Is Voice Acting Important in Video Games?

by SodaHead Gaming Posted 2011/12/21 14:00:00

Related Topics: Games, Star Wars, Voice Over, Voice Acting, Old Republic, Video Games, Twilight, The Game, voice, Avatar, Stewart, Acting, Online, Video, Back Together, Game

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	Yes	232 votes	86%
	No	39 votes	14%

When "Star Wars: The Old Republic" came out on Tuesday, it had more voice acting than any other massively multiplayer online game in existence. According to The Associated Press, Creators BioWare and LucasArts provided the game with more than 250,000 lines from more than 4,000 characters voiced by more than 320 actors -- all in hopes of bringing players a more immersive, film-like experience.

LucasArts voice director Will Beckman told AP, "When you're doing a game like 'The Old Republic,' the acting is like cubism. You have to see these characters from every angle and be able to pull it apart and put it back together. It's definitely a challenge for our voice actors. It's a unique type of acting that takes a tremendous amount of imagination."

+15

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Greatkibble 2011/12/21 15:58:57

Yes

+5
What's a Mario game without a "WAHOO!"
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More polls by SodaHead Gaming

Seamus Rooney 2012/01/26 22:57:43

Yes

Absolutely. For me, a good game is one that immerses you in it. Especially if it's a first-person game. The entire point of them is to let YOU be the person. If the acting is unbelievable (as in they just talk and don't emote) then you don't believe what's happening in the game. It makes it harder to become the player in their world.

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Chris Simmons 2012/01/25 22:56:13

Yes

absolutely you will end up with games like aqua man LOL

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PJAU 2012/01/24 10:10:44

Yes

There's nothing worse than playing a game and then the voice of the character doesn't match or is badly done!

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Terrance Earle 2012/01/20 20:50:40

Yes

depending on the game it helps create a form of immersion!

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Soot The Fallen 2012/01/19 02:03:06
wolfrane 2012/01/17 19:58:21

Yes

I love it... unless it suckz... but thatz with everything... u like it until it disappoints u lolz but it nevr last if u truely like it

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Vaius 2012/01/13 03:57:32

No

Some of the greatest games of all time had no voice acting.

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Michael Boham 2012/01/10 07:28:08 (edited)

No

Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. It all depends on what game it is. There's cheesy voice acting that I like hearing(basically, B-Movie style acting), voice acting that's top notch, voice acting that's neither great nor terrible, and voice acting that's so bad, it's good.

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Nicologixs 2012/01/08 09:53:37

Yes

Yes it makes or breaks agame like Just Cause 2 it was a very fun, but the main story line for me was hard to follow with the horrible voice acting the so called voice actors were doing, where the games like Uncharted, Gears of war, Skyrim and LA Noire just to name a few are at the top of the class in voice acting.

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Audra Gilchrist 2012/01/07 02:30:20

No

No way. I know a ton of VGs that are best without it. LOZ, for example.

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Zayle 2012/01/06 23:04:48

Yes

Of course, it depends on the game. Voice acting would ruin a Mario game or a Zelda game, but taking voice acting away from the Elder Scrolls series would drastically lessen the experience.

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Noobcake 2012/01/06 12:48:31

No

A pleasant bonus - when done *well*. But not necessary. Some voice acting (Japanese RPGs, I'm looking at you - there's always one character that has you reaching to hit mute) you wish just wasn't there.

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TiNkerbellJess 2012/01/05 00:53:01

Yes

+1
Of course it is.. it helps build the character and the game itself. You can't go giving say Kratos a teenagers voice, or Mario some deep black mans voice. Each voice actor gives its own flair to the game and characters. and i think it makes it more enjoyable :D

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Melane 2012/01/04 23:54:52

No

In regards to the extent BioWare went to, it's not necessarily a deal breaker. In The Legend of Zelda, every game is nothing but jibberish followed by captions. Yet it is the first title to be inducted into the gaming hall of fame, and to this day has little to no voice acting aside from Link's "Hai!" and Navi's "Hey! Listen!" which are iconic in and of themselves, contrary to all this fluff BioWare decided to add.

