DEVS: Don't waste time with voice acting.

[OncuraKazama]

I want more voice acting in the story..imo their wasn't enough the first time...

[Soukyuu]

There are none... you start the game in Japanese you are presented with the same English audio just with Japanese subtitles.

You people need to click the "Credits" button on the games start screen. If you did and read thru the hundreds and hundreds of names you'd get to "Voice Over recording and editorial by Soundelux Design Music Group." And then the list of voice actors whom we're used (Yes Nolan North is there).

I think syndori was talking about 2.0, not now. Cause yes, FFXIV only has English voiceacting at the moment. I don't know where they said they're going to add multiple voiceovers anyway.

[RolandDebreton]

Main character of the story (i.e. you) can't talk or be voiced. Much of the acting will then be built around situations in which your character is only passive (yay these are the most fun, like killing Imperials as a clothcrafter by happening to be in the right place!) Thus is will have to be sparingly used to still be immersive.

Having said that, I personally vote it to only remain main story line and used in critical scenes.

A further problem is, if they get a voice actor for say Cid, and want to continue using said actor five years from now in the expansion Final Fantasy XIV: The Chains of the Rise of the Treasured Wings of Abysea, they will need to rehire or keep that individual on retainer. Ask yourself how viable much of this sort of thing will be.

[Rhianu]

If you knew how much voice actors cost for QUALITY voice acting of any kind, and how much people expect...you'd understand the concern quite clearly.

Why do you think new gen games suffer in some depart? You don't have unlimited funds to go around to everything lol. This is why Skyrim is ugly as sin even on ultra, the design themselves are low quality because they spent a lot of money on other stuff.

Skyrim isn't ugly. >_>

[elreed]

i dont care if they have to pay to anyone for several years, we need more voice in the animations, new mmo's have that, we should have that. Its not in our concern how SE makes that possible but we should worry giving them ideas their job is to see pro's and con's of whatever we ask now.

[Nahaara]

If you knew how much voice actors cost for QUALITY voice acting of any kind, and how much people expect...you'd understand the concern quite clearly.

Why do you think new gen games suffer in some depart? You don't have unlimited funds to go around to everything lol. This is why Skyrim is ugly as sin even on ultra, the design themselves are low quality because they spent a lot of money on other stuff.

Sorry, what?

[Sarchy_Warchy]

Like the title says, please, please please don't waste your time or resources by adding voice acting to the game.

It's such a gimick. I've played Starwars, and trust me people will skip over all your hard work and time just to get to the gameplay.

If you feel you must add VO to your game, keep it to the main story line only and to a minimum. Especially in scenarios when you are grouped up. Leave lenghty CS and VO to the solo experience. When we are grouped we are ready to roll, get us to the gameplay as quickly as possible.

I know some people will disagree with me. But I ask you this. Everytime you enter the Ifrit fight or the Darkhold, or Moogle King do you watch the CS at length? Everytime? Adding voice won't change that. You've seen/heard it once no need to see listen to it again.

I'm sorry but i am going to have to disagree. Completely.

(TL;DR at the end)

I play the new star wars MMO, and I find the voices not only NOT a gimmick, but much more engaging and refreshing. It probably depends on your maturity level, age and patience, but not i nor my friends find that we skip over the voices too often. The voices are great to listen to! Sometimes i don't have a lot of time to play so i may skip a few, but in no way are the voices unimportant.

The voices in SW:tor are important to that game and here is why: It is a crucial ingredient in the social system they have created, you are very often given choices in your response that change your light side/dark side, but how other NPCs like you and certain situations, the voices bring you into the game and help you CARE about the choices you make. Just because YOU do not have the time and/or patience for the voices doesn't mean no one else does.

Why your argument is lacking and invalid: I don't recall anyone saying that they were going with any extensive voice acting in the first place. The voices for the main story lines should be kept and even added where it is lacking, sure you are correct about that BUT content in ANY shape or form should never be discouraged unless it is a directly NEGATIVE impact on the game. If you're worried about resources being taken away, then just stop. An entirely different team would be working with the voice actors who would be syncing to the animation anyways. If you're worried about delays, than just go play another game and appreciate that the devs are improving this shiny cripple in the hospital (yes that is what i call FFXIV. Im sure you know who the doctors are ) Anyway, Any additional voice acting is fun and enjoyable, (assuming its not trashy acting) and sure we may only experience it once or twice, but this is what the SE standard is all about!

Cutscenes. . . You realize that cutscenes on the FF world are what MAKE a good portion of FF right? The drama, action, badassery, everything, is the heart of FF whereas gameplay makes the bones and muscles.

Your main concern is being slowed down to the gameplay by long cutscenes and/or distracting talking. . . it still makes little sense. This is an FF game + MMO. You get cutscenes in ANY FF game. I'm sorry, but it sounds like you had to wait for someone to watch something before moving on to some event in some party or group of yours and now you're complaining about it.

I say deal with it, because cutscenes are nice and so is every little bit that goes into them, from the music (GOOD KING MOGGLE MOG!) to the voices! Unless there are 5 minute cutscenes for some group quest/event, you should sit. And wait.

TL;DR: ChiefCurrahee is complaining over nothing and has little patience and has no appreciation for the importance of the real character and heart of FF titles, the cutscenes.

[Jennestia]

Skyrim has nice texture work but ugly design -- Bethesda is pretty known for their grimey look they give their games, which usually fits with the genericness of their titles, but in terms of actual design, it's not the best looking around.

[Darkrose]

I disagree, we need voice acting for story and main quest. The reason why people skip through those cut scene and main story quest is no voice acting. No voice acting in online game? Come on now, we are in the 20 Century, who read text anymore let along a wall of text each time.

[Elexia]

Sorry, what?

Good use of lighting effects...so? You can make a 2.5D game look just as good.