79 réponses à ce sujet

[Black-Xero]

Only if the voice fits a nation that represents it.

[BohemundI]

Black-Xero wrote...

Only if the voice fits a nation that represents it.

So if citizens of Ferelden speak with British accents, should citizens of the Tevinter Imperium or Anderfels also speak with British accents?

[haroldhardluck]

Theagg wrote...
Besides, in other worlds of entertainment, principally the outpourings from Hollywood, American accents and actors already dominate.

Even the when the actors are not American. Simon Baker and Anna Torv are Australian but play Americans on TV shows and speak with American accents. There is Matt Frewer who is American but plays an Australian in Eurkea and speaks with a very good Australian accent. Then you have someone like Meryl Streep who can speak her lines in any accent. And there is Sean Connery who speaks with his native Scottish accent no matter what role he plays.

As the movie industry has become more global, there are many more accents heard in TV and the big screen as more foreign actors get big roles to attract audiences in other countries but still have to speak their lines in English for the American market.

Harold

[Tommy6860]

BohemundI wrote...

Tommy6860 wrote...

It really doesn't matter to me as long as the VA is of good quality. But, if you think of the lore behind Dragon Age (or any medieval type game setting), that would be European type lore anyway, so maybe the accent fits the zeitgeist.

"Where Misnc goes, evil stands aside."
"Go for the eyes Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!! RWARRRR!!!!"
"Evil, meet sword! SWORD MEET EVIL!!!!!"

I think Edwin had an Eastern European accent. Imoen spoke with a North American accent. Korgan had a British accent. So did Irenicus.

When the protagonist of Baldur's Gate casts spells and such, he has a North American voice. So a lot of variety can be good
It doesn't have to be almost all accents from British regions like in DA series.

Like I said, if the VA is of good quality, it really doesn't matter to me. What I was trying to convey in the lore aspect, is that the DA setting is medieval and that setting didn't have a North American setting, so it was OK for it to have mostly British tones, so it sems fitting, not that it fits best.. BG is one of my fav RPGs ever, but I didn't think the VA was top notch, better than most though. IIRC, BG is where Jennifer Hale first worked with Bioware.

[TEWR]

Isabela had a British voice?

[t0mm06]

Well Ferelden accent seems to be a typical 'British' accent, Oresian is clearly French, and Antivan is meant to be Spanish (?) Then the Dwarves are meant to be mostly American, and the Dalish are mostly Irish but some welsh, and if u really cannot tell the difference between a English accent and a welsh/Irish accent then that is not the fault of the game (as we can all tell the difference between a new york accent and a Texan accent, and there is just as much difference here) and also dont forget that the Quanri don't really have a real world accent to compare to. The only other set of people are the tivinter, and well so far they seem to just have a typical 'evil' british accent.

Basically this heralds from the fact that its set in a kind of 'middle ages' setting and that brings to mind england france and europe... not America which is a very modern accent.

[Theagg]

BohemundI wrote...


The majority of the voice acting found in Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2 possess accents commonly heard in the British Isles. That is a fact. Thus it is fair for me to say that British accents dominate the landscape in the DA series so far.

From NPCs, to Hawke(s) and a majority of companions, you hear accents found in the British Isles nearly everywhere in DAO and DA2. The accents from North America currently form a minority in these games, and that includes Varric and the few examples you mentionned.

To a North American person, Scottish, Welsh, English, Irish all sound very unusual yet similar enough. You explain the difference between the accents found in the UK. I could also reply with the difference found in North American accents. People from Brooklyn and Texas all sound differently.

But the fact is that the sum of all the dialogue voiced in
Scottish + Welsh + English + Irish accents far surpass the amount of dialogue voiced in
New York + Southern American accents + what have you

That's why I would like more variety.

I would rather not have variety just for its own sake but consistency. And that's how it roughly pans out. The writers evoking a period and a place that parallels a time in our own history, only with added magic and stuff. Except that the lead voice actors are a mix of European and American

Other than that, most of the characters 'in game' are from the same area 'in game' hence have similar dialects. This is not the rainbow land or medieval Baghdad

And I hardly doubt that even Americans would consider a broad Glasgow accent as similar to a RADA trained Kent/London. I am fully aware that accents do vary across the continental USA as well, but that's not revelant to the argument.

Now, perhaps when they shift the story in the DA universe to the equivalent Middle East or Asian parts of that fictional world, the voice actors will primarily be Arab and Cantonese. How about that ?

[Theagg]

haroldhardluck wrote...

BohemundI wrote...
I meant that British accents had a near monopoly in DAO and DA2, so I would like some variety.

