Breaking into the Video Game VO market

captain54 · 01-13-2008, 04:36 PM

part of what I do is voiceover demo production, and I have a young client, fairly new to the VO world that is trying to put together a demo geared toward the video game market...

my first thought would be that any such demo would be in an animation/character format, but also include a commercial demo on the same reel...

is there a standard sort of format though for an animation/character demo geared toward Video games? would you say a minute, 4 to 5 characters in dialogue, cinematic production, and a script with beginning/middle/end?

thanks in advance for your help...

Lee

jsgilbert · 01-14-2008, 01:03 PM

There are numerous genres in the gaming world and lots of different sounds being bought. Casual games, edutainment and straight educational products to sports franchises, shoot em ups MMORPG's, to sound alikes for things like CSI and The Godfather.

You might want to visit one of the many specialty stores that sells video games and gear to get a sense of what real game audio sounds like. Some is still cartoonish, some way over the top, some is getting more rtealistic and requires incredible acting skills, while other work requires a voice that can compress well, has incredible elocution or any combination of things.

I would suggest going to voicebank.com and listening to animation demos from Roger Jackson, Andrew Chaiken, Lani Minella, Brian Sommer, David Boat, Crispin Freeman, Josh Keaton and if I may be so bold (having voiced over 300 video games), myself, J.S. Gilbert

You should hear a wide variety of age ranges and approaches along with variations in length. This should give you a good idea as to what top game bookers are presenting.

I think it's also interesting that many voice talents that have performed in numerous games don't actually have character voice demos. They rely solely upon auditions to get the their work. This is more an more the case with union and larger budget projects, although a well produced character demo can get you niticed and invited to audition. The realtionship one has with a well respected agent who routinely receives opportunities for their talent to read for games is the single best tool anybody can have in breaking into this field. Of course this is assuming they have developed their craft to the point where they can be competitive.

captain54 · 01-15-2008, 12:50 AM

It's hard to find actual "Game Demos" online. It seems that anime/character/animation demos are what people are calling
"Game Demos" these days..

Either way, I'm beginning to think that the issue for someone trying
to break into voicing games is, to showcase absolutely solid acting
chops. The traditional character demo with a wide variety of characters
and voices isn't quite as crucial, I would think, as the ability to be
believable and "real" within the scenarios of any the games currently
out there.

Jon Morss · 01-15-2008, 01:23 AM

JS -- Great info. Like Lee, I'm interested in the gaming genre as well. Since you live in San Fran, do you do most, if not all, of your recording there or do you have to travel to LA? Also, was it pretty tough to get signed with Stars, the Agency?

Jon

jsgilbert · 01-15-2008, 07:57 PM

Probably thread hijacking at this point Jon. Maybe start a new thread and I'll answer, so we can keep the path clear for dealing with the "video games" demo question

Jon Morss · 01-15-2008, 11:24 PM

JS -- No Thread hijacking intended. My Bad. New thread in the works.

As far as the Video game demo is concerned, I would suggest checking out DB Copper, Pat Fraley, MJ Lallo and Mark Hamill. Actually DB and Pat will be at the GDC Feb 18-22. Might be a great place to ask the question about demo. Also, DB and MJ provide some really great info on voicing for games on the Voice 2007 DVD. Awesome stuff.

jsgilbert · 01-17-2008, 11:26 AM

I'm not sure how much value attending the GDC would be for voice talent. MOst of the people manning the booths are in marketing and sales and will simply tell you to sned your materials. There are tons of "game audio" folks flitting about, but given my experiences attending the event as a game audio producer (with a bit of my v.o. talent pitchman in me) they tend to run for cover when they think they're being approached by a voice talent.

The workshops and seminars tend to focus on advanced aspects of the gaming world, such as layering efffects and particular recording techniques for PS3 games or Understanding specific requirements of music creation for games or spatial sound. Most topics that are beyond the needs of most voice actors.

That being said, being aware of IGDA (Game Developers Associaiton) and checking to see if they have local chapter meetings in your area isn't a bad idea. Also be aware of G.A.N.G. and visit Gamespot and check out differnt games, read the magazines and search the internet for news and info on the industry and who's doing what.

Much of the dialog recording for games is handled by production companies or recording studios and you will find recordings conducted all over the U.S., Canada and in the case of localization, in country of origin fiarly often. There are also a number of gamed developers who use talent with home based recording facilties.

Recently I was hired by a European company, who was hired by a Canadian company, who was hired by a FLoridian (USA) company, who was hired by a Northern California Game Producer. Odd that I actually met the main game producer at a mixer about 11 miles from my house. It made for livelyt discussion, but goes to show that doing v.o. for games can require a bit of sleuthing.

Well, it looks like I've done a little hijack here anyway. I hope it was helpful to those following the thread.

Jon Morss · 01-17-2008, 07:28 PM

JS - Actually, my point with the GDC was that Pat Fraley and DB Cooper would be speaking there so it may be cool just to see them and hear what they have to say.

Thanks for the info on IDGA, G.A.N.G. and Gamespot.

Love the outsourcing story.

jsgilbert · 01-18-2008, 12:22 PM

It would cost around $900 to hear them speak at the GDC. This is not a free or cheap convention.

voicy1stef · 01-18-2008, 01:08 PM

I think the last time 'round someone, forgot who, made Pat's & DB's speech available in their blog. That's how I heard it (then I recorded it to listen at my leisure because there were lots of tips and demos in it).

Maybe this time round the presentation will be made available on someone's blog again. (cross fingers!)

