I'm saying 'blue, blue, blue,' and it's saying 'no,' even though it was blue. Then it got to yellow. I'm going, 'yeller,' and everyone's saying to me you need to be a bit posher. You need to say 'yellow,' and as soon as I did, it picked it up."
Nintendo responded to the show's request for comment to say that the game recognises a wide range of accents and dialects, and that the voice recognition section makes up only a small amount of the game, and is "not integral to the overall enjoyment with such a software title."
In conclusion, it pointed DS users to the advice given in the game's manual...
1. The ideal distance to be from the Nintendo DS system when speaking into the microphone is about 20-30 cm (8-12 inches).
2. Be careful, as the microphone is very sensitive, and shouting or blowing may hinder the voice recognition.
3. The environment should be quiet.
4. Pronounce each word as clearly as possible, and try to avoid using strong dialects or accents.

So yeah. Mainstream media accuses game of intentional evil in a new blinding display of stupidity. What else is new. How are you this morning? Good? Did you see the show last night? Hold that thought, I'm gonna go get some coffee and bash my fucking skull in.

What the hell is a daft, anyway?

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SimBen on

Posts

  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I'm saying 'blue, blue, blue,' and it's saying 'no,' even though it was blue.
    Doesn't it do that for everyone?

    Couscous on
  • SimBenSimBen Hodor? Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    titmouse wrote: »
    I'm saying 'blue, blue, blue,' and it's saying 'no,' even though it was blue.
    Doesn't it do that for everyone?

    Titmouse, you have to say the color of the word, not the color that is the word. That's a common mistake, don't feel bad about it. ;)
    My French-Canadian blue does not pass the test either.

    SimBen on
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  • MumblyfishMumblyfish Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    SimBen wrote: »
    I'm going, 'yeller,' and everyone's saying to me you need to be a bit posher.
    I hate my country. I really do.

    Whaddaya meen speek English man what are ya a book faggot or summit?

    Mumblyfish on
  • BlueBlueBlueBlue Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Hey so I heard there was a thread that was about me?

    Anyway without having seen the Watchdog programme, all I can see is that a radio journalist played Brain Age and had trouble with the speaking part, which as titmouse said, everyone did.

    BlueBlue on
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  • Jam WarriorJam Warrior Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I didn't see said episode but given the nature of the program I'd imagine the bit in the show was rather tongue in cheek 'haha silly game can't understand our accents how amusing' rather than a vitriolic rant and accusations of 'racism against Yorkshiremen!'.

    Storm in a teacup time.

    Jam Warrior on
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  • SimBenSimBen Hodor? Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Given the nature of the program I'd imagine the bit in the show was rather tongue in cheek instead of a vitriolic rant and true accusations of racism.

    Was it? I can never tell with these cheeky English.

    Alternative punchline:

    Maybe the game would recognize her voice better if she got that tongue out of her cheek.

    SimBen on
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  • IgortIgort Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Given the nature of the program I'd imagine the bit in the show was rather tongue in cheek instead of a vitriolic rant and true accusations of racism.

    Have you seen Watchdog?

    It's not a very tongue-in-cheek show at all. But then again, I wouldn't say it was "a vitriolic rant" either.

    Igort on
  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Bah, Watchdog has gone down the tubes now anyway. It might as well be on Five.

    Willeth on
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  • LeitnerLeitner Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Igort wrote: »
    Given the nature of the program I'd imagine the bit in the show was rather tongue in cheek instead of a vitriolic rant and true accusations of racism.

    Have you seen Watchdog?

    It's not a very tongue-in-cheek show at all. But then again, I wouldn't say it was "a vitriolic rant" either.

    I saw some of it, it did seem awfully tongue in cheek. They had the guy from Bremmner Bird and Fortune doing various voices and then recommended how to get the best results. Hardly a vitriolic rant against it.

    Leitner on
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Next time I can't complete a game because it's too hard, I'm going to complain that it discriminates against me.

    darleysam on
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  • ÆthelredÆthelred Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    This is why we didn't get Hey You! Pikachu!

    Æthelred on
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  • LeitnerLeitner Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    darleysam wrote: »
    Next time I can't complete a game because it's too hard, I'm going to complain that it discriminates against me.

    Well if it doesn't react to your instructions because you're from up north, sure. Otherwise that's a pretty dumb analogy.

    Leitner on
  • SimBenSimBen Hodor? Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    This is why we didn't get Hey You! Pikachu!

