SmackTalk is $29.99 of pure evil

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 4th 2006 at 5:05PM }

Joystiq tipster GunForHire might have to live up to his handle after we tell you about Digital Innovation's SmackTalk, a device that attaches itself to a Xbox 360 controller and plays five prerecorded clips of the player's choosing at the touch of a button across Xbox Live. Obviously the name of the device gives you clear direction as to what it should be used for -- let the prerecorded sexism, racism and homophobia flow like the Nile without straining those precious vocal cords.

British site BXB points out that they "remember the good old days when everyone was actually kind of polite on Xbox Live, even the Americans." We don't know what land of delusion these boys came from, but Xbox Live has always been a cesspool. Now players have the ability to record any five sounds of filth and play them back at the touch of a button. Random clips of pornography, babies crying, torture and anything else that could conceivably be more annoying than the prepubescent voices already rampant in the Xbox Live system.

GunForHire says, "Please Joystiq, rally your readers to email the Digital Innovations customer support team to try and get them to kill this thing before it gets released, for the sake of us all..."

Sorry Gun, it's out there and if you've been hearing the same five phrases from a player on Xbox Live over and over again, then you've probably already experienced the joys of SmackTalk.

[Thanks GunForHire]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Captain Obvious @ Oct 4th 2006 5:14PM

The best use of this is going to be to record your friends complaining about getting their butts kicked, and then playing it back to them at the most opportune moment. Heheheheheheheh.

Mike @ Oct 4th 2006 5:14PM

im definatly getting that also does it also record video clips? cuz that would be just great

ejflex @ Oct 4th 2006 5:18PM

That's why I only play friends. There is nothing more annoying than the thousands of losers and geeks talking trash about peoples parents etc because they are getting their asses whooped. Or better yet, the ones who disconnect. Those guys are great.
It just goes to show you how much pent up anger people have. Hiding behind a screen and talking trash. Real tough.

Brad @ Oct 4th 2006 5:17PM

I thought I had this market all to myself.

Ryan @ Oct 4th 2006 5:17PM

This may sell more PS3's than the games they have showcased.

I can imagine it now little white subarbanites with their squeaky littly voices spending all night with their friends jacked up on "dew" trying to come up with the most vile racist offensive thing they can think of... and then recording it so we all have the pleasure of listening to it!

Seriously though, I remember loving to swear when I had a little squeaky voice too. What I don't remember is being a racist, sexist little hate machine.

What the hell has happened in th last 10-15 years to make these kids so very angry?

Kevin @ Oct 4th 2006 5:18PM

I'm sorry but it's the British who always instigate the altercations by cheating online ALL THE TIME.

I have yet to see a Brit who doesn't cheat.

I know they suck at video games and have a shitty connection but that doesn't mean they have to take their rage out on me.

Andrew @ Oct 4th 2006 5:21PM

Shazbot!

you stink @ Oct 4th 2006 5:20PM

I suppose recording classic lines from your favorite movies onto the device would be cool.

The first one that popped into my head was the end of Samuel L. Jackson's bible quote in Pulp Fiction:

"And you will know my name is the lord, when I lay my vengence upon thee...."

EdogLost @ Oct 4th 2006 5:21PM

Will the just please come out with one that takes 5 year old kids voices and turns them into regular toned people. I hate listening to these Kids

ill trooper @ Oct 4th 2006 5:22PM

Maybe it could be used for GOOD, like 'nice headshot,' 'You're playing like someone who's already done their math homework today,' 'eat your vegetables,' 'thanks for not cheating,' or 'I'm a Capricorn.'

Yes I'm joking.

Brad @ Oct 4th 2006 5:22PM

I want you to start living as a gay woman.

crono141 @ Oct 4th 2006 5:25PM

"What the hell has happened in th last 10-15 years to make these kids so very angry?"

They're raised by Gen X-ers, thats the problem. Thats why all the kids are screwed up, they have screwed up parents who never instilled in them a sense of morality.

Ryan @ Oct 4th 2006 5:26PM

@ you stink

Damn... you're right besides recording their own annoying sayings to repeat ad nauseum I now have to have any good movie quote blasted at me until it becomes sickening to hear.

Hmmm... I wonder what the length limit is. Nothing like dropping in to a game to fire off a history lesson. :)

Firegirl @ Oct 4th 2006 5:38PM

Wow, this device will get annoying real quick. And I can't wait for all the childish things people will play off of these things. Yippie, ruin my gaming experience some more, please!

you stink @ Oct 4th 2006 5:37PM

lol @ Ryan

Good point.

