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[NinjaCoachZ]

Oh no, i'm thinking of Star Ocean 4 actually, sorry. (Reimi)

Oh yeah, right right.

SO4 is often called out as bad VO and I think that's a case where it's largely down to the bad writing and potentially direction. The cast members are all talented VAs on their own and the director (Jonathan Klein) always does solid work (he did Hellsing, Street Fighter V, Valkyrie Profile 2, FFIV DS...). All things considered it's a case where the actors were doing their best with what they had.

 

[LiK]

What?! You need your ears checked pal.

Uncharted, Shadow Complex, Spec Ops: The Line, Saints Row, Prince Of Persia, Assassin's Creed, Singularity, Alpha Protocol, Deadpool. The list goes on and on.

He has his standout performances (which sometimes are altered with software) but a lot of the time he just plays Nolan North, and it almost always makes a game worse.

Probably the voice director telling him to just use his own voice. Drake made him pretty famous so everyone probably wanted the same thing. No one knew North did a bunch of the voices in Portal and some other Valve projects. People on GAF were surprised he was the Penguin in the Batman Arkham games too.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

David from the last of us, that is your Drake.
I mean, sure having new talent is always welcome but those guys are in so many games for a good reason.

This.

I'm not too much up to date on what voice actors do what roles, but in 2013 I played both BioShock Infinite and The Last of Us. Only sometime later I found out about the voice actors in those games, and my reaction was along the lines of

"Wait, you mean that Joel and Booker DeWitt are voiced by the same person!?"

When I hear the voices in the games, to me they are Booker DeWitt and Joel. They're NOT "Troy Baker version 1" and "Troy Baker version 2."

Maybe Troy Baker is just a really good voice actor. Same goes for Nolan North. Same goes for Laura Bailey.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Personally, I don't care who the actor or actress is as long as they deliver. I understand that some people may get "burnt out" on hearing the same actors and actresses, but it's pretty standard across the board. Even with anime to a certain degree, depending on the company involved. If they do good work, they're available, and they audition, chances are they're going to get the gig time and time again. It's kind of hard to knock people that do a great job. If anything, I think it just means more talented people need to chase that career path and go out and audition to mix it up.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

I would say FFXV's voice acting shows exactly why we need "usual" voice actors

It's bad

 

[Rookhelm]

I know those are common names listed in the OP, but the only ones I'm ever conscious of are Troy Baker, Nolan North (but only when he does his Drake voice, he's got great range, otherwise), and Jennifer Hale, for the most part.

I could use a break from these guys unless they do something different here and there.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Lmao the whole thesis of the thread is bunk from the getgo with who those P5 actors are.

I would say FFXV's voice acting shows exactly why we need "usual" voice actors

It's bad

That too.

 

[Alucrid]

op doesn't know anything about voice acting or voice actors apparently

 

[Ash735]

I know some voice actors and the video game industry tends to treat them like shit sadly, a lot of big publishers WANT the "known" VA's like Nolan North or Troy Baker, I've known many people who were cast in a game and were later replaced by Nolan North/Troy Baker/someone more famous because it's used as a pushing point of having "big name" talent on their game as if that somehow makes it more legit.

edit: I've also met Nolan North a few times, nothing against him, he's a genuine great guy and a real pleasure to talk with.

 

[Speedydonut]

Everyone needs to start somewhere. Voice actors like Troy Baker, Liam O Brien, Laura Bailey, and Steve Blum all had their starts at the bottom doing cheap dub roles. They all been in the industry long enough they climbed their way to the top getting work beyond dubbing like being western cartoons from Disney or WB or some AAA game.

Look up really early dubbing anime work from those actors careers and they sound pretty awful compared to now.

 

[sensui-tomo]

I'd like new voices, hell it'd get rid of that argument i've seen a few times about why there isnt a minority voice actor/actress doing a part since i can seldom think of actors who are besides phil lamarr, (the guy who voices Barret(ff7) and Jet (cowboy bebop) and for females... i cant think of anyone really but that may be more of me not noticing enough) OR we can have a laura bailey in uncharted 4 thread again.

Everyone needs to start somewhere. Voice actors like Troy Baker, Liam O Brien, Laura Bailey, and Steve Blum all had their starts at the bottom doing cheap dub roles. They all been in the industry long enough they climbed their way to the top getting work beyond dubbing like being western cartoons from Disney or WB or some AAA game.

Look up really early dubbing anime work from those actors careers and they sound pretty awful compared to now.

