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#REDIRECT [[Broken_Sword#Characters_and_voice_actors]] |
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{{About|the video game character|the football player|George Stobbart (footballer)}} |
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{{Infobox VG character |
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| name = George Stobbart |
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| image = [[File:George Stobbart screenshot.png|240px|alt=A man, wearing a greenjacket with a toothpick in his mouth, sitting in front of a Parisian cafe]] |
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| caption = George Stobbart in ''The Shadow of the Templars'' |
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| series = ''[[Broken Sword]]'' |
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| firstgame = ''[[Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars]]'' |
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| creator = [[Charles Cecil]] |
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| artist = Mike Burgess (''The Shadow of the Templars'') |
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| voiceactor = [[Rolf Saxon]] |
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}} |
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'''George Stobbart''' is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the ''[[Broken Sword]]'' series of [[adventure game]]s, voiced by [[Rolf Saxon]]. He made his first appearance in 1996's ''[[Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars]]''. Created by [[Charles Cecil]] as an American to appeal to US markets, George was originally designed by [[House of Cool|Red Rover animation Studios]]' Mike Burgess. |
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George is an American patent lawyer, who as an American tourist witnesses a bombing of a Parisian cafe and meets French photo-journalist Nicole "Nico" Collard in ''The Shadow of the Templars'', and from here on out, unravels conspiracies around the world in his adventures. George has been in an [[On-again, off-again relationship|on and off]] relationship with Nico, and has also been romantically involved with Anna Maria, a character who is introduced ''The Angel of Death''. |
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George is one of the most popular protagonists among adventure gamers, often praised as one of the best. Critics have praised George's wit, humour and dialog. Much praise has also went to Saxon, and is also the role for which the actor is best known. |
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==Character development== |
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''[[Broken Sword]]'' creator and director [[Charles Cecil]] wanted to create two protagonists of the series, a man and a woman, who would exchange thoughts and ideas, helping drive the game along, thus creating George Stobbart and Nicole "Nico" Collard.<ref name=MakingRETRO>{{cite journal| journal=[[Retro Gamer]]| title=The Making of ... Broken Sword|first=David|last=Crookes| publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]| pages=60–63| date=November 2006| issue=31}}</ref> To make the game appeal to both US and European markets, George was made American and Nico was made French.<ref name=MakingRETRO/> George was originally designed by animator Mike Burgess, who worked for [[House of Cool|Red Rover animation Studio]].<ref name=DirectorsMessage>{{cite video game|title=Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut|developer=Revolution Software|date=September 2010|platform=PC|scene=The Director's Message}}</ref> When talking about George's design in ''[[Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon|The Sleeping Dragon]]'', Cecil said: "In ''Broken Sword 1'' George was a pretty cool, if slightly naïve, American. We felt that in ''Broken Sword 2'' he came across as weaker. Our objectives [in ''The Sleeping Dragon''] are to get back to what he was previously and bring him into the 21st century." |
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Revolution had already cast Hazel Ellerby as Nico, but had trouble finding a voice actor for George. Hazel suggested her former schoolmate from [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] in London, [[Rolf Saxon]], as George.<ref name=AMO>{{cite web|first=Marty|last=Mulrooney|date=April 8, 2011|url=http://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2011/04/08/interview-in-conversation-with-rolf-saxon-actor-broken-sword/|title=Interview – In Conversation With Rolf Saxon (Actor, Broken Sword)|work=Alternative Magazine Online|accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref> Cecil, who Saxon knew before ''Broken Sword''{{'}}s creation, offered him the job and he accepted it.<ref name=AMO/> Although Nico's voice actresses was constantly changing, Rolf remained George's voice actor throughout the series, also recording new dialogue in ''[[Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars|The Shadow of the Templars]]''{{'}} [[director's cut]]; Cecil noted that he was always "pleased" with Saxon's performance, saying he "has made the part his own."<ref name=MakingRETRO/> |
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==Appearances== |
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==='''''[[Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars]]''''' (1996)=== |
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As the game begins, George witnesses a terrorist attack at a cafe while touring Paris, during which a clown steals an old man's briefcase and detonates a bomb. Soon after, George meets Nicole "Nico" Collard, a journalist photographing the scene with whom he tries to gather information about the attack and trace down the killer. They learn the killer's name, Khan, and find the hotel where he is staying, where George obtains an ancient manuscript from Khan's hotel safe. Nicole deduces that it is related to the [[Knights Templar]]. On the manuscript, there are several pictures of items that George travels around the world for to collect, often with help from Nico's colleague Andre Lobineau, much to George's jealousy because of Andre's obvious attraction to Nico. After traveling the world, from Lochmarne, [[Ireland]], to Marib, [[Syria]] and Villa De Vasconcellos in [[Spain]], the final destination the manuscript leads to is a church in [[Bannockburn]], [[Scotland]]. George and Nicole board a train, where Khan is shot by one of the neo-Templars: Khan reveals to George that he wanted the stop the evil neo-Templars wielding the secret weapon the manuscript lead to before dying. George and Nicole reach the church in time to see the Grand Master of the Templars acquire a power from two huge [[Baphomet]] idols—the Sword of Baphomet, or the Broken Sword. After trying to tempt George to join their ranks, the Grand Master orders the couple to be killed, but they escape with the aid of explosives. The church explodes, killing Guido, the Templars and—presumably—the Grand Master. The game ends with George and Nicole's first kiss. |