That is because of where the stories take place. The Free Marshes are clearly a different country than Fereldon. It has more foreigners so you have Orlesians (French) and Antivan (Spanish) accents. The Kirkwall accents seem to be more Middle American than BBC British. The accents are nation based which reflects reality.

Harold

And thankfully not BBC British circa 1950 ! But yes, a definite transatlantic tone to much of Kirwall.

[Theagg]

haroldhardluck wrote...

Theagg wrote...
Besides, in other worlds of entertainment, principally the outpourings from Hollywood, American accents and actors already dominate.

Even the when the actors are not American. Simon Baker and Anna Torv are Australian but play Americans on TV shows and speak with American accents. There is Matt Frewer who is American but plays an Australian in Eurkea and speaks with a very good Australian accent. Then you have someone like Meryl Streep who can speak her lines in any accent. And there is Sean Connery who speaks with his native Scottish accent no matter what role he plays.

As the movie industry has become more global, there are many more accents heard in TV and the big screen as more foreign actors get big roles to attract audiences in other countries but still have to speak their lines in English for the American market.

Harold

And, of course, the English Hugh Laurie aka House. His 'proper' English accent well removed from the American accent he puts on in that show.

[BohemundI]

Theagg wrote...

I would rather not have variety just for its own sake but consistency. And that's how it roughly pans out. The writers evoking a period and a place that parallels a time in our own history, only with added magic and stuff. Except that the lead voice actors are a mix of European and American

Other than that, most of the characters 'in game' are from the same area 'in game' hence have similar dialects. This is not the rainbow land or medieval Baghdad

And I hardly doubt that even Americans would consider a broad Glasgow accent as similar to a RADA trained Kent/London. I am fully aware that accents do vary across the continental USA as well, but that's not revelant to the argument.

Now, perhaps when they shift the story in the DA universe to the equivalent Middle East or Asian parts of that fictional world, the voice actors will primarily be Arab and Cantonese. How about that ?

To me, variety means that when Bioware decides to explore the Tevinter Imperium or Anderfels, we get to hear mostly North American accents or another accent not commonly found in the British Isles. Those areas have very intriguing lore and are distant geographically from Ferelden.

Thus if various accents of the British Isles are used to depict the average Fereldan, then I think having North American accents for example to depict the average citizen of the Tevinter Imperium is consistent.

[element eater]

BohemundI wrote...
Now in DA2 even Isabela who hails from Antiva has a British accent. And when Hawke gets accosted by Kirkwall locals they tell him: "You sound Fereldan."............

I simply cannot identify with a protagonist who has a British accent. When I hear a British accent it brings back memories of the awful Star Wars Episode I-III. It also reminds me of the fact that my Head of State is an old lady overseas.

first maybe there was menant to be some regional variation that wasnt bornn out in game 

second it seems kind of sad that all you can associate with the british accent is couple of crappy films it would be a poor state of affairs if we all associated every other country with just a couple of things we didnt like.

i think whats matters in VA  is consitency with the setting, it would seem some what silly to see a medieval nation composed of only modern accents not to mention that with any modern accent you'd have to change the entire style of the dialogue to be modern to other wise it would just seem even more inconsistant. 

and like jack says quality is paramount 

erynnar wrote...

No thank you. I am American and I find most of our accents...or the lack there of, boring or stupid sounding. I loved when the elves had Welsh accents which is like singing. I love Brit accents of all flavors (save cockney, just because I have a hard time following it I think), as well as Scot, Irish, Spanish, Russian, and French. 

i think most people tend to find there native accents boring as to liking all flavours id not say that till u heard them all theres some pretty bad ones  

Modifié par element eater, 20 mai 2011 - 01:36 .

[sonsonthebia07]

erynnar wrote...

No thank you. I am American and I find most of our accents...or the lack there of, boring or stupid sounding. I loved when the elves had Welsh accents which is like singing. I love Brit accents of all flavors (save cockney, just because I have a hard time following it I think), as well as Scot, Irish, Spanish, Russian, and French.

Ow, eez, y'-ooa san is e? Wal, fewd dan y’d-ooty bawmz a mather
should, eed now bettern to spawl a poor gel’s flahrzn then ran awy athaht pyin!




...I see nothing wrong with cockney.

And I'm also American, and the more differing accents in these games the better in my opinion.

[ShepPunch]

Accents don't bother me much, the only time I actually noticed it was when a couple of elves said ABOOT in that Canadian fashion. Was a little awkward.

[fuzuoko]

I'm North American, and I need more British accents in my life. So I vote no. Also, I found the Canadian accents of most of the elves in DA:O jarring, for some reason. Maybe it was the level of voice acting, as well, but it just didn't seem to fit, to me.

