So... Merlwyb will be voiced

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Abriael

Depends mostly on the procedures, and honestly I'm not privy in the details of what SE does. I do think the localization team does a lovely job with the localization proper (even if I'm personally more leaning towards a slightly more literal style, but that's nuances and mostly a matter of taste/philosophy). Unfortunately when it comes to voice acting, depending on what SE's workflow is, it may very well be out of their hands.

I would love to hear what their favored procedures are, but I'm not sure they'd be willing to share. Maybe we'll know more with the further posts on the developer blog.

---

If reports are to be believed (I can't read Japanese), then the Japanese players have been commending the English localisation for being the superior language in terms of detail and provided context. Fernehalwes has also revealed that the localisation team works very closely with the lore team and the writers of all the language versions, colaborating to the point that descriptions and terms used can sometimes even originate in English before being adapted to Japanese (eg: the Maelstrom). It really is an incredible approach. So if Ferne or Pinurabi are in the studio during the recordings, I would be confident of an immediate quality increase.

It is not like most anime where the localisation is done by an unrelated entitiy, such as Funimation. The various language recordings are being done by the same company, which means their access to background knowledge is immesurably higher. I feel this is significant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Catapult

If reports are to be believed (I can't read Japanese), then the Japanese players have been commending the English localisation for being the superior language in terms of detail and provided context. Fernehalwes has also revealed that the localisation team works very closely with the lore team and the writers of all the language versions, colaborating to the point that descriptions and terms used can sometimes even originate in English before being adapted to Japanese (eg: the Maelstrom). It really is an incredible approach. So if Ferne or Pinurabi are in the studio during the recordings, I would be confident of an immediate quality increase.

It is not like most anime where the localisation is done by an unrelated entitiy, such as Funimation. The various language recordings are being done by the same company, which means their access to background knowledge is immesurably higher. I feel this is significant.

---

yeah I totally agree on that, the quality of the script itself is top notch. I would Indeed be curious to know if Ferne and Pinurabi are sent to the studio, because that would indeed help a ton with the quality of the acting, that in 1.0 was... not exactly optimal (and I'm being charitable).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Catapult

The ability of a voice actor to properly understand the plot, circumstances of what they are saying and what it means can be felt in the quality of their performance.

---

I'm glad you brought this up, because this is actually one of the things I felt Diablo 3 did correctly in spite of its rocky launch. There was a pretty interesting blog written about their VAs.

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/7054...-one-9-13-2012

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexNiculaie

I don't hold Japanese to be some Holy grail, or what ever other hyperbolic attempt to dismiss others' preference one wishes to throw out. It doesn't matter what language the original is in, I tend to prefer it to English dubs because too often English voice actors treat whatever it is as if they are doing voices for Scooby Doo. It's annoying, like they are trying too hard.

Those that I do find well done tend to use live action actors for voice overs. Hell, even the English native language games and animated shows that seem to have the better voice acting do too. Granted, that is a generalization, and I readily acknowledge that, but for me it holds true more often than not.

That, and it's harder to tell bad voice acting when you aren't as familiar with the language to know just how horrible it really is.

---

I've done voice overs for a few things, and you just don't go in the booth and do one take and you're done. The sound director will have you do it 100 times if he wants to and then he will choose the one he wants to go with.. So English VA are directed to do so. When it comes to English dubs over Japanese acting, it's gotta be over done. You all know damn well what I mean lol. Any Asian produced film whether it's live action or an Anime has some overly dramatic parts that English actors have to try and act to that doesn't sound natural.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljv9z...cel5o1_400.gif

Sorry, Abe. Abri? Abigail? Abriginal? *cough* ima call you Abe.

The reason Japanese voice actors sound so good compared to English voice actors in anime, is because they're Japanese cartoons, designed by Japanese, for a Japanese audience. Unless the script allows for English interpretations (see; Cowboy Bebop), even the most seasoned VA in America will have a difficult time making their dub sound natural and well placed.

The idea that Japanese are inherently better voice actors is rubbish. Just ask any Japanese fluent in both languages (I did, and they laughed at your statements. Hard.)

Passing off your observations as fact is kinda foolhardy? Ridiculous? What's the adjective I'm looking for. Garish? Egotistical? Something like that.

