TF2 Sniper: British or Australian.

[Azrael the Cat]

Back in high school (almost 20 years ago, so possibly Americans didn't travel as much) a friend of mine was going on exchange to the US. Before he left, we got hold of a laminator and the school's laser printer, and made him a 'kangaroo driving licence'. His mission was to try to convince an American than the licence was real, and that he actually rode a kangaroo to school and work. He succeeded on his first day in the states, and claims he had around about a 1 in 3 success rate. Then again, he was in rural Texas, so I'm not sure how representative that would be

 

[Azrael the Cat]

australian..becouse valve said so...
Well when i first played tf2 i thought he was british for the "God save the queen".....Does australia have a queen?

Not since they became a independent country

Errr... You think so? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_titles_and_honours_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II]

Yeah, we don't say God Save the Queen (our anthem is Advance Australia Fair...although Aussie crowds will still pull out Waltzing Matilda at football/rugby world cup matches). But we are still a constitutional monarchy. Technically not part of the British monarchy, would you believe - Queen of Australia is a separate title, that happens to be held by the same family as the British royal family. Basically, Australia and England have a shared royal family, but it is technically two separate roles.

 

[OdyCay]

im australian and hes austrlian. australian stertypes piss me off NOBODY I KNOW SAYS MATE all the english people in now do but the beer thing is correct

 

[Spambot 3000]

I hope he's British, because I've never met another Australian that speaks in that ridiculously stereotyped way he does. Valve probably thinks we all use kangaroos as our only mode of transport or something.

Yeah, and all Russians are massively muscly gun nuts, all Frenchmen are chain smoking spies, all Germans are ex-nazi sadistic doctors, and all Scottish men are black and only have one eye.

Get some humor, mayte.

I really need to edit that post to make clear that I was joking. I actually understand Valve are just making a stereotype for comedic effect.

 

[Lukeje]

How is that different from what I said originally?

I don't understand how a British accent even comes into the discussion. I assumed you could have only meant he was a British actor using an Australian accent, which isn't the case.

No. It's a bad Australian accent in that it has bits of a British accent poking through.

 

[Spambot 3000]

-snip-

Yeah, because Purna is soo from the outback... I am sure Sydney will be interested in that.
And of course I have never been into a Australian city, good to know that Brisbane no longer counts either. But hey, you know everywhere I have been and you clearly have your own interpenetration of what counts as a city now dontcha.
And, you somehow have the magical ability to judge exactly what your own accent sounds like. Something that practically no one else can do. Wow, you are soo special.
Now, just so we are clear, when you put 2 and 2 together... do you get "potato" by any chance? Cause I prefer "4" but hey, you're clearly the expert on everything Australian.

You've lost me, what with the potatoes and the sarcasm (if it was sarcasm?) and saying I'm an expert on everything Australian (I think that was sarcasm but how that relates to potatoes and the number 4, I don't know, was it an insult? I don't know, just say things in a simpe manner without including some obscure Internet joke.)
Anyway, good to see you've been to a city/surburban area etc., but you still insist the common Australian sounds like Purna? You know what, whatever, okay? I KNOW that we don't sound like that because I can tell the difference between my accent (and the accent of other people that I know) from Purna's stereotyped one. And apparentley that's a 'magical ability' now (or not? I don't get what you were saying with that). So if you think that Australians sound like that, then what the hell, go ahead and think that, because I just realised I'm having an arguement on the Internet. You win okay? I clearly can't change your mind.

 

[Deadyawn]

If he is English then he has some accent I've never heard...

Do you Aussies really say wanker like that?

The sniper doesn't have what I would call a typical australian accent but he has got the wanker spot on so that's something at least.

 

[Jimmybobjr]

Ive allways argued that he ISNT australian.

In the TF2 Universe, Ever single Australian Is 1: Very Muscular (Sniper isnt)
2: Has a large Moustache (Even the women- Sniper doesnt)
3: Enjoys Lager (Sniper is never- EVER- seen with alchohol
4: Has exteme ammounts of Chest Hair (Presumably, sniper doesnt)
5: Follows a King, Elected by a Kangaroo Boxing match. (Sniper clearly yells "GAWD SAVE THE QUEEN" at the start of some rounds, so why would he "Save the Queen"? It would be weird for a Utopia of Burly men and women to follow a Foerign Monarch, wouldnt it? And this is also considering that even in the real world, Australiant dont follow the Queen of England)

And remembering that Australians are the best in the world in "Every single way", i expect that it wouldnt be too uncommon for people to try and jump on the bandwagon and say "Im Australian! Im Awesome!"

The only evidence that goes for him being Australian is that in his Concept Bio it said hes from Australia.

And it wouldnt be the first time that ValVe has taken back what theyve said about TF2 Lore; For example, The Pyro, Man or Woman? ValVe is constantly saying "He" and "She" and even "It" at times.

