Mass Effect 2 Cast Announced

[DoctorFinger]

In the life cycle of a major game, there are a few news stories which I know I'll write. The 'leaked announcement', the 'official announcement,' the 'release date reveal,' and the 'DLC unveiling' are pretty much set in stone. But do I now have to add 'celebrity voice casting announcement?' It's sure beginning to look that way. This time we get the voice actors Bioware has lined up for Mass Effect 2, and it is pretty damn impressive. Strength and depth. The cast, with their most well known parts and the role they'll be playing.

Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”, “Apocalypse Now”) - The Illusive Man
Shohreh Aghdashloo (“House of Saddam”, "24") - Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay
Seth Green (“Austin Powers”, "Buffy The Vampire Slayer) - Joker
Yvonne Strahovski (“Chuck”) - Miranda Lawson
Adam Baldwin (“Chuck”) - Kal ‘Reegar
Keith David (“Crash” "Every Game You've Played the Last 10 Years") - Admiral David Anderson
Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”) - Gatatog Uvenk
Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) - EDI (the voice of the Normandy)
Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”) - Captain Bailey
Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix”) - Aria T’Loak

What? No Powers Boothe? For shame Bioware!

Mass Effect 2 will hit the PC and 360 on January 26.

[Ink Asylum]

Nice to see Worf in there. I wonder what race of alien he's playing, because I doubt that's a human name. Turian, perhaps?

Six is going to be the voice of the computer? Damn her. As if she didn't already do enough in BSG to make me crush on a machine. It's great that Michael Hogan is on board, too. No idea who Captain Bailey is, but I always thought XO Pressley in Mass Effect looked a lot like Tigh.

One voice in the original game that I really liked was the Alliance general that would contact you on the bridge of the Normandy to discuss missions. I don't think you ever actually saw him in game, just heard him, but he had a great delivery. Anyone remember his name?

[TrackZero]

Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”) - Captain Bailey


Yesssssss!

[DoctorFinger]

There were descriptions of some of the characters listed, but I left them out to avoid spoilers. But some were left vague even in the release.

[Dukefrukem]

Awesome that Seth Green is back. And ++++ for Carrie-Anne Moss

[TheSilentDeath]

So no Lance Henriksen then? So I take it it's going to be Anderson that tells me to do all the menial chores for the alliance now.

I wish this game was coming out during winter break, sucks that I'll be in class all day that day.

One voice in the original game that I really liked was the Alliance general that would contact you on the bridge of the Normandy to discuss missions. I don't think you ever actually saw him in game, just heard him, but he had a great delivery. Anyone remember his name?
Lance Henriksen as Admiral Hackett, also did General Shepard in MW2.

[AgtFox]

Can I argue that Michael Dorn's best known work would be The Next Generation and not Deep Space Nine?

[DoctorFinger]

Can I argue that Michael Dorn's best known work would be The Next Generation and not Deep Space Nine?
You know, I didn't even notice that in the release? Good pick up.

[Borthcollective]

Can I argue that Michael Dorn's best known work would be The Next Generation and not Deep Space Nine?

Can I argue that it was when he was on CHiPs?

[pheriannath]

Can I argue that Michael Dorn's best known work would be The Next Generation and not Deep Space Nine?

Can I argue it was his role in Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers?

(not really)

[AgtFox]

With Battlestar Galactica well represented will the characters say "Frak"? ;)

[Codicier]

Adam Baldwin! :D

Best known for CHUCK?! :mad:

[Ink Asylum]

Sadly, Chuck has had more seasons and probably more viewers in the long run than Firefly.

[MosBen]

But seriously, Firefly should get a nod. I mean, is he best known *to this audience* for Chuck or Firefly? Chuck's a nerdy show, but I'd wager that more of us are familiar with him from Firefly.

[AgtFox]

But seriously, Firefly should get a nod. I mean, is he best known *to this audience* for Chuck or Firefly? Chuck's a nerdy show, but I'd wager that more of us are familiar with him from Firefly.
Big fan of both shows, but he's better known for Chuck or at least equally for both. I think you're selling Chuck short in regards to the audience on this forum.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Awesome that Seth Green is back. And ++++ for Carrie-Anne Moss

Seriously? After his completely pointless appearance in Mass Effect 1, you're glad he's back? You can cover 80% of his dialog the first time you see him.

