Ben-DutkaPerhaps the biggest news surrounding Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the removal of the iconic Snake voice, David Hayter.
Kojima Productions has opted to use accomplished actor Kiefer Sutherland instead, and this has resulted in tremendous fan fallout. So finally, Game Informer asked Kojima himself about the move, and why it was done. It was a logistical issue:
"For this game, I wanted to have the full motion capture and full performance capture, however I realized I would have to be in Los Angeles for about a year, which was impossible given the agenda to create the rest of the game. So the motion capture was done with an actor here in Japan and the rest of facial capture and voice performance has been captured in Los Angeles in the U.S. with Keifer [Sutherland].
However, if there is another Metal Gear (I’m not sure if I’m going to be in charge of it or not), it’s going to probably be 3D capture, meaning it will be the whole thing with one person. It would be impossible by then to have one actor only for voice and another actor for the rest of the elements, so in that way I think it was also a good opportunity to make a shift for this character."
Well, that makes sense, I guess. It's a little disconcerting to hear that he might not be directing the next Metal Gear effort but then again, we've been hearing him say that for years. And besides, he could be referring to another spin-off effort; i.e., a follow-up to the well-received Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance . As for Hayter not voicing Snake, it'll be difficult to get used to, but I think Sutherland is up to the challenge.
Related Game(s): Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Sutherland is good, but I would have preferred Richard Doyle.
I would have preferred anyone other than Sutherland.
Doyle is the worst of the three. Hayter would have been great but Sutherland will do fine.
I respect your opinion, Jawknee.
🙂
What else has Doyle done? I honestly don't know of him from anything else other than his small part in MGS4.
Probably more than David Hayter and Sutherland combined. He played The Fury in MGS3 as well.
FYI: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0236481/
The real thing to consider here is the availability of these actors.
Like for instance, has Kojima considered if Sutherland is going to be available in future games from the series? Depending on his schedule and line up of projects, will he opt out from doing one game and then decide to come back and do another.
At least with Hayter, you could always count with him being available to do voices (and not charging as much money as Sutherland probably does).
I still think the reasoning behind this is bogus.
Hayter has acted I don't think it would be impossible for him to do subtle face animations.
As for him talking about them doing it like they do in uncharted well, its not like Hayter is an old man. I think he can handle motion capture its hard work I have some friends who have done it but its not that physically demanding.
Unless Hayter has some medical condition Im unaware of I don't really think this justifies it either.
I'm still hoping this is a big troll and Hayter is in there somewhere as young solid snake or something.
What's annoying is they will probably have stuntmen do the actual dangerous/physically demanding stuff.
Last edited by Ludicrous_Liam on 9/24/2013 11:22:19 AM
No it doesn't justify it at all. In fact his reasoning doesn't even make sense.
I am pretty sure Sutherland is older than Hayter any ways, and it wouldn't be hard for Hayter to get into shape to do mo-cap, he would probably relish the chance to bring his character to life like that.
But you don't need to be an actor to do the mo-cap, a lot of voice actors have done mo-cap, and were nothing more than voice actors.
I agree, the reason just doesn't sit logically with me.
It implies Hayter is incompetent outside of voice acting or that he'd be incapable of delivering a Mocap-ANYTHING.
I honestly believe it's just an excuse to cover up his motive of A) Hayter is Solid Snake and we know we can't have Hayter doing Both in the same screen. and B)….. He's doing this as a Sacrifice, to the fans for the sake of a future to making the movie more plausible with the new voice not being as unique and gritty. Cause, if we had a live-action movie, no one could do Hayters' voice and look like Snake at the same time conveniently. To do this makes the audition capabilities to become broader….
That's what I think :/
LAAAAMEEEEEEEEEE.
David Hayter is more than capable enough of doing the complete performance.
It really is a slap in the face to the guy. There were times, in my experiance, where the writing in a scene would be so goddamn awful, but he would carry it by himself and make it interesting. In a way he makes Kojima's stuff look (or…sound) better than it actually is. He created the persona of Solid Snake!
Has Kojima lost the plot or what?
I've been thinking that for a little while now, he sounds like he is losing it.
The thing about changing voice actors, is that it changes the character as well.
Changing Snake….. is a VERY risky proposition.
Does this answer the question? Its very vague and sounds like hes dodging. I dont see any scenario where Hayter couldnt be utilized given this same process.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 9/24/2013 11:20:54 AM
This explanation… doesn't actually make any sense logically.
I didn't understand either. So… what was the reason?
All he said was the the motion capture was done in Japan and the voice work was done in LA with Sutherland. It has nothing to do with the choice of firing Hayter.
And that the next game will be made using one actor for the full 3d mo-cap and voice over.
Which doesn't make sense.
