Video Game Voice Actors Will Go On Strike this Friday Unless a Deal is Reached

[Igor-Rowan]

Probably the closest thing video games have to that is Jennifer Hale.

Searching... Sarah Palmer, Commander Shepard, Samus Aran in Prime 3, not bad, but I woudn't be surprised if the average asked "who?".

It's not different from the animation industry, a lot of Sausage Party's animators said they were uncredited and complained about the work conditions, but if a famous voice actor is in your movie that makes it alright somehow. Hideo Kojima wanted to David as Snake multiple times, but no one cared, they want to see Norman Reedus in the game, because it's not like voice acting is related to acting or performance in any way.

 

[Mister K]

Again with generalization....

Then don't generalize in the first place if you don't want a comment that, while snarky, isn't that far off the mark. Unlike most people in this thread I actually read what they're asking for and the context of WHY they're asking for it. None of them are unreasonable. When you have people frequently vomiting, coughing up blood, or losing their voice due to the stressful sessions that these game makers frequently demand then it was going to come back to haunt them. Fact of the matter is this: this needed to happen and it was long overdue. The gaming industry, if it's going to keep wanting professional VO in its products, has to learn to WORK with actors instead of just treating them like a tool to exploit and throw away. It might also help open discussion as to why the does nothing to solve the image of companies being exploitative to not only VAs but to their own employees. The gaming industry seriously needs to start acting like an actual INDUSTRY.

Its all fine and dandy, but I doubt that VA's have levelage to put any pressure. Nobody says "Hey, John Doe voiced this guy, I am totally buying the game now". People like them don't sell games, gameplay, artstyle, characters and writing do. Voice actors are as far from essential element of gaming industry as one can be while still having some relevance.

If programmers went on strike, or artists, it would've been problematic because it is hard to find adequate replacement for people who actually make games. With VA's, it is not so. They are like media players in cars: rather nice to have, but not neccessary.

As I've said, I'd preffer to see them come to some agreement. But if anything bad happens as a result of it, I am more than sure that it will be lack of voice acting in games made by aformentioned companies, or unprofessional one.

There won't be a lack of voice-acting, just a lack of voice acting from the particular union going on strike, there's other voice-actor who will not be striking

Well, there is also a certain way unions see strikebreakers. I don't remember all historical details, but I remember reading that innocent blood was spilled.

Can someone give details on this matter?

 

[darkrage6]

Again with generalization....

Then don't generalize in the first place if you don't want a comment that, while snarky, isn't that far off the mark. Unlike most people in this thread I actually read what they're asking for and the context of WHY they're asking for it. None of them are unreasonable. When you have people frequently vomiting, coughing up blood, or losing their voice due to the stressful sessions that these game makers frequently demand then it was going to come back to haunt them. Fact of the matter is this: this needed to happen and it was long overdue. The gaming industry, if it's going to keep wanting professional VO in its products, has to learn to WORK with actors instead of just treating them like a tool to exploit and throw away. It might also help open discussion as to why the does nothing to solve the image of companies being exploitative to not only VAs but to their own employees. The gaming industry seriously needs to start acting like an actual INDUSTRY.

Its all fine and dandy, but I doubt that VA's have levelage to put any pressure. Nobody says "Hey, John Doe voiced this guy, I am totally buying the game now". People like them don't sell games, gameplay, artstyle, characters and writing do. Voice actors are as far from essential element of gaming industry as one can be while still having some relevance.

If programmers went on strike, or artists, it would've been problematic because it is hard to find adequate replacement for people who actually make games. With VA's, it is not so. They are like media players in cars: rather nice to have, but not neccessary.

As I've said, I'd preffer to see them come to some agreement. But if anything bad happens as a result of it, I am more than sure that it will be lack of voice acting in games made by aformentioned companies, or unprofessional one.

There won't be a lack of voice-acting, just a lack of voice acting from the particular union going on strike, there's other voice-actor who will not be striking

Well, there is also a certain way unions see strikebreakers. I don't remember all historical details, but I remember reading that innocent blood was spilled.

Can someone give details on this matter?