    They would've had to rename it "Bloody hell! Pikacher!"

    SimBen on
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  • AxenAxen My avatar is Excalibur. Yes, the sword.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Hah! Yeah, Brain Age doesn't work to well for me with my accent either. My accent sounds like a stereotypical Canadian accent. Like the kind you hear on TV. Except we are not Canadians. Our speech is full of; Dat, Dere, Dis, and Eh. As in: "Dat dere deer was chew'n on dis bait pile, eh?" Which would be responded with: "Jah, eh."

    Axen on
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  • LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Whenever I buy pens, they always write scruffily.

    Pen manufacturers are discriminating against me for being dyslexic.

    LewieP on
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Leitner wrote: »
    darleysam wrote: »
    Next time I can't complete a game because it's too hard, I'm going to complain that it discriminates against me.

    Well if it doesn't react to your instructions because you're from up north, sure. Otherwise that's a pretty dumb analogy.

    Well, no, if I'm not good enough at a game, I learn what I'm doing wrong, then try to improve. If Brain Age doesn't like the way I pronounce a word, I'll pronounce it in a way that Brain Age registers.

    edit: Lewie, that's just mother nature's cruel joke, of which you are the victim.

    edit 2: I say victim, I mean punchline.

    darleysam on
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  • PataPata Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I had trouble getting Blue recognized too.

    And I'm an American!

    Gasp.

    Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?

    Pata on
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  • DodgeBlanDodgeBlan PSN: dodgeblanRegistered User regular
    edited February 2008
    BOMBU PERRU HARBOR

    DodgeBlan on
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  • SimBenSimBen Hodor? Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Pata wrote: »
    I had trouble getting Blue recognized too.

    And I'm an American!

    Gasp.

    Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?

    Maybe you need to pronounce it in a Japanese way.

    So, "Beru".

    SimBen on
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  • PataPata Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    SimBen wrote: »
    Pata wrote: »
    I had trouble getting Blue recognized too.

    And I'm an American!

    Gasp.

    Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?

    Maybe you need to pronounce it in a Japanese way.

    So, "Beru".

    Beru yerrow led

    Pata on
    SRWWSig.pngEpisode 5: Mecha-World, Mecha-nisim, Mecha-beasts
  • BamaBama Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Leitner wrote: »
    darleysam wrote: »
    Next time I can't complete a game because it's too hard, I'm going to complain that it discriminates against me.

    Well if it doesn't react to your instructions because you're from up north, sure. Otherwise that's a pretty dumb analogy.
    You're a dumb analogy!

    But seriously, the word "blue" in particular registers strangely in Brain Age. I started saying "boo," when I played and the Engrish "brew" also works IIRC. I have a pretty noticeable southern US accent, but I never though the game was engineered to make me look like a dumb hick. All of my friends, including one who grew up in Hawaii, had the same problem with the voice recognition.

    Bama on
  • SomestickguySomestickguy Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Mumblyfish wrote: »
    SimBen wrote: »
    I'm going, 'yeller,' and everyone's saying to me you need to be a bit posher.
    I hate my country. I really do.

    Whaddaya meen speek English man what are ya a book faggot or summit?

    You and me both.

    "Wot whud yer laaak wid yer cheps, luv?"

    Somestickguy on
  • SimBenSimBen Hodor? Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    She shat on a turtle!

    SimBen on
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  • NickTheNewbieNickTheNewbie Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    BA-LUE

    BA-LUE

    BA-LUE

    NickTheNewbie on
  • SkulkSkulk Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Brain age recognises my voice fine, but not my handwriting.

    Skulk on
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Mumblyfish wrote: »
    SimBen wrote: »
    I'm going, 'yeller,' and everyone's saying to me you need to be a bit posher.
    I hate my country. I really do.

    Whaddaya meen speek English man what are ya a book faggot or summit?

    You and me both.

    "Wot whud yer laaak wid yer cheps, luv?"

    "solvinagr?"

    "... I'm sorry?"

    "solvinagr?"

    ".... maybe?"

    darleysam on
    forumsig.png
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2008
    The radio journalist from Birmingham, meanwhile, feels the entire game discriminates against them because nobody in Birmingham can get their brain age below 70.


    Because they are from Birmingham and therefore dim, you see.


    Larf.


    (I'm joking, I love you brummies).