But i wouldnt nessicaraly say hes British.

These are all very good points with a strong internal logic. Except Queen Elizabeth II is the Australian head of state with the Governor-General acting for her in most matters.

In real life, yes. But i doubt in the TF2 universe she would still be followed. And plus, Sniper saying GAWD SAVE THE QUEEN while he is rules by a King would be confusing.

 

[Deadyawn]

But really ... hunting big game in the outback? What the fuck is he hunting out there? Frill necked frickin' lizards? There's piss all out there, fauna included.

Yeah, now that you mention it there really isn't anything to hunt. It's probably an inside joke or something.

 

[Jimmybobjr]

You know guys, I've been thinking the Engineer's Canadian.

The fact that Engy is Texan has been proven by lore. Engy's Ancestor is definitivley shown as Texan (Due to a Australium "Mutation"). I mean, its possible that hes Part Canadian, but it would be irrelivant in the greater scehem of things.

THAT IS THE JOKE.

See the original poster is blissfully unaware that the Sniper is canonically Australian.

Thus, I mock his ignorance by making an equally inane statement that the Engineer is Canadian, when he is, as you pointed out, obviously from the Southern US.

I apologize for the sarcasm related confusion.

Aw gee now i feel stupid, how did i NOT see that?

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

Why does the fact that he's not British mean that he can't put on a British accent (which I presume is the point you two are trying to make)?

Have you seen Mary Poppins? Dick Van Dyke?

That was an American putting on a British accent.

For some reason, people overseas seem to have a misguided impression we all sound like the bloody Queen.

Now in Mr. Van Dyke's defence, the accent coach they got him was a true blue Dubliner, so you had an American learning a Cockney accent from a man with a Dublin accent. The result kind of speaks for itself. ;D

 

[Neverhoodian]

I actually wonder whether or not the Engineer considers himself American. I mean sure he is American technially, but one of his domination quotes has him call the Soldier a damn yankee.

OT: I knew the Sniper was Australian as soon as I saw him. I mean come on, look at his hat! If that isn't Australian I don't know what is.

The "Yankee" bit is referencing the old animosity between the North and South from the American Civil War. The Engineer's home state of Texas fought against the Union during the war, and northerners were often referred to as "damn Yankees." To this day there's various degrees of "Southern pride" in the former Confederacy. Most people are very mild about it and don't really resent the North anymore, but there does exist a small but vocal minority (particularly in states like Alabama and Mississippi) that's still bitter about the war's outcome.

So yes, the Engineer considers himself as an American, but also as a Texan and southerner.

Back on-topic, the Sniper is Australian beyond a shadow of a doubt, despite his dodgy accent. But don't just take my word for it:

http://wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/6/67/Sniper_taunts03.wav

 

[zuro64]

australian..becouse valve said so...
Well when i first played tf2 i thought he was british for the "God save the queen".....Does australia have a queen?

Not since they became a independent country

Errr... You think so? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_titles_and_honours_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II]

I dont get it! What's your point?

 

[Jedamethis]

If he is English then he has some accent I've never heard...

Do you Aussies really say wanker like that?

The sniper doesn't have what I would call a typical australian accent but he has got the wanker spot on so that's something at least.

I must make it my lifes mission to travel to Australia and get somebody to say wanker. And then I will giggle like an American girl at an English tourist.

 

[ElNeroDiablo]

For those wondering where the frack this thread was spawned from:
TF2: Why You No Have Females

the charismatic british sniper

Sniper's Australian, not a bloody Pom. As if half of his crap didn't point to him being an Australian anyway.

Actually let's make a thread about it as it is an interesting topic I want to know about.

Anyways ya buncha wankas, Saxton Hale and Snipah are both parodies (in voice and design) of Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) and mutha-fuckin' Steve Irwin (the moron who got a stingray tail to the heart). Hale embodies Hogan/Dundee's physical structure whilst Snipah is the stereotyped voice with more of Steve's body build (Steve being slimmer than Hogan was).

I'm 2nd-gen Aussie (on me dad's side at least, I dun give a crap about me ma's side) and often been told I sound like a blood Pom not an Aussie (particularly in TF2 itself, often being compared with Simon from Yogscast of all people) thanks to me Yorkie of a gramps (passed away in 2001 at the ripe ol' age of 80, served in the Islands for Australia in WWII) basically passing down his accent to both me dad's generation and my generation (though all my cousins are 6-10 years older than me and we span both Gen X and Gen Y).

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

australian..becouse valve said so...
Well when i first played tf2 i thought he was british for the "God save the queen".....Does australia have a queen?

Not since they became a independent country

Errr... You think so? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_titles_and_honours_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II]

I dont get it! What's your point?

You probably should have read down to the part where Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Australia.