Tts

SandMan · 05-27-2010, 10:09 AM

Should Text to Speech be a part of OOTP? Sorry if I hijacked this from another post but I just wanted to see what the community thought of this idea.

Just curious if anyone thinks that this is a good option. I voted no because there would be too much that can go wrong with a TTS engine and the way it pronounces some words and names. Also the PBP would be repetitive and TTS would become boring with the same PBP being announced.

I am expecting a 70/30 split with the vote leaning towards the "NO" option. Hopefully we can get about 100 responses out of this fine community anything less would be too small of a sample size in my opinion. Let's keep the votes coming.

manooly · 05-27-2010, 10:15 AM

I think it would be a cool feature to add in a future release. I know Markus is always looking for new ways to impove his game and always adding new features.

Childress · 05-27-2010, 10:24 AM

Sure, if it can do justice to lines like 'Spooneybarger caught him looking at a wicked knuckleball!'.

SandMan · 05-27-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Childress

Sure, if it can do justice to lines like 'Spooneybarger caught him looking at a wicked knuckleball!'.

I'd love to hear how a TTS engine pronounces "Now batting for the Cubs, Right Fielder Fukudome. "

fintach · 05-27-2010, 11:31 AM

I don't know. I like it in theory, but when I think about the amount of time and effort it would take to program it, record and process all the necessary sounds, not to mention finding a way to work with the various pronunciations possible. . . .

It just seems to me to be a project of sufficient scope to require not just a new team tasked specifically with these sorts of audio duties (since I imagine adding this to OOTP would mean adding more sound to their other games to maximize benefit from all this effort), but a whole new department, for something that might only not increase sales, but might also not be enjoyed by the fan base.

After all, this isn't a game where people play a season or two and call it a year as they move on to other sports. This is a game where people play dozens, hundreds of seasons with many teams. How could it possibly be kept interesting enough that people will still enjoy it after their thousandth game?

It just seems like something that would be fun for a few weeks, before the novelty wore off, and then get disabled and never used again.

Cryomaniac · 05-27-2010, 11:53 AM

It isn't a bad idea if it could be done well, but there are any number of problems and potential problems, so I'm not going to vote yes. I don't have any "idealogical" problem with it, which I know plenty of the no votes do, and as I said I don't mind the idea.

So this post is my vote of "present".

SandMan · 05-27-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

It isn't a bad idea if it could be done well, but there are any number of problems and potential problems, so I'm not going to vote yes. I don't have any "idealogical" problem with it, which I know plenty of the no votes do, and as I said I don't mind the idea.

So this post is my vote of "present".

Right after I posted the poll I realized that I should of had a third option for "Maybe - if done correctly."

BMD · 05-27-2010, 12:21 PM

I voted no, but that would quickly change to yes if the voice were to sound like Patrick Stewart, then I'm going all in.

StyxNCa · 05-27-2010, 01:12 PM

Everything I have heard that uses tts is choppy and mispronounces a lot of words. In other words it doesn't sound real. I even have to deal with it with the satellite system in my truck that uses tts. I can't understand a lot of what is said.

If they can find a way to make it sound like there is a real person talking and not a robot then I'd be for it, but as the technology is now, no way.

StyxNCa · 05-27-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

It isn't a bad idea if it could be done well, but there are any number of problems and potential problems, so I'm not going to vote yes. I don't have any "idealogical" problem with it, which I know plenty of the no votes do, and as I said I don't mind the idea.

So this post is my vote of "present".

You aren't a politician by any chance?

Cryomaniac · 05-27-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StyxNCa

You aren't a politician by any chance?

No, but politics does interest me, and I did actually briefly consider standing for election at the just gone British election.

StyxNCa · 05-27-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

No, but politics does interest me, and I did actually briefly consider standing for election at the just gone British election.

I'd probably prefer to sit but anyway, the "present" vote sure is a safe one.

Lead Parachutes · 05-27-2010, 05:10 PM

Boy, did I misread that thread title. This is not the poll I was expecting.

