Power Pros Forum

A community-run forum for Power Pros
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:22 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:53 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:18 pm
Posts: 1232
Location: Charlotte, NC
Favorite Team: Red Sox
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Favorite Japanese title: Don't Own
http://www.members.aol.com/djjackd/about.html

So, color me curious, but I wanted to know why a little-known guy named Jack Merluzzi was the commentator for every single game in MLB power pros - regular season, all-star game, all thru the playoffs - heck, even the College Kings championships. This fictional announcer is all about baseball announcing - and does it without a partner. Incredible. The proverbial iron man of repetitive loop-based announcing.

So I dug around the series of tubes known as the Internets, and found Merluzzi-san in a few low-grade anime adventures, doing voices. Eventually, thanks to Google, I found the lad's AOL home page above. So now I can IM Jack at midnight, and ask him why he is so f***ing excited about my infield pop ups.

A list of good things about Jack Merluzzi:
  • He is ballsy enough to use his own name for an entire video game release
  • He has a decent radio/announcing voice
  • He can feign excitement at the smallest of events (which should make conversation with chicks easier)
  • He is brave enough to move overseas and start a new life in Tokyo

A list of bad things about Jack Merluzzi:
  • Apparently living in the US for 32 years wasn't enough to learn how to pronounce names like 'Glavine' (Gla-veen? really, Jack?)
  • He did not take the time to study any last name pronounciation, as in going over video highlights, Wikipedia pages, or baseball-reference.com to perform his job better (or just being a passable baseball fan)

So D- for lack of effort on the names, considering your voice is now thundering through speakers all around the US, as boys from age 8 to 38 try desperately to win japanime girl's fictional hearts

But B+ on your personal talent and execution, making what could be excrutiatingly horrible after one week somewhat more tolerable, despite the high-pitched excitement over my right fielder 'coming in!'.

_________________
maccrash21 wrote:
a lot of classical music is completely sterile cut-and-pasted Sweet Lines with 0 emotional heft.

Expansion Mode Challenge!
2008 Real-Life players from Success Mode - Please assist if you have the time!!
Older/dead logs:
Let the Fielders pitch! New log
MLB Life Mode log - OF Ryan Evert, Athletics
Honolulu Heroes Season Log - real-life players join a scrub team! Find out how they do in the AL West!


Last edited by Alloutwar on Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:01 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:18 pm
Posts: 2956
Favorite Team: Cubs
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Alloutwar wrote:
So now I can IM Jack at midnight, and ask him why he is so f***ing excited about my infield pop ups.


I was laughing all through reading this, especially that! LOL!

_________________
GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO! HEY CHICAGO, WHADIA SAY, THE CUBS ARE GONNA WIN TODAY!

Go check out my Royals season mode log!

Return to Royalty | Kansas City Royals


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:16 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 7534
Location: In front of the TV playing Power Pros
Favorite Team: Astros
Console '07: Wii and PS2
Console '08: Wii and PS2
Favorite Japanese title: (Wii) Jikkyou Powerful Major League 2009
Haha! Very funny alloutwar! :lol: :lol: :lol:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:42 pm 
1st Base Coach
1st Base Coach
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:10 pm
Posts: 668
Location: Texas
Favorite Team: Cardinals
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Genius :D

Hey, you should hit him up to do a "celebrity interview" for the site, with you as the reporter asking questions :)

_________________
http://www.inside-corner.com/mlbpp.html
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:45 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 7534
Location: In front of the TV playing Power Pros
Favorite Team: Astros
Console '07: Wii and PS2
Console '08: Wii and PS2
Favorite Japanese title: (Wii) Jikkyou Powerful Major League 2009
And you can ask him how in the world he mispronouces names like Glavine AKA Glaveen! :lol:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:47 pm 
Designated Poster
Designated Poster

Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:38 pm
Posts: 412
Favorite Team: Tigers
Console '07: Sony PS2
Console '08: Sony PS2
Favorite Japanese title: Don't Own
and pronounce kotsay ko-see


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:48 pm 
General Manager
General Manager
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:09 am
Posts: 873
Location: Ohio
Favorite Team: Braves
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Favorite Japanese title: Don't Own
Image

"Strikeout! That's some good pitching from, GLAVEEN!"

_________________
http://www.mlbppworld.com/wiki/index.php?title=Glenridge_Posse - Link to the passwords of 30 custom players on the Arrange Team GlenRidge Posse. Put 'em in as an expansion team next time you start a Season and see if you can beat them in the World Series :) This is for MLB Power Pros 2007 for the Wii

3DS XL Friend code for Pokeymans X: 2122-6212-5139

Minecraft! Contact me with your Minecraft login name to get Whitelisted.
Server address: mc.mlbppworld.com
Overworld map: http://mc.mlbppworld.com:8123


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:51 pm 
Ace
Ace

Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:48 am
Posts: 971
Favorite Team: Cubs
Console '07: Sony PS2
Console '08: Sony PS2
Don't be knockin on Jack, he can power listen!

(according to this page go down to education material)

...and I think we already knew about the power speaking


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:10 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:18 pm
Posts: 1232
Location: Charlotte, NC
Favorite Team: Red Sox
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Favorite Japanese title: Don't Own
Okay...give me a day or two to work up the guts, but I'm going to email Jack and ask if he'd just answer like 5-10 questions about MLB power pros - working with the developers, the experience, if he is a baseball fan, etc.

I'm not sure I want to reference the website- I honestly don't want him to see this page and see my silly post above. But if he agrees to just spend 15-20 minutes crafting responses, how cool would that be?

