Voicing concerns: the problem with video game acting

**Kugyince** · 03-18-2010, 08:25 PM

Most admirers of Quantic Dreams' interactive drama Heavy Rain will readily agree on the game's most glaring fault – the inconsistent voice acting. The visuals are astonishingly atmospheric, the plot (though choppy at times) is compelling, and the lush orchestral score is wonderfully resonant… But… Well, some of the acting performances are wooden to the point of somnambulism.

The thing is, Heavy Rain is far from alone. Although the videogame industry loves to compare itself with the movie business, and clearly has ambitions to become the story-telling medium of the 21st century, poor vocal performances are common, even among Triple A titles. In the last few months Aliens vs Predator, Army of Two: 40th Day and even Final Fantasy XIII have drawn criticism in the areas of scripting and performance. So what's going on?

Voicing concerns: the problem with video game acting | Technology | guardian.co.uk

**samejamesbond** · 03-18-2010, 08:27 PM

These reports just keep on coming, how do you find all of these news reports?
You have a good eye Tenser.

Edit: The light scene in Devil May Cry is hilariously bad:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obPYsLZwhxE"]YouTube- Devil May Cry - The Imfamous LIIIIIGHT scene[/ame]

**Kugyince** · 03-18-2010, 08:31 PM

Just good sources.

---------- Post added at 02:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------

I actually get about 130+ gaming news feeds a day. I just cherry pick out of them things that are either retro or that are blanket gaming news.

**DrunkN** · 03-18-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samejamesbond

These reports just keep on coming, how do you find all of these news reports?

You have a good eye Tenser.

Well it's easy if you just open your eyes and look.

As for voice acting; every game with voices should intentionally sound like a B rated movie.

Resident Evil did it, and damn if no one knows about it.

**Kugyince** · 03-18-2010, 08:32 PM

The House of the Dead series has always used that "B Horror Flick" acting as well.

**DrunkN** · 03-18-2010, 08:33 PM

More power to it.

**Mareeps** · 03-18-2010, 08:34 PM

The 2 worst voice actors are the ones who voiced Slippy from Starfox, and the guy who voiced Big the Cat from the newer sonic games.

**samejamesbond** · 03-18-2010, 08:39 PM

This had aweful acting too:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKn-S5u-WWc]YouTube - Let's Play - Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (Intro)[/ame]

**Mareeps** · 03-18-2010, 08:40 PM

Yeah, but at least that had comedic value.
Slippy and Big make nails on a chalkboard sound like Mozart.

**DrunkN** · 03-18-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samejamesbond

This had aweful acting too:

I disagree, nothing moves me more than that magical Squadelah!

On a half related note, the video game with the greatest cast of all time has to be Septentrion.

Skip ahead to 6:15.

( Click to show/hide )

How would you like to do a video game with Sean Channery, Bill Muroni, Woody Arlen, Drew Barry, Tom Tanks, Mark Hamilton, Grace Kelly, and Chack Norris?(to name a few)

**TrakMastaTom** · 03-19-2010, 02:33 AM

All main characters in games should be voiced by Nolan North and Keith David.

**Demon-Mask** · 03-19-2010, 05:10 PM

Bad lines can make good voice actors sound bad.
Case in point: Revolver Ocelot's famous line from MGS.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj7UfgWYHiY&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Revolver Ocelot's famous one-liner[/ame]

**jim5cents** · 03-20-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmt

All main characters in games should be voiced by Nolan North and Keith David.

and throw in billy west for comedic relief

**Tails** · 03-20-2010, 11:35 AM

Didn't he voice Fry?