We know at least one voice actor who does mo-cap and voice for one character, and that is Nolan North for Nathan Drake. Explanation fail Mr. Kojima.
Sutherland will do fine. He didn't sound all that bad in the trailer. Would have preferred Hayter but Sutherland doesn't break the game.
The only way this makes sense is if Hayter demanded the motion capture gig along with his voiceover in contract negotiations and Kojima refused to spend a year in LA doing it with him.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it has to so with his screen play being rejected by Kojima for the MGS movie. Hard feelings between the two perhaps?
I wouldn't be surprised either, people get very passionate about such things. I kind of wonder what was in that screen play. I've always wanted to write one of my own even if I couldn't do anything with it. Somehow the worst crap keeps getting made and I'm like "Dammit I could do it better" I have the study materials I just never got to them.
Just a way to distinguish solid snake from big boss for the inevitable Metal Gear remake plus hayter will probably voice big boss in the ground zeros segment of MGSV.
Should of used Kurt Russell but keifer will do.
Russel would have been poetic justice for borrowing the Snake Plissken character. And he's got the voice.
I'm calling it:
Hayter for Ground Zeroes
Sutherland for the Phantom Pain
That would be a shocker.
Was thinking the same thing. They could use the accident as something that damages his voice box. I don't know.
That honestly would have made the most sense to me – as Snake does wake up after 9 years…lots could change.
Heck 9 years without SMOKING!!!
Then David Hayter's voice is gone…but doesn't seem like it with Sutherland's voice in Ground Zeroes demo and all.
It…Doesnt make any sense! English is not my native tongue but, is Kojima saying that the reason why Hayter aint voicing Snake is because " the rest of facial capture and voice performance has been captured in Los Angeles in the U.S."…So last I checked Hayter was living in the U.S.
Not happy about it, but I guess there's a reason…I mean a better reason than the one Kojima gave…
His reason is basically, Hayter can't do mo-cap.
So.
That is a worse reason than his original, because I find it hard to believe it is true.
with the tech we have now a days, kojima would'nt need to
spend a year in the u.s.
imo, Sutherland was picked because hes a well known actor
"and that", kojima is hoping will create more sales for MGSV.
don't forget, Sutherland won an award for his voice talent in the
game, 24 :p
… I don't understand this at all. If Sutherland isn't doing the whole mo-cap/voice-cap deal, then what in blazes was the point in hiring the guy over Hayter? Unless Hayter wanted to do everything, which I don't really see happening. I'm confused by Kojima lately. First cancelling Enders Project, now whatever is going on with MGSV. I just don't know.
He has been drinking the Microsoft kool-aid, it had side effects.
He was saying that because the NEXT game will use full 3D mo-cap, then now is a good time to make the change.
Which makes absolutely no sense at all, also, Hayter can do the 3D mo-cap as he is an actor/writer/director also. That guy has plenty of talent.
Not much of an explanation, but honestly, Kojima doesn't owe any. It's a franchise he created, which main series games are cutting edge and sets standards with every release. This man I trust implicitly to deliver an amazing experience. For whatever reason Sutherland is in and Hayter isn't (as far as we know now) we as fans may never truly know and I don't think it is right to throw any stones at Kojima himself. I have much admiration for Hayter. I grew up with him. I remember playing MGS1 with my infant son in my lap, Hayter's gravelly voice taking me on an amazing adventure. Still, Kojima is the man and I know that whenever MGSV is released, it will be one of thevery best things you can buy for $60 on the planet.
Konami is going down, and does that mean MGS goes with them? That statement is very…odd. Much like Miyazaki losing Dark Souls cause Namco. Oh well, the future holds boundless limitations and I suppose I look forward to seeing what comes out of it.
Makes no sense…
Sutherland sounds nothing like Snake.
They could have at least found someone who is at least close to it. From what I have heard, it is so different, and a few sites have said it sounds terrible.
I HATE it when they changed voice actors. Viz Media just changed the voice actor for my favourite anime character, and it has ruined that show for me.
Also, I am getting worried because Kojima keeps saying things, makes all these excuses for why he changed Snakes voice and a lot of them are sort of like him burying the hatchet. Like he makes it sound like Hayter is never coming back.
Im not impressed with Sutherland regardless, so im with you.
From what I've heard, Hayter is a d-bag and difficult to work with.
As we're all entitled to our opinions, I've chosen mine to not buy this game. The way Kojima has handled this whole situation is insane. He gives no real answers. It's just a slap in the face to people. Don't know what happened to him after MGS4.
Has anyone actually heard the english demo that was released yesterday?
Gosh is it dreadful – completely listless.
well i suppose there was gunna be some rather large reason they don't do things like that for no reason at all.
happy gaming =)
I give HK his due credit and respect; he's earned it. BUT "if it ain't broke"…..why did he "fix it"?