Telltale Games

doom saber · 03/14/2007, 05:03 pm

Before I start, this topic isn't about how the old lucasart voice actors are superior to the Telltale ones (I am satisfy with the new voices), but rather I am curious on how you chose the voices for the telltale games.

What I mean is when you had ppl auditioned the roles of our favorite canine and rabbit thingy, did you tell them to play Sam like Humphrey Bogard or did you use samples of the the hit the road game for them to mimic? I am curious on the process since you guys, Steve, or the voice director can choose a different sounding voice if you wanted to; like how the cartoon show voice for Sam sounds completey different the Hit the Road and the telltale s&m games.

Tale · 03/14/2007, 08:42 pm

They threw knives at applicants. The ones that didn't die got the job.

tabacco · 03/14/2007, 08:46 pm

We put all the actors on a big wheel, and spin it for each role. The hardest part is keeping them from falling off when we spin it.

*Hero1* · 03/14/2007, 09:22 pm

I heard that they dipped 100 voice actors in molten lava and those that survived got the job

Sp0tted · 03/14/2007, 09:37 pm

What's sad is I think everyone who opened this thread had a similair idea as to how to make a witty response... only to find someone else has.

I think I may cry myself to sleep now.

tabacco · 03/14/2007, 09:40 pm

Well, seriously, I think it's the same way most people cast actors... listen to auditions and pick our favorites. And maybe some dart-throwing.

doom saber · 03/14/2007, 10:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabacco

Well, seriously, I think it's the same way most people cast actors... listen to auditions and pick our favorites. And maybe some dart-throwing.

I guess I worded it wrong, but how they get Sam and Max sound similar to the original as oppose to sounding something else like the tv series? I am either thinking they played a sampe for them to mimic or the director told them to do an impression of some famous icon like Humphrey Bogard.

*Hero1* · 03/15/2007, 01:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sp0tted

What's sad is I think everyone who opened this thread had a similair idea as to how to make a witty response... only to find someone else has.

I think I may cry myself to sleep now.

Mel · 03/15/2007, 04:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabacco

We put all the actors on a big wheel, and spin it for each role. The hardest part is keeping them from falling off when we spin it.

That reminded me of the Futurama episode where Kif (sp?) gets pregnant and they have to figure out who contributed the DNA.

Tale · 03/15/2007, 01:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sp0tted

What's sad is I think everyone who opened this thread had a similair idea as to how to make a witty response... only to find someone else has.

I think I may cry myself to sleep now.

Not me. I was first.

*Brendan* · 03/15/2007, 09:15 pm

In the case of Sam and Max, prospective actors were given descriptions of the characters written by Steve Purcell, as well as samples of the voices from the previous Sam & Max game. We listened to one set of auditions in which actors tried to mimic the sound fairly closely, and another where we encouraged them to try something to give it a fresh spin. For some of the actors, we asked them to audition again, with some more specific direction to help them hone in on the character's style.

In the case of newly created characters, we typically write up a brief summary of the character's personality, as well as some possible similar voices. For some, we have a fairly specific idea of the voice in mind. For example, Mr. Featherly the chicken actor was supposed to be reminiscent of Don Knotts on-camera, and someone like Patrick Stewart off.

sigh blush · 03/15/2007, 09:19 pm

Don't listen to Brendan... It was knives.

Dangerzone · 03/16/2007, 01:13 am

they put the voice actors in a steel cage to duke it out and they must also read a script while perforing the mexican hat dance while the telltale staff fires nailguns, flame throwers, and potato guns at them loaded with various blunt objects and and have a 500 pound bouncer named bruno wacking away with a steel pipe, and those who sur- *erm* i mean complete the reading get a call in a week or two if they got the part

fhqwhgads · 03/16/2007, 04:06 am

Speaking of voices:

Is it just me, or did the voice actor for the 'bug' change in episode 4? I'm sure the credits showed a different name...

Kiwi · 03/16/2007, 08:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigh blush

Don't listen to Brendan... It was knives.

No, actually it was 4 darts, 1 knife and 1 ax. They throw it all in one shot, just like Sam did in the original version.

**Jake** · 03/16/2007, 08:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhqwhgads

Is it just me, or did the voice actor for the 'bug' change in episode 4? I'm sure the credits showed a different name...

The bug's voice actor operates under many names.

Certifiable · 03/16/2007, 08:38 am

I could imagine new actors were a wise choice in money terms for a start. I'd bet that wasn't to make money to line 24k gold suits though. More to help start TTG without maxing out the spending (no pun intended).

The old actors are also doing quite well for themselves. From what I read, Nick "Max" Jameson got Lucas-related work with Senator Palpatine in the SW cartoons.
Bill "Sam" Farmer is still working in the games voice-over industry with recent classics such as "Destroy all humans!", and as a double-sider, he also has the roles of Goofy and Pluto to look after for any future Disney projects, which includes the Kingdom Hearts games.

Besides, aside from both the actors gaining 14 years since Hit The Road now, they'd still sound different even if they got the part, despite their training. The human voice is always subtly changing, even if only slightly. It's why singers and voice actors always practice to keep "in shape".

Udvarnoky · 03/16/2007, 10:50 am

Judging from a PC Zone interview from... a long time ago, not getting the old guys could have had to do with availability rather than money. Since Farmer and Jameson are busy guys these days it might not have been possible to get them to commit to the whole season. I imagine that doing one big game would have meant a few closely scheduled recording sessions but because of the episodic nature of these games the actors have to get called back repeatedly throughout the entire production, including those of future seasons should they exist. Selecting Bay Area folk ensures actors that can stay on for the long haul.

