Kotaku: Niko bellic

Extended Audio Interview with Niko Bellic's Voice Actor

Owen Good — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:00:00 MDT

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.]

Niko Bellic's Backstory

Owen Good — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:00:00 MDT

Mr. Juandrful over at Kezins.com has pieced together a backstory on Niko Bellic, in a VH1 "Behind the Music" kind of biography. Counterintuitively, I should put up a spoiler alert here, because although it's all about stuff prior to his arrival in Liberty City, naturally it draws on dialogue and events in the game, which you may not have played yet. Mr. Juandrful also says some of this was built on "inside info" about Niko's past, given to him by Rockstar.

Anyway, spoiler warning, don't click the link if you want to get Niko's backstory through the game for yourself. Otherwise, if you want a quick read that humanizes the character, go for it.

Behind the Game: Niko Bellic Before GTA IV [kezins.com]

Niko Bellic Going to San Andreas?

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:20:00 MDT

So, SOME DUDE over at the GTA Forums noticed that the Rockstar Social Club site have the above image. It depicts a plane ticket for a "Mr Niko Bellic", bound for "San Andreas" from "Liberty City." Let the speculation begin!
Spoiler? [GTA Forums via videogaming247]

Dress Like Niko Bellic

Brian Crecente — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 MDT

I'm not sure if this is exactly what the star of Grand Theft Auto IV is wearing in the game (well at least one of his outfits), but Game Daily did a really good job of at least finding bits of real world clothing that look like what he's wearing. The breakdown, which somehow forgets Bellic's super cool shoes, include an $800 Faconnable leather jacket and would run you and me more than $1,100.

Steal That Style: Niko Bellic [Game Daily]