I'll let him know that we're developing a fan appreciation community over here, and that his voice is booming out of our TVs every day!

_________________
maccrash21 wrote:
a lot of classical music is completely sterile cut-and-pasted Sweet Lines with 0 emotional heft.

Expansion Mode Challenge!
2008 Real-Life players from Success Mode - Please assist if you have the time!!
Older/dead logs:
Let the Fielders pitch! New log
MLB Life Mode log - OF Ryan Evert, Athletics
Honolulu Heroes Season Log - real-life players join a scrub team! Find out how they do in the AL West!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:14 pm 
Ace
Ace

Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:48 am
Posts: 971
Favorite Team: Cubs
Console '07: Sony PS2
Console '08: Sony PS2
Alloutwar wrote:
Okay...give me a day or two to work up the guts, but I'm going to email Jack and ask if he'd just answer like 5-10 questions about MLB power pros - working with the developers, the experience, if he is a baseball fan, etc.

I'm not sure I want to reference the website- I honestly don't want him to see this page and see my silly post above. But if he agrees to just spend 15-20 minutes crafting responses, how cool would that be?

I'll let him know that we're developing a fan appreciation community over here, and that his voice is booming out of our TVs every day!


Not mine, I only plug in the video cable for the ps2. But tell him he definitely chose a great game to be in, only if he knew how to pronounce some names.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:16 pm 
Head Coach
Head Coach
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:43 am
Posts: 891
Location: Dodger Stadium
Favorite Team: Dodgers
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
If you were an ocean away from where the action is, and without proper reference material (thanks to the oversight by Konami) it's hard to guess how to pronounce names... and he probably over guesses some of them.

_________________
Max D. Sterling
Global Moderator
mostly retired PowerPros player

Report Spammers to me or Darkshade via Private Message.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:00 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:18 pm
Posts: 1232
Location: Charlotte, NC
Favorite Team: Red Sox
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Favorite Japanese title: Don't Own
Well...I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and all...even living in the US for most of his life, maybe he wasn't a baseball fan. So 'Tom Glavine' isn't something he heard everyday - that's understandable.

I'll buy that he was in Tokyo, the production was rushed, and maybe he was the only one that spoke English. Fine. All that being said, I can understand some misprononciations (Uggla, etc). Some are just off the wall completely, but still.

The real fault lies in the lack of play testing/UAT/QA time, with a baseball fan knowledgeable in the sport, preferably speaking english. also, wouldn't this game have to pass through some MLB/players union guys? testing to make sure they don't (gasp) use actual dollars and whatever? I think it's odd that so many of these went uncaught.

Jack is just a voice, so we can't blame him (although for real bad guesses, it is tempting), ASSUMING there was a rush. But with this wonderful internet, and the ability to listen to game audio from anywhere, even watch games on mlbTV - heck, even reference Wikipedia pages for correct pronounciation of the oddball names...either an analyst in Tokyo should be doing that, or Jack should take a week and learn the pronunciations of all the trouble ones. He's like an actor, and actors have to study the part to be good at their craft. No?

_________________
maccrash21 wrote:
a lot of classical music is completely sterile cut-and-pasted Sweet Lines with 0 emotional heft.

Expansion Mode Challenge!
2008 Real-Life players from Success Mode - Please assist if you have the time!!
Older/dead logs:
Let the Fielders pitch! New log
MLB Life Mode log - OF Ryan Evert, Athletics
Honolulu Heroes Season Log - real-life players join a scrub team! Find out how they do in the AL West!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:59 pm 
1st Base Coach
1st Base Coach
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:10 pm
Posts: 668
Location: Texas
Favorite Team: Cardinals
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
When I rag on the announcing, I'm typically blaming the programmers rather than the voice (Merluzzi). Yeah, the mispronunciations are on Jack, but honestly that should be found and fixed in basic development QA. They shouldn't have ever made the final product. But triggering the wrong announcing calls for the situation like we love to laugh at is all on the programmers.

_________________
http://www.inside-corner.com/mlbpp.html
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:31 pm 
Prospect
Prospect
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:42 am
Posts: 274
Favorite Team: White Sox
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Wyl wrote:
When I rag on the announcing, I'm typically blaming the programmers rather than the voice (Merluzzi). Yeah, the mispronunciations are on Jack, but honestly that should be found and fixed in basic development QA. They shouldn't have ever made the final product. But triggering the wrong announcing calls for the situation like we love to laugh at is all on the programmers.


Kind of like.... " thats a routine Routine groundball " When i hit a friggin popup in to center!

And " Hit in the air " when i ground out to short!

And "Hit behind second" when i hit it to left?

Now thats just funny!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: All About Jack Merluzzi
PostPosted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:10 pm 
Wiki Contributor
Wiki Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:18 pm
Posts: 1232
Location: Charlotte, NC
Favorite Team: Red Sox
Console '07: Nintendo Wii
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
Favorite Japanese title: Don't Own
Yah, I get that a lot too - but that's all on development. Poor triggering of the voice calls, which leads to the wrong sound bit being played.

Speaking of which, did that get improved in '08?

_________________
maccrash21 wrote:
a lot of classical music is completely sterile cut-and-pasted Sweet Lines with 0 emotional heft.

Expansion Mode Challenge!
2008 Real-Life players from Success Mode - Please assist if you have the time!!
Older/dead logs:
Let the Fielders pitch! New log
MLB Life Mode log - OF Ryan Evert, Athletics
Honolulu Heroes Season Log - real-life players join a scrub team! Find out how they do in the AL West!


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 28 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group