How to get the most out of your voice actors
Elliot Callighan & Bonnie Bogovich
Thursday 21st April 2022
So, you've decided to breathe even more life into your game by giving characters a voice. Hooray! This is an important decision that can result in an incredibly rewarding experience, delivering on your clearest creative vision and creating unforgettable, new personalities your players can't help but love.
That said, this feat is not simply a matter of scouring reels for the perfect cast. The real vocal triumph lives and dies by what happens before, during, and after your talent steps into the booth. Whether you're working with upstart talent or seasoned industry vets, here are some essential recommendations for getting the best performance possible from your roster of recording talent.
Few experiences can derail a recording session faster than an actor seeing words shuffle around on-screen while trying to lay down lines
The importance of script lock cannot be overstated. While it may be tempting to edit scripts on the fly, few experiences can derail a recording session faster than an actor seeing words shuffle around on-screen while trying to lay down lines.
It's understandable that stories evolve as games develop, but it's also important to keep the assignment consistent for your actors' sake. Many would prefer an uneditable script format (e.g., PDF) or will even print out their scripts beforehand. If the need for new lines arises, save your script revision for a new recording session down the road.
One of the most helpful influences we've found in recording sessions is the direct involvement of a creative representative from the game studio. We often request a writer or creative director, someone with deep knowledge about the world-building, characters,
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