I'm not talking about strikebreakers though, i'm talking about completely different organizations of voice actors who are not planning on striking, this article has some details on why this is a bad idea:http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/video-game-voice-actors-prepare-to-go-on-strike/

Also you're crazy if you think anyone is actually going to get killed over fucking voice-acting, that's just insanity, after all it's not like the mob controls this like they did for the Teamsters Union.

 

[darkrage6]

I wonder who is the "Tara Strong" of gaming? Does gaming even have one? For those clueless, Tara Strong is an iconic voice actress that worked in a decent fraction of cartoons of the 2000's like Teen Titans, Powerpuff Girls, Rugrats, Fairly Odd Parents, etc. She became kind of a celebrity among fans of animation.

The only events around voice actors in recent history was Solid Snake's voice actor accused Kojima of wanting to replace him for someone more "Hollywoodian" early in the series and Samus' voice actress storming out of Nintendo's 2015 E3 after the Federation Force incident and this event.

Grey Delisle is in quite a few video games, don't know if she supports the strike or not.

 

[darkrage6]

Considering everyone in the games industry is underpaid besides the executives, it is nice to see someone not afraid to start fighting for better wages (remember how much gta 5 made?).

That said, I do hope the voice acting gets better, but considering how many of the games are starting to use motion capture not just for bodies, but faces, it is definitely a lot more involved (plus games are getting longer).

I would say I hope the strike doesn't ruin anything, but considering so many of the games over the last couple of years that had everything going for them only to fall flat on there faces I'm not too worried.

It's not like we'll get another transformers revenge of the fallen level disaster. ROBOT BALLS

I like Revenge of the Fallen.

 

[Metalix Knightmare]

Again with generalization....

Then don't generalize in the first place if you don't want a comment that, while snarky, isn't that far off the mark. Unlike most people in this thread I actually read what they're asking for and the context of WHY they're asking for it. None of them are unreasonable. When you have people frequently vomiting, coughing up blood, or losing their voice due to the stressful sessions that these game makers frequently demand then it was going to come back to haunt them. Fact of the matter is this: this needed to happen and it was long overdue. The gaming industry, if it's going to keep wanting professional VO in its products, has to learn to WORK with actors instead of just treating them like a tool to exploit and throw away. It might also help open discussion as to why the does nothing to solve the image of companies being exploitative to not only VAs but to their own employees. The gaming industry seriously needs to start acting like an actual INDUSTRY.

Its all fine and dandy, but I doubt that VA's have levelage to put any pressure. Nobody says "Hey, John Doe voiced this guy, I am totally buying the game now". People like them don't sell games, gameplay, artstyle, characters and writing do. Voice actors are as far from essential element of gaming industry as one can be while still having some relevance.

If programmers went on strike, or artists, it would've been problematic because it is hard to find adequate replacement for people who actually make games. With VA's, it is not so. They are like media players in cars: rather nice to have, but not neccessary.

As I've said, I'd preffer to see them come to some agreement. But if anything bad happens as a result of it, I am more than sure that it will be lack of voice acting in games made by aformentioned companies, or unprofessional one.

There won't be a lack of voice-acting, just a lack of voice acting from the particular union going on strike, there's other voice-actor who will not be striking

Well, there is also a certain way unions see strikebreakers. I don't remember all historical details, but I remember reading that innocent blood was spilled.

Can someone give details on this matter?

To be fair, it's very much a thing both sides of the Strike debate have been guilty of historically. Back in the earlier days of industry companies could hire out groups like the Pinkerton Detectives to bust up strikes rather literally. Of course you've also got things such as Strikers lashing out and attacking the scabs coming in and taking their spots.

Then organized crime got involved and the whole thing got a LOT uglier.

 

[darkrage6]

Again with generalization....

Then don't generalize in the first place if you don't want a comment that, while snarky, isn't that far off the mark. Unlike most people in this thread I actually read what they're asking for and the context of WHY they're asking for it. None of them are unreasonable. When you have people frequently vomiting, coughing up blood, or losing their voice due to the stressful sessions that these game makers frequently demand then it was going to come back to haunt them. Fact of the matter is this: this needed to happen and it was long overdue. The gaming industry, if it's going to keep wanting professional VO in its products, has to learn to WORK with actors instead of just treating them like a tool to exploit and throw away. It might also help open discussion as to why the does nothing to solve the image of companies being exploitative to not only VAs but to their own employees. The gaming industry seriously needs to start acting like an actual INDUSTRY.

