Kudos to the Voice Actor

ProfesseurFreder

For the most part I stay out of new areas when they are still new, because everyone and his brother is there and the quests are too crowded for my taste. But I do always drop in briefly to look around, usually with a new character. This past week I dropped into Elsweyr for the first time, and...

1) the zone is really gorgeous

and 2) I particularly enjoyed the voice acting: it was great that you went to the trouble (and presumably expense) of getting Alfred Molina back to voice Abner Tharn, but I also think that the actress who voiced Narama-Ko, although I do not know her name, did a terrific job. Good enough that I noted the character's name so I could mention it here. All the voice acting is good throughout the game (although I get tired of hearing Jim Cummings every other voice, AND I still believe that the male bard throughout the base game should be made kill-able for his sins against music), but every once in a while there's a real stand-out, and these are two of them.

Harrdarrzarr

There is a riddler in a quest in Coldharbour, where you can save Angof. I still think that voice actor along with the riddles itself is fantastic.

SosRuvaak

kudos to ALL the voice actors too actually... this game is huge... and being fully voice acted makes it just 10x better when questing compared to other games

ArchMikem

I love going through the game recognizing voice actors by other characters they've played. The Krogan Warlord Okeer, Twilight Sparkle, Scott Mitchell etc.

If ZOS can get Tali'Zorah to voice a Khajiit i just might lose it.

siddique

Molag Bal, still the best voice in the game.

gepe87

siddique wrote: »

Molag Bal, still the best voice in the game.

Yep, and Sotha SIl.

starkerealm

siddique wrote: »

Molag Bal, still the best voice in the game.

Malcolm McDowell. Dude sounds like he's elevated devouring the scenery to an art form. It's fantastic.

BNOC

Wonder how much they pay for these and if that money could be better spent.

starkerealm

BNOC wrote: »

Wonder how much they pay for these and if that money could be better spent.

Probably not much better spent. Early impressions are very important for a player's likelihood of continuing with a game. Since MMOs, like ESO, are heavily reliant on continued business, that makes keeping players around more important than a single player game that can be forgotten in a couple hours without (significantly) hurting the publisher's bottom line.

In ESO, most of the characters you interact with in the main storyline are voiced by actors who will get that impression across. It's only after a couple hundred hours you realize that Gideon Emory, and Jim Cummings are taking over the world through remote mind control. Or, how Keith Szarabajka keeps popping up every time you want to make a glyph or become a werewolf.

Sarcasm aside, the entire game is voiced, and that's a major achievement, which does contribute to the "feel" of the game.

Did they need to get Michael Gambon or Malcolm McDowell? Well, no, but the game doesn't hurt for having them there, and that is money well spent.

Aurielle

starkerealm wrote: »

BNOC wrote: »

Wonder how much they pay for these and if that money could be better spent.

Probably not much better spent. Early impressions are very important for a player's likelihood of continuing with a game. Since MMOs, like ESO, are heavily reliant on continued business, that makes keeping players around more important than a single player game that can be forgotten in a couple hours without (significantly) hurting the publisher's bottom line.

In ESO, most of the characters you interact with in the main storyline are voiced by actors who will get that impression across. It's only after a couple hundred hours you realize that Gideon Emory, and Jim Cummings are taking over the world through remote mind control. Or, how Keith Szarabajka keeps popping up every time you want to make a glyph or become a werewolf.

Sarcasm aside, the entire game is voiced, and that's a major achievement, which does contribute to the "feel" of the game.

Did they need to get Michael Gambon or Malcolm McDowell? Well, no, but the game doesn't hurt for having them there, and that is money well spent.

This. I found it positively DELIGHTFUL when I first started playing ESO that I got to speak to Elder Scrolls Dumbledore and Elder Scrolls Basil Fawlty.

Katahdin

Seriously who else besides John Cleese for Cadwell would have been even half as good?

Jayman1000

Abnur has always been one of my favourite voices with Alfred Molina, his dialogue is also pretty awesome and well written, often quite humorous (At least in the main quest, haven't heard him elsewhere yet)

Agenericname

Katahdin wrote: »

Seriously who else besides John Cleese for Cadwell would have been even half as good?

John Cleese IS Sir Cadwell. There could be no other.

Jaimeh

I've been recetly doing my writs in Alinor, and although I don't like bards in general, the one opposite the crafting stations is awesome, I frequently stay longer to hear her songs.

DragonRacer

Jaimeh wrote: »

I've been recetly doing my writs in Alinor, and although I don't like bards in general, the one opposite the crafting stations is awesome, I frequently stay longer to hear her songs.

I do the same in Rimmen for the same reason.

DawnWarrior

ProfesseurFreder wrote: »

For the most part I stay out of new areas when they are still new, because everyone and his brother is there and the quests are too crowded for my taste. But I do always drop in briefly to look around, usually with a new character. This past week I dropped into Elsweyr for the first time, and...

1) the zone is really gorgeous

and 2) I particularly enjoyed the voice acting: it was great that you went to the trouble (and presumably expense) of getting Alfred Molina back to voice Abner Tharn, but I also think that the actress who voiced Narama-Ko, although I do not know her name, did a terrific job. Good enough that I noted the character's name so I could mention it here. All the voice acting is good throughout the game (although I get tired of hearing Jim Cummings every other voice, AND I still believe that the male bard throughout the base game should be made kill-able for his sins against music), but every once in a while there's a real stand-out, and these are two of them.

