Lore/Voice Actor Panel

[XSOLDIER]

That makes me cry. Ugh.

I'm on this damn roller coaster with Blizzard.
They show me something shiny like the Viking, then showcase the God-awful Thor.
They create beautiful maps, but then cover them in corn.
They give me obviously improved UI, but add APM sinks like PC.
They bring back the classic voices to show real concern for the story, but then trade off the most important character for "star power."

I... I need to go lay down...

I feel rather exactly the same as this about the VA situation. I'm not saying she'll be bad, but I can't imagine why of ANY of the characters - especially after all the reviews and comments on Kerrigan's character in BroodWar & Glynnis' performance, why that character would need to be taken in a new direction...

At least I can loose myself in the Billion.5 hours I'll be spending on the map editor.

(Also D-9 was amazing)


X

[TheEconomist]

Guys, please understand that you have nothing to go on when it comes to comparing Gylnnis to the "new girl" other than the almost twelve year old performance in StarCraft. Maybe Glynnis has lost all voice acting talent in general or with this character. Surely, Blizzard has a very good reason for going outside of the norm for them when it comes to voice acting (in StarCraft 2 only; not others). Or, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they don't have a good reason in our opinion. All I'm saying is that we should wait until we've given her a chance before we QQ all over the internet. It's probably already too late for Blizzard themselves to change it much less a few fans on a forum that the higher-ups probably never go to.

That being said, from what I've heard so far in that demo, I'm not really liking this new girl But, I'm far from demanding her to be replaced.

[XSOLDIER]

Guys, please understand that you have nothing to go on when it comes to comparing Gylnnis to the "new girl" other than the almost twelve year old performance in StarCraft.

I've been in contact with Glynnis on and off through out StarCraft 2's development, and she voiced 2 trailers that were used at Blizzcon last year. This combined with the bits and pieces we've heard from the new VA gives us enough to make comparisons. That's the reason we're making a big deal about this - we've HEARD Glynnis as she is now voicing Kerrigan, and we've also heard Tricia, and the vast majority of the fans, especially those most interested in the single player campaign seem to prefer Glynnis's performance.

With Blizz bringing back Robert Clotworthy after all the talk about "bringing Raynor in a new direction" it seems ridiculous to suddenly do that for Kerrigan - especially given all the positive reviews on her voice in the original game, and the positive reception to her performance at Blizzcon last year.

You'll note that LAST year, no one was bothered by Kerrigan's VA, only by the Zerg reveal trailer - not voiced by her. However- there was a LOT of talk about getting Raynor's original VA back. Now that he's back, everyone's quiet about that.

Instead they've changed Kerrigan, and the fan base is letting Blizz know that we really don't like the change compared to the original. I'm not saying Tricia will make a horrible Kerrigan, I'm saying that Glynnis will continue to make a FAR better one.


X

[TheEconomist]

I've heard the Glynnis as well and I loved her. I agree she is better in those parts than Tricia. The point is, though, that you haven't heard the end result. A few lines isn't enough to compare them especially since they weren't very emotional scenes. Maybe Tricia blows her out of the water when it comes to these types of scenes. Maybe she handles the range much better. Who knows. My point is that Blizzard went against the will of the masses because they feel this person is superior. I just think we should ask ourselves why we think they're willing to do this. If they're close in skill or Tricia is worse then I'm sure they'd keep Glynnis.

[Blazur]

Guys, there's only one possibly logical reasoning for what Blizzard has chosen this new voice actor. Because she's mad hot. Otherwise the decision is baffling and best not to think about...

[mr. peasant]

I've been in contact with Glynnis on and off through out StarCraft 2's development, and she voiced 2 trailers that were used at Blizzcon last year. This combined with the bits and pieces we've heard from the new VA gives us enough to make comparisons. That's the reason we're making a big deal about this - we've HEARD Glynnis as she is now voicing Kerrigan, and we've also heard Tricia, and the vast majority of the fans, especially those most interested in the single player campaign seem to prefer Glynnis's performance.

With Blizz bringing back Robert Clotworthy after all the talk about "bringing Raynor in a new direction" it seems ridiculous to suddenly do that for Kerrigan - especially given all the positive reviews on her voice in the original game, and the positive reception to her performance at Blizzcon last year.