[Farsight]

Besides, Baldwin's much hotter co-star is also in the game, and Chuck is ACTUALLY ON THE AIR!

(low blow, I know, but fun nonetheless)

[Savok]

Martin Sheen? Really?

Really?

[Superman's Dead]

I liked the part of Joker; he was a well-developed character that acted independently of the world around him.

I am double plus excited for this, the voice actors only thrill me more.

And in regards to Michael Dorn, I think the character stood on his own better in DS9 as opposed to being a part of everyone else's subplots.

[TheFlyingOrc]

ALSO: Stop using screen actors for voices. Stop using screen actors for voices. Hey! Developers! Stop using screen actors for voices.

Here's the benefits:
Hey, I recognize that voice, that guy was awesome in whatever the other thing was.

Here's the drawbacks:
They aren't as good at voice acting.

They are much more expensive.

You give less work to voice actors, who need the work.

People don't remember how awesome that character you wrote is, they remember that he was Actor X.

[Superman's Dead]

Well, what about this, TFO.

When the author is penning the script is he writing for Seth Green, or quirky marine #2 from Modern Warfare? Maybe now that they've got a big budget they can really get the voices they want, and we get the product as they intended it.

Also, I don't think screen actors aren't as good at voice acting. It's basically the same thing as a stage reading of a script and doing ADR, things they've been doing most of their careers.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Well, what about this, TFO.

Also, I don't think screen actors aren't as good at voice acting. It's basically the same thing as a stage reading of a script and doing ADR, things they've been doing most of their careers.
No, it's really not. Voice actors go through different training. The voice talent of Futurama breathes life into their characters in a way the celebrity-a-thon of Shark's Tale aren't going to pull off. Gimme a minute, I'll find Billy West talking about it.


O: But that's the complete antithesis to how animation is now. Celebrities are the characters. They're expected to put themselves in the role. Even before CGI movies, you had Robin Williams in Aladdin.

BW: Robin Williams understands sonic performances. He understands what it's like to change your voice up. He understands what it's like to have theatre of the mind—and with your little strip of vocal cords, you're going to create heavens and hells and universes and populations of people, which is the whole idea that a voice person has in their head. It's like, "Whatever it is, I'll be it." But the voice people can physically escape the sound of their own voice. We do multiple voices. We used to save producers' asses, because they'd hire you and say, "Well, we were going to get six people, but we can't afford it. Can you do this, this, and this?" And you'd do them, and they'd be perfectly happy, and they'd save a bundle of dough. Now, it's the exact opposite. The minute they mention a CGI film, they're already looking to see what Renée Zellweger is doing. They're already looking to see what Billy Crystal is doing. This doesn't make sense, to do what they do—spend zillions on visuals, and then have this totally fucking flat-lining voice track. You know, "Hey, I'm Will Smith, I'm a clam! I'm Will Smith, I'm a kangaroo!" All you bring to the performance is your own ego. They're just being themselves. Let's put it this way: Cameron Diaz is the highest paid voice actress in history: $20 million for Shrek. Why? Because she has a 9-foot mouth? That works somewhere else, but not on tape! [Laughs.] It's like what the hell is that all about?

[Nameless]

Big fan of both shows, but he's better known for Chuck or at least equally for both. I think you're selling Chuck short in regards to the audience on this forum.

I think you're right that Chuck has a bigger audience (certainly it has a bigger audience than Firefly did while it was on the air), but I would argue that Adam Baldwin was just so central to people's enjoyment of Firefly. I think he was the best character on that show, and he certainly took a lot of episodes from 'OK' to 'Awesome.'

Anyway, I don't really care who does the voice-overs as long as they don't suck.

[Ink Asylum]

It comes down the the direction and writing. A good voice director can make you remember the character more than the famous actor playing them. Just look at Pixar movies. They're full of screen actors doing voice work for the main characters, but you're more likely to remember the characters than in less well-done movies. Sure, I know that Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are Woody and Buzz, but the characters are fully realized despite that knowledge.

Besides, most of those names aren't that famous. Aside from Martin Sheen you've got a bunch of genre actors. Michael Dorn and Seth Green have prior experience doing voice work, and I'm sure some of the others have, too, if I went through their IMDB. You can be good at both.

