Voice talent in Video Games and do we need new ones?

[Dragonearl]

So a couple of weeks ago, I finished Dragon Age. Great game, I enjoyed it. About a week later, I started Uncharted 2. Once again, another great game. I'm about 80% in, nearly finished.

My only thing, and it may seem minor to others, but bloody Chloe is Morrigan and Flynn is Alistair. I just spent 40 hours with those dudes and they're back again. Threw me for the first several hours.

Now I've got someone telling me that Nathan Drake has been in 50 games since 2007, and 3 already in 2010. And we're not even in February.

If they're going to get the same VAs in every game, can they at least get people like Billy West or John DiMaggio (I know he's in a bunch of games, yay)? Those who can actually do different voices?

I don't know, it could just be me, but it breaks the illusion a bit.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I Don't really notice it but it could be because you played both game that happened to have the same voice actors back to back.

Still they could save the money and just get Brian Blessed to do all the voice work.

 

[Rafe]

Don't really notice it. Then again they could save the money and just get Brian Blessed to do all the voice work.

This ^

I've decided he has no shame whatsoever after watching 'Unbeatable Banzuki'.

 

[Aunel]

I want a death metal singer as voices for the next gears of war
"GHAAAAAAARGH ENEMY'S RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHR!!!" (I know that's not all deathmetal, and that singing like that takes lots of skill, and it screws up your voice, but it will still be funny right?)
although you need more skill for playing bass of course.

 

[Kollega]

If they're going to get the same VAs in every game, can they at least get people like Billy West or John DiMaggio (I know he's in a bunch of games, yay)? Those who can actually do different voices?

I heard that James Arnold Taylor (guess what role he's most famous for) can do decent range of voices - imitate a variety of celebrities, for example.

But yeah - considering that Drake's voice actor appeared in 50 games in 2009, the industry certainly needs more talented actors.

 

[UltraParanoia]

Brutal Legend told me that Lemmy needs to be in every game made from now on.

It's that simple.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

Don't really notice it. Then again they could save the money and just get Brian Blessed to do all the voice work.

This ^

I've decided he has no shame whatsoever after watching 'Unbeatable Banzuki'.

That would be because Unbeatable Banzuki is awesome.

 

[ottenni]

Nah Nolan North i enough. He can do anything!

 

[UnravThreads]

I Don't really notice it but it could be because you played both game that happened to have the same voice actors back to back.

Still they could save the money and just get Brian Blessed to do all the voice work.

Wasn't Brian Blessed in Warhammer 40k: Fire Warrior?

More Jen Hale plz.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

All I will ever need from voice actors is Jennifer Hale. Possibly she could interact with John DiMaggio at times, but really I could listen to her all day.

Seriously though I think that there is enough variety of voice actors, it's just that companies like to use people they know are reliable, which means some people are in more games. Listen really closely and you notice Liquid Snake turning up all over the place. I think of it more like a bonus Easter Egg than an annoyance.

 

[Gunner 51]

I'd be careful what you wish for Aunel, I've seen Danni Filth "acting" in Cradle of Fear - and let's just say - it ain't up to much.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I Don't really notice it but it could be because you played both game that happened to have the same voice actors back to back.

Still they could save the money and just get Brian Blessed to do all the voice work.

Wasn't Brian Blessed in Warhammer 40k: Fire Warrior?

More Jen Hale plz.

He's been in a few games and yes, that includes Warhammer 40K

 

[Aunel]

I'd be careful what you wish for Aunel, I've seen Danni Filth "acting" in Cradle of Fear - and let's just say - it ain't up to much.

yeah but it's Gears of war, it's not like they have anything important to say.

 

[RatRace123]

Video game voice acting is like animation voice acting, you have your mainstays, y'know the people who are in everything. And if you can regonize how they talk, you will be able to hear them all the time.

A small list of reoccuring voice actors include:
John DiMaggio (Gears of War, Madworld)
Nolan North (Uncharted, Halo Wars, Fable II)
Cree Summer (Mass Effect, Dragon Age)
Kath Soucie (Ratchet and Clank 2, Dragon Age)
Brandon Keener (Saints Row 1&2, and Mass Effect 1&2)
Fred Tatasciore (Gears of War, Mass Effect)
Jennifer Hale (KotOR, Mass Effect, Brutal Legend, Metroid Prime)

These people are everywhere, really games usually just use the same 10 people over and over, but it freakin' works.

 

[Rubymuto]

Tara Strong played Rikku in Final Fantasy X and she also does voice acting in cartoons, shes the baby in spirited away and shes the voice of timmy turner in fairly odd parents. i think she does a good job in all roles and she would make a great addition to many games.

 

[Kortney]

Only guy I really notice is the guy who voiced Carth and Kaiden in KOTOR 1 & 2 and Mass Effect respectively.

 

[Dark Knifer]

I never notice these kind of things, unless a character was voiced by serj tankian. Then I would be absolutely amazed.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Gunner 51]

I'd be careful what you wish for Aunel, I've seen Danni Filth "acting" in Cradle of Fear - and let's just say - it ain't up to much.

yeah but it's Gears of war, it's not like they have anything important to say.

OK, you have a point there. Especially as Dizzy from Gears 2 could easily have been voiced by Lemmy from Motorhead.