Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.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[The Soapbox: MMOs waste millions on voice-over]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/the-soapbox-mmos-waste-millions-on-voice-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/the-soapbox-mmos-waste-millions-on-voice-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/the-soapbox-mmos-waste-millions-on-voice-over/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox MMOs waste millions on voiceover
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

A-list voice actors are not new to the video game genre. Over the last 20 years, video games have pulled from the same pool of talent as cartoons and commercials. But it really wasn't until last year with DC Universe Online that we started to see MMOs advertise the voice talent they had in the games. DCUO filmed multiple documentary-style videos to impress us with the level of voice-over work the game had. Although DCUO was the first fully voiced MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic made a point to tell us that it had over 200 different voice actors (300 if you believe IMDB) with over a thousand recording sessions for over 200,000 lines of dialogue.

In the end, what's the pay-off? Six months after launch, the majority of players will threaten to leave a SWTOR pick-up group if the other players don't skip over the dialogue. Although a large portion of players did watch all the dialogue shortly after the game launched, all the players I spoke to said that the cutscenes started to grate on them before they'd even reached level 50. And even though DCUO was the first MMO to be fully voiced, SWTOR got away with advertising that it was first mainly because voice-overs were considered so insignificant by the MMO community that almost no one noticed the fib. And dare we even talk about the expense of recording 200,000 lines of dialogue? Is fan excitement over, say, Mark Hamill's Joker worth the cost of bringing him in on the project in the first place?

Continue reading The Soapbox: MMOs waste millions on voice-over

MassivelyThe Soapbox: MMOs waste millions on voice-over originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Hamill in the recording studio
DC Universe Online's upcoming DLC pack, The Last Laugh, will be hitting the live servers tomorrow, June 19th. As you may have surmised from the DLC pack's title (which it shares with a renowned comic story arc), the new content will heavily feature everyone's favorite Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. And of course, when it comes to voicing the Joker, we know there's only one man for the job: the legendary Mark Hamill.

In a new video released by Sony Online Entertainment, Hamill brings fans into the recording studio as he lays down his lines for the maniacal Mistah J. Joining Hamill are the voices of Superman (Adam Baldwin), and Harley Quinn (Arleen Sorkin). Together the trio talks about the joys of voicing three of DC Comics' iconic characters and their work on the upcoming Last Laugh DLC. To see these talented voice actors bringing your favorite DCUO characters to life, just click on past the cut for the full video.

[Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]

Continue reading DC Universe Online brings fans into the recording studio with Mark Hamill, Adam Baldwin, and Arleen Sorkin

MassivelyDC Universe Online brings fans into the recording studio with Mark Hamill, Adam Baldwin, and Arleen Sorkin originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online - The Joker cutscene still
Sony Online Entertainment is bringing out the big guns for its next DC Universe Online content patch. As we reported last week, the Joker is set to return for The Last Laugh, and fortunately for everyone, his voiceover duties will be handled by none other than Mark Hamill.

Hamill is joined by DC stalwart Arleen Sorkin (that's Harley Quinn to you, mistah), and Adam Baldwin returns to the role of Superman for the first time since DCUO's launch. The Last Laugh also features a new shield weapon, four new safe house battles, and 8v8 throw-downs in both the Watchtower and the Hall of Doom.

The Last Laugh will be freely available to legendary DCUO members, while free and premium players can purchase it via the in-game marketplace, the official website, or the PlayStation Network.

[Source: SOE press release]

MassivelyDCUO's Last Laugh features Hamill as the Joker, lots of new content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-baldwinarleen-sorkinconsoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuodcuo-last-laughdcuo-shield-powerf2pfree-to-playharley-quinnlast-laughmark-hamillpatchesplaystation-3playstation3ps3soesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesthe-jokerthe-last-laughWed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive Interview: DCUO's Game Director Chris Cao]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/exclusive-interview-dcuos-game-director-chris-cao/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/exclusive-interview-dcuos-game-director-chris-cao/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/exclusive-interview-dcuos-game-director-chris-cao/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What gamer hasn't wanted to be a superhero at one time or another? Superheroes and comic books have been a part of gaming culture as long as computers. Of course, everyone has wanted to be Superman soaring through the skies of Metropolis, or Batman scaring the pants off the criminal underworld of Gotham City. Sony Online Entertainment has teamed up with Warner Bros. and DC Comics to bring this world -- nay, this universe -- to life. On November 2nd, DC Universe Online will blast its way to game store shelves everywhere.