[Krispy]

I see what you are saying TFO, but I think it really matters on the voice director too. Just look at the voice acting done in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Fantastic. (Had to do it)

[Superman's Dead]

No, it's really not. Voice actors go through different training. The voice talent of Futurama breathes life into their characters in a way the celebrity-a-thon of Shark's Tale aren't going to pull off. Gimme a minute, I'll find Billy West talking about it.

I agree that as voice talent they aren't meant for the industry, maybe. But that doesn't mean, for a high profile game with very specific parts, that they won't be just as good or give the people behind the game the performance they were looking for.

It's one thing to say they'd be bad at the job if it was their job, it's another thing to say they'll be bad in the game.

[DoctorFinger]

And frankly, other than Martin Sheen none of the people on that list are exactly big names. Billy West is right when he talks about Cameron Diaz and Will Smith, but that doesn't apply to the cast here, and it doesn't always apply to games either.

[TheFlyingOrc]

And frankly, other than Martin Sheen none of the people on that list are exactly big names. Billy West is right when he talks about Cameron Diaz and Will Smith, but that doesn't apply to the cast here, and it doesn't always apply to games either.

Well, I'm pretty much just talking about Seth Green. It really irked me that this character with no effect on the plot probably had a pretty decent paycheck, plus his voicework is pretty weak. I know he does Robot Chicken and Family Guy - I'm not very impressed with either.

[Nameless]

I still don't get why they do this; I imagine they'll have spent a lot of money on Martin Sheen, but how much of a return are they going to see on that? I'll be honest, I probably won't even recognize his voice. Would I have bought this game had it been voice-over guy #3? Yes.

I just can't picture the people thinking "Hey, Mass Effect 2 seems like a cool game, but I'm not buying unless there's some A-list Hollywood talent in it."

[Ink Asylum]

I guess they think it's worth the free press they'll get for having him on board. It probably won't have as big an effect as having Jack Black in Brutal Legend, but it's not worthless to have an actor that big in your game.

[Kelegacy]

ALSO: Stop using screen actors for voices. Stop using screen actors for voices. Hey! Developers! Stop using screen actors for voices.

Here's the benefits:
Hey, I recognize that voice, that guy was awesome in whatever the other thing was.

Here's the drawbacks:
They aren't as good at voice acting.

They are much more expensive.

You give less work to voice actors, who need the work.

People don't remember how awesome that character you wrote is, they remember that he was Actor X.

I'm with you.

I'm also apparently not geek enough to know all of these names/people.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I guess they think it's worth the free press they'll get for having him on board. It probably won't have as big an effect as having Jack Black in Brutal Legend, but it's not worthless to have an actor that big in your game.

Only a very, very niche group is going to know that Martin Sheen is in the game, unless they put that crazyness on the front of the box.

[Kelegacy]

Only a very, very niche group is going to know that Martin Sheen is in the game, unless they put that crazyness on the front of the box.

I just hope they put as much money into the gameplay as they did the voice talent.

I guess this is another reason why games cost so much these days.

I was watching Monsters vs. Aliens the other night and I couldn't pick out Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogan, Rainn Wilson, or the other characters right away. They have sounded familiar but I didn't know who they were until I saw the credits. Eventually I DID get Rogan, but it wasn't until like halfway through the movie.

[Ink Asylum]

Only a very, very niche group is going to know that Martin Sheen is in the game, unless they put that crazyness on the front of the box.

Now what if Martin Sheen went on Letterman or Leno in mid-January and discussed how interesting it was to do voice work for the video game called Mass Effect 2?

[Xydarc]

That's great and all, BioWare. Some good names in there. It's all for naught, however, if Jennifer Hale isn't doing the voice of Female Shepard.

[Ink Asylum]

She is. She's on the IMDB page for ME2.

[Wraith]

http://mos.totalfilm.com/images/t/the-20-greatest-simpsons-movie-star-guest-spots-420-75.jpg

As a fan of Firefly, Chuck and The West Wing, I will say this brings my interest in the game up a tick. Like others have said, movie/TV stars don't always make good voice actors, but it doesn't mean they can't, especially given the right script, direction. Disney pulls out some great performances from well-known actors for the Ghibli dubs, for example.

(I wonder if Strahovski will be doing an American accent like she does in Chuck, or closer to her normal Australian accent.)

[Ink Asylum]

Strahovski does the voice work for Miranda in the Mass Effect Galaxy game for the iPhone. There isn't that many spoken dialog in the game but she sounds Australian to me.