Vil, I saw you weren't addressing me personally, I just felt like answering anyway :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vilhem

I think people are missing the point with my posts tho :/ While weeabos annoy me yes, I'm not by any means "mad" or "raging" lol. I guess I just worry more than anything. I've many friends around me who do this sort of thing, with one so far as to wanting to BE Japanese, because she grew up watching anime and jpop singers. By BEING Japanese, I don't mean just immersing in the culture or learning the language, its the thought of wanting to shed her own culture (and get surgery to look more Asian) and integrate herself into their society as if she was Japanese all along. And I'm sure she's not the only one out there x.x

---

Haha what? Seriously? I do see the Japanese culture as attractive as it coincides with my personal values quite a lot. Of course it's not without faults, none is. I also don't understand how one can get the idea they can become Japanese. You can be knowledgeable about their culture and be able to integrate yourself into their society, but ultimately, you will always stay a foreigner (albeit integrated).

Anyway, anime are one thing, games are another. SE did a decent job so far (even though I hated the laughing scene in FFX :P) and since the US/UK/DE/FR/JP offices(?) seem to be working together and have contact to the original story writers, they should be able to ask what the writers meant to express with a certain scene. I see no problems here, the rest is up to the voice actors to express those feelings correctly and naturally.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denmo

Sorry, Abe. Abri? Abigail? Abriginal? *cough* ima call you Abe.

The reason Japanese voice actors sound so good compared to English voice actors in anime, is because they're Japanese cartoons, designed by Japanese, for a Japanese audience. Unless the script allows for English interpretations (see; Cowboy Bebop), even the most seasoned VA in America will have a difficult time making their dub sound natural and well placed.

The idea that Japanese are inherently better voice actors is rubbish. Just ask any Japanese fluent in both languages (I did, and they laughed at your statements. Hard.)

Passing off your observations as fact is kinda foolhardy? Ridiculous? What's the adjective I'm looking for. Garish? Egotistical? Something like that.

---

Or just a matter of rather extensive experience on the field. As much as quite evidently some hate to admit it.

Japanese voice acting is normally higher quality than the original even on American games or cartoons. For the same extensive reasons I explained above.

If all you have to say in response to extensive arguments is "NO! It's RUBBISH! YOU'RE A BAD BOY. I Speeks with the fluentz!", may as well not even try.

Not that you've even read those arguments, because of all you can take from them is "the Japanese are inherently better voice actors", then either you didn't read or you can't.

But do go ahead scrambling for mildly offensive adjectives. It doesn't really change much.

The only thing that came to my mind when I saw the picture was:

Oh my god, PLEASE don't tell me they have given her dark hair and let this dark-looking colour only be caused by unfortunate situational shading. If they've changed her looks a lot (and I think hair colour is a lot - it can make a person seem completely different) I'll probably run a desperate rampage... ;_____; *broken fangirl heart*

http://rss.finalfantasyxiv.com/na/as...00x401-346.jpg


What? Irony? Where?

But really, I hope they didn't change her core design (face, expression, style), except maybe some outfit details. I really liked her set-up in 1.0. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Loggos

The only thing that came to my mind when I saw the picture was:

Oh my god, PLEASE don't tell me they have given her dark hair and let this dark-looking colour only be caused by unfortunate situational shading. If they changed her looks a lot (and I think hair colour is a lot - it can make a person seem completely different) I'll probably run a desperate rampage... ;_____; *broken fangirl heart*

http://rss.finalfantasyxiv.com/na/as...00x401-346.jpg


What? Irony? Where?

But really, I hope they didn't change her core design (face, expression, style), except maybe some outfit details. I really liked her set-up in 1.0. :(

---

Shouldn't worry too much. It seems just higher contrast due to taking a picture of a screen with a camera to me.

I just really really hope so. :p

Quote:

---

Japanese voice acting is normally higher quality than the original even on American games or cartoons.

---

Sure sounds like an opinion, Abe!

just sayin'!

Well, I, for one, will be watching the Cutscenes from all Available Languages :D (JP, EN, FR, DE)

I watch Anime, so I'm kinda used to JP-VA, and I also like Final Fantasy EN-VA like Balthier, Judge Gabranth and the other guys in FFXII & FFXIII. Besides those, I kinda liked the EN-VA in FFXIV, albeit there wasn't much lines. I'm not an expert in these kinds of stuff (Obviously) but I think both Language has its' own Unique-ness and feel to it.

(I kinda liked EN-VAs with accents (british) mostly, while JPs being the overall, All-in-all, If done properly, both sounds magnificent >.>)

Other than EN and JP Voice Acting, I've never heard of FR or DE Voice Acting, so this will be a new experience for me and I'm looking forward to it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denmo

Sure sounds like an opinion, Abe!

