GameX at the University of Gloucestershire:
Casting, Incorporating Voices into your Video Games… and how to have way too much fun doing it!
I’ll start this blog post wee history lesson about me: I completed my degree in Television Production at the University of Gloucestershire in 2019. So when I was invited back to the University- to the very same lecture hall my studies were held in, in fact- to give a talk about voice acting in video games, I was absolutely thrilled!
Addressing students from various disciplines, including video game development, radio, and media production, I was able to take the next generation of big brains on a stage by stage guide to making the most of voice actors in your games.
OK, But Did You Believe It?
I guided the students through the daily life of a voice actor- from auditions to studio sessions- and what differentiates video game voice acting from other types of voiceover. (Which, by the way, is that video game voice acting tends to skew more realistic and grounded, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule and varies by genre!)
We looked at examples of improv in video games- featuring Spider-Man 2 as an example- and what types of characters they might be casting for, using Diablo IV as an example.
For every character, the question I asked them (and I ask myself constantly) was: do you believe them?
Authenticity in Casting
A hot-button topic in recent times, authentic casting is something I’m very passionate about- I’m a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, but video games need all types of diversity, from background to skin colour to religion to gender to sexuality. Video games need to represent their player base- everyone, everywhere!
Looking After Your Voice Actors- They Don’t Bite
Many people starting out in video game development say they find the idea of casting daunting- but it really isn’t! You have treasure troves of brilliant, talented actors out there, waiting to be found (hi!).
I took my audience through the do’s and don’ts of writing a casting brief; what’s useful for your actors to see; and how to look after your actors when they’re in the booth. I walked them through the definition of what is ‘vocally stressful’, and how to take care of your actors during those sessions- frequent breaks and check-ins, capping the session length, and ensuring a safe environment for the actor to make sure they don’t push themselves too far.
Again, a common theme that came up was that voice actors are scary and unapproachable! I certainly am not scary. I’m 5 foot 3 and a half, and that half is very important to me. BUT- I do understand why people in game development might not be comfortable with the hiring process straight off- and I hope I allayed those fears by making the central theme of the talk…
We’re Just Human!
AI ain’t got nothing on these pipes. Voice actors are vibrant, brilliant human beings who can throw themselves into a fantasy world in an instant. A machine can never replace us; we have emotional intelligence, lived experience, love, hatred, anger, joy, disappointment, fear… all the things an algorithm cannot.
And we also love a good laugh with our colleagues in game development, in writing, in audio, and in casting. We are in this because we are so deeply, deeply human. We’re here to play and have fun; we want to play in your game’s sandbox, and that is why we’re not scary. We’re humans, and so are you.
Thank you so much again to the University of Gloucestershire, to the fabulous team behind GameX, and I promise, I didn’t draw anything on the armrest this time!
Written by : jasmineyates