[muddi900]

They could've dumped Seth Green and just as well have cast Zachary Levy for the Chuck trifecta.

[Xydarc]

She is. She's on the IMDB page for ME2.
Good. I would have hated to cancel my pre-order.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Disney pulls out some great performances from well-known actors for the Ghibli dubs, for example.

They do get some good ones, but Ghibli is actually one of the locations where I can really feel the difference. Princess Mononoke has Keith David(primarily voice actor) knocking it out of the park, with Jada Pinkett Smith in what I consider to be a VERY weak performance. Nausica had good use of Patrick Stewart and Edward James Olmos, but MAN is Shia LeBeouf terrible.

Jennifer Hale is amazing (she's the reason I'm glad my ME character was female), Cam Clarke is astounding, and for reasons I don't understand Billy West doesn't get to be in every videogame ever.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Strahovski does the voice work for Miranda in the Mass Effect Galaxy game for the iPhone. There isn't that many spoken dialog in the game but she sounds Australian to me.

That actress is from Australia, and is doing an American accent on Chuck. Like Hugh Laurie, this blew my mind.

I would rescind my statement for actors who, on the screen, really do voicework at the same time they are doing screenwork - like Hugh Laurie.

[Ink Asylum]

Would that apply to Seth Green, then, who has been doing voice work in Family Guy for years?

[TheFlyingOrc]

Would that apply to Seth Green, then, who has been doing voice work in Family Guy for years?

No, because his voicework is mediocre as hell and his character was just him speaking in his natural voice.

And I hate him.

[Ink Asylum]

Ok. So can we summarize all your posts about how screen actors shouldn't be doing voice work as, "I hate Seth Green"? It could've saved us a lot of time.

[Khrymsyn]

Pfft... you all suck.
Baldwin's MOST known for being Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket.

=P

[TheFlyingOrc]

Ok. So can we summarize all your posts about how screen actors shouldn't be doing voice work as, "I hate Seth Green"? It could've saved us a lot of time.

Oooh, iceburn. I'm cut. You've hurt me. Why would you say that? It hurts so much. I'm crying. The pain.

If you want to accuse me of something, accuse me of being a Billy West fanboy - it's fair, I'll take it. I try to follow voice actors because I'm enamored by their ability - and depriving one of creating a real, living breathing character instead of tossing it off on someone with a fairly uninteresting voice just speaking calmly in their natural speaking voice is pretty dumb kthx.

edit: Also, that will teach me to somewhat sarcastically add "and I hate him" to the end of a post.

[AgtFox]

Cam Clarke is astounding
One of the people from Ubisoft that posts over at Quarter to Three talked about how he absolutely hated Cam Clarke in his role as Subject 16 in Assassin's Creed II. He felt he was the most out of place voice actor on the game.

I was just shocked by him saying that. This is the man that gave a voice to one of the best bad guys around: Liquid Snake.

[TheFlyingOrc]

One of the people from Ubisoft that posts over at Quarter to Three talked about how he absolutely hated Cam Clarke in his role as Subject 16 in Assassin's Creed II. He felt he was the most out of place voice actor on the game.

I was just shocked by him saying that. This is the man that gave a voice to one of the best bad guys around: Liquid Snake.

Well, if they used the "Cam Clarke voice." (the Liquid Snake voice that people call him in to use WAY TOO OFTEN), it would almost certainly be out of place in AC2 (I haven't played it yet). However, I became a fan when I realized all the roles he'd done that I DID NOT know was him. That was sweet.

[AgtFox]

Well, if they used the "Cam Clarke voice." (the Liquid Snake voice that people call him in to use WAY TOO OFTEN), it would almost certainly be out of place in AC2 (I haven't played it yet). However, I became a fan when I realized all the roles he'd done that I DID NOT know was him. That was sweet.
I wouldn't say he's channeling Liquid Snake in his performance, but he does play a rapid mentally deteriorating individual in AC2. He plays the Animus subject that came before Desmond...the one that wrote out all the stuff in blood in Desmond's room at the end of the first game that you could only see with Eagle vision.

He is not out of place given what he is trying to convey (someone losing his mind after one too many trips through the Animus). However he is also the deliverer of the massive conspiracy video that you can unlock.

[Ink Asylum]

Oooh, iceburn. I'm cut. You've hurt me. Why would you say that? It hurts so much. I'm crying. The pain.

