Why are all future human heroes American?

[asinann]

Because our lack of accent means that the main character can be understood by EVERYONE and the game won't have to be localized 20 different times.

Oh, and America is the largest single market for the games.

I swear I'm going to make a game and find voice actors with the thickest southern drawl I can understand just to hear people around the world whine about not being able to understand them.
AND I'm not going to have an option for subtitles.

 

[Yossarian90]

What I really dont get is, why can't Americans relate to anyone other than themselves. Bit self centred isn't it

I just want to see more varied characters, and also

"Go America" it's always "Go Earth"

but they always say it in American, it feels like your fighting for the United States of American Earth

 

[Internet Kraken]

Have you noticed the British game/anime characters are completely fucked in the head or mentally unstable?

No

 

[tsb247]

Do you really think it matters?

I mean seriously, who gives a damn?

seconded

I third that.

It may also have something to do with the fact that a great many game companies and publishers happen to be based in the United States.

Really though, it doesn't matter to me who the hero is as long as the game is good.

 

[Space Spoons]

The simplest explanation is that American made games tend to result in heroes/villains of American nationality, but I prefer to think that maybe they're just following the "Star Trek/Futurama/South Park" school of thought; in the future, racial, cultural and language barriers have become so blurred that almost every race is humanoid and speaks with a neutral (to Americans, anyway) accent.

 

[Agayek]

Have you noticed the British game/anime characters are completely fucked in the head or mentally unstable?

Yup. Honestly, that's how we in the colonies perceive those of the motherland.

But then, that only happens because it's usually true.

I like it. I think that might be the most solid statement yet....Unfortunately, I only have 25 cents and a sharpie, so It will be a close battle...

Oh wow, you might be fucked. Go watch some re-runs of McGyver and you might be able to pull it off though.

 

[Yossarian90]

Because our lack of accent means that the main character can be understood by EVERYONE and the game won't have to be localized 20 different times.

Oh, and America is the largest single market for the games.

There are things called subtitles and also one thing, was it so hard to understand Niko Bellic in GTA 4. When he wasn't speaking Russian

 

[WrongSprite]

Because Americans MAKE the games. Oddly enough it means that it's easier to get American voice actors.

/thread

 

[Internet Kraken]

"Go America" it's always "Go Earth"

but they always say it in American, it feels like your fighting for the United States of American Earth

No it doesn't. You need to stop paying attention to such minor details.

 

[PlasticTree]

Because Americans MAKE the games.

^This. Same reason why every NPC in the Fablegames has an English accent; Lionhead is an English developer, and therefore it's easier for them to hire English voice actors.

Also, Japanese developers who localise their game for English speaking countries use voice actors that have the same accent as the target group. And since most English speaking gamers are American, they use American voice actors.

 

[branalvere]

Riddick with a west country accent.....

COOOL

Hey and dont slag Glaswegians I am one

Sorry if it was a stupid question Americans but I expected you to be a bit less arrogant about it, it was just a bit curiosity and Im bored

I wasn't slagging Glaswegians Yossie just thinking it would be surreal. The brummie elite thing I got from a social session I had with a brummie family a couple of weeks ago and it made me laugh so hard when this brummie girl stuck me and I hear this elite saying "Got him!"

 

[sadpolice]

Because most games are made by americans or given help by americans.

 

[TwistedEllipses]

I want a FPS where all the characters are Welsh!

 

[WrongSprite]

Because our lack of accent means that the main character can be understood by EVERYONE and the game won't have to be localized 20 different times.

Oh, and America is the largest single market for the games.

Lack of accent?? Only to yourselves!

Come on man, don't be that stupid.

 

[Sindre1]

Mario is the most popular character in any game, and he is Italian. Makes him stand out.
Im sure that a lot of characters would be more popular if they where not American, like everybody else.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Mario is the most popular character in any game, and he is Italian. Makes him stand out.
Im sure that a lot of characters would be more popular if they where not American, like everybody else.

How does that make any sense?

 

[Lord George]

I don't mind it so much in shooters and games like that.

But in Oblivion it really annoyed me I don't want to hear the same damn American accents everywhere I want some variety especially in a quasi medieval world.

 

[maffro]

Interestingly, Halo does have the occaisional marine with a different accent. Russian, etc.

For the most part american though, yes.

 

[Yossarian90]

Riddick with a west country accent.....

COOOL

Hey and dont slag Glaswegians I am one

Sorry if it was a stupid question Americans but I expected you to be a bit less arrogant about it, it was just a bit curiosity and Im bored

I wasn't slagging Glaswegians Yossie just thinking it would be surreal. The brummie elite thing I got from a social session I had with a brummie family a couple of weeks ago and it made me laugh so hard when this brummie girl stuck me and I hear this elite saying "Got him!"

I would like a game with Glasgow Space Marine in a kilt who saves the world with just a knife and some haggis

I know your weren't slagging us, but I mean its only surreal because we're so conditioned that the American accent is the most normal, or understandable its just a media norm.
I would like to see some variety and I hate this reasoning of "We are the best, because we are the best" its just really stupid