Meph's Handy Tips #1: Writing dialogues

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Meph's Handy Tips #1: Writing dialogues

Post by Meph »

Meph's Handy Tips #1
Writing dialogues
When you're writing dialogues, it's important to create line breaks (new lines), instead of relying on the Trial Editor to start a new line automatically when the text spills over the edge of the dialogue box.

Play some of the real Ace Attorney games. Look how the text is written. Sometimes, the text doesn't go anywhere near the right edge of the text box. This is for presentational reasons, and you should do it too.

* * *

Let's look at an example...
Order! Order! What is that, Mr. Wright!?
That sentence would be better presented as...
Order! Order!
What is that, Mr. Wright!?
* * *

What about a really long sentence like this...
I believe that the victim was killed in the lounge with the lead piping.
This would be a better way to write it...
I believe that the victim
was killed in the lounge
with the lead piping.
* * *

Sometimes, sentences are too large to fit into one dialogue box. For example...
Your Honor, there is no denying
the evidence that the victim
was stabbed in the kitchen
with the knife.
If it's not possible to shorten the sentence, then it will have to be split into two dialogue boxes.
Your Honor, there is no denying
the evidence that the victim...

...was stabbed in the kitchen
with the knife.
* * *

During the dialogue animation in the real AA games, the dialogue text pauses when a full stop or a comma appears to make it seem more like natural speech. Here's an example:
Mr. Edgeworth, sir!
I... I... I dropped it.
We use this tag to add pauses [#pn], with n being a number in centiseconds. Here's how we use it in the above example:
Mr. Edgeworth,[#p10] sir![#p20]
I...[#p50] I...[#p50] I dropped it.
Different pauses are used after different types of punctuation. This is the general rule:-
  • [#p10] - Used for punctuation that represent very small pauses, such as commas (,) and colons (:).
  • [#p20] - Used for punctuation that represent standard pauses, such as full stops (.).
  • [#p50] - Used for punctuation that represent large pauses, such as ellipsis (...).
* * *

It will improve the presentation and experience of your trial greatly if you do this. Have a go!

If you're not sure about exactly how many words you should have on one line, try having it about four (but don't be too strict about that; vary it). ;)
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Dramatica »

Nonsense, personally.

Sorry for being rude.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by energizerspark »

Dramatica, how could you?! First your stupid Rick Roll, now this? I am ashamed! :x
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Dramatica »

Duracellman2 wrote:Dramatica, how could you?! First your stupid Rick Roll, now this?
WTF?
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Meph »

DramaticaXIV2 wrote:Nonsense, personally.
You need to give constructive criticism. ;) Why is is "nonsense"? :)
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Dramatica »

I'm a fast reader, so random new lines don't really change anything for me. I suppose it's not as obvious as it seemed to me at the time.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Meph »

There are always some. :P

This isn't just about the text flow, though. It's also about the presentation.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by energizerspark »

WTF?
That Ace Attorney Online: The Game thing that I fell for.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Dramatica »

XD

Play that trial again and wait for 10 seconds. Seriously, it'll be worth it.
Last edited by Dramatica on Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by RandomJibberish »

Duracellman2 wrote:
WTF?
That Ace Attorney Online: The Game thing that I fell for.
No offence, but I think that was the most hilarious post I have ever read.

Ever.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Meph »

:lol:

Oh dear. :P Anyway, we're going off-topic. :P
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by LucasSNM »

A great tip, Meph! I am anxious to see the next tip.
Last edited by Meph on Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Text flow

Post by Phantom »

Pretty good, and it'll keep the reader interested in reading instead of skipping the text 24/7.
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Re: Guide: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Writing dialogues

Post by Meph »

I'm rewriting this guide so that it discusses the presentation, rather than the text flow.
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Re: Guide: Meph's Handy Tips #1: Writing dialogues

Post by Dypo deLina »

So notafakelink.net exists?

*hasn't finished AAO: The Game yet. Too noobish*
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