I vote no, for a few reasons. First, I love the play by play as is. Second, I'm dubious that TTS is capable of producing the proper cadences and inflections for the situations it would handle. If the "announcer's" excitement level is the same for the first out of a game and the last out of a no-hitter, that's a serious flaw. If we could get Vin Scully or Jon Miller to record commentary, then sure I'm on board. But TTS always sounds very obviously like a computer reading text, which would be a step backward from what we have now. There are many legacy bugs that would be a much better way for Markus to spend his limited time than tackling a difficult and unnecessary project like this.

And my biggest problem is this: reading the play by play now is a bit like reading a book. At the exciting parts, you get to turn your imagination loose to envision the most amazing and dramatic plays. Now imagine that same exciting book being read aloud by Keanu Reeves. That's TTS.

The Real MD · 05-27-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lead Parachutes

Boy, did I misread that thread title. This is not the poll I was expecting.

I vote no, for a few reasons. First, I love the play by play as is. Second, I'm dubious that TTS is capable of producing the proper cadences and inflections for the situations it would handle. If the "announcer's" excitement level is the same for the first out of a game and the last out of a no-hitter, that's a serious flaw. If we could get Vin Scully or Jon Miller to record commentary, then sure I'm on board. But TTS always sounds very obviously like a computer reading text, which would be a step backward from what we have now. There are many legacy bugs that would be a much better way for Markus to spend his limited time than tackling a difficult and unnecessary project like this.

And my biggest problem is this: reading the play by play now is a bit like reading a book. At the exciting parts, you get to turn your imagination loose to envision the most amazing and dramatic plays. Now imagine that same exciting book being read aloud by Keanu Reeves. That's TTS.

I'd like to agree with you, but you didn't include a magnifying glass with your post.

Andreas Raht · 05-27-2010, 05:49 PM

If the TTS system would do a good job, people who sim the games would certainly like it a lot. Click on the "Continue" button, sit back and enjoy. Look at the screen, at the field, at the stats and enjoy the game without reading. Sure, that would be great!

GmOfTheYear · 05-27-2010, 05:51 PM

I dont think its going to sound any good so no.

StyxNCa · 05-27-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andreas Raht

If the TTS system would do a good job, people who sim the games would certainly like it a lot. Click on the "Continue" button, sit back and enjoy. Look at the screen, at the field, at the stats and enjoy the game without reading. Sure, that would be great!

I don't sim and I would enjoy it but the key words are "If the TTS system would do a good job". At this point the technology makes sure it wouldn't.
APBA did pretty good with the Ernie Harwell broadcast but it too was a bit choppy in places.

Andreas Raht · 05-27-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StyxNCa

...the key words are "If the TTS system would do a good job". At this point the technology makes sure it wouldn't.

Yep, that is right.

Afino · 05-27-2010, 06:21 PM

I'll be frank, I saw this and thought it said Tits.

(where's "yes please"?)

kckid4u · 05-27-2010, 06:33 PM

It would be great, but all we have to do is realize that it will never happen and then not worry about it. With all the strange names in baseball, it's just not doable.

View Poll Results: Should TTS be a part of OOTP
Yes - This is a cool idea.	22	25.58%
No - I would not use it.	64	74.42%
Voters: 86. You may not vote on this poll

05-27-2010, 10:09 AM	#1
SandMan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,946	Tts Should Text to Speech be a part of OOTP? Sorry if I hijacked this from another post but I just wanted to see what the community thought of this idea. Just curious if anyone thinks that this is a good option. I voted no because there would be too much that can go wrong with a TTS engine and the way it pronounces some words and names. Also the PBP would be repetitive and TTS would become boring with the same PBP being announced. I am expecting a 70/30 split with the vote leaning towards the "NO" option. Hopefully we can get about 100 responses out of this fine community anything less would be too small of a sample size in my opinion. Let's keep the votes coming. Last edited by SandMan; 05-27-2010 at 03:05 PM.