You'll note that LAST year, no one was bothered by Kerrigan's VA, only by the Zerg reveal trailer - not voiced by her. However- there was a LOT of talk about getting Raynor's original VA back. Now that he's back, everyone's quiet about that.

Instead they've changed Kerrigan, and the fan base is letting Blizz know that we really don't like the change compared to the original. I'm not saying Tricia will make a horrible Kerrigan, I'm saying that Glynnis will continue to make a FAR better one.


X

The question is, do the fans prefer Glynnis purely for the nostalgia factor or because of the very subjective nature that she is 'better' (in which case, the question is how so)?

[Blazur]

The question is, do the fans prefer Glynnis purely for the nostalgia factor or because of the very subjective nature that she is 'better' (in which case, the question is how so)?

It's difficult to judge the new actor for her talents because she hasn't been heard in character yet (not to my knowledge). The argument is that there's little justification for changing the voice of such a pivotal character when the original job was done well. Money clearly isn't a factor because we can assume the new voice actor is more expensive. You don't change Darth Vader's voice because you want to re-imagine the franchise. James Earl Jones defined the voice of Vader, so why would you chance his voice in Empire Strikes Back just for the hell of it? Of course this is their game and they can do whatever they want with it, but the decision is just strange.

I'm sure they have their motives, and because of PR reasons cannot explain what it is.

[mr. peasant]

It's difficult to judge the new actor for her talents because she hasn't been heard in character yet (not to my knowledge). The argument is that there's little justification for changing the voice of such a pivotal character when the original job was done well. Money clearly isn't a factor because we can assume the new voice actor is more expensive. You don't change Darth Vader's voice because you want to re-imagine the franchise. James Earl Jones defined the voice of Vader, so why would you chance his voice in Empire Strikes Back just for the hell of it? Of course this is their game and they can do whatever they want with it, but the decision is just strange.

I'm sure they have their motives, and because of PR reasons cannot explain what it is.

The counterargument would then be that for the vast majority, Glynnis Talken's voice was not as defining as James Earl Jones' was for their respective characters.

Moreover, given her greater wealth of (and might I add more recent) experience, one can probably assume that Tricia Helfer may be more talented and/or has a greater emotional range than Talken. This range, which appears to be needed for Blizzard's intended story, would thus give her an advantage. In other words, Helfer in all likelihood isn't better than Talken in every way. However, the areas she is better was likely what gave her the advantage in the audition process.

Also, is Talken a professional voice actress? Is she part of SAG? Is SC2 a SAG project?

[LordofAscension]

It's probably already too late for Blizzard themselves to change it much less a few fans on a forum that the higher-ups probably never go to.

It is probably too late - however, many of the higher ups do go here. At the Blizz after party I was talking with Metzen and he just gushed about how much he loves SC:L. And trust me, he's not the only one who visits SC:L - there are several more of the "big-wigs" that do.

~LoA

[pure.Wasted]

There's a reason Robert Clotworthy is back, and I dare say those 10+ page long discussions we were throwing around on a weekly basis had something to do with it. (probably other forums had similar things going on, but this is one of the biggest, so...)

I'm sure SC:L can afford to feel at least partially responsible on this setting of things on the right track, as monumental as that setting may be.

The counterargument would then be that for the vast majority, Glynnis Talken's voice was not as defining as James Earl Jones' was for their respective characters.

It really was, though. Look at any review that talked at length about the single player portion of the game (especially BW) and the quality of Kerrigan's voice acting is bound to come up.

I understand what you're trying to do -- lessen the impact of the change and get us to accept something that is, for all intents and purposes, set in stone. The thing is, if anyone remembers those 10+ page discussions, there was one point that came up over and over.

"We'd at least understand the changes if the replacements were obviously talented."

And Tricia is. I don't see why a replacement would be called for (after SC/BW I can't imagine the sort of range that Glynnis ain't got), but at the same time, I'm not ragging on a poor casting choice. I'm just disappointed that things couldn't work out as they did in my ideal version of SC2, even if that might have been unrealistic due to some condition re: Glynnis that none of us seem to know.