I don't think you'll ever be able to remove the "annoying" factor from online voice chat. It would be nice if people wouldn't boot you for not having a headset hooked up.

Why can't kids have a good sense of humor/timing? They ruin everything.

joe smith @ Oct 4th 2006 5:39PM

Mute and problem reporting are your friend. Also you could set your system to only allow voice with friends. If you go into a game with strangers and leave voice on, be prepared for annoyance.

Brian @ Oct 4th 2006 5:42PM

i dont see how this device will change anything on xbox live. the majority of the people who DO say those type of racist sexist things, say them over and over again without the aide of this little gizmo. so i see no difference.

Iscariote @ Oct 4th 2006 5:57PM

Do you people really play on Xbox Live without your friends?

Chris @ Oct 4th 2006 6:01PM

#12

For some reason when I read your post I heard John C. Devorak's voice reading it....

LordMinogue @ Oct 4th 2006 6:02PM

Surround your self with friends or other descent gamers to avoid team killers, sore loosers, and racist fools.

Also, how do i enter the passcode thing to avoid the confirmation email?

LordMinogue @ Oct 4th 2006 6:09PM

Also,I know a ton of Brits on Xbox Live. I actually heard about the London bombings from a friend who lives there (well before the media got word of it, too).

Generally they have more bandwidth, and Brits are much less likely to mod and cheat then those Emo American schoolboys.

Apparently Europeans still believe in two things called fun and skill.

Wulkar @ Oct 4th 2006 6:14PM

Family guy soundboard here i come.

dan s. @ Oct 4th 2006 6:21PM

Yeah right, I bet the majority of joystiq commenters are already ordering this thing based on the childish comments flooding this place recently.

eggfou @ Oct 4th 2006 6:35PM

Hey, I have a good use for this thing. One of my friends is mute. She can't talk. (throat cancer took her voicebox. Don't Smoke) When we game on PC we can type and chat like normal, or in person she can at least hit me to get my attention, but on Live she can't do much more than breath heavily. With this she could get someone to pre-record a few common phrases. Then she could be rude and swear just like everyone else.

Will @ Oct 4th 2006 6:51PM

I like the idea of this thing, now while I don't use a headset on Live anymore because of the annoying racism I can see this being a lot of harmless fun...(Examples)

"Boom Headshot!" (Pure Pwnage)

"Mother Fucking Snakes On This Mother Fucking Plane" (Snakes On A Plane)

"You Sank My Battleship" (Battleship Commercials)

An Unlimited amount of RVB Quotes ("I am me" "Chupathingy" "Blarg" "Bow Chicka Bow Wow" "I would just like to let everyone know that I'm a girl, and I like ribbons in my hair, and I want to kiss all the boys" ect...)

So no I do not see this thing as evil, why would some immature kid buy a thing like this just so they don't have to say stuff, most of those kids enjoy saying it themselves, I think this will be the most fun with a bunch of friends when you are playing, say a game like halo and you pull out one of those quotes, but of course it can be abused I am not denying that.

Moogle @ Oct 4th 2006 7:09PM

lol @ eggfou (#24)

Yeah, cue up in-game sounds of being shot at, missle launch, whatever, just to confuse people. Does it have a port for you to attach a mic so you can use both?

@ joe - problem reporting should certainly work for the worst cases, but for the random swearing - will MS do something if it happens to be a significant population of their users? I don't know that this is the case, but it seems likely, and a problem.

All in all, yay friend codes - game with everyone, be subjected only to the inanity of your friends. *dons asbestos armor*

e-tox @ Oct 4th 2006 7:32PM

ARRRRRGGGG!

-Howard Dean

LaughingTarget @ Oct 4th 2006 7:54PM

Hard to take someone seriously when they stick something on their controller that looks like a purse.

Allen M. Bearden @ Oct 5th 2006 2:48AM

LEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY.....

JENKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINS!

Burnt Meatloaf @ Oct 5th 2006 4:06AM

One of the bad guys had one of these in Back to the Future II.

So... OLD NEWS! ;)

Eli 05 @ Oct 5th 2006 8:04AM

It can't be any worse than the picture of a penis with herpes I saw last night while playing Uno

Mike @ Oct 5th 2006 12:49PM

For the latest updates on this shocking story, check out my blog:

http://bxbdna.blogspot.com/

It had Google Ads, so, remember kids, click away!

LaughingMan @ Oct 5th 2006 12:58PM

"We don't know what land of delusion these boys came from, but Xbox Live has always been a cesspool"

Phfff....ok that made me laugh. Yeah this reminds me of the 360 camera- just a bad bad bad idea from the get go. It's a Bill O'Reily show waiting to happen.