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==='''''[[Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror]]''''' (1997)=== |
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==='''''[[Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon]]''''' (2003)=== |
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==='''''[[Broken Sword: The Angel of Death]]''''' (2006)=== |
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==='''''[[Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse]]''''' (2013)=== |
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==Reception== |
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George has been met with positive reception. Saxon also received much praise for his performance, and it is his best known work. RPGFan's Neal Chandran called George "an enduring and beloved protagonist among genre fans."<ref name=RPG>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/brokenswordds/index.html|title=Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director's Cut|first=Neal|last=Chandran|publisher=RPGFan|date=April 30, 2009|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> [[Adventure Gamers]]' Evan Dickens said George is "already among the favorites in adventure gaming history, as a result of the generally excellent dialogue and intelligent character progression through the first two ''Broken Sword'' games."<ref name=AG>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17657|title=Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon|first=Evan|last=Dickens|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]|date=December 16, 2003|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> |
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[[IGN]]'s Sam Bishop said that due to the "Perfectly read lines [that] totally make the characters come to life", "George has an honest, dry wit that makes it a joy to actually get responses from him."<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/04/broken-sword-ii-the-smoking-mirror|title=Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror|first=Sam|last=Bishop|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation]]|date=January 3, 2000|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> CheatMasters' David Gomez said: "Wonderfully voiced by Rolf Saxon, protagonist George Stobbart and his never-ending pockets is one of video game’s greatest characters, a title helped even more so by his subsequent adventures."<ref name=CM>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheatmasters.com/blog/2012/03/16/looking-back-at-broken-sword-editorial/|title=Looking Back At: Broken Sword|first=David|last=Gomez|work=PushStartSelect|publisher=Cinelinx|date=January 9, 2012|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> BeefJack's James Haresign called George "a fantastic character, a reluctant modern day Indiana Jones," and that "His constant narration is a step above your average adventure game star. George’s internal monologue is full of snark, self-mocking, and insight into the American, not just hints and refusals to do something."<ref name=BJ>{{cite web|url=http://beefjack.com/features/broken-sword-retrospective/|title=A look back at Broken Sword|work=BeefJack|publisher=[[Game Revolution]]|date=August 28, 2012|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' wrote that George is "among the most sympathetic digital creations of all time".<ref name=EM>{{cite web|url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/broken-sword-3-sleeping-dragon-review/|title=Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon review|work=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|date=December 1, 2003|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> |
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PushStartSelect called George a "legend", saying he "oozes 'cool'" and that "The true beauty of George Stobbart and the ''Broken Sword'' games however lies in the set pieces and dialogue which takes place as George converses with everyone and anyone attempting to uncover clues in his quests in unravelling mystery. Some of the jokes, innuendo and general humour will leave you teary eyed and doubled-over. It is honestly some of the funniest material to be included in a video game. It is simple humour granted, but as so well executed over the course of each game, these humorous exchanges alone become one of the series’ most superlative assets. George isn’t like modern protagonists. He carries no weapons. He’s not macho. He’s not particularly brave. But he’s hilarious and he still manages to get shit done when it needs doing… and still has time to get the girl!"<ref name=PSS>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinelinx.com/pss/item/2747-remembering-a-hero-broken-swords-george-stobbart.html|title=Remembering A Hero: Broken Sword's George Stobbart|work=PushStartSelect|publisher=Cinelinx|date=January 9, 2012|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> |
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''[[PC Zone]]''{{'s}} reviewer for ''[[Broken Sword: The Angel of Death]]'' was rather critical of George from previous games, but noted that he improved in ''The Angel of Death'': "I've never really been that fond of George Stobbart as a lead character. I always thought him a little too dim, a little too American and a little too cheesy - and as such I'm pleased to report that in ''The Angel of Death'' I started to warm to him. This is engendered in part by a plot contrivance that brilliantly uses and abuses his over-eager naivety for a huge chunk of the game".<ref name=PCZ>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/146055/reviews/broken-sword-the-angel-of-death-review/?page=2|title=Broken Sword: The Angel of Death Review|author=''[[PC Zone]]''|work=[[Computer and Video Games]]|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|date=September 14, 2006|accessdate=March 2, 2013}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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*{{IMDb character|0032362}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stobbart, George}} |
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[[Category:Broken Sword]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:06, 7 March 2015
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