@Frapp - It wasn't an "audio company" it was Nintendo directly. So, my contract was actually modified and I had already negotiated that none of my work could be used for consumer-facing commercials or promotions. A difficult process that we managed to get them to agree to. And back in 2009, us voice actors weren't worried that the exact same work would be used in new games because... well... what game developer would be silly enough to use the exact same audio for half a decade in different titles?! I mean, how insulting would that be to the game players who shell out $60 for a new game, right?
But sadly, Nintendo seems to be built upon arrogance and greed with no appreciation for their own consumers.
And lastly...
The fact that someone over at Nintendo will go to the trouble to update my IMDB profile to give me credit for the new titles suggests that 1.) they have some shred of respect for the craft of voice acting, 2.) they also like rubbing our faces in our loss of income with each new title they repurpose our work, and/or 3.) they're just loving silly people.
I love voice acting in videogames, but the business side of videogames is a bit sad don't you think? Watch the profanity please — TBD
@Zombie_Barioth - Iggy and Ludwig. And yes, you're right, because the characters just talk gibberish, Nintendo feels you, the audience, won't notice any difference. While this may or may not prove true, using the same audio for 5+ years certainly doesn't help any game feel new, or fresh. I feel bad for the buyers of Nintendo games mostly. And keep in mind, Nintendo is now a company struggling to keep relevant and afloat. Bad business ethics may have played a part in this, don't you think?
I want to thank all those over at Nintendo who keep reusing our voice work in new Nintendo titles and NOT paying a single dime. It's amazing that you can take all the work I did from one session for New Super Mario Brothers in 2009 and just keep cut-and-pasting it into 5 different games with no compensation or even thanks to the actors. Very classy. And it's certainly not insulting to the players who then get to hear the same 5 year-old stale clips over and over in new games they just paid $60+ to enjoy.
So, nice work Kosuke Yabuki (and Nintendo).
I sure hope no one takes your work and decides to not pay you fair compensation for it.
Comments 3
Re: Interview: Mario Kart 8 Director, Kosuke Yabuki, On Key Features of the Wii U's Blockbuster Release
@Frapp - It wasn't an "audio company" it was Nintendo directly. So, my contract was actually modified and I had already negotiated that none of my work could be used for consumer-facing commercials or promotions. A difficult process that we managed to get them to agree to. And back in 2009, us voice actors weren't worried that the exact same work would be used in new games because... well... what game developer would be silly enough to use the exact same audio for half a decade in different titles?! I mean, how insulting would that be to the game players who shell out $60 for a new game, right?
But sadly, Nintendo seems to be built upon arrogance and greed with no appreciation for their own consumers.
And lastly...
The fact that someone over at Nintendo will go to the trouble to update my IMDB profile to give me credit for the new titles suggests that 1.) they have some shred of respect for the craft of voice acting, 2.) they also like rubbing our faces in our loss of income with each new title they repurpose our work, and/or 3.) they're just loving silly people.
I love voice acting in videogames, but the business side of videogames is a bit sad don't you think?
Watch the profanity please — TBD
Re: Interview: Mario Kart 8 Director, Kosuke Yabuki, On Key Features of the Wii U's Blockbuster Release
@Zombie_Barioth - Iggy and Ludwig. And yes, you're right, because the characters just talk gibberish, Nintendo feels you, the audience, won't notice any difference. While this may or may not prove true, using the same audio for 5+ years certainly doesn't help any game feel new, or fresh. I feel bad for the buyers of Nintendo games mostly. And keep in mind, Nintendo is now a company struggling to keep relevant and afloat. Bad business ethics may have played a part in this, don't you think?
Re: Interview: Mario Kart 8 Director, Kosuke Yabuki, On Key Features of the Wii U's Blockbuster Release
I want to thank all those over at Nintendo who keep reusing our voice work in new Nintendo titles and NOT paying a single dime. It's amazing that you can take all the work I did from one session for New Super Mario Brothers in 2009 and just keep cut-and-pasting it into 5 different games with no compensation or even thanks to the actors. Very classy. And it's certainly not insulting to the players who then get to hear the same 5 year-old stale clips over and over in new games they just paid $60+ to enjoy.
So, nice work Kosuke Yabuki (and Nintendo).
I sure hope no one takes your work and decides to not pay you fair compensation for it.