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  • guy_cocker
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29Jun 06

Can Talkman help you score with foreigners?


When I met up with Sony a couple of months ago, they told me about a couple of upcoming games that really piqued my interest. The first was LocoRoco, which was every bit as good as I'd hoped. The second was Talkman, which didn't turn out to be quite as good.

The story of Talkman's conception is still an interesting one though. Apparently, the game's Japanese designer wanted a way of chatting up a Spanish girl that he liked, as he didn't speak the language. The result--a rather basic interactive PSP phrasebook starring a big blue bird--can recognise what you're saying and translate it into one of six languages.

I've reviewed the game for the site, but I thought I should also put his original design brief to the test. Luckily, I work in a big tourist area of London, and finding a Spanish girl isn't that difficult. Watch my hapless attempts to remain a gentleman as 'how are you today?' is turned into 'do you want to come to my apartment?' by the randy blue bird.
 

25 Comments

  • skrutop

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 3:59 am PT

    Well I suppose those pickup lines aren't any less lame than "Oh, I'm a journalist and I cover this stuff. Wanna help me with some 'research' love?"

    Good video!

  • EK-MDi

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 5:46 am PT

    Heehee. Great video, Guy.That's a clever way of chatting-up a girl, but keeping your innocense at the same time, by pretending you don't have a clue of what you're really saying.

  • Spartan_FX

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 6:03 am PT

    Nice one guy, that really made me laugh, how did you know she was spanish anyways?

  • guy_cocker GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 6:12 am PT

    I just approached people in Tower Hill -- it's a big tourist area with lots of foreigners. It's also right by our office in London -- we can see right into the Tower of London (hope they're not beheading anyone).

    I also talked to a couple of French girls, but I wasn't using the microphone so it was more difficult.

  • TripSkyWay

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 7:28 am PT

    Haha. Nice one! I bought the Japanese/Korean/Chinese talk man and found it useless for anything except a quick laugh. Good on you for having the guts to give it a go.

  • Shleco

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 7:53 am PT

    I think LocoRoco might have proved more useful in wooing the ladies.

  • guy_cocker GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 8:01 am PT

    You're probably right.

  • Rellington

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 10:19 am PT

    So this thing doesnt work at all, unless your goal is to communicate with prostitutes?

  • Shleco

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 12:42 pm PT

    If by communicating with prostitutes you mean get their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, then yes.

  • Carrie Works for a game publisher or developer

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 12:46 pm PT

    Very cute and clever video Guy. You should make this a feature!

  • JusticeCovert GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 12:49 pm PT

    Talkman saw right through your innocent facade Mr Cocker, and asked the questions that you didn't have the rocks to.

    Nice video.

  • clubkill237

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 2:36 pm PT

    Do they have one for English to English? I need something that would translate whatever 'genius' pickup line I was going ot use to something that won't get me slapped.

  • StanleyL GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    This should be a recurring segment. Guy Cocker, Pimp of Pimps.

  • flickds

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 4:23 pm PT

    I guess you all have to beware of the beefeaters since your office is so closely located to the Jewels.

  • Dasilva90

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 6:23 pm PT

    Its not too late to cash in the PSP and get a DS.

  • LozzaGS GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 2:03 am PT

    So that's what you're up to at lunchtime Guy... ;-)

  • JoeyHawk

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 2:53 am PT

    Wait, what's the point of Talkman again?

  • guy_cocker GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 4:17 am PT

    Chatting up cute Spanish girls on the job -- this gig definitely has its perks. Would I have been covered on the company's insurance if she'd slapped me though!?

  • TVR_Fan

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 8:06 am PT

    Class as always and you rock Guy.

  • flapjackboy

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 11:09 am PT

    It's a real life 'inflammatory hungarian phrasebook'.

  • SamQur

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 11:26 am PT

    sounds crap to me

  • Goze

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 6:37 pm PT

    Hahaha, that was a very funny video... She knew english though, right? So you were basically just testing the thing out? And JusticeCovert was right... The program was reading your MIND, not what you were actually saying...

  • lovermanxxx

    Posted Jul 1, 2006 4:06 am PT

    dude, you could have at least put in the time and found a true Spanish hottie - the one you cose was 'plain jane'! mind you, as an ugly chick i guess it's an easy access phone number - and it still didn't work!? Talkman sux.

  • DS-man

    Posted Jul 10, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    Lol, your lucky she did'nt slap ya

  • SSJ-Matt25

    Posted Jul 28, 2006 3:11 am PT

    That's one horny little bird.

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
WipEout HD Fury 9.0
FIFA Soccer 08 8.5
Rule of Rose 6.0
Scarface: The World Is Yours 7.5
Star Fox Command 6.5
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