Trend-Spotting: Voice Acting in Video Games

Ripping off the cover of his newest Xbox 360 game, sophomore Will Hanna places the disc into the console as friends sit anxiously, waiting for the game to upload so all can experience the new storyline of the hottest game on the market.

As he hits start on the main menu, Will sits back, places to controller down...and waits.

A two minute cutscene plays, punctuated with Martin Sheen's voice as a main character, mysterious but confident.
Martin Sheen? The same actor who starred in "The West Wing", "Apocolypse Now" and "The Departed" among countless other ventures?

Welcome the new age in video games; along with improved visuals and a trend towards more intense game play, a movement to incorporate better voice acting has swept across the industry. "There's definitely been a trend towards better voices," Hanna, a longtime gamer who frequently purchases new releases, says.

But questions remain as to their effectiveness at taking games to a better level.

Actors: Establishing a new job market

Shia LeBeouf, Tobin Bell, Vin Diesel and others have migrated to the console in recent years. PCWorld magazine discovered some actors see the industry as a rising force.

"Video games are more successful than films," LeBeaouf said.

Megan Fox, who starred in the blockbuster "Transformers" movies, added that big-hit movies based on video games has helped spur the crossover of talent. "Some of them, like 'Street Fighter', come from the video game industry. That's happening and making gaming something cool instead of just something nerdy," Fox said. "It's something that's trendy and super accessible, so that's why you're seeing the surges of people getting involved."

One could argue that video games' movement towards becoming more cinematic has helped open the door for actors to put their mark on the industry.

"The more a game resembles a movie, the more chances there are for dialogue," Hanna says. "Having recognizable voice actors adds to the depth of a character just by having a recognizable voice."

For years, games have tried to capitalize on a movie's success; "Transformers: The Game" was released soon after the movie raked in over $300 million at the box office. LeBeauf and Fox, main characters in each of the movies, voiced their characters in the game. "It's just a different form of entertainment that's more of a tangible, visceral, emotional experience. Video games are emotional now," LeBeouf told PCWorld.

While gamers don't necessarily buy a game for the acting (like some will see a movie because of who's in it), it can add another dimension to character development in a story. GameSpot.com says "Like in radio, theater, film, or spoken-word performances, the final delivery can either make or break a seemingly good story or even the shortest of dramatic moments."

"Mass Effect 2", which sold over 1.6 million copies in its first three months, relies on lots of dialogue options to further the character's development in the game. Good choices open up certain speaking options; evil choices open others. Extended cutscenes allow the player to see their actions play out in the lives of others, saving or condemning innocent people and team members alike.

No matter the choices, though, the player interacts with the authoritative and mysterious Illusive Man, voiced by Martin Sheen. "Sheen has a classy voice," Hanna says. "It's distinguished, and because he's so practiced, the character is much more believable."

The Illusive Man is the main contact and person in power for an organization trying to save humanity, but often uses questionable tactics and is viewed by many as a terrorist group. In many a cutscene, Sheen switches from aggressive to passive tactics in attempting to convince you, the main character, that his intentions are pure and you should aid him as much as possible. Any chance he has of persuading you drastically impacts the plot's outcome, and holds team member's lives in the balance. And since choices made in one game of the series may effect gameplay in future games in the series, the convincing nature of Sheen's voice could alter more than one gaming experience. "It can be tough choosing between two equally good or bad options," Hanna says. "But Sheen's ability to convince you with just his tone does factor in sometimes."

Voices: Overrated?

Just because the trend exists, however, doesn't mean it's solidified itself in the industry as a must-have. "Most people don't pay attention to the voice while they're playing a game," Milledgeville, Ga. Gamestop associate Josh Sessoms says. "I've never heard a comment about the quality of the voices."

None of the top ten selling games from last year contained high-profile voices; the top-selling game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" didn't use any, but still topped $1 billion in sales, including over $550 million in its first week.
Users point to a gripping storyline and top-of-the-line multiplayer experience as the reasons why the game is so popular. "The game's like an interactive action movie: Gun fights, car chases, lots of explosions," sophomore Charles Brown says. Brown is a self-proclaimed video game addict who's logged over 150 hours of game play on "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" alone, and often spends hours a day playing different games.

The best-known voices in the ever-popular "Halo" series, which began as a trilogy with a main story but has since added three other games, aren't even actors. According to the International Movie Database, which also lists video games, Steve Downes is a morning DJ for a Chicago radio station and wouldn't raise an eyebrow to any gamer.
Downes also voices Master Chief, the iconic main character found with guns blazing on each of the first three "Halo" game covers.

Combined, the original trilogy has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

"It's still a shaky marriage and it's never paid off," director Peter Berg ("Hancock", among others) told PCWorld. "So far, it hasn't proven to be a gold mine for anybody." Brown agrees, saying having Martin Sheen in "Mass Effect 2" doesn't equate to a better game. "I'd say it could detract from the experience," Brown says. "When you're talking to the Illusive Man, you automatically equate whatever he says as Martin Sheen talking, not the character."

"It detracts from the character's believability and takes away from the immersion in the story."

Other games, such as ones based on movies, simply strive for authenticity; the more they can transplant from the movie to the game, the better the immersion experience, and thus stronger sales. "When I play, if I hear a famous actor's voice, I'll say 'that's pretty cool' and concentrate on the game to see if it's worthwhile," Brown says.

"It's a nice touch, but doesn't mean the game itself is any good."

Just make a good game!

The crossover between the movie and gaming industries remins strong; but questions still remain as to the importance of voice acting in video games.

So are they important, or a nice touch?

"I think it's cool," Sessoms says. "It adds familiarity to the game." But he added games tend to sell well because they're a good game, saying people but it for the game play first.

Hanna agrees. "It's not necessary for a game to have high-quality voice acting if the game is fun," he says. "That's why people buy games: Because they're fun."

But as long as video games continue to find ways to improve, the quality of voice acting will surely continue to search for better-known names as well.

"The more a game relies on cinematics to further the story, the higher importance there is on the quality of voice," Brown says.

When it comes down to it, though, gamers just want a fun time playing a well-done game.

Online Sources:
1.) Gaudiosi, John. "Screen stars vie for video game voiceovers." PCWorld. Visited Nov 11, 2010.

2.) "The best voice acting in video games" Gamespot. Visited Nov 14, 2010.

3.) Riley, David M. The NPD Group. Visited Nov 6, 2010.

4.) "The Names Behind the Voices." Visited 14, 2010.

5.) "Transformers." Box Office Mojo. Visited Nov 13, 2010.

6.) "Halo 3 sells 10 million copies worldwide." gamrFeed. Visited Nov 14, 2010.