    But onto a more serious topic, Eastenders is on next. Don't have nightmares.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • SomestickguySomestickguy Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    darleysam wrote: »
    Mumblyfish wrote: »
    SimBen wrote: »
    I'm going, 'yeller,' and everyone's saying to me you need to be a bit posher.
    I hate my country. I really do.

    Whaddaya meen speek English man what are ya a book faggot or summit?

    You and me both.

    "Wot whud yer laaak wid yer cheps, luv?"

    "solvinagr?"

    "... I'm sorry?"

    "solvinagr?"

    ".... maybe?"
    I had worse on a bus.

    "adool oo chow?"

    Try and guess what that means.

    It's easier when written down.

    Man, I didn't recognise what he said till 15 minutes later.

    Somestickguy on
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Haven't got a clue..

    But yeah, I've got Brain Age, I've had it fail to recognise me when I say or write some things, and all I do is try to pronounce or write it more clearly next time. This is my approach to any game, if I find something I do isn't working, I adapt to something that does. To complain that it discriminates because my approach doesn't work is petty and stupid. It sounds like the Watchdog thing wasn't entirely serious, which is good.

    darleysam on
    forumsig.png
  • SimBenSimBen Hodor? Hodor Hodor.Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    darleysam wrote: »
    Mumblyfish wrote: »
    SimBen wrote: »
    I'm going, 'yeller,' and everyone's saying to me you need to be a bit posher.
    I hate my country. I really do.

    Whaddaya meen speek English man what are ya a book faggot or summit?

    You and me both.

    "Wot whud yer laaak wid yer cheps, luv?"

    "solvinagr?"

    "... I'm sorry?"

    "solvinagr?"

    ".... maybe?"
    I had worse on a bus.

    "adool oo chow?"

    Try and guess what that means.

    It's easier when written down.

    Man, I didn't recognise what he said till 15 minutes later.

    Adult or child?

    SimBen on
    sig.gif
  • SomestickguySomestickguy Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    SimBen wrote: »
    I had worse on a bus.

    "adool oo chow?"

    Try and guess what that means.

    It's easier when written down.

    Man, I didn't recognise what he said till 15 minutes later.

    Adult or child?

    *BING BING BING BING BING*

    We have a winner!

    Somestickguy on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2008
    SimBen wrote: »
    I had worse on a bus.

    "adool oo chow?"

    Try and guess what that means.

    It's easier when written down.

    Man, I didn't recognise what he said till 15 minutes later.

    Adult or child?

    *BING BING BING BING BING*

    We have a winner!

    Who was driving the bus? Sloth?

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • bruinbruin Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    The handwriting and voice recognition in Brain Age 2 is much better, I almost never have had problems with it

    bruin on
  • DangerousDangerous Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Hahaha holy shit, this thread reminded me of a hilarious incident. One morning I woke up when I heard some shouting. In a house of 6 people it's not that unusual, but for some reason this was different. It sounded like my father shouting at the top of his lungs "RRRRREEDDDDDDD BLUBLU BALUUUUE". I thought he was having a fucking stroke or something so I ran upstairs to call 911.

    Anyway he had borrowed my sister's DS for some brain age, and being old, he decided that when it didn't understand him the only course of action was to yell over and over at the top of his lungs at it. Damn vidja games!

    Dangerous on
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  • RaginRossRaginRoss Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I've not got the strongest Glaswegian accent in the world, but i've not had any major problems with the voice recognition.

    It copes pretty well with my handwriting as well, even though it bears a close resemblance to a drunk spider coated in ink wandering about a piece of paper in an earthquake...

    RaginRoss on
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  • GeeeeeoffGeeeeeoff Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I usually okay at the speech recognition stuff... it's my handwriting that kills me. It should have you initialize you handwriting by printing the alphabet and the numbers 0-9 before you "play".

    My most amusing story: one time I wrote the word "town" and I got credit for the word "luck".

    Geeeeeoff on
  • RamiRami Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I don't see why this even needs talking about, just another media circus over something they know nothing about.

    Rami on
  • paco_pepepaco_pepe Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    god dammit brain age! its a 1, not a 7!!

    paco_pepe on
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  • slash000slash000 Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Most people's problem is that they hold the DS way to damn close to their face. And then when the game doesn't recognize "Blue", they respond by both bringing the system closer to their face and yelling louder.

    When they should be holding further from their facing and speaking at a more regular vocal volume.

    slash000 on
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