Someone actually talked with voice actor Lani Manella on Skype and asked her about the conditions of voice acting, she said that it's on the voice actors themselves to keep their voices in top shape(by doing vocal exercises) and that they should know better then to push themselves too hard, so it's really not the developers or publishers job to prevent the VAs from hurting their own voices, if a VA hurts a voice it's their own fault for not taking proper precautions, besides there's so far only ONE recorded case of a VA hurting their voice in voice acting, so I think the voice actors concerns are way overblown.

They've got it easy compared to programmers, and programmers are NOT happy and see this strike saber-rattling as entitled, petty and greedy, and I can totally see where they are coming from.

Here's a good article on why the strike is a bad idea:https://www.gravyforthebrain.com/gravytimes/believe-sag-aftra-game-acting-strike-bad-idea/

 

[Mister K]

Again with generalization....

Then don't generalize in the first place if you don't want a comment that, while snarky, isn't that far off the mark. Unlike most people in this thread I actually read what they're asking for and the context of WHY they're asking for it. None of them are unreasonable. When you have people frequently vomiting, coughing up blood, or losing their voice due to the stressful sessions that these game makers frequently demand then it was going to come back to haunt them. Fact of the matter is this: this needed to happen and it was long overdue. The gaming industry, if it's going to keep wanting professional VO in its products, has to learn to WORK with actors instead of just treating them like a tool to exploit and throw away. It might also help open discussion as to why the does nothing to solve the image of companies being exploitative to not only VAs but to their own employees. The gaming industry seriously needs to start acting like an actual INDUSTRY.

Its all fine and dandy, but I doubt that VA's have levelage to put any pressure. Nobody says "Hey, John Doe voiced this guy, I am totally buying the game now". People like them don't sell games, gameplay, artstyle, characters and writing do. Voice actors are as far from essential element of gaming industry as one can be while still having some relevance.

If programmers went on strike, or artists, it would've been problematic because it is hard to find adequate replacement for people who actually make games. With VA's, it is not so. They are like media players in cars: rather nice to have, but not neccessary.

As I've said, I'd preffer to see them come to some agreement. But if anything bad happens as a result of it, I am more than sure that it will be lack of voice acting in games made by aformentioned companies, or unprofessional one.

There won't be a lack of voice-acting, just a lack of voice acting from the particular union going on strike, there's other voice-actor who will not be striking

Well, there is also a certain way unions see strikebreakers. I don't remember all historical details, but I remember reading that innocent blood was spilled.

Can someone give details on this matter?

I'm not talking about strikebreakers though, i'm talking about completely different organizations of voice actors who are not planning on striking, this article has some details on why this is a bad idea:http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/video-game-voice-actors-prepare-to-go-on-strike/

Also you're crazy if you think anyone is actually going to get killed over fucking voice-acting, that's just insanity, after all it's not like the mob controls this like they did for the Teamsters Union.

No, of course I don't think that anyone is going to get murdered over this. I just wanted to point out that unions (in US, at least) sometimes don't play by the rules.

 

[darkrage6]

Again with generalization....

Then don't generalize in the first place if you don't want a comment that, while snarky, isn't that far off the mark. Unlike most people in this thread I actually read what they're asking for and the context of WHY they're asking for it. None of them are unreasonable. When you have people frequently vomiting, coughing up blood, or losing their voice due to the stressful sessions that these game makers frequently demand then it was going to come back to haunt them. Fact of the matter is this: this needed to happen and it was long overdue. The gaming industry, if it's going to keep wanting professional VO in its products, has to learn to WORK with actors instead of just treating them like a tool to exploit and throw away. It might also help open discussion as to why the does nothing to solve the image of companies being exploitative to not only VAs but to their own employees. The gaming industry seriously needs to start acting like an actual INDUSTRY.

Its all fine and dandy, but I doubt that VA's have levelage to put any pressure. Nobody says "Hey, John Doe voiced this guy, I am totally buying the game now". People like them don't sell games, gameplay, artstyle, characters and writing do. Voice actors are as far from essential element of gaming industry as one can be while still having some relevance.