---

"opinion" is normally a copout. There are things in the world that are factually right and factually wrong, as much as relativists like to try and hide it. At least I brought plenty to support what I say.

"just sayin" is, of course, another copout.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Abriael

"opinion" is normally a copout. There are things in the world that are factually right and factually wrong, as much as relativists like to try and hide it. At least I brought plenty to support what I say.

"just sayin" is, of course, another copout.

---

Wow, you sure won this argument....?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denmo

Wow, you sure won this argument....?

---

It's ok. I understand you're mad. Someone must have told you that lalafells aren't going to have beards. :rolleyes:

I won nothing. To have an argument, there has to be arguments on both parts, instead of one part bringing arguments and the other pointing and saying "No you're wrong!"

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13...er-you-say.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denmo

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13...er-you-say.jpg

---

...Or replacing the arguments they don't have with motivated pictures.

By the book.

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/20...LikeNormal.gif

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denmo

Sure sounds like an opinion, Abe!

just sayin'!

---

Opinion in this regard only goes so far though. When something sounds bad it generally sounds bad, when something sounds good it'll sound good.

It's the same as looking at "B Movies" and "Hollywood productions", I'm pretty sure most can agree that the acting in B movies is rarely top notch, this is exactly the same as VA/VO work between west/east. Japanese VA/VO work isn't "superior" but you'll rarely find VA/VO work in western games that's honestly above average and a lot has to do with voice direction, but it also has to do with the fact I've noticed few western VA/VO folks put a lot of emotion into what they do, especially if it's "silly" they won't take it seriously whereas I've seen mostly JP/KR VA take every type of role seriously. There's no right or wrong since as said it's mostly voice direction, but when you really sit down and look at it, it still falls down into the actor themselves.

While it sounds weird, taking even silly stuff seriously is why people like Jim Carrey got famous as an actor. Not sure what the exact english phrase is for this, but when a VA know they're "just simply in a cartoon/game" you can really tell compared to when I watch certain animes and play certain JP released games, the VA play the part as if the characters are them. I've honestly seen so few localizations and western games/cartoons that were like that. Hell the 70s and 80s in Japanese anime weren't even that great either, very few were really well done untill the mid-late 90s.

Someone used Cowboy Bebop as an example, that anime was designed more like a western cartoon than it was an anime.

The only point I was trying to make was that saying Japanese voicework > all is simply a matter of opinion, regardless of how much experience one may have on the subject.

There's tons of hard working, talented, and incredibly good VA's working in America, and elsewhere. You're usually not hearing them in dubs of Japanese stuff (anime, vidya) because localizing anime is a risky business, and hiring the top talent is expensive. Abe should know. He's worked in it. For 6 years, I might add.

I do agree that I prefer most Japanese dubs over English dubs. But it's not a matter of Japan being better at VA. It's a matter of localization usually doing a crappy, cheap job of it.

Well I for one am just glad I can finally listen to Merlwyb's drunken angelic voice in multiple languages! :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Loggos

Oh my god, PLEASE don't tell me they have given her dark hair and let this dark-looking colour only be caused by unfortunate situational shading. If they've changed her looks a lot (and I think hair colour is a lot - it can make a person seem completely different) I'll probably run a desperate rampage... ;_____; *broken fangirl heart*

---

But they changed Thancred's hair colour in the latest trailer nyaha :3

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Loggos

The only thing that came to my mind when I saw the picture was:

Oh my god, PLEASE don't tell me they have given her dark hair and let this dark-looking colour only be caused by unfortunate situational shading. If they've changed her looks a lot (and I think hair colour is a lot - it can make a person seem completely different) I'll probably run a desperate rampage... ;_____; *broken fangirl heart*

http://rss.finalfantasyxiv.com/na/as...00x401-346.jpg


What? Irony? Where?

But really, I hope they didn't change her core design (face, expression, style), except maybe some outfit details. I really liked her set-up in 1.0. :(

---

Oh, don't worry ma'am. Speaking from experience as someone who suffered from the GRANDIOUS SPOTLIGHT the game had all the time, I can say that's her normal hair color, just the light from the environment playing tricks on you

posting in a weeaboo thread

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denmo

There's tons of hard working, talented, and incredibly good VA's working in America, and elsewhere. You're usually not hearing them in dubs of Japanese stuff (anime, vidya) because localizing anime is a risky business, and hiring the top talent is expensive.

