190 réponses à ce sujet

[Sark]

 I'm working on a series of essays about feminist issues in videogames, and there's going to be a couple pieces on the Mass Effect series.  One thing I'd like to discuss is how the voice acting of Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer has effect players' choice of gender.  If you've got a minute, please post to tell me if the voice acting has effected whether you play as a man or woman, and why.

Please don't let this degenerate into an argument over which actor is better - feel free to express your opinion in your post, but don't post just to argue.

[SSV Enterprise]

No. I keep hearing that Jennifer Hale is a better voice actor than Mark Meer, and that may be true. I really wouldn't know. I instinctively make my characters male since I'm a male. Mark Meer's voice acting leaves much to be desired in some situations, but that's not enough to make me play a female character. Just not my thing. If given the choice of gender, I always play as a male character.

And a friendly word of advice: if you're using this as a "source" for your essays, you probably should have more sources than just forums. Just saying.

[stonbw1]

This is a dangerous thread, but I'll tell you my experience. As a male gamer, I started my canon male Shepard. Thereafter, I switched it up to play a female character. Now, after four-ish years with ME1 and ME2, I've been won over so much by J Hale's VA over Meer, that I'm inclined to import her into ME3 as my first playthrough. For whatever reason, I just feel more of a connection to the female character now. I'll still play the maleshep, but Hale won me over to start her first for ME3.

[Arcadian Legend]

Pretty much what stonbw1 said.

[PnXMarcin1PL]

I've played both MaleShep and FemShep. I prefer Meer's voice acting (too cynical:P). Hale's voice acting doesnt suit many situations (like Meers) either. I appreciate both actors, but I prefer Meers cynical voice.

[Sark]

SSV Enterprise wrote...
And a friendly word of advice: if you're using this as a "source" for your essays, you probably should have more sources than just forums. Just saying.

I know what you mean. I'm going to be sure to explain in the essay where the data came from and its anecdotal nature.  I don't think I'd include it even then if this were for a class, but I'm writing with the intention of posting to the communityn section of a feminist blog, not for academic purposes.

[Mims]

Nope! I appreciate both, although I predominantly play female.

In [my complete opinion], both voices excel in different things. Hale's is great for being a little more emotional* and authoritative, where as manshep can't be beat for comedic timing and general renegade insanity.

*Emotional as in, Femshep tends to sound angrier or more urgent in some scenes than manshep. I don't mean that in a, 'women are more emotional' way.

Modifié par Mims, 17 octobre 2011 - 09:20 .

[ObserverStatus]

Not really. I usually just play as a male character unless I'm building a character so mean that I have to convince myself that it's not really me.

[TheBlackBaron]

Not really. I play both genders anyways, but as my canon Shepard is predominantly Renegade I prefer Mark Meer's voice acting. You cannot beat his eternal deadpan and comedic timing with RenShep.

[Battlepope190]

I made a manshep and deleted him after 30 minutes of that awful voice; I'll never make another one again.

[Kaiser Shepard]

I mostly only play men when I'm given the choice, but my dislike of Hale's Femshep voice also prevents me from ever playing as her in ME.

[FJVP]

Yes, I only or most of the time play a male because the way Hale finishes her lines, like "the reaperssss", causes me headaches (and I mean real headaches). Not that I dislike the voice acting though, she does deliver some lines better than Meer.

Modifié par FJVP, 17 octobre 2011 - 09:26 .

[BatmanPWNS]

Always gonna be male. No voice is gonna make me have a sex change. (Even in a game) Plus I don't like Hale's voice anyway it's too deep and usually lacks emotions.

[AngusJimiKeith]

I play both mShep and FemShep...predominantly FemShep.
The biggest three things that factored into making my Shepards, in order:
1) Customizability. I can't make a decent mShep for the life of me, so all three of mine are Sheploos. I can, however, make good Femsheps, and all 8 of mine are different. (And those numbers prove I play way too much ME...)
2) Voice acting. Meer isn't bad, but I prefer Hale. They both have their great and facepalm-worthy moments, but there is just something about that "badass female" voice.....
3) Romance. Not a HUGE concern, but it's there, and it affects the choice.

