I generally play without subtitles on all games, if I can't hear I plug my Turtle Beaches in or turn up my TV volume.

I'd usually turn on subtitles for games, but for a game like The Elder Scrolls, I always turn them on. If I wanted to play in a cinematic style I'll turn it off, though I never do. I just feel naked without them. I can feel "Immersed" even with subtitles on, unlike most of these guys. :whistling:

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think I'll try it initially without them, and if that's a fail, I'll put them back on. Interesting they have "general" vs "dialogue" subtitle options. I might play with that some too...

:read:

I alway use subtitles, because I (like most people) read a lot faster than almost anyone can speak.

I wholehaeartedly agree to this article:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/experienced-points/7588-Experienced-Points-Voice-vs-Choice

1. Acquire Headphones
2. Turn off subtitles
3. Best bet for "total" audio immersion

Especially now with the fading HUD, I want as little text/status bars/crosshairs as possible.

I very much agree with that article.
I would like to add to that that text to me is more immersive than voice acting.
For the exact same reason the book is always better than the movie.
Because I invent my own voice. Because the actor doesnt say things 'wrongly' (other than fits the character I imagine.)
Im not a fan of full voice acting at all, but I suppose it would be silly to want them to go back to text, even though that would make a far superior game.
I guess well just have to wait until voices can be synthesized sounding naturally until we get decent choices in our RPG's again.

I always use subtitles myself as I am not a native English speaker and its easier with text not to miss things.

I tried playing the original Assassin's Creed without subs once (because there was no other option... in a game with extremely thick Middle Eastern accents. Really?).

Since then, subtitles have become a necessity, and I've never touched the AC series again.

Live in Sweden, so subtitle is always helpful. Sometimes it can be a bit hard to hear what they say.

English isn't my first language, and I've always found that if I have no subtitles on, I miss the small nuances from the conversation. I recognize the unimmersive subtitles as a thing to be rid of, but regrettably my scales tip to the side of understanding the dialogue as a whole, rather than have a hud devoid of any overlapping data.

And dubbing? Never.

Subtitles to catch the random bits of dialogue from passers by which will be very important if it's true you have to gleam info off of people not just have it pop up in the menu.

I'm not an immersion nut, so I generally have them on for most games. It saves me being lost if something came up - I missed it - but desperately want to know what was said.

Last good instance, Little Jacob - or even worse, his father? I want to say father or uncle, whichever. (GTAIV)

Just holy whatever. Even the subtitles left you scrambling to get whatever they really meant.

Not always that many examples to go with in TES, but still, I like to have them on just in case. If I am not actively confused as to what they said, I am capable of ignoring the text.

It's a no brainer for me - subtitles on for every game I play and every movie I watch.

I don't see how it ruins immersion, not being able to hear whats going on is much worse. Not everyone can play with the sound very high, and IMO text at the bottom of the screen is a trivial intrusion.

I play without subtitles as I find it more immersive and I focus more on the voice acting.

I always play with subtitles. English is my 3rd main language and I find it difficult to follow conversations with only listening, especially if they are not in the US accent.

It depends on the game.

For Oblivion I had dialogue subtitles off, and general subtitles on. I'll most likely do the same for Skyrim.

You don't always hear what people tell you in real life anyway so why should you in game ?

I will be playing with subtitles off and if I don't hear something the first time then that's that.

Hmm. Lot of input. I think experimenting is the key.

Did any of you play MW with subtitles off?

Off on my first couple of playthroughs, after that I keep it on.

Gotta have subtitles, so that I can understand truly what the person is saying.

I always use subtitles in games. It feels too odd without them to me.

:yes:

Besides, there are some words that I would hear but would not know what it was for a split second or how to spell it

I suggest you turn it off so you can't guess what people are going to say before they've said it, but keep general subtitles on.

same

Most of the games I play that have the option of subtitles, are practically movies anyway (Bioware games, JRPGs, etc). The dialogue is important, so I turn the subs on.... also, I don't believe I've ever experienced whatever people are claiming as "immersion", so I really don't have any issues with subtitles or UI "breaking" whatever that I-word thing is.



tl;dr - the more "movie-like" a game is, the higher the odds of me playing with subtitles. Beth games have never struck me as particularly movie-like.