Nolan North, Matthew Mercer, Steve Blum, Hellena Taylor, Joanna Roth, Camilla Luddington, Mark Hamill, and Terrence Carson; do any of these names click a bell? Maybe not. But if you are an avid video gamer, you have most likely encountered the voices of these big-time voice actors in some of the best video games ever made. Video game voice actors needed more than ever.
From Assassin’s Creed, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, Bayonetta, Dragon Age II, Tomb Raider, to Batman: Arkham Asylum. These are just some of the voice actors for the most prominent video games in circulation.
On every gaming forum and job website, you will find adverts with video game voice actors needed. You might not have realized your dream to become a professional gamer or even a developer, but there’s a way to join this booming industry.
If you love video games and have that distinct voice, this is a convenient moment to turn your hobby into a career.
Let’s look at the opportunities available for voice acting in the gaming industry. Moreover, I’ll suggest tips to leverage these openings.
Let’s begin, shall we?
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Cashing in on the $120 Billion Video Game Industry
Video gaming has been one of the fastest sectors of the global economy for many years now. Today, there are over 2.5 billion gamers spread across the world, driving revenues to over $150 billion today. So fast is the growth that analysts predict this will explode into a $300 billion industry by 2025.
This incredible growth comes in the backdrop of technology innovations. From mobile gaming virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence to blockchain technology (AI), ground-breaking trends are increasing the influence of this industry. Other developments include cryptocurrency gaming, games-as-service, and Cloud-based gaming.
The boom in video games has spawned a diverse range of careers, including game developers, animators, artists, game designers, professional gamers, and writers. Voice actors also have a massive impact on the success of some of the biggest titles on the market. That’s why video game voice actors for hire are a highly sought out role in the gaming world.
Some of the highest-grossing video games, including Mario, Call of Duty, Street Fighter, Warcraft, League of Legends, and Final Fantasy. They all have memorable voice actors behind them.
Players easily identify with popular games such as Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and Halo: Combat Evolved. This is because of the superb voice acting. For some of the great titles, however, they didn’t achieve their full potential due to weak voicing.
Video Game Voice Actors Needed
The growing success of the gaming world is opening opportunities for anyone wishing to excel as a voice actor in the industry. Game developers and producers now invest heavily in their products to overcome the stiff competition on the market.
Video game voice actors for hire might have to do foreign accents, unique character (voices from trolls to dragons), and everything in between.
Some developers have managed to attract big Hollywood names such as Liam Neeson (Fallout 3), Gary Oldman in Call of Duty: BlackOps, Seth Green in Mass Effect, Christopher Walken in Ripper, among others. Therefore, the potential in the industry is enormous if you have the dedication to push through with your dream.
Type of Video Game Genre where Video Game Voice Actors Needed Work is Found
Some of the game genres where you can excel as a voice actor include:
- Action Video Games: If you love action video games, you must appreciate how fast the action moves. You will be part of voicing several sound effects and characters.
- Puzzle video games: in this gameplay, the voice-over artist usually directs the action. Thus, your role will include giving hints and voicing sound effects. These roles mostly require a lot of creativity to pull off.
- Simulation games: These games emulate specific situations such as football and require strong voice-overs to create a realistic world.
- Role-playing games (RPG): This is a gaming genre where players take on characters in the game. There’s a lot of dialogue which translates to voice acting world.
- Sporting videos: If you love sports, this should be the first genre to check out when searching for voice acting openings. Wii Sports and Madden NFL 20 are the best examples of these games, and your role is to voice both dialogue and sound effects.
Unique Voice over Roles in Video Games
Before you start searching for work as a voice actor in video gaming, you should have an idea of the available jobs. There are opportunities galore from the enticing chances to play a wide range of characters.
From heroes, villains, and other minor characters, you should always look out for any opening to get you started. Some roles might appear insignificant at the beginning, but as a franchise grows, you might be amazed to realize your character is now at the center of the action.
Here’s a breakdown of the kind of roles you might be expected to play:
1. Hero/Protagonist
From Luigi and Mario, Kratos in God of War, Boba Fett (Star Wars), Master Chief (Halo), Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin’s Creed) to Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, video game protagonists are naturally famous.
A hero is the most rounded character in any game. As a voice actor, you’ll have to understand the role and fit into it naturally.
