Characters need character.
And the right voice.

Voice recording has long been part of video games and has become essential in many story-driven titles. Games can place greater demands on the production team than film voice-over because they often contain considerably more spoken text. Depending on the game, this may include dialogue, narration, voice-over and other vocal material.

The right preparation

Preparation is particularly important before a game recording session. Performers usually record their lines individually rather than in conversation with another actor. The director therefore needs to understand each scene thoroughly and explain the character’s situation to the performer.

Lengthy sessions can quickly become expensive, making a good script important for the budget as well. Once the script is ready, casting identifies suitable voices for the roles. Auditions are common, although a director may sometimes have a particular actor in mind and approach them directly. This often concerns a lead role; well-known performers can contribute both a professional performance and promotional appeal through their recognisable voice.

The director benefits from knowing the game well. If an external studio is commissioned, the director should be introduced to the project well before recording. Even before the final cast is settled, this provides a feel for the game and helps develop an effective script. It is useful for translations as well as original recordings.

Sound effects can also be recorded in a studio if required. Many developers use existing recordings licensed for the game, but unusual sounds may need to be created because no suitable recording exists. Bespoke recordings are also distinctive and avoid associations with sounds heard in other films or games.

Working in the studio

Once preparation is complete, recording begins. The performer works in an acoustically isolated space to avoid unwanted noise. Individual takes are recorded, often consisting of a few sentences or even a single word.

The recording approach varies with the game. Lip synchronisation is particularly important for some cutscenes, so the text needs to fit the character’s mouth movements closely. During gameplay, this may be less critical where character animation can follow the recorded speech. Occasional scenes may nevertheless appear out of sync without the recording itself being at fault.

Voice recording often happens well before a game is finished. Major subsequent changes can make previously synchronised material no longer match. Developers need to account for the finished recordings, which can be difficult under tight deadlines.

The director accompanies the recording, briefs performers on new scenes and can suggest improvements after each take. A single “No” may sound sad, firm or something entirely different. Direction ensures that the situation in each scene is interpreted correctly.

Post-production and mastering

The recording is divided into takes, each processed separately. Some can be used directly, while others need unwanted sounds removed. Even experienced actors occasionally make mistakes; editing deals with mouth noises and breaths as required. Effects can also be applied, such as a telephone sound or reverberation for a character speaking in a large space.

There are many creative possibilities. Whether recording is handled internally or by an external studio, developers, performers, directors and sound engineers need to work closely together to meet the particular demands of video-game voice production.