Closed Captioning

Contrast:
* Subtitle deficient

See also: onomatopoeia.

Closed captioning is visual information about audio that is only visible when specified by the viewer. Is distinguished from subtitles by providing more information than just a simple translation of spoken words into a written language. For instance, CC dialogs are likely to distinguish between song, speech and sound effects and specify the source of sound by appearing near to it or even typing out the source. i.e "[offscreen: *Clank*] Bob [terrified]: What was that?" It may also describe inflections, tones, mood, and other such audio information in a visual way. While CC is intended for those with impaired hearing, it can be useful in other circumstances. They are more than antiquate subtitles to workaround a language barrier (if the CC is in different language than the audio). A computer system with malfunctioning sound, or without sound. A limited computer system that does not have the resources for complete sound, especially spoken voice.

As of 2008, no videogames use an external CC decoder or the decoders that are built into TVs. The CC is the result of internal programming.