---

No one ever says that american voice actors aren't hard working or talented. But if you bothered to read my posts a tad more carefully, you'd probably notice that most of the point is that Japanese voice actors are *put in the conditions* to generally perform better, both culturally and practically, mostly because in Japan voice work is considered one of the most important aspects of an artist's career and of audio visual production, while in the west it takes a serious backseat to live acting and stage acting.

I'll probably be listening to both English and Japanese tracks--not because I think Japanese voice actors are "better" per se, but because I'm sort of attached to the Japanese voice actors themselves...there was a picture from the last Live Letter of Yoshi-P holding up a poster with three Japanese VA names (which I'm assuming are going to be the voices of the three GC leaders...they might even be the three NPCs from the Circle of Knowing from each city, too, but I kind of doubt it unless they decided to not include Yda because Papalymo's the "main" Gridania npc...which I don't think they would do.)

here's the picture: http://media.tumblr.com/06c7ecc040b9...4vM1qz4rgp.jpg

anyways in one of the other threads it was confirmed that one of the signatures was Japanese VA Rie Tanaka's. (she's done a lot of stuff, the most notable for me though is mitsuru from persona 3.) Anyways if the GC leaders' voice actors ARE the three names on that sheet, then there are two possibilities:

a) she's voicing Merlwyb (which she would be EXTREMELY well suited for--she can do a really good deep/serious voice. and i would probably explode of awesomeness if she did.)

b) she's voicing Kan-E-Senna (and i wouldn't put it past her--she's got good range and could probably do a good calm/cute-ish voice, whatever you want to call it...even though I'd rather see her as Merlwyb, I wouldn't mind her as the Elder Seedseer either since i'm an adder and would probably hear her voice a lot. :D )

...anyways i think Rie Tanaka's really cool and all, as well as other Japanese VAs they've announced on the project, like (i think?) Miyuki Sawashiro and Yumiko Kobayashi...so it's more the voice actors themselves rather than how they act...while their acting is exceptional, it's not the main reason why I would listen.

People always say English VAs aren't as good as Japanese, mostly because of acting reasons--but I do admit, they've gotten waaaaay better over the years and there are still some English dubs of games and anime I've seen that I prefer over the Japanese cast. (some examples: Panty and Stocking's dub was extremely well-done, as was Gankutsuou's a few years back. As for games, I really loved Persona 4's English cast.) Anyways! Part of it has to do with training, I think--in Japan, you can go to acting schools specifically targeted at being a voice actor for anime and games. We don't...really have that here. We have acting schools, sure! But not ones that are specifically designed to be for anime/game voice actors like they do in Japan.

I think the problem with a lot of English dubs is that there are so little voice actors out there with so little range that performances become dull and boring--you want to hear a unique voice for your favorite dubbed character, not just Johnny Yong Bosch/Yuri Lowenthal/Laura Bailey doing their one-trick pony routines. (I have nothing against them, by the way--the problem is they're just in EVERYTHING and i swear to god i will be kind of frustrated if they find their way into the ARR English cast. Usually SE gets a good bunch of "different" VAs, though, so I'm sure we'll be safe...for now.)

anyways, back to the poster, though...my main question is: who do the other two signatures belong to? We could probably find out which one of the three is actually voicing Merlwyb if they're choosing by certain VA "archetypes". For example, if they have a VA who usually does really shy/cute characters, then obviously that one'll probably be playing Kan-E-Senna and we can rule out that yes, Rie Tanaka's playing Merlwyb and no, they wouldn't choose a "kawaii" VA for Limsa's hardcore Admiral. and obviously whichever one is the guy VA would be Raubahn...unless there aren't any guy VAs on there...then my GC leaders theory is messed up.

i don't know why i care this much but i really want to figure out who's voicing who in the japanese cast--a lot of the VAs they picked are really well-known and I like their voices a lot...i might make a separate speculation thread later or something because i'd like to figure this stuff out. :P

anyways i posted too much...sorry! -goes back to lurking-

(*prays that Fumihiko Tachiki is the voice of Raubahn*)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pancakes

But they changed Thancred's hair colour in the latest trailer nyaha :3

---

(facepalm) No, they didn't. lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

(facepalm) No, they didn't. lol

---

http://i46.tinypic.com/x3wg6.jpg

Yup, the very same colour.

