Arkham Origins Replacing the Voice of Batman

[DarkhoIlow]

Stephen Russel (Garret from the Thief franchise), Mark Hamill (Joker) and now Kevin Conroy (Batman)?

Why are you doing this to me world? Why?!?

Now I do understand that they want a younger batman, I still cannot fathom why they would replace such an iconic voice. That goes for the rest that have been replaced.

 

[VoidWanderer]

The hell is it with developers getting rid of the original voice actors? I mean, come on, really?

Not as bad a reason as Theif 4's, getting rid of Russel because they need someone who can do their own stunts so they can capture it all at once. WHY?! It's a first person stealth game! Why the hell do you need to have such advanced mo-cap and facial capture stuff?!?! The new Garrott even wears a freaking [/i]face mask[/i] for fuck's sake!!

Anyway, yeah. Developers ditching the original voice actors makes me sad.

Deep breath, Irridium, deep breath.

They aren't getting rid of the guy, he is just tired of doing the SAME role, over and over again. Conroy had said in many interviews that he wanted to stop being Batman all the time. Mark Hamill said the same thing about being the Joker.

The Thief game is already shaky as it is, and their reason to not get Russel is kinda silly, like what they are doing with Splinter Cell, but I get it. Gamers keep crying out for realism, but can you imagine Michael Ironside doing all the Sam Fisher-esque moves?

Give the new people a chance, before you go all religious 'end of videogames' nuts on us okay?

Thanks

 

[Grabehn]

Different Developer
Shoehorned-in Multiplayer
No Mark Hamill
No Kevin Conroy

You don't need to be the world's greatest detective to predict that this game won't be on the same level as its predecessors.

EDIT: though, if they're sticking with the "Silver Age" theme, they could always get Adam West to voice Batman

In that case they could also add the Batusi somewhere in there if that's how they're going with it. But yeah, I didn't really like Arkham City all that much but this one is sounding worse and worse after each info update.

snip

Deep breath, Irridium, deep breath.

They aren't getting rid of the guy, he is just tired of doing the SAME role, over and over again. Conroy had said in many interviews that he wanted to stop being Batman all the time. Mark Hamill said the same thing about being the Joker.

The Thief game is already shaky as it is, and their reason to not get Russel is kinda silly, like what they are doing with Splinter Cell, but I get it. Gamers keep crying out for realism, but can you imagine Michael Ironside doing all the Sam Fisher-esque moves?

Give the new people a chance, before you go all religious 'end of videogames' nuts on us okay?

Thanks

The thing I just can't get a hold of is WHY do they need the guy that does the voice to do the mo-cap? I mean it's not like you can't get another guy to do the moves while the voice actor does... well, the voice.

 

[vasiD]

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

So right quick let's go over the list:

1) New development studio
2) Multiplayer
3) No Paul Dini
4) No Mark Hamil
5) No Kevin Conroy



That moment when you realize the next Batman game may return to that ever so proud tradition of being shit, just like all the rest before Arkham.

 

[Mikeyfell]

If it's Nolan North, many tables will be flipped.

Here here!

OT: Speaking as someone who liked Christan Bale as Batman. I Don't mind it not being Kevin Conroy (even though he IS the best Batman)

I'm just spitbaling here but I think Jackie Earle Haley would do a good job.

Also, please tell me that I'm not the only person who wants John de Lancie to be the new Joker.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Why not Diedrich Bader? Ignoring for the moment the obviously more lighthearted nature of Brave and the Bold he still did a good job in the role. He brought a solid heroic and iconic sound to the character while still sounding like something I would expect a younger Batman.

 

[Woodsey]

Couldn't care less. If he was good in the role at some point, it doesn't show in either Arkham game.

 

[FoolKiller]

This game is getting less and less attractive as time goes on. If they ditched the 'Arkham' part of the title I wouldn't mind as much, but it seems like a blatant cash-in on a popular series but with a whole lot of cutting corners to save on the budget a decent game would require. Is it even about the origin of Arkham asylum? From all the press it sounds like it's about the origins/early years of Batman.

That's what I was thinking.