If you want to accuse me of something, accuse me of being a Billy West fanboy - it's fair, I'll take it. I try to follow voice actors because I'm enamored by their ability - and depriving one of creating a real, living breathing character instead of tossing it off on someone with a fairly uninteresting voice just speaking calmly in their natural speaking voice is pretty dumb kthx.

edit: Also, that will teach me to somewhat sarcastically add "and I hate him" to the end of a post.

And before, where you said "Well, I'm pretty much just talking about Seth Green." And your first post in the thread.

We all love Billy West, but even the quote from him you posted really only applies to Martin Sheen. Seth Green isn't some big star with a huge ego. He's typically cast in bit roles in movies and outside of that he seems to genuinely enjoy the voice work he does. He's no Billy West, but he's also no Will Smith.

Everyone else on the list is known for supporting character work in genre television or, in the case of Carrie, one big sci-fi series. Most of them are well-liked in geek circles because of the personality they put into their characters.

Adam Baldwin certainly wasn't using his everyday voice when he played Jayne Cobb. Tricia Hefler played like a half dozen different versions of her BSG character, each with their own unique personality. Michael Dorn has been doing consistent voice work for over a decade.

So it's really not that much of a reach to say all your bitching in this thread is about Martin Sheen because he's a big name actor and Seth Green because you hate him.

[TheFlyingOrc]

So it's really not that much of a reach to say all your bitching in this thread is about Martin Sheen because he's a big name actor and Seth Green because you hate him.

Blast it, the "hate him" was an overstatement for humorous effect. Guess I've got to be super serious on the internet. :(

There's no question that he cost more than a real voice only voice actor would for less return. Honestly? That's probably true of the remainder of the voice cast that we recognize from television (I mean, Michael Dorn probably isn't too expensive).

It's also irritating that they press release their voice talent based on "hey, remember that you know this guy from this other non-voice acting thing" - and they leave out Keith David and Jennifer Hale. "Don't forget kids! Voice actors don't count!"

[Ink Asylum]

You've pretty much given the reason that they book recognized names. They get to put out a press release that gets Mass Effect 2 another couple days attention in the blogs and other gaming media. No one's going to post a voice talent list composed of "A bunch of voice actors who are good even though no one recognizes them, and Keith David." Companies put out press releases about things they think will get them attention.

Whether that extra publicity and word of mouth is worth the extra money they paid (a figure none of us know) is a decision Bioware and EA made. Whether the quality of the voice work suffers for hiring actors who aren't all professional voice actors remains to be seen.

Yeah, it'd be great if voice actors got more respect from companies and consumers alike, but that's celebrity culture. People who have their faces out in the public get more attention and recognition. Screen actors get more attention than voice actors. News anchors get more attention than print reporters. Singers get more attention than songwriters. It's just human nature to recognize and become attached to faces more than voices.

[WhyThree]

I have to say I loved the celebrity voice acting in Halo ODST. Putting Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, and Alan Tudyk in the same game makes my heart warm.

[TheFlyingOrc]

You've pretty much given the reason that they book recognized names. They get to put out a press release that gets Mass Effect 2 another couple days attention in the blogs and other gaming media. No one's going to post a voice talent list composed of "A bunch of voice actors who are good even though no one recognizes them, and Keith David." Companies put out press releases about things they think will get them attention.

Actually, Keith David (Halo 3) or Jennifer Hale (Knights of the Old Republic) wouldn't be that unreasonable, and probably would actually garner a little bit more interest.


Whether that extra publicity and word of mouth is worth the extra money they paid (a figure none of us know) is a decision Bioware and EA made. Whether the quality of the voice work suffers for hiring actors who aren't all professional voice actors remains to be seen.

Can't be seen, because there's no confirming lost potential. You may disagree, but I'm really, really confident in the statements I put forward.



Yeah, it'd be great if voice actors got more respect from companies and consumers alike, but that's celebrity culture. People who have their faces out in the public get more attention and recognition. Screen actors get more attention than voice actors. News anchors get more attention than print reporters. Singers get more attention than songwriters. It's just human nature to recognize and become attached to faces more than voices.
I understand that, but I have no problem understanding the way the world works, but still whining about it like a child on the internet.

[Savok]

Holy shit, Flying Orc and I are on the same page.