05-27-2010, 11:53 AM	#6
Cryomaniac Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hucknall, Notts, UK Posts: 4,902	It isn't a bad idea if it could be done well, but there are any number of problems and potential problems, so I'm not going to vote yes. I don't have any "idealogical" problem with it, which I know plenty of the no votes do, and as I said I don't mind the idea. So this post is my vote of "present". __________________

05-27-2010, 05:10 PM	#13
Lead Parachutes Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 11	Tts Boy, did I misread that thread title. This is not the poll I was expecting. I vote no, for a few reasons. First, I love the play by play as is. Second, I'm dubious that TTS is capable of producing the proper cadences and inflections for the situations it would handle. If the "announcer's" excitement level is the same for the first out of a game and the last out of a no-hitter, that's a serious flaw. If we could get Vin Scully or Jon Miller to record commentary, then sure I'm on board. But TTS always sounds very obviously like a computer reading text, which would be a step backward from what we have now. There are many legacy bugs that would be a much better way for Markus to spend his limited time than tackling a difficult and unnecessary project like this. And my biggest problem is this: reading the play by play now is a bit like reading a book. At the exciting parts, you get to turn your imagination loose to envision the most amazing and dramatic plays. Now imagine that same exciting book being read aloud by Keanu Reeves. That's TTS.

05-27-2010, 05:49 PM	#15
Andreas Raht Administrator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hollern/Stade/Germany Posts: 8,992	If the TTS system would do a good job, people who sim the games would certainly like it a lot. Click on the "Continue" button, sit back and enjoy. Look at the screen, at the field, at the stats and enjoy the game without reading. Sure, that would be great! __________________ Andreas Raht andreas@ootpdevelopments.com Out of the Park Developments

05-27-2010, 10:15 AM	#2
manooly Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 322	I think it would be a cool feature to add in a future release. I know Markus is always looking for new ways to impove his game and always adding new features.

05-27-2010, 10:24 AM	#3
Childress Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 180	Sure, if it can do justice to lines like 'Spooneybarger caught him looking at a wicked knuckleball!'.

05-27-2010, 11:31 AM	#5
fintach Major Leagues Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 484	I don't know. I like it in theory, but when I think about the amount of time and effort it would take to program it, record and process all the necessary sounds, not to mention finding a way to work with the various pronunciations possible. . . . It just seems to me to be a project of sufficient scope to require not just a new team tasked specifically with these sorts of audio duties (since I imagine adding this to OOTP would mean adding more sound to their other games to maximize benefit from all this effort), but a whole new department, for something that might only not increase sales, but might also not be enjoyed by the fan base. After all, this isn't a game where people play a season or two and call it a year as they move on to other sports. This is a game where people play dozens, hundreds of seasons with many teams. How could it possibly be kept interesting enough that people will still enjoy it after their thousandth game? It just seems like something that would be fun for a few weeks, before the novelty wore off, and then get disabled and never used again.

05-27-2010, 12:21 PM	#8
BMD All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere raising the Jolly Roger Posts: 515	I voted no, but that would quickly change to yes if the voice were to sound like Patrick Stewart, then I'm going all in.

05-27-2010, 01:12 PM	#9
StyxNCa Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Victoria, Texas Posts: 3,136	Everything I have heard that uses tts is choppy and mispronounces a lot of words. In other words it doesn't sound real. I even have to deal with it with the satellite system in my truck that uses tts. I can't understand a lot of what is said. If they can find a way to make it sound like there is a real person talking and not a robot then I'd be for it, but as the technology is now, no way.

05-27-2010, 05:51 PM	#16
GmOfTheYear Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 402	I dont think its going to sound any good so no.

05-27-2010, 06:21 PM	#19
Afino Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,827	I'll be frank, I saw this and thought it said Tits. (where's "yes please"?) __________________ GUBA: Moscow Enforcers

05-27-2010, 06:33 PM	#20
kckid4u All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pictured Above: Buck Barnett - Best Pitcher in OOTP History! Posts: 957	It would be great, but all we have to do is realize that it will never happen and then not worry about it. With all the strange names in baseball, it's just not doable.