WB is thinking they will end on a trilogy (like other games) and so they want to maximize profit which means decrease output but use the name recognition of Batman: Arkham _________. So they take out the writers, the actors, and the programmers, add in multiplayer (maybe an online pass), and voila. Instant profit. Or so they hope.

 

[RJ 17]

So no Mark hamill for the voice of joker and now no Kevin Conroy for Batman:

People are not going to like this-not one little bit [hides in bunker to avoid rage]

Pretty much my thoughts exactly.

News Bits About The Game:
1: Not going to be a sequel, but rather a prequel.
Considering all the story lines that were set up (particularly the hidden Scarecrow one if you're good at decoding those seemingly random numbers you can find being transmitted on the radio), I'd imagine a lot of people - well, myself at least - were hoping for a sequel, not a prequel.

2: Rocksteady's not making the game.
Well...they ARE working on another project at the moment, so fair enough. Maybe that's why we're getting a prequel in the first place. Perhaps the 4th game will the the long-await sequel to Arkham City with Rocksteady back at the helm.

3: There's going to be multiplayer.
Wait...what? Given the combat mechanics of the first two games.....how the hell could you pull off a multiplayer? Co-op, perhaps, but according to the article that told us about multiplayer, there's going to be a form of versus. So yet another traditionally single-player game is having multiplayer tacked onto it.......

And now, 4: No Kevin Conroy to voice the B-Man.
To be fair, it IS supposed to be a younger Batman...but once you reach a certain age your voice doesn't really change that much. I can see where they're going with it and it's a "well...it kinda makes sense, fair enough" type of situation. Still, considering points 1, 2, and 3...this just looks like another black mark on the preliminary report-card for this game.

I really...REALLY hope that they don't manage to screw this game up considering how great the first two were, that would be a huge disappointment. The greatness of the first two games is what keeps me from going full-blown pessimistic about this game, but just from an initial impression of the news I've heard so far....eeehhhhhhhhh........

 

[Bluestorm83]

While I do hear Kevin Conroy whenever I read any batman dialogue, I can't say that they HAVE to have him as batman. I mean, that's ludicrous. Batman was first introduced in May 1939. Kevin Conroy was born in November, 1955. Does this mean that for 16 years, Batman was a mute, and communicated through Sign Language and a pad and pencil?

While I do think that Conroy does it the best, characters are made to have different actors step into the role. Actors originated with Plays. On any given night, there are hundreds of people portraying Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, on stage. Why then does Batman have to be done only by one?

I'd also like to suggest that the voice actor isn't as important as the dialog writer. Kevin Conroy is Batman, Adam West is Batman, and Christian Bale is Batman. But they each have a different style of dialog, because they're all separate batmen. As long as the things that this Arkham Batman says remain things that the previous Arkham Batman has said, we can adapt to a new voice actor. As long as he's trying to voice the same Batman. Did that get a little loopy there? I may have said Batman two dozen times...

As far as everyone saying that they can't buy the game if Conroy isn't Batman... that's your choice, but it's a bit baby-tantrummy, in my estimation. You're getting a new game in a series that you admit that you enjoy. Why shoot yourself in the foot because of an UNKNOWN VOICE ACTOR. You're not certain you're getting one that's terrible. You don't even know that they won't find someone who's BETTER for a younger Batman. I admit that's a hella long shot... but so what?

LOTS of people freaking out that Rocksteady isn't making the game... but not taking into account that Rocksteady was a relative unknown when they made Arkham Asylum. Also, having read interviews with the new guys, they're pretty firmly saying that they're not going to monkey around with things that the previous series entries have done perfectly. And the other things I've read sound pretty nifty. Wait for the game to come out before you all rage and scream and tear your shirts and shit your pants.

And yes, Bryan Cranston was the best Comissioner Gordon ever. After one direct to DVD animated movie, he's become just as Gordon in my mind as Conroy is Batman. I think the only solution is to demand that after Arkham Origins we get a co-op game starring the both of them. Mull it over.

 

[ninjaRiv]

... So, nobody's considered the idea that Rocksteady are busy with the follow up while this is being made? I honestly thought that people would have had that theory by now...I mean, what are they working on right now? A quick check on their site reveals nothing. Multiple domain names related to Arkham were bought recently, maybe it's not just one of those in use.