2. Villains/Antagonist
Some villains have grown into the focus of some titles. They include Captain LeChuck in The Secret of Monkey Island, Shao Kahn (Mortal Kombat),andThe Illusive Man (Mass Effect 3).
You might also love to hate Bloody Mary (The Wolf Among Us), Kerrigan (StarCraft), Arthas(World of Warcraft), The Joker (Batman: Arkham Knight), and Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7).
As a villain’s voice, you’re in the middle of the action: creating crooked plans to bring down the hero. Your voice must reflect the evil, ruthless nature of a villain to keep the players on edge.
It is such features that keep players glued to their screen for hours.
3. Voice Narrators
If you are a good storyteller and you have an excellent voice to back it up, this is a good starting point. One option is to play the role of the main narrator, who’s also the protagonist.
You can also voice another character in the game or an absent narrator who doesn’t take part in the game. Consequently, without narrators, game developers would have problems connecting scenes in the plot.
Getting Started in the Video Game Voice Actors for Hire Opportunities
While it’s true the demand for voice actors is high, you have to appreciate the competition on the job market is also quite competitive. Many gamers would love to join the industry.
It has emerged as a popular way of making it big in the gaming world.
Here are some great ways to get started on such lucrative opportunities:
1. Passion for Video Games and Voice Acting
For a start, you need to have a passion for gaming. It is the bottom-line if you want to excel in the industry.
You must have great insight into video games. Furthermore, you should also have immense love for the craft of voice over work because this is the fuel that will power you when things get tough.
2. Understand the Industry Trends
For a long time, there has been a bias towards strong male characters in the leading game titles. Fortunately, the trend is changing, and female characters now have prominent roles. Therefore, more voice acting opportunities are opening for female voice actors.
However, you should be ready to deal with a lot of convoluted hiring processes. That includes agents, demo presentations, interviews, casting directors, game designers, and many other prominent figures.
The gaming world is a multi-billion dollar industry where multiple interest clash: Everyone is looking to cash in or protect their interests.
You should also keep afloat with the latest trends in the industry and adapt your skillset to the same. For instance, if there’s a game idea being explored, you should always know about it to start sending demos to the developers.
You should also keep abreast of trends such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and anything else happening in the industry.
3. Start with a Demo
The best voice actors emphasize the need for a well-prepared demo that should always be up-to-date and tailored for specific jobs. In an interview video game and voice-over actor, Darin De Paul, explains that he was working in theatre but never stopped sending demos for all gigs that emerged.
The actor says he created a demo showing lots of range and characters. It is an invaluable tip for every aspiring video game voice actor.
You will also find tips to use for creating your demo.
4. Work Available Gigs
If you listen to some of the most popular voice actors in the gaming industries, they never set out to work here. They were just passionate and ambitious voice actors who started small and honed their skills.
Lending your voice for local radio adverts, student projects, radio narrations, movie dubbing, corporate and educational projects might not sound ideal. Still, the experience helps you find your voice and gain in your confidence.
5. Keep your Eyes on the Prize
It might take years before you finally make the big break but never lose your focus. If you have a passion for voice acting in video games, you should keep your dream alive.
Keep sending the demos, look for indie game designers, and showcase your voice, build networks by joining gaming and voice acting forums. It is advisable to take acting classes where possible as these will help perfect your sound.
Many aspiring voice actors have great voices, but they are not able to bring the same into their roles or characters. Voice acting lessons will help you refine different aspects of your skills. Attending classes can make all the difference.
You should also stay up-to-date with the latest games and continue playing them to get a feel for any new technology or trends. Consequently, it helps you appreciate what producers look for in a voice actor for their characters.
Final Remarks
The internet offers many platforms where you can find openings and also connect with agents in voice acting. Voice acting marketplaces are among the most popular avenues for aspiring voice actors, and you should keep checking these platforms for new gigs.
You should also connect with video game industry insiders by visiting gaming conventions and other events: It is a smart idea if you want to showcase your skills to the right people. You can also meet some of your favorite voice actors and ask for tips.
Are you still wondering how you can break into voice acting for video games? It requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but which career doesn’t?
You should leverage your passion in video games and voice acting to find any opportunities that come your way. Use every chance to refine your voice acting skills and build your profile by working on the available project. The idea is to keep honing your skills until you find that dream job.