If programmers went on strike, or artists, it would've been problematic because it is hard to find adequate replacement for people who actually make games. With VA's, it is not so. They are like media players in cars: rather nice to have, but not neccessary.

As I've said, I'd preffer to see them come to some agreement. But if anything bad happens as a result of it, I am more than sure that it will be lack of voice acting in games made by aformentioned companies, or unprofessional one.

There won't be a lack of voice-acting, just a lack of voice acting from the particular union going on strike, there's other voice-actor who will not be striking

Well, there is also a certain way unions see strikebreakers. I don't remember all historical details, but I remember reading that innocent blood was spilled.

Can someone give details on this matter?

I'm not talking about strikebreakers though, i'm talking about completely different organizations of voice actors who are not planning on striking, this article has some details on why this is a bad idea:http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/video-game-voice-actors-prepare-to-go-on-strike/

Also you're crazy if you think anyone is actually going to get killed over fucking voice-acting, that's just insanity, after all it's not like the mob controls this like they did for the Teamsters Union.

No, of course I don't think that anyone is going to get murdered over this. I just wanted to point out that unions (in US, at least) sometimes don't play by the rules.

I highly doubt this particular union is going to try intimidating other voice actors or anything like that, otherwise that will only make them look like the bad guys and make game companies far less likely to compromise.

 

[bluegate]

if a VA hurts a voice it's their own fault for not taking proper precautions, besides there's so far only ONE recorded case of a VA hurting their voice in voice acting, so I think the voice actors concerns are way overblown.

I'll say. If the guys on Dragon Ball Z can scream for episodes on end without running to their union like a little crybaby...

 

[darkrage6]

if a VA hurts a voice it's their own fault for not taking proper precautions, besides there's so far only ONE recorded case of a VA hurting their voice in voice acting, so I think the voice actors concerns are way overblown.

I'll say. If the guys on Dragon Ball Z can scream for episodes on end without running to their union like a little crybaby...

Indeed, we're probably going to see a lot more Anime dub voice actors in video games if this strike goes ahead as planned, I wouldn't mind seeing Eric Stuart or Dan Green in some games.

 

[CaitSeith]

A lot of people just don't give enough credit to good voice acting and say that games don't really need voice acting. But seeing how AAA games push every year to be more spectacle over substance, voice acting won't be going away anytime soon. So, the solution is hiring cheap voice actors, no?

Spoiler: I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[darkrage6]

A lot of people just don't give enough credit to good voice acting and say that games don't really need voice acting. But seeing how AAA games push every year to be more spectacle over substance, voice acting won't be going away anytime soon. So, the solution is hiring cheap voice actors, no?

Spoiler: I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

There's only a few examples of really bad voice acting, but there's plenty of great voice actors who are not part of that union who could easily take the places of people like Nolan North and Troy Baker(who have been a bit overexposed in games admittedly, I think it's good that we get some new blood into voice acting)

 

[Cid Silverwing]

Let justice prevail!

Voice actors really make or break the presentation of a character. Look no further than the Legacy of Kain series for the best example in how to cast excellent actors.

 

[CaitSeith]

A lot of people just don't give enough credit to good voice acting and say that games don't really need voice acting. But seeing how AAA games push every year to be more spectacle over substance, voice acting won't be going away anytime soon. So, the solution is hiring cheap voice actors, no?

Spoiler: I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

There's only a few examples of really bad voice acting, but there's plenty of great voice actors who are not part of that union who could easily take the places of people like Nolan North and Troy Baker(who have been a bit overexposed in games admittedly, I think it's good that we get some new blood into voice acting)

No doubt. Although my comment was directed towards those who just want to get rid of voice acting in general. Also I didn't mentioned that another option for AAA industry is to hire popular actors from other media (like TV or movies) and make that as part of their marketing (after all, it isn't like they aren't already doing that).

 

[darkrage6]

A lot of people just don't give enough credit to good voice acting and say that games don't really need voice acting. But seeing how AAA games push every year to be more spectacle over substance, voice acting won't be going away anytime soon. So, the solution is hiring cheap voice actors, no?