[Theagg]

BohemundI wrote...

To me, variety means that when Bioware decides to explore the Tevinter Imperium or Anderfels, we get to hear mostly North American accents or another accent not commonly found in the British Isles. Those areas have very intriguing lore and are distant geographically from Ferelden.

Thus if various accents of the British Isles are used to depict the average Fereldan, then I think having North American accents for example to depict the average citizen of the Tevinter Imperium is consistent.

Why not Scandinavian ? After all Tevinter is north of the Free Marches, its not west across an ocean. So there is no reason why North American accents would be consistent in that respect

[BohemundI]

Theagg wrote...

BohemundI wrote...

To me, variety means that when Bioware decides to explore the Tevinter Imperium or Anderfels, we get to hear mostly North American accents or another accent not commonly found in the British Isles. Those areas have very intriguing lore and are distant geographically from Ferelden.

Thus if various accents of the British Isles are used to depict the average Fereldan, then I think having North American accents for example to depict the average citizen of the Tevinter Imperium is consistent.

Why not Scandinavian ? After all Tevinter is north of the Free Marches, its not west across an ocean. So there is no reason why North American accents would be consistent in that respect

That would fit into or another accent not commonly found in the British Isles  
Tevinter being geographically distant from Ferelden and thus having Tevinter citizens speak with a Scandinavian accent (or any other) different from the British accents of Ferelden citizens would be consistent.

[AngryFrozenWater]

To the OP: Well, that's a matter of taste, I think. This is what I think about it...

All those accents give me variety. English is not my native language and as such these foreign accents do little to identify me with. I don't mind because I am playing a character in third person view anyway and I am not looking through her eyes like you do in first person view. That means that I am not playing that character, instead I am controlling her actions. Identification is very hard in that situation anyway. To me its not a disadvantage and I feel it makes it easier to make choices I wouldn't normally opt for. It helps me roleplay. I have more problems with the fact that the character merely responds to the main story as apposed to the character's decisions driving the story plot. The promise that decisions would impact the story's plot and which BW refused to implement is a much bigger problem for me.

Modifié par AngryFrozenWater, 20 mai 2011 - 02:18 .

[kglaser]

I did immediately wonder why the dwarves sounded American. I thought it was interesting, though.

[Theagg]

fuzuoko wrote...

I'm North American, and I need more British accents in my life. So I vote no. Also, I found the Canadian accents of most of the elves in DA:O jarring, for some reason. Maybe it was the level of voice acting, as well, but it just didn't seem to fit, to me.

BE carfeul what you wish for. You night get  the full on Birmingham accent.



And that's mild by comparison ! 

[Abispa]

Swedish Chef style VA for Tevinter.

Don't look at me like that. I actually LIKED the recon of the Dalish VA.

[Ryllen Laerth Kriel]

neppakyo wrote...

Games need more Bruce Campbell, Nathan Fillion, Christopher Walken and Neil Patrick Harris voice overs.

I agree, all these actors would be hilarious in a potential DA 3 role. If it's going to be a painful game to play, you might as well hire funny voice talent to help add some air freshener to the room.

[hexaligned]

Anything but French works for me, living there for 2 years was more than enough of that nonsense for one life time. Along those lines: Tevinter for DA3.

[jojon2se]

I'd happily sacrifice the stereotype recogniseability that they are going for, if they would try to cook up some unique sort of accents, because the mock French of the Orlesians always has me in stitches, as do the likewise Irish that the Dalish seem to have picked up. :7
Then again, taking away a good laugh may be a bad thing...

[daemon1129]

This sequel have already screwed up a lot of continuity if you ask me. To me, Orlais is no longer "French", and Ferelden is not "Britsh". They seem to just throw in an accent base on the specific character rather than their background. But it is not necessarily a bad thing. For one, there are different races of humans in DA, so you could say Ferelden is much more cultural diverse than what we would assume. A country can have multiple accents, that is natural.

Also base on the time period DA was rpobably base on (definitely set earlier than 1400s) , Modern North Americans don't exist yet. The accent would seem out of place.

Modifié par daemon1129, 20 mai 2011 - 09:22 .

[cephasjames]

When I think of fantasy rpgs (or fantasy in general) I tend to think of accented (compaired to my American dialect) people. Fantasy kind of has its roots in the area of the world that doesn't have American accents, so why should a fantasy rpg have more American accents? Because the game is primarily release in America (is it?)? Technically, since BW is a Canadian company, shouldn't they have more Canadian accents?