Xbox - Past, Present, And Future

Thanks to EGM for their interview with Microsoft's Ed Fries, discussing the state of the Xbox. He talks about the specialization of Microsoft's first-party Xbox publishing efforts, saying: "When we were starting, not only were we learning about how to be a console publisher, but we were also trying to make sure we had games in every genre because we really didn't know what kind of third-party support we were gonna get." Fries also quibbles with Nintendo's lack of voice acting in their games, mentioning: "someone asked [Miyamoto and Iwata] why none of their games had voices. And they talked about cost and the time and trouble to localize it... and I just felt like I was listening to silent-movie directors talking [about how films work fine without sound]", and arguing: "I feel like that's just part of the price of doing business nowadays, and it's something everyone should be doing."

Comments

No voice is better than bad voice

[edwdig]

Play a Sega game that has voice acting. Say a Sonic Adventure game. You're going to cringe every time someone talks.

Sega's hires two types of voice actors: those who do not know what inflection is, and those who use it in all the wrong places.

I will say though, the House of the Dead games wouldn't be as fun without the really bad voice acting.

As to voice acting and Nintendo games, I think a large part of the problem is if Nintendo did give Link a voice, if it came out any less than perfect, the bitching they'd hear would make the cell-shading complaints look like nothing.

The reviews that said Samus needed a voice are just plain stupid. There isn't anyone she could possibly talk to.

I think whenever Nintendo finally gets around to making some new characters, that's when they should go with voices - if it fits the game.