DCUO gives fans of comic books, action video games, and MMOs a reason to come together and celebrate this incredible amalgam of genres. Create your own superhero! Thrill to the art of Jim Lee! Soak up the voice-acting of Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy! On top of that, if you preorder this deliciously intense action RPG, you will have exclusive rights to a token that will allow you to join a 2v2 PvP arena as the caped crusader himself, using his abilities, gadgets, and fighting style. Plus you'll get all the other preorder bonuses like confetti bombs and batarangs.

Massively snagged an exclusive interview with DCUO Game Director Chris Cao about this groundbreaking game. Up, up, and away! (OK, that was cheesy. Just hit "read more" to read our lengthy interview after the break!)

Continue reading Exclusive Interview: DCUO's Game Director Chris Cao

MassivelyExclusive Interview: DCUO's Game Director Chris Cao originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you pumped for DC Universe Online after watching the recent "Who Do You Trust?" trailer or our own interview with John Smedley? We can hardly blame you -- it's tough being a superhero waiting in the wings. While we count down the days until its November 2nd launch, there's a lot more DCUO goodness to be had.

Massively was on hand at the DCUO panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, where Jens Andersen, Chris Cao, Marv Wolfman, Jim Lee and Mark Hamill (who is reprising his voice work as the Joker) were on hand to answer questions about DC's upcoming title. Hit the jump for the full skinny on time travel, heroes, villains and Bat-shark repellent.

Continue reading SDCC 2010: Up, up and away at the DCUO panel

MassivelySDCC 2010: Up, up and away at the DCUO panel originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just a few days after the preorder bonuses were released and beta signups began for DC Universe Online, Sony Online Entertainment unveiled the central lineup of voice actors for the game.

Some of the names are familiar and unsurprising, but still nice to have confirmed. Mark Hamill will be voicing The Joker once again, and Kevin Conroy returns as Batman. SOE highlighted the two returning actors with a short video on the DCUO site entitled "The Voices of the Game."

Fans of Joss Whedon's work were interested to see several familiar names in the list: Gina Torres as Wonder Woman, James Marsters as Lex Luthor, and Adam Baldwin as the voice of Superman.

Michelle Forbes rounds out the cast list list as the voice of Circe.

John Blakely, SOE's Vice President of Development, says "We're excited that not only will Mark and Kevin bring their talent back to the DC Universe as part of DC Universe Online, but we've hit the jackpot with a full cast that are veterans of movies, TV shows and games that our fans are crazy about."

MassivelyDC Universe Online promises "all-star voice cast" originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-baldwinbatmandc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuogina-torresjames-marstersjohn-blakelyjokerkevin-conroylex-luthormark-hamillsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsupermanthe-jokervoice-actorvoice-actorsvoice-castwonder-womanThu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE makes big plans for Comic-Con]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/soe-makes-big-plans-for-comic-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/soe-makes-big-plans-for-comic-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/soe-makes-big-plans-for-comic-con/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Comic-Con is just a handful of days away, and Sony Online Entertainment has announced its lineup for the event. It's a hefty schedule, but there are several highlights for MMO fans.

Saturday the 24th will feature a panel discussion including Jim Lee, Mark Hamill, Marv Wolfman, and members of the DC Universe Online dev team. They'll be going behind the scenes of DCUO, discussing the backstory and giving fans a first look at the game's intro cinematic. Those attending the panel will receive a DCUO VIP beta key.

Saturday evening there is a fan event for attendees to meet Jim Lee and Marv Wolfman, have another chance at a DCUO beta key, and participate in a Q & A with the development team.

Finally, the SOE block party is a free event on Saturday that welcomes fans into the SOE studios for music, food, tours, previews, prizes, and kids events. Shuttle buses will provide transportation to Comic-Con as part of the event.

If you're attending Comic-Con, be sure to visit the SOE booth for the full schedule!

MassivelySOE makes big plans for Comic-Con originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Comic-concomic-con-2010dc-universe-onlinedcuojim-leemark-hamillmarv-wolfmansan-diego-comic-consdccsdcc-2010soeSony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 19 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST