Voice Acting and Kunark: Plea Against a Silent Continent

[Sydares]

When Everquest II™ was originally announced, I immediately went onto the web and got really involved with keeping on top of how it was progressing. Though the animation was stiff in places, and I wasn't certain how I felt about the overall story (all my favorite zones, falling into ruin? That's heartbreaking!), I felt it was worth keeping an eye on, especially as an EQLive veteran. Well, as E3s transitioned into more E3s, I eventually found myself losing interest, and finally admitted to myself that I just wasn't going to feel comfortable enough leaving behind EQLive to go devote myself to this game. Then they released that trailer, seemingly out of left field... it showcased voice acting. Well lip-synced, awesome voice acting.     Why yes, Ratonga. I <u><i>do</i></u> want to try being a scout.     And why yes, Bixie. Maybe I <u><i>could</i></u> help you. In short, the promise of voice acting on most if not all of the NPCs was what reeled me in; hook, line, and sinker. When the game finally released, I was not disappointed. The NPC-dense experience from level 1-20 was one of the most immersive times in gaming that I've ever had. Many can argue that some of the performances were sub-par, but I felt that just added to the feel of the world.     Fast forward to the game as it is now. I play fairly regularly, and the grind from 40-70 was long after returning to Norrath after so long. Overall, I found the experience extremely enjoyable, with one constant and nagging flaw... No one seemed interested in speaking a word to me past 'hello', except on extremely rare occasions. Mostly because I'd forgotten my initial experience, I didn't miss the voice acting. Not at first. I made myself content in my little home in Kelethin, where to date I believe the only words spoken to me have been <i>"I think I'll treat myself to a pruning"</i>, and ever since I've been living in an increasingly silent world. Then I went back to visit Qeynos, mostly to get updates for my Sword of Destiny quest. I was blown away all over again. I would stop and talk to NPCs just to hear what they had to say. I felt reluctant to leave again, and considered betraying, a notion I abandoned when I realized how long it takes to get over to Faydwer. It made me realize just how naked almost all of Desert of Flames, Kingdom of Sky, and Echoes of Faydwer feel in comparison. I know there is <i>some</i> voice acting to be found there, but it's far from the density that I would have hoped for in the continuation of this tale. And so it is with these revelations that I'm led now to a feeling of dread as Rise of Kunark lurks around the corner. Many opinions will hinge on the success of how Kunark is handled, as it was one of the most well-loved continents in the original game. I wish only to see it treated with the utmost care and importance, and though it seems they have the soundtrack beautifully covered, I'm frankly disappointed with the current showing of voice acting. I understand the notions of budget constraints. Less so do I acknowledge "space concerns" as in Today's world, a computer capable of running Everquest II should have more than adequate (and cheaply obtainable) hard disk space to store any new additions, but I truly believe it would be a sound investment to take <i>care</i> with this expansion. The name "Kunark" seriously commands several nostalgic hearts, and serious commitment to its voice acting percentage on release would warm several of them, especially if you don't simply limit the voice acting to tutorial NPCs in newbie zones.         I want to hear sorrowful tales of the fall of the city of Firiona Vie.     I want to be treated to the boastings of Venril Sathir.     I want the dragons in Skyfire Mountains to sound every bit as intimidating as they appear. Please, don't tack on the voice acting as an after-thought, and limit it to a mere 5% of the NPCs. Give it the real, actual attention that it deserves, so that Everquest 2 can have the same draw for myself and many others that it had when it was vibrant and full of sound and life. <b>Don't let Kunark fall silent.</b>

[sfarugger]

<p>Hello Sydares,</p><p>I agree, I'd like to have some voiceovers also, but have a question for ya.</p><p>Would you rather have silent NPC text or would you rather:</p><p>Rather ran paying $29.99 or $39.99 for the expansion, would you rather pay $44.95 or $49.99 to counter the cost for highing voiced actors?</p><p>Would you be okay with a delayed expansion release so that they could go back, voiceover the expansion, do QA on it and testing on it all.  Maybe instead of a November release, it getting pushed back to Feb - March?</p>

[Sydares]

<cite>sfarugger wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Hello Sydares,</p><p>I agree, I'd like to have some voiceovers also, but have a question for ya.</p><p>Would you rather have silent NPC text or would you rather:</p><p>Rather ran paying $29.99 or $39.99 for the expansion, would you rather pay $44.95 or $49.99 to counter the cost for highing voiced actors?</p><p>Would you be okay with a delayed expansion release so that they could go back, voiceover the expansion, do QA on it and testing on it all.  Maybe instead of a November release, it getting pushed back to Feb - March?</p></blockquote> I can answer that without hesitation - yes. I'm a firm believer in "When it's done." I'd much rather have an extra wait (and lay down an extra 20 dollars) for a more enjoyable product, especially when it's currently the only game I'm playing.

[sfarugger]

I can agree with you, but I don't think we would be in the majority.  I was all for it, but the only counters I could see is what I listed.

[Velsha]

I can honestly say I've clicked through most of the quest text long before the actors have finished reading their lines. Spoken dialog that is already available for reading is fluff to me and not necessary.

[Sydares]

<cite>Velshara wrote:</cite><blockquote>I can honestly say I've clicked through most of the quest text long before the actors have finished reading their lines. Spoken dialog that is already available for reading is fluff to me and not necessary. </blockquote>    And I understand completely that folks such as yourselves exist - but not everyone just spams right through all of the quest dialogue. I like reading it, and moreover, listening to it. I especially like the NPC chatter, however corny it might be, when I'm riding by. It makes the place feel more alive.

[CalladenWaterford]

<p>I don't necessarily need to see all of the dialogue spoken.  But I do like hearing the one-liners most NPC's have in the orignal towns.  Granted...it'd be nice if they gave us some variety every now and then.  But I really enjoy hearing the voices, it gives the NPC's some personality.  The broker's in Qeynos are probably the best example I can think of.  There is the arrogant, self-serving male Erudite from Qeynos Harbor; the rude, indifferent male broker in North Qeynos; and the forgetful, but mostly plesant female broker in South Qeynos.  I don't know if I'd have noticed if they didn't speak.  The voices add atmosphere.</p><p> I know some people find the voices annoying when they run by or hail an NPC, and admittedly, sometimes I do too.  But given enough variety, and the option to turn off NPC voices, I think the voice acting should remain a part of the MMO. </p>

[selch]

Neriak is one of best examples of voice over, NPC interactions with each other, small events... I'd rather it never get released than being complete silent.

[Cocytus]

<p>A lot more stuff talks if you download the optional voice package.</p><p>Also...I agree. I really hope for voice acting, and not horrible voice acting like they have for the brownies in Emerald Halls.</p>

[Cakassis]

Dear god... if that girl in Starcrest Commune tells her stupid kitty to stop one more time I swear I'm going to cleave her in two and throw the cat into North Qeynos.

[Gungo]

a few extra dollars for a very good expansion and no one would mind really not for a difference of 5 dollars. The problem with voice acting is that most of the script has to be written and done already. It takes tremendous time to get a studio time set and actors in place to do this. Thats said, RoK is setting more time aside to release a quality expansion. Which means alot of it should be done w ample amount of time whiel the developers improve and continue to develope this expansion. Which means Catneri should have enough time and material to get in a decent amount of voice acting.

[FahlenCryptwalk]

<cite>Cocytus wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>A lot more stuff talks if you download the optional voice package.</p> </blockquote> Thanks for the tip! I never noticed that option before.

[ChickenCasual]

<p>I belive when Eq2 started they proclaimed that the game would have full voice overs.</p><p>In that case why should we even pay 1 cent more.</p><p>Its anough that we pay 2.99 for the soe guild / webpage thingie, web system when it has never worked.</p>

[Image_Vain]

If they do add something new, pray they add a new cinema opening!

[TheSpin]

<cite>Cakassis wrote:</cite><blockquote>Dear god... if that girl in Starcrest Commune tells her stupid kitty to stop one more time I swear I'm going to cleave her in two and throw the cat into North Qeynos.</blockquote><p> To those of you who haven't been with game from release, I can tell you that well over a hundred quests with full voice acting has been removed.  This girl in Starcrest is a relic of those times.  If you had actually done the quest for her, you wouldn't hear about her cat any more.  </p><p>The reason for the removal is simple....the quests were mostly simple errands you could run in town to help townsfolk, deliver this item to this npc and so forth.  With the addition of the Achievement point system it became apparent that these quests would not really qualify as something a hero or adventurer would do.  They were designed more for the refugee trying to make his way in the new world.   </p><p>Most new quests now make you feel like a hero right away, whether it's defeating the elemental invasion in darklight or rescueing a little girls dolly from the bixie that stole it, you actually feel like a hero.</p><p>I think that as the game evolved they decided to use voice acting in the lower levels when people are really taking their time and getting awestruck by the game, then switching to text only because there are simply too many quests, and the time it would take to listen to every single person chatter about their problems would be immense.</p>

[Kala Asuras]

I agree, would love to have more dialog throughout Norath.

[Deadrus]

I agree more voice acting i hated how they killed the voice acting on a lot of the quests. I'd really like to see Kunark really alive lots of voice acting here and there in towns and stuff like how they did some of the stuff in Neriak not nesicarily quest related but something to stop and watch seeing npc interact and just give the world this alive feeling. I hope to see some quests have voice acting because its fun to listen to some times spcialy if there some lore tied into it and not just a get me this or kill this guy.

[Azol]

<span style="color: #ff3300;">Please, SOE, do some homework to bring those voice overs back!!! I will gladly pay some extra $$ for RoK with voice-overs at least for all quest dialogues!</span>

[Captain Apple Darkberry]

<span style="color: #ff3300;">The voice overs add a flair to the game and another dimension that sets it above other games in my opinion.For me its not just voice overs for long drawn out dialogs, but the little one liners like the FSR Ratonga at the Crossroads.</span>

[Cercs]

Voice-overs and spell effects = greatest parts of EQ2.

[Cusashorn]

<p>Yeah they only go to the effort of adding in Combat voices to mobs you fight. The only mobs in Desert of Flame with any voices are the harpies, naga, djinn, orcs, undead, and a couple other mobs.</p><p>The only mobs in KoS who speak are the droag and aviaks.</p><p>EoF brought back actual voice actors for *SOME* of the NPC's in Greater Faydark, but the rest of the expansion went unheard except for the mobs of course. Kobolds, Minotaurs, Undead, Harpies, vampires in Freethinker's Hideout....</p><p>Shard of Fear comes out and the only voices you hear are Cazic Thule's voice as he narrates the zone, and some quips that the various mobs say.</p><p>Now, there are two genuine issues as to why they don't add in voices.</p><p>1. They arn't given enough budget to pay the actors.</p><p>2. There's too much dialogue to record before the deadline of the expansion's release. But that's where free downloads come into play.</p>