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Nightmare 2012/01/04 17:13:44

Yes

It's all good.

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Joey 2012/01/04 13:42:28

Yes

And this the reason I did not get the Newest Zelda game. In the SNES and N64 days it was ok. but in this day and age they should have it .

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Sew 2012/01/01 23:44:59

Yes

Do you think it matters in movies? We're coming into an age of video games that not only match movies been in some cases outstrip them altogther and good voice acting is one of the contributing factors in this. I personally can't justify sitting down and watching a movie or tv if I have a good video game to play. Movies and TV will for the most part rot your brain as it requires no input fom you and has no interaction the only exception to this is tv shows like discovery, history, animal planet ect. Shows that have some educational value.

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Zazzy 2012/01/01 20:06:58

Yes

It makes it more "real".

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Agriffenlegend 2012/01/01 17:29:59

Yes

certainly

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jacktown kid 2012/01/01 16:59:24

No

not necessary at all

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Ashley 2012/01/01 03:11:47

Yes

i think voice makes it more dramatic and fun ! what is a sponge bob with out his lil catch fraises

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NoHandlebarsAttached 2011/12/31 05:10:30

Yes

Totally. I'd rather read text than hear Shenmue's voice acting. Bad voice acting just kills the game.

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Greenbay 2011/12/30 23:35:23

Yes

Makes the structure of the game more Intresting

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flyingseaturtle BN 2011/12/30 23:24:43

Yes

+2
good voice acting > no voice acting > bad voice acting

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mylegs 2011/12/30 13:47:32

Yes

i say only because it stills directed toward the old republic (a must play). This game is great and i hate mmos. The biggest reason why is the voice acting. the voices just bring you into the game. plus with voices you get a feeling behind the words. A perfect example is when people try to type a sentence with sarcasm, it just doesnt work. if you had someone speak it tho you would understand they dont really mean it. although not all video games need voice acting. My thoughts are if you have cutscenes you need voice acting.

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whispering hands 2011/12/29 17:33:36

Yes

Of course. A video game with a bad voice actor is just as bad as a movie with a bad actor.

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socokid 2011/12/29 17:13:52 (edited)

Yes

Definitely. I also believe many would be surprised how famous some of them are.

From the game I am playing now (Skyrim):

(not kidding)

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2226693 2011/12/28 20:57:06
Mercedes 2011/12/28 15:59:32

Yes

In most video games, skyrim for example, they use the same actor for many characters. I think I even heard the voice of tigger for a few dudes! Different voices makes every character unique and more entertaining!

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FinalMoonx 2011/12/28 01:28:41

Yes

Personally, i think whether it matters or not depends on the game. Though most of the time, if the game has horrible voice acting, it will get stuck in my head and kinda ruin some of the awesomeness of said game

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Leandro Nueva Cruzada 2011/12/28 00:36:12

Yes

When I read this topic, I remembered Resident Evil 1 PS 1.

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Rocko 2011/12/27 23:09:55

Yes

i love it when celebs do voices in games

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Ezio 2011/12/27 21:32:05

No

i don't think it needs to be perfect as long as it sounds effective,also i like it though when it is somebody i recognize from a movie.

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Ruger 2011/12/27 16:58:31

Yes

Important not to use people like Ice T cause it ruined Black ops for me.

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Taylor 2011/12/27 10:08:29

Yes

I can't play without that voice :P

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Bryan Kennedy 2011/12/24 20:47:48

No

It would be important if they didn't use so many stupid voices that only break the consistency.

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[Katsu]™ 2011/12/24 20:11:12

Yes

I tend to dislike when games have no voice acting.

Some games I can deal with like Mario and Zelda, but they're classic. New Age games should all have voice acting, at least in the least bit.

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Euphrosyne 2011/12/24 07:40:47

Yes

I wouldn't say all video games, but with certain games it really helps the player get more into the game.

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vinone 2011/12/24 02:55:32

Yes

Very important.

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ShamshirMkII 2011/12/24 00:18:21

Yes

Fairly important to immerse the audience into the game, but not exactly vital. I mean, have anyone played 8 and 16-bit games?

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