Spoiler: I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

There's only a few examples of really bad voice acting, but there's plenty of great voice actors who are not part of that union who could easily take the places of people like Nolan North and Troy Baker(who have been a bit overexposed in games admittedly, I think it's good that we get some new blood into voice acting)

No doubt. Although my comment was directed towards those who just want to get rid of voice acting in general. Also I didn't mentioned that another option for AAA industry is to hire popular actors from other media (like TV or movies) and make that as part of their marketing (after all, it isn't like they aren't already doing that).

Yeah I definitely wouldn't mind seeing more famous actors lend their voices to games(I was sad when the GTA series stopped using celebrity voice actors)

 

[CaitSeith]

A lot of people just don't give enough credit to good voice acting and say that games don't really need voice acting. But seeing how AAA games push every year to be more spectacle over substance, voice acting won't be going away anytime soon. So, the solution is hiring cheap voice actors, no?

Spoiler: I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

There's only a few examples of really bad voice acting, but there's plenty of great voice actors who are not part of that union who could easily take the places of people like Nolan North and Troy Baker(who have been a bit overexposed in games admittedly, I think it's good that we get some new blood into voice acting)

No doubt. Although my comment was directed towards those who just want to get rid of voice acting in general. Also I didn't mentioned that another option for AAA industry is to hire popular actors from other media (like TV or movies) and make that as part of their marketing (after all, it isn't like they aren't already doing that).

Yeah I definitely wouldn't mind seeing more famous actors lend their voices to games(I was sad when the GTA series stopped using celebrity voice actors)

However the downside is that famous voice actors may take the roles away from more talented voice actors simply because the former are famous outside videogames and the later aren't (one of the few reasons in my book to justify a voice acting union).

 

[MatParker116]

if a VA hurts a voice it's their own fault for not taking proper precautions, besides there's so far only ONE recorded case of a VA hurting their voice in voice acting, so I think the voice actors concerns are way overblown.

I'll say. If the guys on Dragon Ball Z can scream for episodes on end without running to their union like a little crybaby...

Indeed, we're probably going to see a lot more Anime dub voice actors in video games if this strike goes ahead as planned, I wouldn't mind seeing Eric Stuart or Dan Green in some games.

That's what will happen if this strike drags.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

I foresee one of two scenarios happening:

Either it'll end up like the Call of Duty "boycott" and actors won't follow through,

OR

Game companies will find other ways to spend their resources that were originally allotted for voice acting.

 

[Pseudonym]

The ridiculous demands the voice actors wanted back when they started this nonsense likely haven't been reduced. So i doubt this will get resolved. Like, they want residuals from the game sales. No one is buying a game because BigVoice McGee is in it. Its not hollywood where the name sells the movie. They also want 4 hour recording sessions to be reduced to 2 hour sessions. Without cutting the pay for the session. Lunatics.

Yeah, this is what I think as well. Games are made by large teams and the voice actors are only a small part of what makes a game good. I've been playing civ VI yesterday and if they'd removed the voice actor (Sean Bean, I believe, who does a good job) and replaced him with some optimisation guy that had made the time between turns 30% shorter that would have been worth it, as far as I'm concerned. Voice actors are important but there are dozens, sometimes hundreds of people doing important work on any AAA game.

Voice actors, like any employees have the right to strike, ask for more money and otherwise better deals, and if they can get what they want, more power to them, but I'm not sure the things they are asking for are worth it for developers and publishers.

I don't understand any of the comments calling them greedy, woe are the other people on the development team, etc. The voice actors are willing to actually roll the dice on their future to be treated better. The idea of 'well everyone gets treated like shit except CEOs so you should too' baffles me. We shouldn't be discouraging this strike, we should be encouraging other aspects of video-game development to start getting demanding too.

Well, in as far as this is a matter of being treated 'like shit', for example the lengthy acting sessions which are tiring (and possibly even harmful) on the voice, I get their demands. They actually seem to have four main demands, (see link in the OP) three of which I find completely understandable, but the first one, residuals seems like a grave overestimation of their importance to games. It's understandable that they get those for movies, but I don't see how they can expect them for games. If they get what they want, good for them, but I certainly wouldn't consider it an injustice if they just won't get residuals.