Video Game Voice Actors might strike

Discussion in 'Video Games and Technology' started by Tekkaman Blade, Sep 23, 2015.

  1. Hot Shot.

    Hot Shot. Well-Known Member

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    No we don't. Health insurance was good at a time when people needed doctors, but these days, the insurers are just as bad as the employers. All they do is gouge money out of a company's employees regardless of whether or not that person can afford to have that deduction and they don't help things at all.

    I'm sure there's a better analogy to put things in perspective, but whatever. As soon as you'd abolish unions, there would be a need again. Things only got better for workers because of the unions, and if you take that protection away the companies will start to stomp on their employees even harder. All that matters to the corporate machine is the bottom line, and they will do whatever they can to raise profits. Money overpowers sympathy and human decency, and the corporate ladder is typically climbed by sociopaths. What you pay unions, you probably wouldn't even have on your check without them.


    That said, I don't believe voice actors should get royalties for games. The designers don't. The programmers don't. Why should the people who worked on the most superficial part of the game get royalties before them?
     
  2. McBradders

    McBradders James Franco Club! Veteran

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    I really wish I could contribute to this topic. I've done a lot of work with VA's over the years from absolute unknowns to top level names named in this thread. I know how the sausage is made, so to speak.

    All I'll say is that I hope all parties can resolve this amicably and satisfactorily.

    Oh, and a reminder about the politics rule <3
     
  3. Gordon_4

    Gordon_4 The Big Engine

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    Every time some says this or something like it, I think of a line from the West Wing:

    "Two things you never wanna see how they make: laws and sausages"

    Just substitute 'law' for whatever the relevant topic is. Anyhoo, care to share a few interesting experiences or am I being too forward?

    That would just be super :p 
     
  4. McBradders

    McBradders James Franco Club! Veteran

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    Can't really share much if anything, alas. I can say that it's a fascinating part of the business and super fun to be part of.
     
  5. Cheetatron

    Cheetatron Drat, outsmarted by a Lorry, I am disgraced

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    Are you a VA or sound tech?
     
  6. Autovolt 127

    Autovolt 127 Get In The Titan, Prime!

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    I'm in the minority but i don't play enough games to really care even though I'm a huge VA fan. With that said I support them and if all else fails. They still have cartoons or anime to go to (depending on which VA it is).
     
  7. McBradders

    McBradders James Franco Club! Veteran

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    Neither :O
     
  8. Tekkaman Blade

    Tekkaman Blade Professor of Animation

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  9. Aernaroth

    Aernaroth <b><font color=blue>I voted for Super_Megatron and Veteran

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    Huh. I thought a big chunk of video game VA work was non-union, and that was part of the problem. Wonder if we'll see an actual impact or if the non-union guys will go scab.
     
  10. Hot Shot.

    Hot Shot. Well-Known Member

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    Hopefully game developers just resort to hiring non-union actors. Game VAs don't deserve royalties before actual game developers, especially not when they're hacks like Wheaton and Burch. Giving them what they want would be akin to comic book cover artists getting royalties for reprints and trades while the writer, interior artist, and colorist get paid only for the initial work. This strike is motivated by an over-inflated sense of worth, with perhaps a bit of greed thrown in depending on the individual.
     
  11. Aernaroth

    Aernaroth <b><font color=blue>I voted for Super_Megatron and Veteran

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    Easy solution: Give developers royalty rights as well, or at the very least, clearly define alternate compensation in their employment agreements.

    Also, lol if you think comics are more equitable in terms of creator compensation compared to video games.
     
  12. iamste

    iamste Well-Known Member

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    a thousands times this.
     
  13. tikgnat

    tikgnat Baweepgranaweepninnybong.

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    Ah, sometimes I wish I were still in the games industry, then I read stories like this and maybe my position isn't that bad after all.

    Hey, nothing wrong with that!

    'Here, you take this then.'
    'Thanks! I'll take that then.'
     
  14. Hot Shot.

    Hot Shot. Well-Known Member

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    I don't know much about comic industry payouts. I was going to make the comparison with romance novels, but comics themselves are more structurally similar to video games.
     
  15. grimlock1972

    grimlock1972 Optimus, serving up the primest of ribs since 1984

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    Look up Jack Kirby and get back to us.
     
  16. Mako Crab

    Mako Crab Well-Known Member

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    Haha that voice work is half the reason part 1 is the best RE of all time!
     
  17. ShiroPrime

    ShiroPrime blargh

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  18. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    :lol 

    This would have come in handy but nah it's too late for the best in the industry.
     
  19. tikgnat

    tikgnat Baweepgranaweepninnybong.

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  20. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    Love and hate for 90's VA. :lol 

    I keep wondering why Hayter is still there btw. Yeah. I'm serious. Should have been out after the first solid of the series.