Note that NONE of these considerations factor in that I am male. I still can't fully grasp the "I am a guy, so I must play a guy" mentality.

[shepskisaac]

No. Jennifer's great, but I just play male avatars in all RPGs, so Mark for me even though his performance may not be as great as Jennifer's.

[corneilious93]

i prefer meer's voice because it fits the way i would talk in those situations

[Zakatak757]

Some VA's sound better in different situations. Overall, I'd say Hale was a little better, but Meer has his moments. One thing that makes the male option a little better is the fact that the running/walking animations look less retarded on him. Both characters manage to sound completely retarded when in romantic conversation (Hale suddenly sounds sl-tty, Meer is way too blunt and loud).

I usually play Male, Fem, Male, Fem, Male, Fem. Alternate between the 2.

[THX-1137]

Honestly, I'm not sure why so many people dislike Meer's performance as Shepard.

That said, I have played ME and ME2 only as a male Shepard. In RPGs I always play as closely as I would--especially in decision-making situations (i.e.[paragon] vs. [renegade] options)--to who I am individually. Since I'm a guy, I always play as one. Really, It just makes experience all that more immersive. If I'm making the decision, it would be a little weird to hear a female voice say it.

[Victia]

I have 8 femsheps and 3 mansheps, its based purley off the fact that I like Hales paragon voice acting alot better and Meers renegade better, I am mostley a paragon player so more femsheps! Also a little to do with LI, and the way I plan to rp that character before I start

[DiebytheSword]

I think Mark Meer and Jennifer Hale both deserve praise, and I've played more Femsheps than Sheploos because of the fact that I enjoy Hale's voice acting more. I intend to create a few more Sheploo's before ME3 hits, but I do like strong women, and Shep is that in spades. Sheploo plays slightly better from a renegade standpoint for me, so I'll likely run through the new shep as a Renegon at best.

[Abispa]

Depends on my Shepard. Meer's VA tends to work better in the "all business" character while Hale's VA tends to due better in emotional situations. In ME2 that meant that Hale had a huge advantage since I think female Shepard did better in many of the heart-to-heart chats, romance or no.

The only time I think Hale's performance really hurt my play-throughs was in the first Normandy chat with Jacob (to this day I think most of the antipathy toward Jacob is due to that scene), and her renegade banter with Aria. I felt Meer shrugged Aria's barbs off while it seemed to me that Hale was trying to challenge and escalate the scene till Aria got the last word and put her in her place.

[JamieCOTC]

In Mass Effect, yes the voice actor was a major factor in choosing the gender of Shepard. I have played male and female and while both have their high points and low points, I prefer Jennifer Hale's voice acting. She brings a humantity to the role.  Then again, I don't typically play as myself in a game. Shepard is more a character to me than an avatar and playing as the opposite gender lends a bit more detachment. The same is true for me when I play a total pro-Cerberus renegade Shep. In games where the protagonist is silent (DA:O) or the protagonist voice actors are about equal (DA2) I will play either gender.

Modifié par JamieCOTC, 17 octobre 2011 - 09:36 .

[Labrev]

 I play male because I'm a narcissist that likes to model custom characters after myself.

Then I typically do a new career after my first one as a female if I have the option. I find heroines more appealing because they are interesting/unique like that.

FWIW I think both Hale and Meer were solid in ME1, and then regressed in ME2. They have the opposite problems. Meer lacks conviction, Hale gets carried away. I'd give the lean to Meer in ME2, Hale just had a lot of bad lines. They improved a bit in the most recent DLCs, so I'm hoping that's a sign of what's to come in 3.

[happy_daiz]

I'm female, and I play as female characters in every game that I can.

I think Jennifer Hale is great as femShep, with a couple of small exceptions (femShep in heat with Jacob, and every time she yells, "I can use this!" at me when I pick something up. My poor ears).

I've heard the voice acting for mShep, because that's what my husband always plays as, but frankly, I'm not a fan. For some reason, mShep sounds kinda...blah to me. Very plain. The same apples for mHawke. I simply prefer the female VAs.

Maybe it's because I've played a lot of male characters in the past against my will. Boo on game companies that don't give us an option. 

Modifié par happy_daiz, 17 octobre 2011 - 09:37 .