AFTRA, SAG negotiate new contracts for video game voice actors
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Oct 6th 2009 at 9:01PM }
The contracts will bump SAG members' wages up 3 percent upon ratification, bringing SAG wage hikes into parity of those offered by the AFTRA. On April 1, both groups will receive another 2.5 percent wage increase. Publishers are also now required to inform voice actors as to when they'll be doing "vocally stressful work." We're not exactly sure what that means, but we think it applies to any gravel-throated protagonist ever featured in a first-person shooter. All that gruffness is rough on the ol' pipes, dontchaknow?
[Via Big Download]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:12PM
Not to Steve Blum; have you heard him in his normal voice? Its practically the same.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:13PM
ugh, worst part of arkham asylum, he's supposed to be really deep with a cajun accent!
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:14PM
Yeah, I was surprised he did the voice for him. It was really...odd.
Blank-Mage @ Oct 6th 2009 9:24PM
Well, Steve Blum is in EVERYTHING.
Sometimes, more than once.
Deadpool @ Oct 6th 2009 9:35PM
Steve Blum is the Sam Jackson of voice overs.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:50PM
in AA i counted steve as 12 different people
Sly (Now in Critter Form!) @ Oct 6th 2009 10:49PM
wait, who did steve do in arkham?
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 11:37PM
A doctor, two guards, some other people, and more notable Killer Croc.
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Oct 7th 2009 10:25AM
And a terrible Killer Croc, at that.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:12PM
awesome, maybe now we'll hear more than 4 people
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:16PM
And hopefully, better voice actors.
*tries to forget every JRPG*
Lord Il Palazzo (Previously : Rave Master 2.0) @ Oct 6th 2009 9:16PM
....
....
WHAAAAAT?!
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:33PM
Persona 4 had good voices, as did Lost Odyssey with the exception of Cooke and Mack.
Rein [Prime Minister of the city-state of New Bjork] @ Oct 6th 2009 11:14PM
Come on! Cooke was the lovely Lil/Phil from Rugrats! It brought back memories! Plus, she was actually the only useful human character next to Sed.
Johnny Yong Bosch is in every single fucking game these days as well. He's either always the protagonist or the second lead male role. He cannot be escaped from! He even played two characters in Persona 4.
Most lower budget JRPGs seem to be borrowing experienced anime voice actors, so a lot of them are getting better. Still, someone needs to stop casting the girls who do the extremely annoying high pitched voice.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 6th 2009 11:56PM
I know Johnny played the MC in P4, but all he had to do was scream Persona names every now and then.
Markez @ Oct 6th 2009 9:17PM
Name your favorite celebrity actor in a videogame! The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Seth Green in Mass Effect.
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 6th 2009 9:18PM
Ron Perlman...
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:23PM
Pierce Brosnan, because he's so dreamy....
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:23PM
I dont think Ron Perlman counts, cause it's not like a special guest appearance like with Seth Green, it's pretty much as main a job as a regular acting career.
Blank-Mage @ Oct 6th 2009 9:25PM
Vic Mignogna.
TOTALLY counts.
Markez @ Oct 6th 2009 9:28PM
Never heard of Vic, but I guess he counts due to an apparently extensive anime career? Having more time to think about it I enjoyed Michael Madsen in the GTA games.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:29PM
also my answer is definitely the cast of firefly in ODST, and specifically Capn Mal because with the IWHBYD skull on in firefight, he will occasionally yell "THIS IS SPARTA"
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:30PM
Thinking about it more, I loved Robin Atkins Downes as Travis Touchdown.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:32PM
if you're counting prolific voice actors then what's the point of asking about celebrity appearances and not just voice acting in general?
Markez @ Oct 6th 2009 9:34PM
To specify, I was more curious I suppose about big movie/tv actors, Hollywood types. Not the 'I've never heard of this person' anime or random other screwballs.
gobo @ Oct 6th 2009 9:42PM
Robert Guillaume as Dr. Eli Vance in the Half-Life 2 saga. And as a very obvious close-second, Louis Gossett Jr. kicks as as a Vortigaunt.
LegendaryRedass @ Oct 6th 2009 9:43PM
Keith David dammit! I can't believe none of you thought of him. I wish he could read me bedtime stories.
David @ Oct 6th 2009 10:18PM
I'd have to say Malcolm McDowell's probably my favourite celebrity voice actor, but as far as non-celebrity voice actors, probably Yuri Lowenthal (PoP: Sands of Time and Two Thrones) or more likely, Nolan North (Uncharted 1 and 2, Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed).
Kari Wahlgren too. She was a good Elika and Jeanne D'Arc.
Hmm...I should actually finish that game.
Bubbameister33 (Confused by Fanboyism) @ Oct 6th 2009 10:23PM
@Legendary
I wish he could read me bedtime stories as Goliath and tell me of his adventures with Elisa.
PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 7th 2009 8:51AM
50 cent in MW2!
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Oct 7th 2009 10:27AM
RedAss Bedtime Stories, starring Keith David.
Just sounds...a little odd.
solarshadows074 @ Oct 6th 2009 9:18PM
HAH!
....sag.
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 6th 2009 9:19PM
You know what it means? Higher dev costs...aka higher prices in the long run.
Markez @ Oct 6th 2009 9:21PM
But if it gets us a Martin Short Jiminy Glickish voice as a space marine in some future FPS release it will all have been worth it. That'd be comedy gold, Jerry, gold.
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 6th 2009 9:22PM
I guess we could get some Ovaltine jokes in here!
Why do they call it Ovaltine? The jar is round. The mug is round. It should be called Roundtine.
It's not that the actors don't deserve it, its that Bobby Kotick will use this as an excuse.
BigD145 @ Oct 6th 2009 9:31PM
What it ought to mean is slimmer profit margins.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:31PM
meh, the way they're packing advertisements in games these days and not passing the savings onto us like they should, I doubt it will make a huge difference
ECVOICE @ Oct 6th 2009 10:41PM
Hardly - voice actors, even at union rates, get very little money for their time and effort, and in addition, are contracted to do up to 3 character voices for one session.
Most VO game jobs are non-union anyway, and they often get paid no more than $100/hour. Only a major character will require more than 2 hours.
Some VO actors are paid only a "buy out" fee to cover all recordings, even pickups, which can run a very long, long time. In the end, it'll come to less than $100/hr for all the time and effort.
That might sound like a lot, but these people earn their living doing voiceover. And after you do 2 hours work on a game, it's gone. They get no residual checks, no matter how well the game sells.
Voiceover artists, even at Union wages, are stiffed when it comes to being paid on games. The only ones who make any really good money at it are celebrities.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 6th 2009 11:14PM
didnt the guy who did niko bellic get a 100000?
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 6th 2009 11:15PM
They can't push it. Remember the guy who did Splinter Cell? They canned him for asking for too much.
derek @ Oct 6th 2009 11:54PM
Yep, higher prices will be in the the near future. Also, the comment on how there should be slimmer profit margins is unreal. I noticed on the credits of EA's Dead Space that a LOT of staff were from EA's Shanghai office. Those slimmer profit margins will amount to even MORE jobs being outsourced to China. Profit is what keeps jobs local and unions still don't realize this.
Satn @ Oct 6th 2009 9:30PM
"vocally stressful work."
-dubbing any dragonball game.
Blank-Mage @ Oct 6th 2009 10:40PM
KAAAAKARRRROOOOTTT! (Which was also Vic Mignogna. Go figure.)
Cheezeman3000 @ Oct 6th 2009 9:31PM
As a composer who gets SAG money for putting vocals into his work... this doesn't affect me. Still, it's great for actors.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:36PM
Can I have a sample of your work, please? I'm looking into a composer for a project.
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 6th 2009 9:44PM
Quality is your Dignity? What?
If you post one more time, I will punch Bobby Kotick.
[ArchiGamer] [80% ENTERTAINMENT BY VOLUME] @ Oct 6th 2009 9:46PM
Post another one!!! DO IT!!
Deadpool @ Oct 6th 2009 9:57PM
"Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am fine today and how are you? I hope this letter will find you in the best of health. I am Prince Deadpool, the Chairman of the "Contract Award Committee", of the "Marvel Delta Development Commission (MDDC)", a subsidiary of the Latveria National Petroleum Corporation (LNPC).
The company holds 100 million in money and is very rich! The company is experiancing troubles transfering our fortune and we need your help!!! Wow I can not believe it either! We are so rich and we are having this much trouble?! Yeah it is very mind bottling!"
But seriously dude...STOP SPAMMING!!!
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 6th 2009 10:01PM
@Deadpool
That'll work.
*punches Bobby in the face*
ECVOICE @ Oct 6th 2009 10:48PM
"Vocally stressful" work is being an army commander, barking out orders, for hours on end in the booth. Or doing a death rattle over and over and over again, screaming, falling.
VO folks don't do one take and that's it; even if a director likes a given take, they'll get another one for security. And then there are redirects for a particular line. The more vocally demanding (ordering, yelling, screaming) the work, the more stressful.
What can happen is, for VO people, if you do this work daily, you can potentially blow out your voice...meaning you can't speak properly or do any other type of voiceover work, which includes commercial, promos, movie trailers, narrations, and so forth.
Video games is very NON-lucrative for a voiceover artist. It's a lot more work than doing a 30 second commercial that runs on radio or television, and a LOT less money. There's also the potential for residual checks on long-running on-air commercials, whereas videogames pay a VO artist absolutely $0 once the game is published, no matter how well it does.
The joint Union contract for voiceover artists on video games is a very small, small step. Given that many games are recorded non-union anyway, it's impact will be minimal until the unions can get game publishers to pay residuals when a game sells exceedingly well.