I've always wondered...

Do native English speakers play games with subtitles on or off?

I play with them on. Sometimes I will miss part of what they are saying otherwise. Especialy if someone starts talking to me.

I play with them on too. I don't want to miss anything and sometimes the music or a sound effect occurs which drowns out the conversation.

On. This way if someone walks up and starts talking to me, I don't miss anything that has been said in the game. And I just like the visual reinforcement of making sure that I have heard every word.

If I have the option to have subtitles, I always prefer to have them on. Sometimes the sound on a game isn't perfect. I do this with my PS2 games also.
Cathy

I like to leave them on. I find I pay more attention to the written word than the spoken, and I can read them faster so I ignore the voice.

Usually on.
Not always. If the voices are clear and the subtitles are blocking my view or distracting me I turn them off.

If the voices are clear and especially if there is a conversation folder where I can go into if I feel I have missed someword-- I leave them OFF. I get more into the game- i tend to read them if they are in front of me and this distracts me from looking and the feel of the game--looks like I am in the minority :<)

I keep them on, since sometimes there are background game noises that make the conversation hard to hear.

I always put it on since I can read faster than I can listen. Also I keep the volume low on games since there's other stuff usually going on like the TV, etc.

I play with them on - always.

Hi, alkis21

I always keep it on...I do like to read the talk rather then listen to it...
On some games I have to go over everything twice...

Sub titles are cool & I hope the developers continue to use them.

Definitely ON !!

I also leave subtitles ON although sometimes the dialogue is different than the words written on the screen. It is just that my memory doesn't serve me as good as when I was a teenager.

I leave them on, and turn them on if they aren't on by default.

I read faster and better than I hear.

I don't have speakers attached to the PC, and don't like having to wear the headphones all the time.

I can listen to a book on tape while I'm playing a game. as I was just doing.

cheers,
jasper

I am with Winfrey

They distract me from the audio & visual immersion I get from a game. I read books, I play games.

Just you and me now Winfrey...I got your back

I've played exactly one game that even had the option of sub titles. It didn't matter much to me, but I can see how it would be a God send to the audio impaired.

Albert

On, in case of accents or background noises that make dialogue hard to understand.

I'm with Mad, definitely on. With my "mature" hearing background sounds can often cancel out the voice clarity.

I always leave them on for several of the above noted reasons. However, another reason for using subtitles is that I often find myself playing at my computer long after my son, my grandchild or my wife has gone to sleep. Given the drop-off in hearing that has accompanied the arrival of my social security checks, I can play games without keeping the house awake if I use the subtitles.

On, and I frequently click through the dialogs.

When I am playing late into the night or when I can't understand the dialog then I put the subtitles on.

I always play with them on and miss them when they are not available

Ok Winfrey and GreyFuss there's 3 of us now. I want subtitles off because I ccan't help but read them instead of 'getting into the scene'. Recent Nancy Drew games still give subtitles even when deselected. I love my foreign movies with subtitles but not on games.