Line #53 VideoGame/NewDynamicEnglish


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nde_screenshot.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A screenshot featuring (from left to right) Max, Kathy, and Pierre.]]
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4	''New Dynamic English'' is a course, which is part of [=DynEd=]'s Courseware (a portmanteau of "course" and "software"). Being more like a textbook, it is not technically included as a game. However, being an interactive course, it could almost be classified as an EdutainmentGame. ''New Dynamic English'' is made in the United States, however only a few Americans actually recognize this program because it is targeted towards foreigners so that they could study English. ''New Dynamic English'' is one of [=DynEd=]'s courses with a lot of stories (others include ''First English'', ''Functioning in Business'' and ''The Lost Secret''). It stars two main characters, [[AliceAndBob Max and Kathy]], though they only appear from Module 1 until 5, whereas ''New Dynamic English'' has 8 modules.
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6	Like all [=DynEd=] courses, ''New Dynamic English'' has a [[ScoringPoints scoring system]] based on recording, frequency of usage, and performing exercises. Users determine their starting module by taking the Placement Test, and will start based on the score. Later they can go to a higher module only after doing well on the [[FinalExamBoss Mastery Tests]]. Taking a Mastery Test itself requires going through presentations and exercises several times.
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9	----
10	!!''New Dynamic English'' provides examples of:
11	* ADayInTheLife: Frequently discussed in both the course and the radio show.
12	* AliceAndBob: Max and Kathy are the two main characters of the education franchise.
13	** "Ace" is a common name for businesses.
14	* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Zork is this. He even says it himself.
15	* AlphabetSoupCans: In Module 8, you get to figure out who stole the Secret Code... with English grammar!
16	* AmbiguouslyBrown: [[http://nde.wikia.com/wiki/File:Max_2000.jpg Max]] has dark skin, blond hair, thick lips (which is debatable because this was part of the art style), and possibly black roots, making it rather hard to pin down whether he's white with a tan, black, or mixed. This was averted in the 2013 update.
17	** Bob Crane is also brown, and even preserved in the 2013 version. His name not being foreign makes it even more confusing.
18	** [[http://nde.wikia.com/wiki/File:Chris_Scott_2000.jpg Chris Scott]] had wavy hair and dark skin. She has a sister who has lighter skin with straight, auburn hair, making her race unknown. Like Max, this was averted in the 2013 update.
19	* BenevolentAlienInvasion: In Module 1 Unit 1, Max and Kathy encounter an alien. The alien, named Zork, said that he's from another world and also speaks English. It is not known whether his intentions are good or bad, but the lack of any negative activity suggests he is leaning towards the good side.
20	* CareerEndingInjury: Harry ended his career as a runner after a tragic accident which gave him permanent immobility and had to use a wheelchair.
21	* CorruptCorporateExecutive: [[spoiler:Phil]] is arguably this.
22	* CreatorCameo: In the 2013 version one magazine in a Matrix Game features [=DynEd=]'s CEO, Ian Adam.
23	* DependingOnTheArtist: The upgrade on November 2013 changes appearance of all the cast. Some changes are so drastic that they might as well be TheOtherDarrin. Compare [[http://nde.wikia.com/wiki/File:Max_2000.jpg Max being drawn by Jordan Douglas]] with [[http://nde.wikia.com/wiki/File:Max2013.jpg Max as illustrated by Wanda Kong]].
24	** Makes it more weird that the first Max looks more like the man in [[http://38.media.tumblr.com/c79ddddaf439ffbc99fff2aa60a46f3e/tumblr_inline_ni4flb8nZf1qbjoz9.jpg this illustration]] which is drawn by the Beijing illustrator, implying that Max's [[RaceLift change]] was deliberate and not just a mere interpretation.
25	* DramatisPersonae: Beginning of presentations are often this. As frequent characters, Max and Kathy's would be in Module 1 Unit 1.
26	* EiffelTowerEffect: New York? The Statue of Liberty. San Francisco? The Golden Bridge. Paris? The Eiffel Tower. Justified that New Dynamic English has symbols of places to make it easier for the users to recognize.
27	* FireBreathingDiner: In Module 2's survey unit, we get to see Max with steam coming out of his ears to indicate that there's a food which is too spicy for him.
28	* GenreShift: The usual SliceOfLife theme had its turn to MysteryFiction in Module 8 when it tells a story of a scientist who had his secret files stolen.
29	* InformedFlaw: Max claims that he's bad at singing in Module 2 and he's also bad at dancing in the radio show, but he never sang or danced. Justified that it's during a survey.
30	* LethalChef: Max says that he's bad at cooking, contrast with his wife who's a SupremeChef.
31	* LevelGrinding: The Focus Exercises have this function. The more you play it, the higher score you'll get. It's also a requirement for doing a Mastery Test.
32	* LongDistanceRelationship: Subverted, Kathy and Pierre. However, it's only Pierre who has romantic intentions.