Just a warning, never look up Dan Green's early work. else you'll cluck like a chicken (girl who clucked was casca's english voice.... the people 4kids hired did a lot of ... varied works early on.)

 

[joms5]

Probably the voice director telling him to just use his own voice. Drake made him pretty famous so everyone probably wanted the same thing. No one knew North did a bunch of the voices in Portal and some other Valve projects. People on GAF were surprised he was the Penguin in the Batman Arkham games too.

Portal I was surprised at for sure, but when you listen to how much of his voice was altered for that, it's no wonder I didn't recognize him.

You want to talk about great performances, David from The Last of Us. Even now when I hear David speak, never do I think Nolan North. It's amazing.

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

What?! You need your ears checked pal.

Uncharted, Shadow Complex, Spec Ops: The Line, Saints Row, Prince Of Persia, Assassin's Creed, Singularity, Alpha Protocol, Deadpool. The list goes on and on.

He has his standout performances (which sometimes are altered with software) but a lot of the time he just plays Nolan North, and it almost always makes a game worse.

Or better:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tVibNKrp8sQ

 

[Vex_]

I know some voice actors and the video game industry tends to treat them like shit sadly, a lot of big publishers WANT the "known" VA's like Nolan North or Troy Baker, I've known many people who were cast in a game and were later replaced by Nolan North/Troy Baker/someone more famous because it's used as a pushing point of having "big name" talent on their game as if that somehow makes it more legit.

edit: I've also met Nolan North a few times, nothing against him, he's a genuine great guy and a real pleasure to talk with.

wow that sucks :/

 

[-Horizon-]

You leave Lucina out of this.

 

[aBarreras]

talk about yourself but i need laura bailey working on games

 

[LiK]

Portal I was surprised at for sure, but when you listen to how much of his voice was altered for that, it's no wonder I didn't recognize him.

You want to talk about great performances, David from The Last of Us. Even now when I hear David speak, never do I think Nolan North. It's amazing.

David was a shock. I didn't know that was him until the credits.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

Video game voice actors are skilled in their craft. I'm sure it's an extremely competitive field, with the top performers getting the bulk of the major work.

One of my biggest pet peeves with the otherwise excellent Ratchet and Clank game was the person who voiced Cora. Shit was cringeworthy at times. I looked it up and it was some movie/TV actress named Bella Thorne. I looked up some of her work and, yea... No offense, but it explained a lot of my beef with the voice of the Cora character.

So yes, please put trained, qualified voice professionals in video games. Thank you

 

[Dreavus]

Already been said, but Nolan North has great range. I remember seeing him on the list for a a few Dota 2 heroes you wouldn't expect, like Ogre Magi (both heads) and Keeper of the Light, both vastly different from his Nathan Drake performance.

And even aside from all that, this is these guys' careers. You can't expect them to stick to one role only just because you feel like you hear them a lot. They're going to take on whatever they think they can handle.

 

[DrunkShogun]

It's good for unknown actors to get roles in big games but it's no insult to bailey and baker who have the best range in the industry. Still iffy on ffxv but persona 5 seems to be have been a good casting.

 

[Give War A Chance]

I love some of the industry's top VAs, Laura Bailey comes to mind immediately.

I mean, even though they have a ton of range, it doesn't hurt to have new talent getting a crack on the big stages. It's such a nuanced argument, because it doesn't mean more veteran VAs should be treated like crap because you can ferry in new talent that may be as good, or better, or worse, than them for less.

We'll see how the product turns out, but I do agree that variety is the spice of life! More variety for the industry can't be bad, but TOO much bad variety would be. We also need the things that we know we like as well, and I hope there's a world where we could see both of these happen.

 

[Tik115]

Here's the thing with the whole "Typical VAs".

They are casted a lot for a good reason, because they are good at what they do and have been doing this for years, the cast for FF15 and Persona 5? they have been working their ass off for years to get to what is essentially their break. I was watching a stream of Erin Fritzgerald (Voice of Chie in Persona, Noire/Black Heart in Hyperdimension Neptunia and Sona/Janna in league of legends + many more) and she was asked about if she knew any voice actors that were getting known and she had this to say:

Most people that I know have been here and around here for a good 10 years and they slowly work from the very begging, it takes a long time I mean I've been doing it for 20 years and, y'know it takes a long time to- so when- what you might see as an outside as someone just getting known, I've known them for a good 10 or 15 years watching them work really really hard trying to get better credits

(Video in question: https://youtu.be/Cn83NeclzW0?t=3939)

The "Typical" VAs are ones who have spent years working to get into better credits and in fact a lot of those typical VAs have only became "typical" recently

Troy Baker got his launch point off of Tales of Vesperia, Which was 8 years ago, Laura Bailey began to show a lot in, again, 2008, Liam Began to show alot in 2009 - 2011 alot of these "Typical VAs" have only just reached near the top.