Also, a younger Batman seems fine to me. A younger voice seems fine. Bruce Greenwood, the guy from year One; either of those would be good. While Kevin Conroy is busy with the follow up to City. I dunno, the Rocksteady follow up is what I think is happening, I might be wrong.

And I've heard the mask of the Phantasm argument before. Because people think Conroy hasn't aged and that's a nice thought, but wrong. Conry's voice is obviously different when compared to the original series, the movie and the Arkham games.

Also, though, the guy behind Hulk Ultimate Destruction and Prototype is in charge; there's a guy who knows sandbox, right? I'm not so worried.

But I couldn't care less about the lack of Dini. City, in my opinion, was an attempt to make Excape from L.A/NY a serious story and I felt it failed at that. I thought it was kind of a terrible story, actually. The game was good, of course, but I couldn't enjoy the story.

So... I look forward to Origins. And the follow up by Rocksteady. And whoever they cast as a younger Batman.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

... So, nobody's considered the idea that Rocksteady are busy with the follow up while this is being made? I honestly thought that people would have had that theory by now...I mean, what are they working on right now?

I'm pretty sure everyone knows this already. And I'm pretty sure everyone thinks it will have something to do with you know who from the you know what side mission from Arkham City.

 

[ninjaRiv]

... So, nobody's considered the idea that Rocksteady are busy with the follow up while this is being made? I honestly thought that people would have had that theory by now...I mean, what are they working on right now?

I'm pretty sure everyone knows this already. And I'm pretty sure everyone thinks it will have something to do with you know who from the you know what side mission from Arkham City.

Well, I thought everyone did know but I'm seeing a whole lot of people (not just here) declare Arkham Origins the only Batman game coming out in the next few years. I don't think that's true, to be honest. I think Rocksteady are working on that game right now.

 

[Sinister Minister]

Why are so many people saying "No Mark Hamill" is a bad thing for this game? He's done with the role. You can't use that as a negative for this game.

 

[SycoMantis91]

So no Mark hamill for the voice of joker and now no Kevin Conroy for Batman:

People are not going to like this-not one little bit [hides in bunker to avoid rage]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW HEEEEELLLLLLLLLL.....
"Hey guys lets make a Batman game without the main people who have spent DECADES playing the parts!! It should be fine if we put Arkham in the name!!! Gamers are dumb enough to fall for that right?""

This is just filled with so much fail. I foresee this selling like ET. Just going to have to bury it in the sand in Arizona.

To be fair, we all know it is, in fact, going to sell out the ass.

Like this WONDERFUL and AMAZING [http://www.vgchartz.com/game/24855/aliens-colonial-marines/Global/] game did? Yeah you will get the people out the door but how many will not be happy when they realize the only thing in common with the prior games is the name? It will have to be one HELL of a game to overcome taking THE voice of batman away....

Captcha Cold Feet.... yes captcha there will be no preorders from me.

Perhaps us uber nerds actually care if Origins is a lazy cash-in, but most of the mindless drones throwing their cash at is because it's Batman and it's a popular game won't care enough to make their voices heard. Besides, how common is it to see a big developer or publisher, yet alone both, care at all what critical reception is, as long as they have their money. Besides, usually when you go into prequel territory, you're just about out of ideas, so I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't plan on making any more of these anyway. Or they want to start a different series, and with different names, comes reset expectations. It's perfect.

 

[antidark777]

If Kevin Conroy isn't coming back to voice Batman, there's always Adam West! I understand it'll ruin the entire tone of the game, but it would be pretty great.

Arkham Origins: The Batusi Years

I can see it now

 

[Cekil1]

My favorite Batman voice has always been Micheal Keaton. His take on the voice wasn't "I gargled Rock salt this morning" growl it had a strange absence of Bass and I want to say humanity. People would run in terror of him just from seeing his shadow. As much I love Conroy, Bale & Kilmer, Keaton's my guy.

That said, all the info about this latest game is making me wary, but change can be good. Don't write it off too soon, my friends.

 

[Do4600]

Bateson was so very nearly out as Agent 47

They ended up hiring him back?! Well, I'm buying that game now, the only reason I wasn't going to buy it was because they dumped him.

As for Arkham, same deal, no Conroy no buy, end of story. I'm loyal to actors not developers.