I was playing Exile for the first time today, and after an hour of play, or so, I ran into a video recording that the BIG heel made. And while watching it (and taking notes), I noticed something... he looks, and sounds a hell of a lot like Jack Nicholson.
Even though I'm quite sure it isn't him, it made me think... I've seen/heard quite a few stars in video games over the years. Like... ... uh... his name escapes me, but the big black dude in Field of Dreams was in the new C&C, and there's Worf in Fallout 2. So anyway... I'm wondering if this will become, like, a new field for actors to start trying to exploit. I mean, in a few years, I'm sure there'll be a need for actors to start appearing in games, and wouldn't you rather get it if there's, say, Bruce Willis in it instead of the creator of the game who decided that he was going to try his luck with acting?
... Anyway... so... what do you think?
Oh, hey, also if you know more games with BIG stars in them, by all means fill me in. I don't follow the gaming scene as much as I used to, so I'm kind of out of it...
Well there was Bruce Willis in Apocalypse on PSone (neat lines of dialogue even if the game pretty muched sucked), Mark Hamill in Wing Commander, Kyle Maclochlan (definite spelling error there... the guy who was in Twin Peaks/Dune/Sex in the City) in GTA 3. There's been a few professionals used in the game scene (although not always 'big' names).
I think real actors would benefit a lot of games [***cough*** Resident Evil ***cough***] but games cost a lot of money to make as is, and I don't think the developers would spring to bring in A-list talent, but jobbing quality actors ahould be used as much as possible IMO as some of the voice acting we've been treated to already has been absolutely awful.
Edit: Oh, and David Bowie was in the Nomad Soul.
(edited by Qubber on 18.7.02 0858) "Nobody enjoys a good time more than I do, but this business of yours is as legitimate as a three-legged donkey...which of course is illegitimate because as we all know donkeys have four legs."
Years ago there was Daedalus Encounter with Tia Carrere (Relic Hunter, Wayne's World, etc) and Panic in the Park with Erika Eleniak (of Baywatch errr..fame)
And weren't there a whole bunch of B-actors in one of the C&C or Red Alert games?
Also I once saw some sort of poker game with Riker from Star Trek and Joe Piscopo..their faces on the box made sure I didn't return to that store for 4 months..
"...And I use that to fuck them some place fairly uncomfortable." "What, like the back of a volkswagen ?" -Mallrats
Originally posted by Qubber... Kyle Maclochlan (definite spelling error there... the guy who was in Twin Peaks/Dune/Sex in the City) in GTA 3.
There are quite a few semi-celebrity voices in GTA3. Joe Pantoliano (Matrix, Memento), Michael Rappaport (most recently in Boston Public), Michael Madsen (Mr. Blonde in Resevoir Dogs), and Debi Mazar (an annoying character actor who pops up from time to time).
It's a pretty good deal for the actors, who probably make royalties of the voice recording and use of their likeness. But video games are generally action-oriented, and there just aren't that many action-hero types like there were in the '80s. They're starting to come back (Vin Diesel), but it just doesn't seem like there are as many tough guys to fill roles in these games.
I actually liked that Apocalypse game. It was pretty fun, just non-stop running and shooting, though Willis' one-liners got a little repetitive towards the end.
GTA3 used the Hollywood talent just right. Their voices added a little bit of style to the game, but they weren't in any way a focal point or a selling point. They didn't splash the names across the cover, or make a big deal about them -- they were simply a nice surprise for those who recognized the voices or took the time to read the documentation.
Compare this to some of the games previously mentioned, where the box seems to scream "Buy this game! It's got [lousy actor/actress] in it!", and then the game turns out to be slightly less fun than sticking your hand in the toaster.
95% of video and pinball games based on licensed properties (movies, TV) end up sucking heavily. Acclaim is a frequent offender in video, and Sega and Data East were among the worst in pinball -- they spent more time and money acquiring the rights to the property and figuring out how to work in the voices and imagery than they did in ACTUALLY MAKING THE GAME THE LEAST BIT FUN TO PLAY.
"No society has managed to invest more time and energy in the perpetuation of the fiction that it is _moral, sane and wholesome_ than our current crop of _Modern Americans_." -- Frank Zappa
Phil Hartman did Captaion Blasto or whatever it was called. And Bruce Willis is in the new Spider-Man game. And who can forget Kirk Cameron in that one game that everyone forgets (that was actually kind of fun)?
Anyway, I don't think many games are advertised on the basis of a cleberity, but maybe it will be more common as technology progresses. I can't see myself buying a game because an actor I like is in it, as a good actor wouldn't make a game fun.
I think the Wing Commander series (at the very least WC3) also had possibly the only porn star appearance in a mainstream game. I think it was Amber Lynne, or something like that.
Not that I pay attention to that sort of thing.
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!
Close, but no cigar, Nate -- it's Rockford, IL's very own... Ginger Lynn. (not that I pay attention to that sort of very thing )
One more thing, IIRC; Kingdom Hearts, Square's upcoming RPG, has Hollywood talent for the v/o's. Haley Joel "I See Dead People" Osment is one of the chars.
I would also look to SSX Tricky for Macy Gray, Billy Zane, Lucy Liu (I think), and a former WCW World Champion.
The current Spider-Man game is actually being advertised as 'and we have Bruce Campbell giving hints' Which he does in his amazing Campbell way btw..I keep playing the training because he cracks me up.. Or the bowling game that's in there!
"...And I use that to fuck them some place fairly uncomfortable." "What, like the back of a volkswagen ?" -Mallrats
Originally posted by Teppan-YakiClose, but no cigar, Nate -- it's Rockford, IL's very own... Ginger Lynn. (not that I pay attention to that sort of very thing )
Ohhh yeah. My bad. I got the Lynn(e) part right, at least. I think there were thirty or forty around at one point.
Er. Not that I'd know.
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!
Originally posted by EnderLike... ... uh... his name escapes me, but the big black dude in Field of Dreams was in the new C&C
James Earl Jones...he's been in too much to list, but here's a few:
Original Star Wars Trilogy: Voice of Darth Vader Dr. Strangelove: B-52 crewman The Sandlot: Zeus's (the dog) owner Patriot Games & Clear and Present Danger: Admiral James Greer
WyldeWolf1 The Man of 1,007 holds, making him 3 holds better than Chris Jericho!
Mark Hamill is the main voice in Starseige as well. I love Bruce Campbell's naration in Spider-Man. The part where he says something like "Play with this while I go eat a sandwich" and then when he talks to you next his mouth is full of food is perfect.
I'm gonna get me an oversized guitar, gain 40 pounds, and become the next D!
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