LA Times examines SAG voice acting dispute

Actually Bananaboat, that isn't true. The bourgeoisie of the Renaissance came into existence long before the birth of the union and many professional careers (engineers for instance don't have unions) today lack unions entirely (though there were guilds, but that was a little different). Unions mostly exist for the lower to lower middle class for jobs that don't really require any particular skill set.

If voice actors become too popular Nolan North could end up being the Johnny Young Bosh of videogames. Hearing his voice in every other game will eventually get annoying.

I'm not saying they shouldn't get paid, im saying they shouldnt get paid per voice they do. If they want to be paid per voice thats laughable.

Also the folks from Rooster Teeth did voice acting for Halo 3 after a charity auction, but when bungie heard rooster teeth wanted to do it, they wouldve let them do the VA even if they hadnt paid for it.

So.. yes yes they can do VA for free.

Why do we continue to call them actors , they do not act ,nor do they perform .they simplely narrate or read lines .cause the dic it does not identify them as actors .

Want non-union voice actors? Here ya' go! This is what happens when developers and other untrained talent voice games:

50 Worst Moments In Video Game Voice Acting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulbotKa5LnM&feature=player_embedded

or perhaps you prefer to search by game
http://www.audioatrocities.com/

Instead of playing the game, enjoying it and getting immersed, you'll be laughing at it. Enjoy!

$800 for 4 hours? $200/hour?

That's not something that evokes sympathy or a "call to arms." If you are making $200/hour but you can't get full-time hours then get another job.

all i know is that the voice of the characters, has never been factor reason for me to buy a game. the game must have a story,great graphics,great game play,great multi-player mode ,great online play. those are the thing i look for in a game, i could careless about who voices them ,never been a factor never will be.

Does this mean art designers should get more for each charcter they design? Programmer more for each new function? Oh I know the Janitor should get a bonus fee for every third bathroom he cleans and 10th trashcan he empties!

They are basically saying "these are actors! They deserve special rules then a daily wage like everyone else!" Nope sorry not feeling it. They come it, get paid for a day's work (and probably do less then that) and that's that. It should be the same if they do one voice or 50 in that day. Getting more then a little tired of these "artists" thinking they should get more just because they have "actor" as a job title.

They then complain...but but I don't always get work!! Well then get a normal job. I know I would like to not works for months at a time and still make decent money. I, probably like most people, have to work 50+ weeks out of every year. They are trying to have their cake and eat it too and expecting the public to be sympathetic. Not from me at least.

While I like voices in games, as far as I am concerned they can just use the time to improve the story, music, etc that have been time tested means that video games told stories before voice actors entered the picture. Shoot nowadays fans would probably pay the companies do go in and do voices.