That voice actors are ignored is fucking disgusting, being able to "bring the reality" as Kevin Conroy would put it, purely with vocals is an incredible talent. Sad thing is there are screen actors who can put in good voicework (like Robin Williams) but they always seem to get the job more by luck then anyone saying "hey we should get a big name that's also a talented voice actor".

[civil]

Of those actors, I only know Martin Sheen, Seth Green and Carrie-Anne Moss; the rest are a mystery to me.

I am very surprised at the mentions of Billy West. Is he a popular voice actor too? I know him from the Howard Stern show many many years ago and didn't realize he was still active as a performer. That's a blast from the past.

[Savok]

Civil I'm going to stab you in the face now.

[JRR006]

So, no Raphael Sbarge? I guess it makes sense. Still disappointing. That man has such a lovely, lovely voice.

[ShivaX]

No, because his voicework is mediocre as hell and his character was just him speaking in his natural voice.



Only his character on Family Guy is nothing like his natural voice...


I think a lot of your earlier complaints about voice actors tend to follow pretty well with their actual acting talents. I mean Shia sucks no matter what hes doing. Keith David is actually pretty good regardless of his role.

I mean 95% of Keith David's work is him doing his own voice. Hell it might even be 100% of it. He just has a great voice and does a good job.

[Superman's Dead]

It's kinda hard to feel bad for the voice actors who 'lost their jobs' when they're still voice acting and still getting tons of work. Voice acting can be harder to break into than film and TV, and once you're set you're set. It's not like Martin Sheen is taking food off of their table, any more than they're taking food off of the table of people who want to break into the business but don't have a good resume.

[Codicier]

I am very surprised at the mentions of Billy West. Is he a popular voice actor too? I know him from the Howard Stern show many many years ago and didn't realize he was still active as a performer. That's a blast from the past.

Go to your room! No dinner for you!

[Generation ABXY]

You know, I don't think I've ever really payed attention to voice actors. I mean, I might recognize a voice from time to time (like, say, Patrick Stewart in Oblivion), but I don't think I've ever given it much thought before I actually play the game...

[muddi900]

I think the argument for Stage/Screen actors not doing VO work is weak. For every Shrek or Shark Tale, we have the brilliant performances like Peter O'Toole's brilliant turn in Ratatouille.

[Wasson_]

Well, I'm pretty much just talking about Seth Green. It really irked me that this character with no effect on the plot probably had a pretty decent paycheck, plus his voicework is pretty weak. I know he does Robot Chicken and Family Guy - I'm not very impressed with either.

I agree with this in particular, but there will always be room for bigger name actors to fulfill voice-only roles. And then there of course are the actors that can do both. I'd say, for example, Dustin Hoffman in Kung-Fu Panda did a pretty good job of not simply talking in his regular voice where as everyone else pretty much did - but then, Ian McShane's brutally sophisticated voice for the villain Tai Lung out shined all the other performances.

8c705tEDbqE
just listen to his exquisite voice.

[Ink Asylum]

I mean 95% of Keith David's work is him doing his own voice. Hell it might even be 100% of it. He just has a great voice and does a good job.

You know, I wanted to say this but I wasn't sure about it. Glad to see someone else was thinking along the same lines. The man has a great voice and delivery but he doesn't do a hundred different voices like some voice actors.

[Savok]

Contrary to popular belief, a great voice actor doesn't have to. Multiple voices is an excellent skill to have (Frank Welker is practically a god of creation) but it's not required.

[Doogie2K]

Of those actors, I only know Martin Sheen, Seth Green and Carrie-Anne Moss; the rest are a mystery to me.

I am very surprised at the mentions of Billy West. Is he a popular voice actor too? I know him from the Howard Stern show many many years ago and didn't realize he was still active as a performer. That's a blast from the past.

Have you never seen an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Post-TNG Deep Space Nine? Worf?

Anyway, it would appear Michael Dorn is playing a Krogan, which fits type. See the announced voice actors in action here (http://www.giantbomb.com/the-stars-of-mass-effect-2/17-1766/). Not sure I like Sheen as the Illusive Man, simply because Sheen sounds old and Illusive Man is not, but maybe he's supposed to sound haggard. I dunno, maybe the lip syncing was off, but it did nothing for me.

Edit: Also, default Shepard FTL. More Jennifer Hale, please.

[bstiff]

Of those actors, I only know Martin Sheen, Seth Green and Carrie-Anne Moss; the rest are a mystery to me.

