Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Troy Baker, the industry's 'new' Nolan North]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/troy-baker-the-industrys-new-nolan-north/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/troy-baker-the-industrys-new-nolan-north/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/troy-baker-the-industrys-new-nolan-north/#comments ImageIf you've spotted the assassin Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3, roamed the streets of Steelport spitting hot lead and one-liners as the voice of 'Male Caucasian 1' in Saints Row: The Third, or pillaged dungeons with the Scoundrel as your ally in Diablo 3, you're familiar with the industry's newest voice actor all star: Troy Baker.

Before his voice was featured in countless big budget video games, Baker's career was focused on music, playing in the indie-rock band Tripp Fontaine. Though Baker says music "came naturally" to him, he knew his life would revolve around some form of entertainment. "I knew from when I left my mother's womb that I was going to be a performer," Baker tells Joystiq.

Around 2004, Baker "stumbled" into doing car commercials, which led to a chance encounter that would shift his entire career focus. "Since we were doing album work at the same studio, it was just right place right time. So I started doing commercial work, and met Christopher Sabat who plays Vegeta in Dragonball Z." Soon he was cast in a slew of minor roles throughout the anime and video game world: various iterations of Dragonball Z, bit parts in Lupin III, roles in One Piece, Bloodrayne 2 and Mega Man X: Command Mission. Things started to explode, and did so with a sonic boom when he was cast as the memorable Frank Archer in Fullmetal Alchemist.

He was working frequently and with passion, but Baker's next big break came from another happenstance situation: being friends with a Gearbox Software employee.

Continue reading Troy Baker, the industry's 'new' Nolan North

JoystiqTroy Baker, the industry's 'new' Nolan North originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioShock-InfiniteProfileThe-Last-of-UsTroy-BakerWed, 30 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Last of Us has been in development for two years]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/the-last-of-us-has-been-in-development-for-two-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/the-last-of-us-has-been-in-development-for-two-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/the-last-of-us-has-been-in-development-for-two-years/#comments There was quite a lot of buzz surrounding the first new game revealed during the Spike VGAs this weekend, The Last of US. Decidedly void of smarmy characters and international espionage, The Last of Us instead focuses on two survivors trying to make their way across the country after a post-apocalyptic event. And, surprisingly, it's been in development for two years already, Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann revealed on Twitter.

Druckmann also revealed the two leads on the game are Troy Baker, the man voicing protagonist Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, and Ashley Johnson, who is in fact not Ellen Page. Yeah, we were kinda surprised, too. The Last of Us also appears to be a Mature title -- the UK page suggests a PEGI rating of 18, the equivalent of a Mature ESRB rating here in The States, a first for Naughty Dog. Also a first at Naughty Dog: the existence of two separate teams. One team is working on The Last of Us, the other is working on other stuff, according to co-president Christophe Balestra.

Finally, the UK page suggests "no network play," which could mean the final game is a local-only affair. Of course, that could change in the lead-up to launch in 2012.

JoystiqThe Last of Us has been in development for two years originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashley-johnsonnaughty-dogplaystationps3sceathe-last-of-ustroy-bakerMon, 12 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Going even deeper into BioShock Infinite's voice acting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/going-even-deeper-into-bioshock-infinites-voice-acting/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/going-even-deeper-into-bioshock-infinites-voice-acting/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/going-even-deeper-into-bioshock-infinites-voice-acting/#comments
Last week we brought you the first half of a two part feature with Irrational Games head Ken Levine coaching BioShock Infinite's two main voice actors. This week, we've got Booker (Troy Baker) yelling at Elizabeth (Courtnee Draper) to elicit emotion-filled lines. Next week? Tigers.

JoystiqGoing even deeper into BioShock Infinite's voice acting originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesbioshock-infinitecourtnee-draperirrationalirrational-gamesken-levinemicrosoftpcplaystationps3take-twotake-two-interactivetroy-bakervoice-actingxboxFri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioShock Infinite's main voice actors explore the creative process]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/bioshock-infinites-main-voice-actors-explore-the-creative-proce/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/bioshock-infinites-main-voice-actors-explore-the-creative-proce/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/bioshock-infinites-main-voice-actors-explore-the-creative-proce/#comments
What's it like expressing a total lack of remorse for a dying virtual horse in a fantastical city in the clouds? BioShock Infinite voice actor Troy Baker explains just that in this behind-the-scenes look at the voice actors playing Elizabeth and Booker in next year's big Irrational game.

JoystiqBioShock Infinite's main voice actors explore the creative process originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesbioshock-infinitecourtnee-draperirrationalirrational-gamesmicrosoftpcplaystationps3take-twotake-two-interactivetroy-bakervoice-actingxboxThu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioShock: Infinite voice actors caught on film]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/bioshock-infinite-voice-actors-caught-on-film/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/bioshock-infinite-voice-actors-caught-on-film/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/bioshock-infinite-voice-actors-caught-on-film/#comments
Eager to put faces to the voices (and digital faces, we guess) behind the lead characters of BioShock: Infinite? Look no further, as MSNBC's In-Game took some time to chat with Courtnee Draper and Troy Baker, who play Elizabeth and Booker Dewitt in Irrational's upcoming followup.

Check out the video above for a look at the voice acting process, and just what goes into creating Booker, Elizabeth and the relationship between them.

JoystiqBioShock: Infinite voice actors caught on film originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshock-infinitecourtnee-draperIrrational-Gamesmicrosoftplaystationps3troy-bakerxboxTue, 27 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[BioShock Infinite PAX panel video explores the importance of relationships, crying in tiny rooms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/bioshock-infinite-pax-panel-video-explores-the-importance-of-rel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/bioshock-infinite-pax-panel-video-explores-the-importance-of-rel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/bioshock-infinite-pax-panel-video-explores-the-importance-of-rel/#comments
PAX can be a fantastic catalyst for news and breaking information about upcoming games, but it also provides a unique window into the development process that we as consumers don't often get a chance to see. This year's BioShock Infinite panel, for instance, dove into the art of voice-acting, the challenges associated with dynamic story telling in a first person environment, and the benefits associated with crying in a 5-by-6 closet while strangers viciously berate you.

The panel, hosted by G4's Adam Sessler, starred Irrational Games' Creative Director Ken Levine, as well as voice actors Troy Baker and Courtnee Draper, who voice Infinite's Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth, respectively. The group covered a wide range of topics regarding Infinite's lead characters, their motivations, and the somewhat unorthodox techniques used to extract such emotional performances from the actors.

Despite being fairly F-bomb heavy, the above video doesn't disclose any information we weren't already aware of, so the spoiler-cautious among you need not worry.

JoystiqBioShock Infinite PAX panel video explores the importance of relationships, crying in tiny rooms originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioShockbioshock-infiniteCourtnee-DraperIrrational-GamesKen-Levinemicrosoftpax-2011pax-prime-2011PAX2011pcplaystationps3Troy-BakerxboxMon, 29 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST