Michael Abbott talked to a voice actor who explains how the typical tools of an actor aren't just disused, they're a hindrance for many game developers.

The problem, it seems, is that to deliver a believable performance an actor has to be able to understand the character they are voicing. They need to know the story and how their character fits into it. But time is money, and most studios, according at least to the actor interviewed, value first-take, final take actors over actors who want to develop a little more depth for their characters.

The actor Abbott interviewed said they almost never receive the script prior to showing up.

When you arrive for the session you're handed a side [a script with one character's lines and lead-in cues]. You have some time to look it over, and the Voice Director and maybe a producer are there to discuss it with you. But basically, you get the script, you set some levels, and off you go.

Q: So you don't know the story or anything?

A: They'll explain the basic gist of it, but mostly you're concentrating on short snippets of dialogue. I like to know as much as I can, obviously, but you have to remember the clock is ticking, and every minute you're not recording costs money. And, no surprise, they like actors who work efficiently. If you're cooperative and you've got some flexibility, and if they get the sense that you're a first-take / best-take kind of guy, you're going to work with them again.

Q: How do you create a character with so little information?

A: You throw out all your training for one thing. (Laughs) If they know your work they might say they're looking for something similar to what you did on another gig, but maybe a little gruffer or more aggressive or whatever. It's very simple stuff. Inflections and modulation mostly. I'm not sure I would call it characterization.

As a solution, Abbott recommends that developers bring voice actors into the process much early, allowing them to help evolve the script and the characters. Also, allow them to rehearse, play the game and talk to the animators.

Wait, actors working with developers to create a more cohesive product? That's crazy talk.

Reading through the article, I couldn't agree more with Abbott. It sounds like the way some video games are created is more similar to mass producing cars than creating movies. It's no wonder that the results can be so all over the place.

Voice For Change [The Brainy Gamer]

Ric Flair, that is. The 16-time world heavyweight wrestling champion joins an all-star lineup of new additions to the Red Alert 3 roster, portraying Commander Hill, one of the commanders players will take on in the new Commander's Challenge mode. Flair was understandably excited about the role.

“When I found out that EA wanted me to be part of Command & Conquer, all I could say was ‘Woooooooooooo!’”

...okay. Flair was seen back in October filming something in the EA Los Angeles gym with a person in a bear suit. Not that that means anything...I just wanted to point that out.

Along with Flair comes the legendary Malcolm McDowell, Jamie Chung from the live-action Dragonball movie, Prison Break's Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, and Holly Valance from the Dead or Alive movie. Check out pictures of the new set of scenery-chewing stars below!

EA Announces All-Star Celebrity Cast for Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising

Eclectic Ensemble Cast Stars in Newest Addition to the Red Alert Universe

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced the members of the live action movie cast for Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3: Uprising, the upcoming campaign expansion to last fall’s award-winning Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3. Picking up in the aftermath of the events in the original, Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising features an eclectic cast starring in the all new, live-action movie sequences the Command & Conquer franchise is known for. From sci- fi legends to rising starlets and masters of the squared-circle, the cast of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising includes (in alphabetical order): Jamie Chung, (Dragonball Evolution), Ric Flair (16-time world heavyweight wrestling champion), Malcolm McDowell (Heroes, Clockwork Orange, Wing Commander), Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Prison Break), Holly Valance (Neighbours) along with returning fan-favorites Gemma Atkinson and Ivana Milicevic.

“Quality live-action movies and storytelling have always been a unique component to the Command & Conquer DNA and we wanted to make sure we did things right with Uprising,” said Amer Ajami, Senior Producer at EA Los Angeles. “We are really pleased we were able to assemble another large and talented ensemble for Uprising, and we think our fans are going to be pleased by everyone’s performances not only in the cutscenes, but also in Commander’s Challenge, where you’ll actually be battling some of our stars.”

“When I found out that EA wanted me to be part of Command & Conquer, all I could say was ‘Woooooooooooo!’” said 16-time world heavyweight champion, Ric Flair, who stars as Commander Hill, a commander players will have to take on in the new Commander’s Challenge mode. “I had a great time on set and while I may have retired from the ring, I think my fans are going to love seeing the ‘Nature Boy’ style and profile his way to victory. I know my kids are going to have a great time trying to take it to me on the battlefield.”

Malcolm McDowell, who plays Rupert Thornley, the president of the European Union, and had previously starred in the live-action movies for the Wing Commander franchise, added, “It’s great to be working with good actors and the more good actors you can get to do games, the better. In the past people might have thought you could get away with anything in games and that isn’t a good attitude. Kids are spending a lot of money and time on these games and they deserve first rate performers and I’m glad to say that this is what Uprising is.”

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising will take players deeper into the Red Alert™ universe with four new mini-campaigns set in the aftermath of the events of Red Alert 3. The game also features the new Commander’s Challenge mode, a series of 50 challenging, over-the-top scenarios where players will need to battle through a gauntlet of commanders and obstacles in order to unlock the game’s powerful new units.

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising will be available for digital download this March for $19.99 and has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI. For more information about the game, please visit www.commandandconquer.com, home of Command & Conquer TV, EA’s dedicated online Command & Conquer network that goes beyond the game and brings players all the latest news, tips and strategies straight from the developers. This Friday, fans can go to the website to catch the first episode of BattleCastTM PrimeTime, the channel’s flagship program, which will have all the latest Command & Conquer news including an interview with Ric Flair.

And for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising’s live-action movies and the debut of the game’s first trailer, tune in this weekend to “GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley” on SpikeTV (check local listings) and GameTrailers.com.

This interview sounds like it's taken from the Big O & Dukes radio show on WJFK-FM in Washington. It's a long and in depth talk with Michael Hollick, the voice actor for Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto IV.

There's a little too much hero-worship from the hosts, but hey, Hollick is not a controversial guest, I suppose. He gives a really good look at the development of the game, and how the actors match their lines to the motion capture, which sounds almost impossibly hard to manage and remain in character. Newfound respect for this kind of work.

Other highlights: He auditioned originally for motion-capture; the game he was told he was auditioning for was called "Frozen." And he had days where he came in to work to find a script that was "50 pages of just screaming. In these you're jumping off of something, in these you're shooting someone, in these you're being burned alive."

GTA 4 Niko Voice Actor Interview [GameTrailers user Grave, thanks reader Raivis R.]

The commercial will "offer viewers an exclusive look at the iconic Halo universe and provide telling, new hints as to what Bungie Studios has in store for the highly regarded game."

More interestingly, the commercial, which airs between 5:50 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. PST on ESPN and 8 p.m. PST on Xbox.com, will include a mix of live action and computer generated animation. That's right, live-action Halo baby.

Once it airs, the commercial, created by the McCann Worldgroup in San Francisco, will hit Xbox Live Marketplace.

Microsoft also announced details for the Halo 3 public beta program set to kick-off this coming spring. Hit the jump for the full release. Brian Crecente

Exclusive Halo 3 Trailer Makes Broadcast Debut Viewers to See Master Chief Like He's Never Been Seen Before

Fans worldwide can experience a thrilling look at the most anticipated game of 2007 with a special 60-second Halo 3 trailer; Microsoft announces first chance for North American gamers to participate in the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta by entering at Halo3.com.

Humanity is about to experience another exciting look at the world of Halo 3, one of the most anticipated entertainment launches for 2007. Airing in North America, Monday, Dec. 4 on ESPN s Monday Night Football and Xbox.com in Europe, the new 60-second Halo 3 trailer will offer viewers an exclusive look at the iconic Halo universe and provide telling, new hints as to what Bungie Studios has in store for the highly regarded game, which is published by Microsoft Game Studios and exclusive to Xbox 360.

Fans can tune in to ESPN on Monday, Dec. 4 between 5:50 and 6:20 p.m. PST to catch this stunning new look at Halo 3. Additionally, the ad will be aired that same evening on Xbox.com at 8 p.m. PST /04.00 GMT/05.00 CET (Tuesday, Dec. 5).

The ad, created by McCann Worldgroup San Francisco, includes a mixture of live action and computer generated animation, will air one time only and will then be made available online worldwide through Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox.com.

Halo is a pop culture phenomenon! The Halo franchise has changed the face of interactive entertainment and it's only fitting that we take an innovative approach to how we market and advertise the brand," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. "This invites a new audience with a rich back story, and continues to galvanize gamers around the world for the launch of Halo 3 in 2007.

In conjunction with the ad, Microsoft today unveiled further details and an official call to entry for the Halo 3 beta program. Beginning Monday, Dec. 4, by visiting http://www.halo3.com, gamers in North America will be able to register for the opportunity to be one of the select members to join the unprecedented Halo 3 public beta program, scheduled to kick off in spring 2007. Today s announcement confirms the first path of entry for gamers to participate in the beta program and be among the first to experience the most anticipated game of 2007.

The Xbox Live multiplayer public beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of Halo 3, is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. This beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the development of Halo 3. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further refine and hone the end result of Halo 3.

Unveiled earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, Halo 3 represents the third chapter in the Halo trilogy, an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, which equals nearly $700 million in sales, and logging in excess of 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live.