I mean lets look at Matthew Mercer who is one of the VAs for both FF15 AND Persona 5, if you look he became what you would call a "Typical VA" within the last 2 years

Lets also not forget some of these voice actors are simply typecasted, Steve Blum is always Typecasted into Wolverine style voices but we've seen him voice Leeron in Gurren lagann

And finally those typical VAs often times show incredibly vocal range, Robin Aktin Downes is a prime example, he voices Miller in MGS5, He voices the Medic in TF2 and he voices Brynjolf in Skyrim, Hell even Nolan North shows some range by nearly perfectly copying the TF2 Soldiers voice (Since the previous one unfortunatly got Throat cancer) in the TF2 Short "Expiration date"

Is it good that some VAs are breaking out? absolutely but here's the thing with you saying we don't need "Typical VAs", these new upcoming VAs will now become the "Typical VAs" you're mentioning

 

[Ginger Hail]

I always like hearing a larger range of VAs, but the top of the top get the work they do because they do put on really great performances most of the time. Can't really penalize them for that.

That reminds me, any word on the union strike? I thought I saw something new about it recently but I'm not sure.

 

[tokkun]

Isn't it weird when actors are in many different movies?

Yes. It is so weird.

Define "many". I've variously heard complaints of actors like Chris Pratt or Shia LaBeouf being in too much stuff. They have about 40-50 credits for the last 15 years.

Nolan North and Troy Baker each have ~300.

That's what makes it weird.

 

[Neoxon]

Let's also not forget some of these voice actors are simply typecasted, Steve Blum is always Typecasted into Wolverine style voices but we've seen him voice Leeron in Gurren lagann

Steve Blum was Leeron? I guess you learn something new everyday (though that's not to say that I ever doubted Steve Blum's range).

That said, it's kinda funny how he's done Wolverine-type roles a lot despite not voicing Wolverine himself in years. I suppose that's type-casting for you.

 

[Shadowheart]

It is weird for me to hear the same VA over and over. Using your natural voice isn't 'acting'- just like with body acting. I played Gear and it sounded exactly like Drake was the main character. Couldn't they change it a bit naturally or synthetically?

 

[Gai Murakumo]

But I need Steve Blum to play some Russian guy all the time.

In all seriousness the majority of the big name VA's have quite a bit of range and can fit in several roles quite easily and still fit that character. Liam O'Brien I love especially since when I hear his voice he sounds so perfect and on key with whatever character he is voicing.

 

[beastlove]

I wonder how many people just skip cut scenes. I bet someone has the stats.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

They are voice actors, for the most part I wouldnt be able to recongnize them if I didnt know they were in a game (North was in TLoU, didnt know till credits, and Troy has great range, hes just good so he gets gigs)

 

[LordKasual]

Oh yeah, right right.

SO4 is often called out as bad VO and I think that's a case where it's largely down to the bad writing and potentially direction. The cast members are all talented VAs on their own and the director (Jonathan Klein) always does solid work (he did Hellsing, Street Fighter V, Valkyrie Profile 2, FFIV DS...). All things considered it's a case where the actors were doing their best with what they had.

Yeah there was really no saving SO4's dialogue. Even if it was better Lymile's lines alone would have decimated any chance of the game not being hardcringe.

 

[AgentLampshade]

Liam O'Brien directs too (he was a guest VO director in The Last of Us no less) so I don't want him going anywhere.

 

[TalonJH]

Nolan North voices more characters than you know, but you don't realize it because it doesn't actually sound like Drake.

Yep, same with Troy Baker.

 

[Glowsquid]

pinning for the glorious return of barry gjerde and peter von gomm

 

[Shengar]

Nah - the top voice actors have incredible range. It's no different to seeing actors in different roles in films.

It become a problem when those said VAs only asked to fill the role they usually accustomed in though.

 

[Neoxon]

Liam O'Brien directs too (he was a guest VO director in The Last of Us no less) so I don't want him going anywhere.

Doesn't Patrick Seitz also do VO directing on top of actual voice acting? I know Sam Riegel (the main English voice of Phoenix Wright) directed the voice acting of some kids show he keeps talking about on his Twitter.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

It become a problem when those said VAs only asked to fill the role they usually accustomed in though.

