How long does it take to voice-act a game?
Feb 06, 2023
Want to know how much time it takes for a voice actor to voice act in a video game? Well, you are at the right place!
When it comes to voice acting for games, the amount of time it takes to record the audio can vary depending on the game and various other factors. Generally, voice actors will spend several hours per week recording dialogue for a game. The time taken to produce a game with good-quality audio is usually around two to three months. With the ever-growing demand for games, more and more voice actors are needed to create these immersive experiences. As such, it is an exciting and rapidly growing industry that requires expertise and dedication. The time taken to voice act a game depends on the game itself and the complexity of its script, but with an experienced voice actor and a great recording studio, you can expect a wide range of emotions and realistic characters to come alive in no time!
Since there are so many parts that contribute to the successful production of a game. With the below-mentioned factors in mind, we can conclude that voice acting in a video game can be both time-consuming and rewarding!
Voice acting classes online can help aspiring video game voice actors by providing training on specific techniques like character development, script analysis, and vocal range, as well as practice opportunities and feedback from experienced professionals.
Let’s look at the various factors that influence the time to voice a game -
Complexity & Size of the script: Typically, your script consists of a spreadsheet of short lines, either printed out for you or displayed on a monitor. It is standard to give a, b, and c takes (three separate takes, in other words) for each one. The size of the script is one of the most important factors in determining the time taken to voice act a game. On average it can take anywhere from one day for a small script to several weeks for large ones. Also, the amount of voice-over required for a game can vary from one game to another.
The complexity of the script is another factor determining how long it will take to voice act a game. It takes more amount of time to voice characters with complex dialogues.
No. of Characters: It takes experienced voice actors considerable time to voice a game, especially if the game has a large number of characters. This is because each character must be voiced with a distinct personality and characteristics. It is essential to ensure that each character has its own unique traits, which can take additional time to achieve. How long it takes to voice act a game depends on the size of the cast and the complexity of their personalities, as well as the skill of the voice actors themselves.
Experience of the voice actor: An experienced voice actor who is handling multiple projects and has a good understanding of the script and characters might be able to record the lines in just a few takes. On the other hand, beginner voice actors may take longer to record a game due to their lack of familiarity with the script and characters. Ultimately, the amount of time taken to voice a game can vary depending on the level of experience of the voice actor.
Budget & Resources: The amount of time a voice actor will take to complete a game project depends on the budget and resources allocated for it. If the budget is limited, then the voice actor may have to record more lines in a shorter period of time, which can lead to lower-quality recordings. On the other hand, if the budget allows for more resources, then the voice actor can take their time and produce high-quality recordings. Ultimately, how long it takes to voice act a game boils down to the budget and resources available.
Type of genre: The type of video game genre is another determining factor of the time taken to voice act game. There are different video game genres like simulation games, exhilarating action games, Adventure games, puzzle games, sports games, and the genre of role-playing. The time to voice a game varies from the game genre type. For example - the duration of voice-overs required for an Adventure game genre will be much higher than the one required for a puzzle game.
Vocal strength: Voice actors need to have strong vocal strength and range in order to perform their roles effectively. To achieve this, they can use vocal exercises such as humming and lip trills, descending on nasal consonants, fricatives, tongue twisters, reading out loud daily, and pencil bite exercises can be very effective. Voice actors with developed vocal strength are able to perform long-duration sessions compared to others with low vocal strength.
Different game voice-acting roles
It is important to examine various voice-acting roles available in games in order to be successful in the industry. This will also help you gain a deeper understanding of the different projects and genres available in the field. Keeping an open mind can help you discover unique opportunities that may be suitable for your voice-acting skills. As a voice actor, it is essential to understand the different roles available in games, as well as the types of projects offered by the industry, in order to succeed.
Voice actors have the opportunity to take on a variety of roles when it comes to games. From the lead protagonist to the antagonist, or even a side character, playing any of these characters can be a thrilling experience. Each role is unique and requires different skills, which makes the process of creating great game characters even more interesting. In Nintendo’s case, Mario is the perfect example of a successful video game protagonist given the attention to detail put into his character design and backstory. His popularity has made him the face of Nintendo and he has been featured in many marketing campaigns for the company. Different voice acting roles in games provide an exciting avenue for voice actors to explore.
Protagonist: Being a video game protagonist is a thrilling role for voice actors. Video game creators usually spend a great time. Video game creators usually spend the most time designing great protagonists for their games. From deciding the look of the character to the entire backstory, the whole process is treated very seriously.
Antagonist: As the voice of a video game antagonist, you may plan to take over the world—or steal a bunch of donuts—jumping from one diabolical plan to another, from level to level. Just like the protagonist, you also have an in-depth design and backstory, but instead of saving the world and upholding the main narrative of the game, you appear in ‘boss levels’ or during specific situations in the game. The voice-over styles most video game antagonists display are aggressive, bossy, and villainous. However, this is not always the case.
Game Narrators: Games can feature varying styles of narrators, such as a main narrator or an absent narrator. The main narrator can be the protagonist or any other character who explains the game’s storyline and plot to the players as they move through the game. On the other hand, an absent narrator is a character who isn’t directly a part of the game. It can be a mysterious being who creates a lens to analyze the narrative of the game.
Different types of game genres
Out of many video game genres, we would like to tell you the most popular ones in the Industry. This will help you understand different types of projects and see if they appeal to you as a voice artist.
Action games: Action-adventure games most frequently incorporate two game mechanics—game-long quests or obstacles that must be conquered using a tool or item collected, as well as an action element where the item is used. Action-adventure games like The Legend of Zelda focus more on exploration, solving puzzles, and discovering loot, while basic combat is more of a supporting activity to the overall experience.
Role-playing games: Probably the second-most popular game genre, role-playing games, or RPGs, mostly feature medieval or fantasy settings. This is due mainly to the origin of the genre, which can be traced back to Dungeons & Dragons and other pen-and-paper role-playing games.
Simulation Games: Games in the simulation genre have one thing in common—they're all designed to emulate real or fictional reality, to simulate a real situation or event.
Sports games: Sports games simulate sports like golf, football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. They can also include Olympic sports like skiing, and even pub sports like darts and pool. Opposing players in these games are often computer-controlled but can also take the form of live opponents.
Adventure games: Adventure games are categorized by the style of gameplay, not the story or content. And while technology has given developers new options to explore storytelling in the genre, at a basic level, adventure games haven’t evolved much from their text-based origins. In adventure games, players usually interact with their environment and other characters to solve puzzles with clues to progress the story or gameplay.
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