If you haven’t been to Audio Atrocities, (http://www.audioatrocities.com/) you should hit it. The site exploits the now infamous usage of horrid voice acting in games. This phenomenon is still with us and is one of the greatest areas for improvement in our great industry.

To answer this need, the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) (www.audiogang.org) has formed the GANG Voice Acting Coalition, aka GVAC. Launched at this year’s GDC, this branch of G.A.N.G. was formed to address the needs of dialog professionals in interactive entertainment – and is here to assist in developing policy, highlight important issues, create communication channels, and evangelize the unique needs and issues surrounding the professional dialog production pipeline.

The GVAC steering committee is comprised of experienced professionals from many different disciplines of game audio, from acting to integration to casting to direction.

Just what are the issues?

GVAC is in talks with union representatives from both the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Film and Television Artists (AFTRA) concerning contract negotiations and the many issues and questions surrounding union involvement in game projects.

GVAC seeks to educate the industry about current techniques such as ensemble recording and mocap + dialogue capture and new ADR techniques to deliver more compelling use of voice. Recent developments in such games as Mass Effect, Uncharted 2 and the upcoming Alpha Protocol demonstrate the need of a robust and effective process both for workflow and technology to allow for the greatest expression and dramatic impact from a game’s characters.

Is text to speech a viable technology? Is it even conceivable to synthesize voice in the near future?
These and more are being tackled by GVAC. Want to get involved? You don’t have to be a voice actor. Producers, designers, and directors alike are all affected by the issues surrounding voice in games. Join G.A.N.G. and be a part of this new initiative. (more…)

Test

This is a test a big test

Alexander Brandon – G.A.N.G. BoD – Interviews Spencer Nilsen

Spencer Nilsen has post_date some of the most well known game soundtracks, among them Ecco the Dolphin and Sonic CD. Spencer also was one of the first composers to bring studio post_date tracks into CD audio. More recently Spencer serves as President and Creative Director of Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. Alexander Brandon, a member of G.A.N.G.’s board of directors and creative services director at Heatwave Interactive, has had a chance to chat with Spencer about his days at Sega as well as his entire career in an audio interview found here <link1>, the transcript of which is available on Gamasutra <link2>.

<link1> .MP3

<link2> Gamasutra.com

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 Music gaming is making millions and encouraging the stars of the future. Jimmy Lee Shreeve waxes lyrical

I’ve tried to learn the guitar, but it takes a lot of dedication and patience – and besides, I’m tone-deaf," admits die-hard rock fan Martin Parsons, sadly. Until fairly recently, the only way Martin and other wannabe music gods could emulate their favourite bands was to play air guitar when no one was looking. "But then along came Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and everything changed," he says. The hugely popular Guitar Hero and Rock Band video-game series are the ideal virtual-reality experience for reluctant rockers. Clutching a plastic Gibson Les Paul or SG guitar-shaped controller, you can strum along to your favourite songs, perform blisteringly fast lead breaks, and strut around the living room like Keith Richards pumping out Jumpin’ Jack Flash at the O2…

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Capcom & OverClocked ReMix Make Video Game Soundtrack History

By: David W. Lloyd, [email protected]

November 27, 2008

Fairfax, VA — OverClocked ReMix today released for free download its official soundtrack to Capcom’s Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles. While video game companies have worked with fans in the past, HD Remix is the first major video game with a completely fan-made soundtrack. More than twenty gamers from around the world contributed remixes of the original Street Fighter games’ music for inclusion in the updated game, in styles including jazz, hip-hop, reggaeton, spaghetti western, garage rock, big beat and electronica.

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