The key thing is not to hate the player, but hate the game.

I have no problem with Matthew Mercer as a person but I'm sick of hearing him in stuff becase directors insist on casting him in similar roles with the exact same voice and style of delivery. That's not on him, that's on the casting people for not being more creative or letting the actors stretch their wings. And in all fairness he's had a couple roles where I didn't recognize him. The range is there, casting directors just aren't taking advantage of it.

 

[AgentLampshade]

Nolan North doing his Drake voice (though getting noticeably more gutteral) in Spec Ops The Line was fantastic.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

It become a problem when those said VAs only asked to fill the role they usually accustomed in though.

That's more of a shame because typecasting those actors is unfair to the amazing range that most of them have.

 

[Fury451]

Nah - the top voice actors have incredible range. It's no different to seeing actors in different roles in films.

Agreed. It's not the talent's fault that they have range but are often typecast.

At the same time, I always welcome new blood too, so I wouldn't say there's no need for the veterans, but rather there's need for new stars to join them.

Nolan North doing his Drake voice (though getting noticeably more gutteral) in Spec Ops The Line was fantastic.

Great example. How his voice becomes more aggressive and violent is quite an amazing subversion of the usual Drake voice.

 

[joms5]

What would you guys say a voice actor like Nolan North or Troy Baker makes for a voice acting gig where they are the central character?

They say a voice actors salary is around $40, 000. This could include work from a number of different projects.

Given the name recognition of Nolan North, do you think he could command that much for a single project? I honestly don't know, so i'm just taking a stab in the dark here. Anyone with any experience in voice acting?

 

[NeOak]

Nolan North voices more characters than you know, but you don't realize it because it doesn't actually sound like Drake.

His version of Ghost in Destiny reminds me of Drake

Well, Drake being a naive moron.

RIP Dinklebot ;-;

 

[bakedpony]

We do need fresh blood. Remember that Troy Baker was not a well known name when he first voiced Kanji in 2008 for Persona 4. We need breakout momenta like that.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

What would you guys say a voice actor like Nolan North or Troy Baker makes for a voice acting gig where they are the central character?

They say a voice actors salary is around $40, 000. This could include work from a number of different projects.

Given the name recognition of Nolan North, do you think he could command that much for a single project? I honestly don't know, so i'm just taking a stab in the dark here. Anyone with any experience in voice acting?

Seems like it would be hard to guess what he brings in since a lot of that stuff would presumably be dependent on secondary factors like how much work a particular script requires of him, if they also need mo-cap from him, etc etc.

 

[Armadilo]

Just would like more minority groups given a chance

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

Most voice actors have incredible range. Look at John DiMaggio or Nolan North for example.

For the longest time I didn't know that John DiMaggio voiced both Wakka AND Kimahri in FFX. I mean, yeah, Wakka is 100% DiMaggio with a weird Jamaican accent, but Kimahri sounds so incredibly different from his regular voice. And he's done a great Joker in the past, too.

Nolan North is a real talent, too. Yeah, of course he's Nathan Drake and he's Deadpool and he's like 80% of NPCs in every game, but this guy can do AMAZING things with his voice.
His voice for the Penguin in the Batman Arkham games and that one guy (always forget his name; the pedophile dude) in The Last of Us stand out in particular.

So yeah, give me more of them professional expensive voice actors any day. I love hearing them.

 

[Riposte]

Troy Baker is a gift from God.

 

[Mifec]

The true power of Nolan North

Brewmaster

Earth Spirit

Gyrocopter

Keeper of the Light

Lone Druid

Lycan

Meepo

Ogre Magi

Shadow Demon

Troll Warlord

 

[Timeaisis]

As long as they're good, I don't care.

 

[Moobabe]

What?! You need your ears checked pal.

Uncharted, Shadow Complex, Spec Ops: The Line, Saints Row, Prince Of Persia, Assassin's Creed, Singularity, Alpha Protocol, Deadpool. The list goes on and on.

He has his standout performances (which sometimes are altered with software) but a lot of the time he just plays Nolan North, and it almost always makes a game worse.

No - YOU need to educate yourself, pal.

It's an issue of direction. He said in an interview about Dark Void, for example, that they asked him "to do Drake" for the voice of the main character.

 

[Abstrusity]

Thinly veiled Liam O'Brien appreciation thread? Nobody does unhinged like Liam.

He's my favorite VA. I get hype for games because of him.