(I'll just assume u are a guy. It'll make it easier to me.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fleurette

I'll probably be listening to both English and Japanese tracks--not because I think Japanese voice actors are "better" per se, but because I'm sort of attached to the Japanese voice actors themselves...there was a picture from the last Live Letter of Yoshi-P holding up a poster with three Japanese VA names (which I'm assuming are going to be the voices of the three GC leaders...they might even be the three NPCs from the Circle of Knowing from each city, too, but I kind of doubt it unless they decided to not include Yda because Papalymo's the "main" Gridania npc...which I don't think they would do.)

---

I definitely think the autographs on the picture are the actors that will voice the GC leaders. It's three of them, while the archons are four. I'm almost sure she'll be voicing Merlwyb.

I spent the better part of a couple hours researching Japanese autograph sites to idenitify the other two voice actors, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Abriael

I definitely think the autographs on the picture are the actors that will voice the GC leaders. It's three of them, while the archons are four. I'm almost sure she'll be voicing Merlwyb.

I spent the better part of a couple hours researching Japanese autograph sites to idenitify the other two voice actors, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful.

---

I really hope so! She would be so great for that role. <3 But I guess we won't really find out until the release of voiced trailers, if any, or the actual full release of ARR itself. (or maybe even beta 4 since that's gonna be pretty much like the retail version.)

I appreciate your effort to try and find the other two signatures, though! I've been searching too with no luck...so we may just have to wait and see. But thank you for trying to help the cause! gold stars for effort! :D

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...32/169/3a7.jpg
i mean that in the most sincere way possible. :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pancakes

http://i46.tinypic.com/x3wg6.jpg

Yup, the very same colour.

(I'll just assume u are a guy. It'll make it easier to me.)

---

Different graphics engine with different versions of the same color + Thancred being in a place in which the lighting manipulates perspective = Yep, same color. lol

P.S.: I'm female. So... yeah. ^_^

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

Different graphics engine with different versions of the same color + Thancred being in a place in which the lighting manipulates perspective = Yep, same color. lol

P.S.: I'm female. So... yeah. ^_^

---

Picture of it didn't happ...

nevermind.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Abriael

Picture of it didn't happ...

nevermind.

---

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzwagsA2Bs1r7n0dh.gif

Now, for victory ice cream!

Gawd, I'm bored. Maybe I'll just go finish cleaning up now. lol

Oh skye, why did you have to use Charlie Sheen? xD

Even better: Kan-E-Senna will be voice acted by a woman, while Merlwyb's voice will be done by none other than~!

Brad Garrett.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Soukyuu

The reason for that imho is largely because in Japan, anime is not seen as something solely "for kids" and also no opinion that "kids won't notice anyway" if the voice acting is bad. Not to say all non-Japanese voice acting is bad. The majority is though, especially for anime.

For me, it's also the fact the voice actors often don't make any effort to pronounce foreign names properly.

---

dude.. I have read the correct pronunciation for her name and I wouldn't blame them for having a hard time

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ricky

dude.. I have read the correct pronunciation for her name and I wouldn't blame them for having a hard time

---

I don't see a problem. The more languages you speak the easier it becomes to pronounce combination of sounds your native language usually doesn't have.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ricky

dude.. I have read the correct pronunciation for her name and I wouldn't blame them for having a hard time

---

This seems like another double standard for people who pass judgement on these VA's. It's okay for the JP voice actors to say "Edo-waado" instead of "Edward", but English VA's get crucified if they don't say certain Japanese names correctly. lol

It personally doesn't bother me as much tho, since I know how certain names are difficult for monolingual speakers (Japanese and English VA's alike). Soukyuu is correct tho, that the more languages you speak, the easier it becomes. I picked up Japanese pronunciation almost immediately because, barring a few differences (such as r=l si=shi etc), its the exact same as Spanish. I picked up on the Roegadyn pronunciations as well from knowing a bit of Dutch (I was able to spot some spelling schemes that indicated it).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vilhem

This seems like another double standard for people who pass judgement on these VA's. It's okay for the JP voice actors to say "Edo-waado" instead of "Edward", but English VA's get crucified if they don't say certain Japanese names correctly. lol

---

No. It's not ok in either case, so you may want to stop pulling out "double standards" where they don't exist to try and paint the heroic western voice actors as the poor victims of the cruel "weaboo" fanbase.

There is a wind...it blows...but what does it say?

Meh dun care >.>