Good to know that I'm not the only one who thinks the singing in the base game is horrid. Just slightly off-key -- did they do that on purpose?

luen79rwb17_ESO

Fully voiced characters and NPCs are one of the main reasons I've been so loyal to ESO. It's really a huge difference and other MMOs just feel incomplete now.

And voice actors do an awesome job too! Even some random NPC can be a true amusing experience thanks to voice acting. Like that Khajiit dancer in Riverhold Inn sooo subtle, cunning and well implemented humor

redlink1979

DragonRacer wrote: »

Jaimeh wrote: »

I've been recetly doing my writs in Alinor, and although I don't like bards in general, the one opposite the crafting stations is awesome, I frequently stay longer to hear her songs.

I do the same in Rimmen for the same reason.

The main reason for crafting in Rimmen

msalvia

Katahdin wrote: »

Seriously who else besides John Cleese for Cadwell would have been even half as good?

There were other options, but I can't argue with Cleese. If we need the whole English accent thing, I think Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean, Johnny English) would have brought some extra zany to the party.

LadySinflower

Not necessarily acting talents, but the singing talents of the person who voices the singer /bard in Rimmen crafting area. She is also featured in the Riverhold pub. Normally it would be annoying to have the same voice in two places so close together, but I love this woman's voice! It's easy enough to imagine that the Khajiit is just a local who works at both venues (as long as you don't pay attention to the different names of the two characters). But maybe it's a local singer with multiple stage names.

Anyway, ESO does have some great voice acting. The guy who seems to voice every other Nord really has a great voice suited to the characters he's voicing... It's not his fault they were too cheap to pay more actors and he's been overused.

Cleveland521

I think the khajiit lady in Rawl Kha’s stockade is the most awesome “for crimes against....”. Lol the most recognized voice in game

Jephry

I still love the "tour guide" in Eldenroot. She cracks me up every time she says, "Well...yes. That's why you must watch your step!"

Also love Kate Beckinsale as Ayrenn!

ArchMikem

BNOC wrote: »

Wonder how much they pay for these and if that money could be better spent.

Dont even. I wouldnt even play if the NPC's were mute.

ProfesseurFreder

Is Malukah the Rimmen / Riverhold female bard?

She appears in several pubs in the base game and as much as I hate the male bard, may his bones rot in bard hell, that's how much I ENJOY Malukah's singing. She has a Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS613EogLXE0lTsxyC1cWLA

...as well as some cuts available on iTunes. This is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/hbDx2FVd9e0 .... and this is one of the ESO songs: https://youtu.be/4z9TdDCWN7g

bluebird

I have to agree with BNOC, much of the celebrity VO money could have been better spent. Of course, they attached these big names to the game at its launch so it would have been a glaring issue to not rehire Molina when Abnur has such a huge role and a distinct well-established voice.

But they really didn't have to assign celebrity VOs to their characters initially. I like Kate Beckinsale for example but her performance as Ayrenn was nothing special. Most of her lines are quite flat and without much affect, and I think we can give credit to the VO community to say that other actresses could have done an equally good job of it. Just because these celebrity VOs are famous people we know and love doesn't mean they are uniquely qualified to deliver the lines.

There could even be a case to be made for less-well-known VO actors/actresses. It gets quite jarring for example when you
hear Jim Cummings do his umpteenth game character... it can take you out of the game really since he is too famous and recognizable. I'm not listening to a Nord bard who is a memorable character in his own right, I'm listening to Jim Cummings do a weird accent and I'm automatically comparing it to the accent he did in that other game or series, because his voice is just too memorable.

Less well-known actors and actresses can sometimes leave a more lasting impression. Helen Sadler for example will forever stand out ot me as the female Bosmer voice! Or Cindy Robinson delivering those perfect Dunmer lines! I love all the VO in ESO and the quality is excellent, so high-profile actors are entirely unnecessary.

ProfesseurFreder wrote: »

Is Malukah the Rimmen / Riverhold female bard? She appears in several pubs in the base game and as much as I hate the male bard, may his bones rot in bard hell, that's how much I ENJOY Malukah's singing.

They asked Malukah to sing some of their original songs, in an attempt to promote the game. They also asked Dan Bull for example to create some of his usual game raps for the three alliances, for the same reason of adding content creator hype to the game's launch.

youtube.com/watch?v=wHnjFXFAE90

However most new additions are sung by regular VO actors that do the NPC voices, they didn't rehire 'celebrity' bards. The Rimmen bard is one of the Khajiit voice actresses with that unique accent she puts on It's really immersive and I think it's a lot better that she sings the songs than Malukah who would have been out of place.

Veinblood1965

Cleveland521 wrote: »

I think the khajiit lady in Rawl Kha’s stockade is the most awesome “for crimes against....”. Lol the most recognized voice in game

You've got to be being sarcastic? She deserves to be in the stockade herself for repetition crimes. The same line over and over and over and over....

Aurielle

I think I’m in the minority regarding the new bards... The bard in the Rimmen crafting area actually makes me want to mute my game whenever I’m doing writs. I don’t like the talk-singing style. She’s also slightly off-key. Give me Malukah any day.