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

Read More

271 votes
Read all 97 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	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

Add a comment above

Greatkibble 2011/12/21 15:58:57

Yes

+5
What's a Mario game without a "WAHOO!"
>> See Replies

More polls by SodaHead Gaming

MIRANDDAAA :) 2011/12/23 22:25:09

No

+1
I find gameplay is more important. The Zelda franchise doesn't even use voice acting.

reply
Maximus to MIRANDD... 2012/06/03 16:54:02

but it's when you do have voice acting then it's important to have a good one

reply
MIRANDD... to Maximus 2012/06/04 03:35:01

I agree. Bad voice acting is very distracting.

reply
Fef 2011/12/23 20:48:19

No

Gamers play games for the gameplay -- not the drama.

reply
Roxas 2011/12/23 16:46:43

Yes

Yeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!! It helps make the whole character! xD

reply
Ego Death 2011/12/23 13:34:48

Yes

+1
Many games that use cut scenes are really catching up to the movie quality af voice actor casting.

reply
Cheeko 2011/12/23 07:14:03

Yes

marilyn manson does the voice of the bad guy. Edgar . The alien thats orange. His voice overall gave me a creepy feeling when i played the game. so yes i think the voice acting is important.

reply
OzSurfer 2011/12/23 06:59:10

Yes

It's a really important aspect of quality games now. Popular movie and tv actors are often involved in lending their voices to characters in games. The Fallout franchise has had the following actors to name a few:

Malcom Mcdowell (actor)
Liam Neeson (actor)
R.Lee (gunney) Ermey. (full metal jacket)
Michael Dorn (worf from startrek)
Wayne Newton (Mr Las Vegas)
Kris Kristopherson (Blade trilogy)
Mathew Perry (from the tv series Friends)
Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy)

reply
BHGOzzy 2011/12/23 06:28:58

Yes

On the one side, you have massivly well done games where you could swear it was a movie.

On the other, you have...

*shudder*

reply
Ericka 2011/12/23 06:03:21

Yes

Yes, I had a friend who did this in a mobster video game for Sony, I think. I got to listen to the recording, and he did a great job capturing the character in it. We (okay, my kids) are supposed to believe the characters just as much as in movies, and really feel like they are who they are portrayed as - they need to be lifelike, and that's something you can't successfully attribute to CG.

reply
Amy.[: 2011/12/23 04:27:42

Yes

+1
shoreee.

reply
thksfrthmmrs 2011/12/23 00:25:44

Yes

+1
Oh yeah.I was shocked when I heard this:

Took some serious adjusting as I love inFamous.

reply
boiyaza 2011/12/22 22:58:45

No

+1
are you to do is talk in to a mic

reply
Kibbles 2011/12/22 22:02:00

Yes

+1
It gives you a general idea about the character so yeah its kinda important to hear a character's voice at least once.

reply
KenjaiRo 2011/12/22 21:48:14

Yes

+1
I feel like it is. It's much easier to get into a storyline and stay in it if the voice acting is good.

reply
CallusedSilk 2011/12/22 08:17:34

Yes

+3
It matters a lot because virtually, that's all you're getting from that actor. The voice is always important to a character unless that character is mute. It can make or break a character.

reply
lindsey.hollands 2011/12/22 04:05:35

Yes

+2
Two words: Jennifer Hale.

reply
steven.lowell 2011/12/22 03:22:07

Yes

+2
Heck yeah! From a standpoint of jobs, I watch my friends from voice123 get work all the time in videogames...and these games...I buy, and they seriously rock.

reply
Maximus 2011/12/22 03:21:15
Jimbo 2011/12/22 03:18:27

Yes

+1
Great Game.

reply
girlonthemovie7 2011/12/22 01:58:38
Patreco 2011/12/21 22:51:56

Yes

+1
Of course... They are a part of the char's soul

reply
Violet 2011/12/21 21:43:10

Yes

+2
Yes of course it is. There is little scenes here and there when your playing games where the characters talk, (except Link :p) and do you really think it would be enjoyable if a dark villain was voiced by the voice of Barney the dinosaur, or the telletubbies? Obviously it would ruin the whole feel of the game.

reply
juirsh 2011/12/21 21:03:01

Yes

+1
I guess if people enjoy games like barnstorming and stupid games no but for the effect of the storyline games yes!!!!!!!!!

reply
Merry☆ 2011/12/21 20:59:57

Yes

+2
There are some games that would be nothing without it (Portal!) and some where it should be kept to a minimum (Legend of Zelda!)

reply
Juanb 2011/12/21 20:56:46

Yes

+1
i think they should have used jackie chan as the voice over for liu kang his bad english is more believable

reply
janet 2011/12/21 20:17:49

Yes

+2
I really do not know because I do not play video games but if I did I guess I would like it to sound real for the most part.

reply
alex 2011/12/21 19:38:49

Yes

+2
you cant do sheogorath in a monotone, crappy voice!

reply
MIRANDD... to alex 2011/12/23 22:23:32

+1
Haha I love Sheogorath!

reply
alex to MIRANDD... 2011/12/24 00:18:16

+1
He's so bad ass!

reply
gone i guess 2011/12/21 19:34:30

Yes

+1
a lot

reply
Yoru Azenia 2011/12/21 19:20:17

Yes

+2
To an extent yes if the voice is just god awful then it can make it less enjoyable but it wont break a game games arent about cut scenes or voice acting there about gameplay (something my fellow sonic fans should learn about)

reply
Violet to Yoru Az... 2011/12/21 21:44:53

+1
I love the Sonic characters voices o.O' ... :3

reply
Yoru Az... to Violet 2011/12/21 22:48:58

+1
I dont mind them either but sonic fans bitch about them all the time

reply
Violet to Yoru Az... 2012/04/07 12:57:25

Yeah that's true.. I hate it when they do that XP

reply
Yoru Az... to Violet 2012/04/10 16:51:33

I for once in my life hated a sonic characters voice though XD Shadow in Sonic Generations had a GOD AWFUL voicelol still a fantastic game though

reply
Violet to Yoru Az... 2012/04/14 13:14:37

Oh my gosh I KNOW RIGHT? I hated Shadow's voice > -

reply
Orangedragan 2011/12/21 19:19:11

Yes

+1
Duh.

reply
Risa 2011/12/21 18:33:04

Yes

+3
Just look at games like Portal 2. The voice acting was fantastic and made the characters come alive. They aren't just robots or voice recordings. They're characters with real personality, and freaking hilarious ones at that.

reply
sasukeb 2011/12/21 18:04:35

Yes

+2
but I guess its not that important some games just have where you just read the subtitles, but the voices added just add more character to the people I guess, either way a game can be good with or without voice acting (just my opinion)

reply