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For Instructor
Hello again! We’ve been working hard behind the scenes creating updates for you all, and I’m very excited about the direction of our game. Recently, I posed a question to everyone about the voice actor for the new game; who do you think it will be?
Oh my god! You guys have responded so well! I have spent hours looking through the comments; the level of excitement and creativity from everyone is truly inspiring. There are many different ideas bandied about, as well as a lot of analysis of previous videos and speculation as to who it might be from people that have been in the business.
However, I do have to say something to everyone. Unfortunately, there were a ton of fantastic comments from everyone about who the voice actor would be…but no one guessed correctly.
Bollywood Theories
First, let's clear the air about the big news to last night's show at the SFSU Theatre. A number of you mentioned that we should have engaged a list of our mass-manufactured Bollywood stars. Some of you even said we should have an A-lister like an Ace of Asia, or a veteran actor from past-times (like in the list above). I had totally different ideas about this project when I started from zero out-of-the-bag - but nonetheless - the Names you provided were hugely exciting, and trust me, were flattering to our bankbook! Also, it is apparent to me that we have a LOT of talent in our faces with regards to the World of Bollywood! The range of emotion, the power of the performance, and the power of the voice would lend themselves to an incredible Bollywood production if we were doing "something" in the line of entertainment and had been provided with millions of dollars of entertainment funds.
Unfortunately, everything I wanted to create is outside of Bollywood. It will create a totally different Atmosphere; it will create a totally different Cultural Feel; it will create a totally different Storytelling; it will create a totally different Feel of Game Play; and it is and will be different than anything I could ever create - in my own mind. Unfortunately, I don't think we will be able to achieve those attributes within the framework of what I wrote in the London Performance Plan last night. But - to all of you who sent in your suggestions (no matter how ridiculous) please keep sending; you have no idea how much we do appreciate your input and your support!
Why Our Approach is Unique
The character's character is defined by their vocal performance; thus, the voice actors who perform for your project will create the soul of your character as you develop a new video gaming experience (or, about the same time). They may contain a hyper-realistic 3D model, with ultra-detailed and lifelike images, alongside fully functional combat mechanics, yet when the voice actor who provides the vocal (and/or visual) performance is "off," the immersion into the game is broken instantly.
If this happens, you can no longer see your character as a living and breathing character; rather, you will see an animated model with no emotional content reading the script, having no empathy.
That is not what we wanted. We wanted you, the player, to feel every ounce of tragedy, joy, and courage portrayed by this character. We were determined to have you feel totally anchored in the new universe we created with this project.
Now that the foundation of the project is established, our strategy can be articulated (i.e., divide and conquer).
For this game, my hope was to establish the English Dub first.
Some of you may be surprised to hear that we are starting the game with English Dub rather than Hindi. Given our studio's strong cultural ties to our local community, many may have anticipated that the Hindi Dub would take precedence. We do have a Hindi version and have fully committed to
creating and distributing a Hindi Dub that is authentic and impactful by ensuring that we put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into it.
However, from a strategic, creative, and narrative perspective, we felt that establishing the English Dub and leading with that was the best approach.
Going Global: How to Use English to Command a Worldwide Audience
Why Lead with English? Crisis has as much to do with creative vision and tone as it Does with the Reach and Globalization Factors We are Pursuing. The goal is for this game to reach people all around the world. That means people in Tokyo, London, and New York will be able to power up their console and relate to the lead character in an instant. An English dub establishes the foundation for user connection and emotional impact that Crosses Borders without Misinterpretation.
Creating an English Dubbed version of a Game Doesn't exist just by transcribing a script into written form and performing the scripted scripts as voice actors. The Work of English dubbing will need an understanding of cultural localization, pacing, cadence that create the appropriate flow and energy of the gameplay through movement of both body and facial expression as actors portray a character in Final capture/voice.
In Our Case, We Had to Look at Alternative Locations to Obtain The Best Solutions for Finding The Most Suitable actor to Create an Engaging english Dubbed game Experience.
The Quest for the Right Voice
The search for a global performer was a challenge unto itself. We reviewed hundreds of audition tapes and listened to many recordings. We were looking for a certain level of gravel, a certain degree of emotional weight, and a particular type of energy.
Voice performance for games is famously challenging because, unlike in a film, where body language and facial expressions can be used to convey emotion, an actor in a booth has very few tools at their disposal to create an emotional moment; they only have access to their voice and their imagination. When recording, the actor must scream as if they are falling off a cliff, whisper as if they are hiding from a possible threat just outside the door, or deliver a heart-wrenching monologue to a room full of no one.
When we heard the voice we had been searching for, there was no doubt in our minds. The entire group experienced the chills. It was the exact sound we had been imagining for months, the last piece of the puzzle falling into place.