Comrade Pants · 08/10/2011, 10:11 pm

THREAD NECRO'D

They weren't chosen, but were instead grown in a vat for this one job and summarily disposed of for being hacks.

03/14/2007, 05:03 pm	#1
doom saber Coffee addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bay Area(Alameda), California Posts: 809	How were the voice actors for Sam and Max chosen? Before I start, this topic isn't about how the old lucasart voice actors are superior to the Telltale ones (I am satisfy with the new voices), but rather I am curious on how you chose the voices for the telltale games. What I mean is when you had ppl auditioned the roles of our favorite canine and rabbit thingy, did you tell them to play Sam like Humphrey Bogard or did you use samples of the the hit the road game for them to mimic? I am curious on the process since you guys, Steve, or the voice director can choose a different sounding voice if you wanted to; like how the cartoon show voice for Sam sounds completey different the Hit the Road and the telltale s&m games.

03/14/2007, 09:22 pm	#4
Hero1 conclusion jumper Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 1,770	I heard that they dipped 100 voice actors in molten lava and those that survived got the job __________________ Patience is a sharp razor to swallow...

03/16/2007, 04:06 am	#14
fhqwhgads To the Limit! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 222	Speaking of voices: Is it just me, or did the voice actor for the 'bug' change in episode 4? I'm sure the credits showed a different name... __________________ Max: It's a metaphor! Sam: You don't even know what that means! Max: Yes I do! It's like a metal floor, without the L's.

03/16/2007, 08:38 am	#17
Certifiable Predictably Unpredictable Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 81	I could imagine new actors were a wise choice in money terms for a start. I'd bet that wasn't to make money to line 24k gold suits though. More to help start TTG without maxing out the spending (no pun intended). The old actors are also doing quite well for themselves. From what I read, Nick "Max" Jameson got Lucas-related work with Senator Palpatine in the SW cartoons. Bill "Sam" Farmer is still working in the games voice-over industry with recent classics such as "Destroy all humans!", and as a double-sider, he also has the roles of Goofy and Pluto to look after for any future Disney projects, which includes the Kingdom Hearts games. Besides, aside from both the actors gaining 14 years since Hit The Road now, they'd still sound different even if they got the part, despite their training. The human voice is always subtly changing, even if only slightly. It's why singers and voice actors always practice to keep "in shape". Last edited by Certifiable; 03/16/2007 at 08:45 am. Reason: Typos

08/10/2011, 10:11 pm	#19
Comrade Pants Resident curmudgeon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New Atlantaland Status: The Perennial Victor. Actual Posts: Lots! Posts: 2,009	THREAD NECRO'D They weren't chosen, but were instead grown in a vat for this one job and summarily disposed of for being hacks. __________________ On YouTube. - My blog, Arcanum Pantsitae - LinkedIn - Read what people are saying about Pantsy! - Tw@tter ~Powered by booze.~ My theme song, according to Coolsome. Standard issue response to my enemies.

03/14/2007, 08:42 pm	#2
Tale Grumblecakes Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 50	They threw knives at applicants. The ones that didn't die got the job.

03/14/2007, 08:46 pm	#3
tabacco I Feel Fantastic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 2,129	We put all the actors on a big wheel, and spin it for each role. The hardest part is keeping them from falling off when we spin it.

03/14/2007, 09:37 pm	#5
Sp0tted Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 126	What's sad is I think everyone who opened this thread had a similair idea as to how to make a witty response... only to find someone else has. I think I may cry myself to sleep now.

03/14/2007, 09:40 pm	#6
tabacco I Feel Fantastic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 2,129	Well, seriously, I think it's the same way most people cast actors... listen to auditions and pick our favorites. And maybe some dart-throwing.

03/15/2007, 09:15 pm	#11
Brendan उपुपूओऌपिअ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The open road Posts: 59	In the case of Sam and Max, prospective actors were given descriptions of the characters written by Steve Purcell, as well as samples of the voices from the previous Sam & Max game. We listened to one set of auditions in which actors tried to mimic the sound fairly closely, and another where we encouraged them to try something to give it a fresh spin. For some of the actors, we asked them to audition again, with some more specific direction to help them hone in on the character's style. In the case of newly created characters, we typically write up a brief summary of the character's personality, as well as some possible similar voices. For some, we have a fairly specific idea of the voice in mind. For example, Mr. Featherly the chicken actor was supposed to be reminiscent of Don Knotts on-camera, and someone like Patrick Stewart off.

03/15/2007, 09:19 pm	#12
sigh blush Seiyuu. Say, me! Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7	Don't listen to Brendan... It was knives.

03/16/2007, 01:13 am	#13
Dangerzone Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,048	they put the voice actors in a steel cage to duke it out and they must also read a script while perforing the mexican hat dance while the telltale staff fires nailguns, flame throwers, and potato guns at them loaded with various blunt objects and and have a 500 pound bouncer named bruno wacking away with a steel pipe, and those who sur- erm i mean complete the reading get a call in a week or two if they got the part

03/16/2007, 10:50 am	#18
Udvarnoky Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Thibodaux, LA Posts: 858	Judging from a PC Zone interview from... a long time ago, not getting the old guys could have had to do with availability rather than money. Since Farmer and Jameson are busy guys these days it might not have been possible to get them to commit to the whole season. I imagine that doing one big game would have meant a few closely scheduled recording sessions but because of the episodic nature of these games the actors have to get called back repeatedly throughout the entire production, including those of future seasons should they exist. Selecting Bay Area folk ensures actors that can stay on for the long haul.

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