Voices In Games, Chapter 1: Immersion
What makes a great game truly great? Is it the gameplay, narrative, story or the graphics?
The answer is of course subjective, as different players will prioritize different aspects of a game. Some may be drawn to visually stunning graphics, while others may be more interested in immersive, well-written stories. Ultimately, what all players want is a believable world and authentic characters. This doesn't necessarily mean the game needs to be realistic, but rather that the player should be able to suspend their disbelief and fully embrace the game's world.
One key to achieving believability is to include diverse content that doesn't feel overly repetitive. For example, a three-headed zebra might be an odd element in itself, but not if it's placed in a world with a hundred other variations of similarly odd species. Similarly, if that same zebra is placed in a world with hundreds of trees in vibrant (odd) colors, the player might be more inclined to suspend their disbelief and fully immerse themselves in the game's world.
Another important factor in believability is sound design. Humans are very good at detecting discrepancies in speech, and we tend to pay more attention to speech than we do to explosions or ambient sounds. If a character's voice line is repeated too often, it will quickly be noticed and can break the player's immersion. Quality voice acting is crucial if you want players to believe in your game's world and characters. It can also help to bridge any gaps in other areas such as graphics or animations.
In this series of blog posts, we will explore the role of voice acting in the video game industry, looking at different genres and how voiceover work is used in different types of content. By the end, we hope to give you a better understanding of where to focus your efforts for a great voice acting production."