What about female narrators?

[Rayce Archer]

In many cases the narrator is the same character as the protagonist (Half-Life 2, etc.)

Wait are you saying the G Man WASN'T the hero of Half Life 2? Shit, was it Gordon all along? Wow, I'm gonna have to take back some really mean things I said about the narrative of that game.

 

[Barbas]

Haven't noticed it myself. Maybe Cate Blanchett is willing to do some narratives?

Oh fuck yes!

OT: No idea, but I'd sure like to hear more, because I've heard so few. Just so long as it's not Ann Widdecombe.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

she's also a lesbian

I fail to see how this is relevant to the topic at hand and question why you chose to bring this up.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

This is an interesting question. I know there are quite a few games with female narrators, when narration is present that is. But they're yeah they're not the majority.

The reason this is really striking to me is because I'm a fan of the Honor Harrington book series by David Weber, and the majority of Audio books I have are read my Madeline Bazzard(SP?). Then usually by other female readers too. The male readers on the other hand come off as a bit jarring.

 

[Fox12]

I thought there were tons. Virtually ANYTHING fairy tale related is guaranteed to have a female narrator. For once, I don't think there's an issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhjDnrw34QA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylFzJ3wRgHw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prDCDmchtTg

 

[Saetha]

There might be a reason for this, to some extent. I believe they've found studies that show people tend to like female voices more, but trust male voices better. So in media where the quality of the sound itself (Music, for instance) is important, you're likelier to find female voices. In media where the voice making assertions and claims (Narration and advertising, for instance) male voices are preferable.

Of course, I'm too lazy to dig up the studies on these, so eh.

 

[Dizchu]

As much of a fan of Unreal Tournament as I am (still own a physical copy) I'm not giving UT the credit. The opening cutscene has that one narration, and the entire rest of the game has the male announcer. A fucking phenomenal male announcer that makes your ears orgasm and OMG HOW DOES THIS GUY NOT DO MOVIE TRAILERS???, but a male announcer nonetheless.

Unreal Tournament 2004 technically had a female announcer, it was optional and not the default, but her voicepack more or less comprised of her getting closer to orgasm the more you rack up your killing spree. The whole creepy vibe of that whole thing aside, IIRC, it had all the dialogue of the male announcer.

That was probably due to my nostalgia goggles. That opening sequence got me pumped for UT back in the day, and as I said traditional "narrations" such as those seen in films and television aren't quite as common in video games apart from opening cinematics. I think I'm getting confused between narrators, announcers and inner monologues.

But yeah, UT and its sequels have had excellent voice talent when it comes to the announcers. UT2004 had two female announcers, one was more authoritative and the other was... "sexy female". Which was extremely distracting and would probably raise a few eyebrows from people overhearing.

"UUUNNSTOPPABBBLE!!!"

Yeah I'm actually having a hard time thinking of games with narrators that aren't main characters in their respective games, I was probably grasping at straws with UT.

 

[Alcom1]

The Ancients sequences in Descent: FreeSpace are female narrated.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

Eve:


And I know I remember several, but I'm honestly having trouble with the names...and it is ALWAYS a British female, just like it's ALWAYS a British or Gravelly/Deep voiced dude.

There's just something respectable about the accent, or at least there is to Americans, which is so ridiculously ironic after the whole revolution thing.

We don't seem to even enjoy our own collective 'default' accent as narration for anything we'd consider "epic," let alone the more, er, 'socially maligned' ones. I mean, imagine the Lord of the Rings narrated by Martha Stewart or some typical southern belle.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

It's really about 50/50 from the games being mentioned and what I can remember. The first one that comes to mind is Cortana for me. She sort of gives off the "you will grow up to be a hero" feel, like she's speaking to a young child. She usually only spoke around the beginning, but it really contributed to setting up the rest of the game.
Anyway mate, I don't think there's much of a disparity here, if any.

 

[Mutant1988]

she's also a lesbian

I fail to see how this is relevant to the topic at hand and question why you chose to bring this up.

it was a two for one deal on minority representation.

Half of humanity can't really be called a "minority", regardless of how marginalized they have been (And really should not be).

I'm not that big of a fan of the idea of a narrator anyway. They're great for trailers and intro cinematics, but I don't really feel that they add that much to a game itself.

To me, characters are far more important. And I'd welcome more well written and well voiced female characters.

 

[Kopikatsu]

she's also a lesbian

I fail to see how this is relevant to the topic at hand and question why you chose to bring this up.

it was a two for one deal on minority representation.

Half of humanity can't really be called a "minority", regardless of how marginalized they have been (And really should not be).

I'm not that big of a fan of the idea of a narrator anyway. They're great for trailers and intro cinematics, but I don't really feel that they add that much to a game itself.

To me, characters are far more important. And I'd welcome more well written and well voiced female characters.

Narrators can add a lot to a game. Stanley Parable, for example, would be almost nothing without the narrator.

Moving closer to actual games as opposed to walking simulators, the narrator of Darkest Dungeon really sets the tone and reinforces the Lovecraftian aesthetic.


The reason I linked the trailer is because around halfway through it shows some gameplay with what the narrator'd say in those situations (most gameplay videos have a commentator). "Dazed. Reeling! About to break..." "A savage blow! Such ferocity cannot go unanswered!" (Taking a crit, having stress increase significantly) And so on.

 

[Mutant1988]

Narrators can add a lot to a game. Stanley Parable, for example, would be almost nothing without the narrator.

Moving closer to actual games as opposed to walking simulators, the narrator of Darkest Dungeon really sets the tone and reinforces the Lovecraftian aesthetic.

I'm not saying there's no merit whatsoever to narrators. I'm just saying that it's not my thing.

I played Bastion and actually wished I could turn the narrator off.

Yes, seriously.

That whole minority thing bugs me though (This is not critique directed at anyone here). A minority should be a smaller interest group, correct? But when it's a very, very big one (Like one out of two available genders), it's not a minority group. It's just a group that's being marginalized and treated as minority.

 

[fenrizz]

Why?
Most likely because most game developers are in fact male.

I wouldn't mind seeing (or rather hearing) more female narrators, but I don't really care to be honest.

 

[DoPo]

Virtually ANYTHING fairy tale related is guaranteed to have a female narrator.

Fable
Bard's Tale

Your argument is invalid.

I had also not realised Kill Bill was a fairy tale. Probably part of the new folklore, I suppose.

 

[Autumnflame]

Technically portal with glados.
and Scribblenaughts had Jen hale narrating

 

[Mutant1988]

Why?
Most likely because most game developers are in fact male.

I wouldn't mind seeing (or rather hearing) more female narrators, but I don't really care to be honest.

To be perfectly honest, if I'm going to listen to a voice spouting exposition or facts, I'd rather it be a woman.