I am very surprised at the mentions of Billy West. Is he a popular voice actor too? I know him from the Howard Stern show many many years ago and didn't realize he was still active as a performer. That's a blast from the past.


Never watched much futurama I take it.

1V-xKq64aRY

Also no Claudia Black? Guess she was too busy with UC2 and Dragon age.

[civil]

Civil I'm going to stab you in the face now.
Easy now, that is not my version of sweet talk.

Have you never seen an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Post-TNG Deep Space Nine? Worf?
Never saw any of those shows, though I did see some of the latter Star Trek movies.

Never watched much futurama I take it.
I think I saw the first episode, but no. I'm telling ya, I haven't had TV in a while. Thanks for the clip, though. It was interesting seeing him do basically the same voices he did on Howard Stern many years ago.

[Ink Asylum]

How many years ago? Futurama's pretty old at this point.

[Savok]

If you listen to the Futurama commentaries he can do a lot more then those four. Hell one ep him and DeMaggio did this bizarre throat chanting for one of the sound effects, that's getting into Frank Welker territory.

[Farsight]

I just watched the G4 video of the cast... Yvonne Strahovski is essentially in the game. It's her face, a reasonable facsimile of her body, and her Australian accent...

NOBODY WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE ROOM WHILE I AM PLAYING MASS EFFECT 2!!!

[civil]

How many years ago? Futurama's pretty old at this point.
Long ago, early 90s I think. Maybe even late 80s. His impersonation of Marge Schott (sp?) were fucking hilarious. They still play some of his old clips on the show on occasion.

[Superman's Dead]

Long ago, early 90s I think. Maybe even late 80s. His impersonation of Marge Schott (sp?) were fucking hilarious. They still play some of his old clips on the show on occasion.

You're old.

[Ink Asylum]

See, now people may scoff at hiring screen actors over voice actors, but that video for G4 is going to get watched a lot more and generate a lot more excitement for the game because of the familiar faces.

Also, I'm thrilled Dorn is a Krogan. They're like Klingons times ten.

[civil]

You're old.
You're dead. Who's going to get laid more?

[boratika]

As far as this trend of hiring actors from Sci-Fi TV series for video games goes, someone really ought to get onto hiring Enver Gjokaj for their game. I doubt that would end in a discussion of his inabilities.

[Superman's Dead]

You're dead. Who's going to get laid more?

Well now I'm dead and depressed and that just gums up the works. Great. Juuuuuuust great.

[Zecon]

But seriously, Firefly should get a nod. I mean, is he best known *to this audience* for Chuck or Firefly? Chuck's a nerdy show, but I'd wager that more of us are familiar with him from Firefly.

The first time i saw him was in Chuck, which led to me watching firefly.(and it was awesome)

[Badger]

I wouldn't say he's channeling Liquid Snake in his performance, but he does play a rapid mentally deteriorating individual in AC2. He plays the Animus subject that came before Desmond...the one that wrote out all the stuff in blood in Desmond's room at the end of the first game that you could only see with Eagle vision.

He is not out of place given what he is trying to convey (someone losing his mind after one too many trips through the Animus). However he is also the deliverer of the massive conspiracy video that you can unlock.

Oh come on man, spoiler tag that shit!

[Superman's Dead]

Oh come on man, spoiler tag that shit!

All of that is stuff you learn in the opening video. =)

[Badger]

All of that is stuff you learn in the opening video. =)

Ah in that case, my apologies AgtFox :) Haven't got round to ACII yet, was gonnna pick it up in the new year.

Re-rail: I'm pretty pumped for ME2 now. Jennifer Hale is the most important voice actor for me, as I played through the first several times with exclusively smoky-voiced female Shepards. I think Baldwin will be a great addition and I don't have a bad word to say about most of the others, save for Seth Green.

Maybe it was just his character I didn't like, but I played through his conversation tree enough to realise he doesn't have anything interesting to add to the story and I needn't bother speaking to him again. Perhaps I was just expecting Joker to be... funny?

[Doogie2K]

Maybe it was just his character I didn't like, but I played through his conversation tree enough to realise he doesn't have anything interesting to add to the story and I needn't bother speaking to him again. Perhaps I was just expecting Joker to be... funny?

No, there was just nothing to him. He had one dialogue tree and interrupted a couple of conversations. In the entire game. He was a side character, and a completely uninteresting one.