David Bateson in Hitman: Absolution!

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

That's right. The original voice of Agent 47 will return in Hitman: Absolution. It's official. You can check for yourself on official Hitman forums.

I'm so fuckin' hyped. No Bateson was actually a deal breaker for me. So I got kind of emotional when I found out. I'm so happy I feel like punching a hole through a wall.



Express your emotions regarding this amazing piece of news, my dear escapists.

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

Meh, good news for David Bateson fans I guess. Still find it silly so many people were willing to write off the game just because somebody with a slightly different voice was doing 47. I don't think those people can really call themselves Hitman fans.

 

[hazabaza1]

'kay.
People really care about 47's voice? Don't remember him talking much when I played Blood Money to be honest.
Plus, writing off the entire game because of a single voice actor is fucking dumb.

 

[hazabaza1]

Meh, good news for David Bateson fans I guess. Still find it silly so many people were willing to write off the game just because somebody with a slightly different voice was doing 47. I don't think those people can really call themselves Hitman fans.

'kay.
People really care about 47's voice? Don't remember him talking much when I played Blood Money to be honest.
Plus, writing off the entire game because of a single voice actor is fucking dumb.

I think you guys are quite wrong, honestly.

Games are about immersion. I've been heavily immersed in the worlds and stories that IO have created with the Hitman games.

To me, David Bateson IS 47. To change his voice actor is to change his identity entirely.

It works in movies, because actors age. People don't complain too much when a new Bond is cast... but video game characters are timeless.

Would you not be bothered if Nathan Drake was suddenly voiced by someone else? It wouldn't be Nathan Drake anymore.

What about Master Chief? The Mustache dude from CoD?

These characters are identified by two things - their appearance, and their voice.

Change one or the other, and it's not the same character anymore. That KILLS immersion for anyone who was dying for a new Hitman game, not to kill more people, but to continue 47's story.

I'd much prefer it if Nathan Drake was voiced by someone else because Nolan North has great talents that only show up in his crazy voices/differing accents, his standard "Nolan North" voice is dull as fuck.
Also, Master Chief has a distinctive voice? People care about Price?

While other people may care about it I'll still find it stupid. I may dislike a game because it lacks or has a new VA or something, but I'll never write it off completely, that decision is based on the gameplay.

 

[piinyouri]

Meh, good news for David Bateson fans I guess. Still find it silly so many people were willing to write off the game just because somebody with a slightly different voice was doing 47. I don't think those people can really call themselves Hitman fans.

I get the feeling though.
If a/the new Thief game isn't/wasn't using Stephen Russel that would be a huge blow to me and severely impact my chances of buying the game.

Sometimes, voice actors get into a character so perfectly and naturally that it will pretty much never work with anyone else ever again.
They, for all intents and purposes are that character.

Opinion of course.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Like I said previously, I'm quite glad about this. I was always going to get the game Bateson or not, but without his voice for it, it might have felt "off". For example, Snake not being voiced by David Hayter or Sam Fisher not being voiced by Michael Ironside (which will happen in Blacklist, I believe, so we'll see what like that is)

 

[SlamDunc]

It would not matter to me if they replaced the Hitman guy. I do understand the feeling though. If they tried to replace Steve Downes I would be pretty pissed with Microsoft.

 

[Ultramatic]

PRE ORDERING AS WE SPEAK

 

[Woodsey]

Good. The way they had reportedly treated the original voice actors seemed pretty fucking abysmal. Still, there's a far great atrocity at hand - no Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher. (Not that that'd save that game, but it'd be one less nail.)

Like I said in the other thread.

They shouldn't have made him reapply for his job then reject him in the first place.

Still not excited for this.

It's clear the guys at IO have lost it. They did make Kane and Lynch, does nobody remember that?

They made two Kane and Lynch games. TWO. At least Absolution has slowly (slowly) started looking more promising in recent months. I will crush the neck of the next PR guy to utter the word 'cinematic', though.

 

[Chester Rabbit]

YYYYYEEEEESSSS!!!
Okay he didn't talk much but the Wesker voice(What? He does too sound like him!) just fits him like a glove, not the generic bad ass voice from Run for your life. And what can I say, I like consistency.

 

[WaysideMaze]

Wasn't 47s appearance even based on Bateson? I'm pleased they've got him back. He's brilliant in that role.

Good. The way they had reportedly treated the original voice actors seemed pretty fucking abysmal. Still, there's a far great atrocity at hand - no Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher. (Not that that'd save that game, but it'd be one less nail.)

after conviction I've just given up on splinter cell. I only spent £2 on that game and even that was too much.

Also, weren't you banned? Good to see you back.

 

[Acton Hank]

Man people really care about this stuff, Why do you guys put so much investment into a voice actor? It just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[daveman247]

well, great, i guess. i guess 47's voice just didnt resonate with me as it did with snake or sam fisher :L

I dont get why you would ignore a game just because of a voice actor. So now you will still love it, even if the gameplay turns out to be average? ( It is doesnt at the moment, just saying )

The gameplay videos from before didnt interest you? Really? Are you sure you actually like hitman?

 

[crazyrabbits]

Something tells me this was a PR stunt. The way the original statement from Bateman was worded, the fact that Ubisoft never commented on the matter, and the way it was "revealed" that he was back just scream publicity stunt. No problem - I want them to build up hype for this game. It's one of their signature franchises, and everything I've seen so far looks incredible.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

well, great, i guess. i guess 47's voice just didnt resonate with me as it did with snake or sam fisher :L

I dont get why you would ignore a game just because of a voice actor. So now you will still love it, even if the gameplay turns out to be average? ( It is doesnt at the moment, just saying )

The gameplay videos from before didnt interest you? Really? Are you sure you actually like hitman?

It did interest me. It wasn't the lack of Bateson that bugged me. It was the fact that Bateson was eager to return as the voice and they decided not to cast him. He was dropped from the project without any explanation. Bateson stated himself that he called them and sent them e-mails and they didn't bother to respond in any way. And I just didn't want to give money to a company that does something like that to a man who made that character who he is. He is the voice and face of 47.

And of course it was just a very clever PR stunt.

 

[daveman247]

snip

Hm, i still dont get it. I dont really care too much about the business behind it. Just if the game is worth my money XD