It's one of the most anticipated titles of the year, and it's going to feature plenty of professional cinematography and voice acting. But the days where the gaming industry "needs" Hollywood actors to chip in for the benefit of authenticity and sales are fading, says Heavy Rain director David Cage.
During a recent Play interview, Cage said that thus far, big-name actors "often have little consideration" for the games they lend their voices to. Said Cage:
"Actors (and their agents) often have so little consideration for games that the only discussion you can have is how much money for how much time. No one cares about what you try to achieve, they very rarely agree to invest time and energy in their part, all they want is a maximum amount of money for a minimum amount of time, and ideally, on a game that wont hurt their image too much…"
This is the reason why Cage didn't pursue Hollywood for voice actors for Heavy Rain , which is a game that is really pushing the envelope when it comes to storytelling and cinema and how it mixes with virtual interactivity. He also says the days when gaming "desperately needed" Hollywood for quality voice acting are almost over. Added Cage- "The old days where we desperately needed Hollywood is gone. In the coming years, talents including writers, directors and actors will come from the game industry, and Hollywood will want them in their movies."
That, we do believe. Considering we're taking plenty of talent away from Hollywood, it's only a matter of time, right? For the entire Cage interview with Play, visit Now Gamer .
Related Game(s): Heavy Rain
I totally agree with Cage and I really hope for Heavy Rain to be a successful new IP. One example of when hollywood actors lend their voices to the game in the best possible way is Kiefen Sutherland and Gary Oldman in Call of Duty: World at War.
When I found out that Reznov was Gary Oldman, I was amazed because if you compare his voice in COD5 compared to The Dark Knight, you'd be "Wow, amazing". That was my reaction, and I sincerely wish that more Hollywood Actors can do the same like Oldman and Sutherland.
But then again, it can be the opposite, when Hollywood needs the Gaming Industry. There's going to be some kind of historical timeline about the Games Industry 50 years from now, I guarantee it.
Holy crap, hell yeah! Had no idea Resnov was Gary Oldman because you honestly couldn't tell 😀 One hell of a Russian accent..
Ftw lol
Just so long as they at least keep using Mark Hamill for voicework. He has done some really great work in the past and he enjoys doing it. Previously it was cool having big stars doing the voicework in games. Kingdom Hearts was probably the one that most benefitted from it. But now there has been some great work being done by people we've never heard of. It was also cool back go the day to see stars in the cutscenes. Command and Conquer is about the only one that uses them now it seems.
Yes, completely agree with what Cage is saying… everything will be quite different ten years from now… we are living through paradigm shift now… and it is changing rapidly…
The days of Hollywood trash are firmly here – and will continues… the days when Hollywood actors and directors can continue dominating the media business in totality is fading… with the interactive industry now making more money than Hollywood the creative and business landscapes will be very different.
Q!
"i Am hOMe"
It should be about the games n not the money Morgan freeman would be a good choice, more for the gamers not the money in ur pocket. The next cod modern warfare 2 should have All Shall Perish!!!=the Sh*T
I love David Cage's attitude. That guy knows what he's talking about 🙂
I want more Heavy Rain news. More screenshots.
Last edited by Big_Boss on 2/21/2009 12:54:48 AM
It seemed like it helped out mass effect, but GTA4 was awesome and I don't think it had any big names in it.
and don't criticize me for loving mass effect, that game was a masterpiece… On PC
Off the top of my head I think they had Ricky Gervais on GTA IV bro
Yeah but nobody played major roles, and I don't know who that is
Hollywood sucks anyway.
What Cage says is right, but you can't deny that good actors are good at acting. You might not need them, but they can add alot of soul to a bunch of pixels and textures.
Its no secret that Hollywood is completely doomed in 4 years. The quality of Films is poor nowadays so I don't care what happens to Hollywood or the movie industry
I think it's funny how some good hollywood actors can't do voiceovers very well.
I knew there would be a Heavy Rain article today! Being partially psychic is very nice. Its funny how gaming doesn't need "talented" "hollywood" actors to do great voice acting. I do wish Danny Glover would appear in a game sometime in the near future. David Hayter isn't a big hollywood "star" and he does very good work.
i dont know what it is about that heavy rain picture. every time i see it, i just wana punch that character in the face….time 4 me to get some much needed sleep i thinks 😉
Last edited by wano on 2/21/2009 7:54:17 PM
Some of the best game vox acting I can think of is T.C. Carson.
Can't wait for KZ2, but i gotta get off my high horse and not just attribute the bad voice acting to a bad script. It is pretty awful, thankfully even being an English Major of the old school and a sometimes language Nazi, I can put it aside for games. BUT, even though I am no part of Guerrilla I'm a tad ashamed of how that came out.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 2/22/2009 10:56:03 PM