33	* MeatVersusVeggies: Max and Kathy's preference over food is often compared. Max loves meat, especially steak, while Kathy is a vegetarian (read: pescetarian).
34	* MiniGame: The Matrix Games that appear in even-numbered modules. A test for Matrix Vocabulary, the user does various things from choosing between four items to interacting with Max and Kathy.
35	* OfficeGolf: In Henry Thorton's presentation in Module 1 Unit 2, he is shown playing office golf when the narrator states that he doesn't work hard.
36	* OlderThanTheyLook: Dawn, a Filipino, is a 20-something who looks like she's still in her teens.
37	* OtakuSurrogate: Kathy is implied to be a Trekkie with a cat named after a ''Franchise/StarTrek'' character. Not only that, she believes in aliens and doesn't mind waiting in a long line for watching a Sci-Fi movie.
38	* PlotHole: Max worked as a businessman at a computer company in San Jose (Silicon Valley) when interviewed in the radio show, yet in Module 4's Matrix Vocabulary, he thinks flying first class is too expensive for him. Though he might just have been SlummingIt.
39	* PopQuiz: One of the usual forms of exercises.
40	* PredatoryBusiness: A common theme in Module 7 and 8.
41	* PrettyBoy: In the November 2013 upgrade, Max has lighter skin with bigger eyes complete with eyelashes.
42	** This arguably applies to all the young male characters, it's just that the difference is more apparent to Max.
43	** Justified that this was illustrated by an illustrator from China who has [[{{Bishonen}} a specific pretty boy mindset]].
44	* PrimaryColorChampion: With blond hair, blue eyes, and a red suit, complete with a ''gold'' backdrop, it seems that Max is the main character. This was averted in the 2013 version, although he does have a rather eye-catching tie.
45	* RaceLift: The 2000 version of the cast were diversified from [[MonochromeCasting having the same skin color]], then given less diversity in the 2013 version.
46	* RealMenEatMeat: Many men in the radio show are shown to love meat, including Max himself.
47	* ShallIRepeatThat: Users usually repeat sentences if their recordings are similar to the original.
48	* ShoutOut: John's hometown, Brighton, is also home to Martin Shovel, the writer of ''The Lost Secret'', a BBC film made into a [=DynEd=] course.
49	** John's last name, Orwell, is also a shout out to Dr. Orwell, a prominent character of the film.
50	** Kathy's cat Spock is a reference to the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' character.
51	** The movie that Kathy anticipated, ''Battle for the Stars'', is a shout out to ''Star Wars''.
52	** ''Computer Soldier'', a game that Larry and [[ClosetGeek Max]] like, most likely refers to ''VideoGame/CounterStrike''.
53	* StockForeignName: Pierre Dubois is one example.
54	** There are plenty of stock foreign names. There's Mexican-American Maria Alvarez, and the babies from one of the "Man on the Street" series has Chinese Ying, Arabic Mohammed, and German Hans.
55	* SuddenlyBlonde: Max turned from a brunet into a dirty blond in the era where graphics on computers became more advanced.
56	* SupremeChef: Kathy and Karen.
57	* StartMyOwn: In Module 7, Harry wants to form a new translator company with his friends.
58	* SwissBankAccount: [[spoiler: Phil, who sent Bob's secret files to a business competitor]], has inserted the money into a Swiss bank account.
59	* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: In the 2013 version, all the women have eyelashes, while the men don't. Max is an exception though, albeit smaller. The older men also seem to have eyelashes, but they might as well be crow's feet.
60	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Max loves steak, and has been called "Mr. Steak" once in the radio show.
61	* TrappedByGamblingDebts: A reason why [[spoiler: [[TheGamblingAddict Dan]] would steal the secret code for Phil]].
62	* {{Trekkie}}: Did Kathy just said that she had a cat named "[[ShoutOut Spock]]"?
63	* {{Tuckerization}}: Bob Crane is based on Douglas Crane, a key employee at [=DynEd=] International.
64	** Bobby King is named after Andy Blasky's childhood friend.
65	* UnexpectedShmupLevel: Module 7 and 8 are very different from the previous modules, from dragging people around to solving a mystery puzzle.
66	* VacationEpisode: In Module 5, Kathy goes on a vacation to France and Austria to attend her friend's wedding.
67	** Max sort of does this in the UK, but he travels as part of his job.
68	** The radio show provides several Story Interludes that involves the cast telling stories of their vacation, like Elizabeth going to San Francisco and Max going to Gettysburg.
69	*** In ''New Dynamic English'' itself several guests described their visits to other cities outside Washington DC, often for vacation.
70	* WhenYouComingHomeDad: It has been mentioned in Module 4 that Max is a traveling businessman who misses his wife and children. He ultimately quits the job to work for the radio.
71	* YoungerAndHipper: The 2013 update, said to please young viewers who like watching Japanese cartoons.
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Context VideoGame / NewDynamicEnglish