View Full Version : how hard can it be to voice act?
pragmatic insanester
07-05-2005, 04:38 PM
since so many people dislike the majority of voice acting, it brings to mind, how can someone mess it up so bad? even if the voice is not right for the character, why do people have such hard times speaking correctly (resident evil's syntax) and not sounding like a complete retard.
Chunky
07-05-2005, 05:00 PM
prolly as hard as typing a topic that makes sense.
joshnickerson
07-05-2005, 05:01 PM
The key word is "acting". You have to be a good actor to be a good voice actor.
RetroYoungen
07-05-2005, 06:20 PM
In my last acting class (fall semester, so back in September - December) we covered voice-acting. It is more difficult than it might seem, because unlike physical acting you have to convey everything through your words. It's difficult to get just what you're looking for.
Phosphor Dot Fossils
07-05-2005, 06:32 PM
Yeah, and if you ever listen to the Star Wars: Dark Forces audio adaptations, you'll find that it's very difficult not only to convey everything through your words, but also to do so without descending into pure cheese.
For further reference, may I suggest War Of The Worlds. Not Spielberg's version. Orson Welles' version. ;)
crazyjackcsa
07-05-2005, 07:29 PM
It's hard to get the proper emotion and context into your voice. I work as a Radio Announcer, and it's one of the hardest things to do, that is to sound like you aren't acting.
tylerwillis
07-05-2005, 08:12 PM
As a few have mentioned - voice acting is difficult. Some think that it's easier because you don't have to worry about your physical actions/appearance/expressions/costumes/etc, but the fact is - it's that much harder because you don't have anything to work with but a microphone.
It takes talent and training to be a good voice actor - I'm not referring to just any Joe that walks into a studio, but those handful of professionals here in the US who are actually good enough to have regular work and steady paychecks. Unfortunately, voice acting isn't a big deal in the US, so most of these people will never have their talents recognized on as large a scale as movie/tv actors. It's different in Japan (home of anime/games) where voice actors can actually rise to the pinnacle of the acting profession.
If anyone thinks that it's easy or that any old Joe can do a good job, then they should try it for themselves - get a tape recorder, a blank room, and a script. See what you sound like.
Sorry for the rant - this is one of my pet peeves. It does seem that most people complain about English VAing then argue that anyone ought to be able to do it. Until we recognize and reward the professionals in that realm, the quality of English VAing is going to remain spotty at best.
Haoie
07-05-2005, 10:59 PM
From what I've heard, VA is much harder than people often think. If you're not skilled or careful you run the risk of becoming, well, Resident Evil esque. Master of unlocking anyone?
As in putting wrong emphasis on words, crazy sentences, blandness, the works.
From what I've heard, VA is much harder than people often think. If you're not skilled or careful you run the risk of becoming, well, Resident Evil esque. Master of unlocking anyone?
As in putting wrong emphasis on words, crazy sentences, blandness, the works.
WEEESSSSKEEERRRRRRR!
Ed Oscuro
07-06-2005, 04:44 PM
prolly as hard as typing a topic that makes sense.
No, actually, the topic makes sense to me, though I thought it wouldn't.
I think much of the acting I hear that sounds bad is done out of context, I mean, some of these actors haven't played a game in their lives.
Next up you have the "HAM IT UP LIKE A SANDWICH" syndrome. Pretty obvious when you think about it.
Dimitri
07-06-2005, 08:13 PM
I think much of the acting I hear that sounds bad is done out of context, I mean, some of these actors haven't played a game in their lives.
I recall reading somewhere that when the voice acting for Sonic Adventure was recorded, they had the actors read the script once, then recorded their voices as the video played on a screen in the recording room. Talk about a lack of context...
Haoie
07-06-2005, 09:39 PM
And then there are inappropriate accents!!
dj898
07-06-2005, 09:56 PM
It takes talent and training to be a good voice actor - I'm not referring to just any Joe that walks into a studio, but those handful of professionals here in the US who are actually good enough to have regular work and steady paychecks. Unfortunately, voice acting isn't a big deal in the US, so most of these people will never have their talents recognized on as large a scale as movie/tv actors. It's different in Japan (home of anime/games) where voice actors can actually rise to the pinnacle of the acting profession.
grab a copy of US Shenmue for DC and after playing a bit try with JPN release Shenmue...
if you don't have the DC then try to track down Shenmue The Movie DVD. It's usually listed on eBay for next to nothing...
the DVD has both English and Japanese audio tracks and you can switch in between on the fly.
You can tell the difference between the voice acting and the lack of... 'nuff said
DoubleJJ
07-06-2005, 10:10 PM
for VA your either right for it or not. There's no merely ok. If your good it shouldn't be hard, but the best try the hardest.
Daria
07-06-2005, 10:41 PM
Personally I don't give a shit if voice acting is easy or difficult to do. What I find unforgivable is when a publisher lets attrocious voice acting go unchecked. I'm not blaming the actor for not doing his best, I assume they're trying, but if you're going to do a half assed job why have voices at all?
Baten Kaitos, I'm looking at you.
It would have been cheaper and just as effective (I mean I turned the voices off completely they were so bad) to not bother with hiring actors at all. Why waste the money on crap? And it's not like Namco's known for it's bad acting. I quite liked Tales of Destiny 2, and Symphonia. So what the fuck went catastrophic?
dj898
07-06-2005, 10:50 PM
I'm all for the subtitle if they cannot get a decent voice actors...
Reason why I never buy dub'd only DVD...
kirin jensen
07-06-2005, 11:55 PM
The problem with voice acting - especially in cheaper anime and video games - is that the people in charge of production almost always choose to cut money costs in the voice acting area.
Good voice talent is expensive and getting rarer since the decline of radio drama/comedy.
Even when they use 'name' actors, they almost never cast with an ear toward distinctive voices.
I was playing megaman 8 on the Anniversary game and fell over a few times because of the voices. "why must we fight we are not enemies" LOL
grenade man LOL