01-13-2008, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
captain54 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 34	Breaking into the Video Game VO market part of what I do is voiceover demo production, and I have a young client, fairly new to the VO world that is trying to put together a demo geared toward the video game market... my first thought would be that any such demo would be in an animation/character format, but also include a commercial demo on the same reel... is there a standard sort of format though for an animation/character demo geared toward Video games? would you say a minute, 4 to 5 characters in dialogue, cinematic production, and a script with beginning/middle/end? thanks in advance for your help... Lee

01-18-2008, 01:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
voicy1stef User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lovely England Posts: 134	I think the last time 'round someone, forgot who, made Pat's & DB's speech available in their blog. That's how I heard it (then I recorded it to listen at my leisure because there were lots of tips and demos in it). Maybe this time round the presentation will be made available on someone's blog again. (cross fingers!) __________________ Acting is Art, Love, Giving & Prosperity Do the thing you love, work diligently and the money will follow //(^.^)\\ www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk http://stefsvoice.wordpress.com

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01-14-2008, 01:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 233	There are numerous genres in the gaming world and lots of different sounds being bought. Casual games, edutainment and straight educational products to sports franchises, shoot em ups MMORPG's, to sound alikes for things like CSI and The Godfather. You might want to visit one of the many specialty stores that sells video games and gear to get a sense of what real game audio sounds like. Some is still cartoonish, some way over the top, some is getting more rtealistic and requires incredible acting skills, while other work requires a voice that can compress well, has incredible elocution or any combination of things. I would suggest going to voicebank.com and listening to animation demos from Roger Jackson, Andrew Chaiken, Lani Minella, Brian Sommer, David Boat, Crispin Freeman, Josh Keaton and if I may be so bold (having voiced over 300 video games), myself, J.S. Gilbert You should hear a wide variety of age ranges and approaches along with variations in length. This should give you a good idea as to what top game bookers are presenting. I think it's also interesting that many voice talents that have performed in numerous games don't actually have character voice demos. They rely solely upon auditions to get the their work. This is more an more the case with union and larger budget projects, although a well produced character demo can get you niticed and invited to audition. The realtionship one has with a well respected agent who routinely receives opportunities for their talent to read for games is the single best tool anybody can have in breaking into this field. Of course this is assuming they have developed their craft to the point where they can be competitive.

01-15-2008, 12:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
captain54 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 34	It's hard to find actual "Game Demos" online. It seems that anime/character/animation demos are what people are calling "Game Demos" these days.. Either way, I'm beginning to think that the issue for someone trying to break into voicing games is, to showcase absolutely solid acting chops. The traditional character demo with a wide variety of characters and voices isn't quite as crucial, I would think, as the ability to be believable and "real" within the scenarios of any the games currently out there.

01-15-2008, 01:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jon Morss Jon Morss Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Antelope, CA Posts: 333	JS -- Great info. Like Lee, I'm interested in the gaming genre as well. Since you live in San Fran, do you do most, if not all, of your recording there or do you have to travel to LA? Also, was it pretty tough to get signed with Stars, the Agency? Jon

01-15-2008, 07:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 233	Probably thread hijacking at this point Jon. Maybe start a new thread and I'll answer, so we can keep the path clear for dealing with the "video games" demo question

01-15-2008, 11:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jon Morss Jon Morss Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Antelope, CA Posts: 333	JS -- No Thread hijacking intended. My Bad. New thread in the works. As far as the Video game demo is concerned, I would suggest checking out DB Copper, Pat Fraley, MJ Lallo and Mark Hamill. Actually DB and Pat will be at the GDC Feb 18-22. Might be a great place to ask the question about demo. Also, DB and MJ provide some really great info on voicing for games on the Voice 2007 DVD. Awesome stuff.

01-17-2008, 11:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 233	I'm not sure how much value attending the GDC would be for voice talent. MOst of the people manning the booths are in marketing and sales and will simply tell you to sned your materials. There are tons of "game audio" folks flitting about, but given my experiences attending the event as a game audio producer (with a bit of my v.o. talent pitchman in me) they tend to run for cover when they think they're being approached by a voice talent. The workshops and seminars tend to focus on advanced aspects of the gaming world, such as layering efffects and particular recording techniques for PS3 games or Understanding specific requirements of music creation for games or spatial sound. Most topics that are beyond the needs of most voice actors. That being said, being aware of IGDA (Game Developers Associaiton) and checking to see if they have local chapter meetings in your area isn't a bad idea. Also be aware of G.A.N.G. and visit Gamespot and check out differnt games, read the magazines and search the internet for news and info on the industry and who's doing what. Much of the dialog recording for games is handled by production companies or recording studios and you will find recordings conducted all over the U.S., Canada and in the case of localization, in country of origin fiarly often. There are also a number of gamed developers who use talent with home based recording facilties. Recently I was hired by a European company, who was hired by a Canadian company, who was hired by a FLoridian (USA) company, who was hired by a Northern California Game Producer. Odd that I actually met the main game producer at a mixer about 11 miles from my house. It made for livelyt discussion, but goes to show that doing v.o. for games can require a bit of sleuthing. Well, it looks like I've done a little hijack here anyway. I hope it was helpful to those following the thread.

01-17-2008, 07:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jon Morss Jon Morss Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Antelope, CA Posts: 333	JS - Actually, my point with the GDC was that Pat Fraley and DB Cooper would be speaking there so it may be cool just to see them and hear what they have to say. Thanks for the info on IDGA, G.A.N.G. and Gamespot. Love the outsourcing story.

01-18-2008, 12:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 233	It would cost around $900 to hear them speak at the GDC. This is not a free or cheap convention.