670°

New Bayonetta Voice Actor Jennifer Hale Responds To Hellena Taylor

Jennifer Hale, who is voicing Bayonetta in Bayonetta 3 after original voice actor Hellena Taylor couldn't come to terms with Platinum Games, has released a statement about the situation.

-Foxtrot927d ago (Edited 927d ago )

What I don't understand is, and think about it, Hellena Taylor was getting a lousy 4k for doing the entire game and when thy refused they decided to hire the most well known, top tier voice actresses to replace her. Jennifer Hale couldn't have been cheap and I highly doubt someone who gets work easier would take the same job for the same amount of money. So if they DID pay her more hypothetically then why not just pay Hellena more.

Christopher927d ago

Hellena hasn't worked since 2014 and it seems, to me at least, that they wanted to upgrade voice actors and so lowballed her like crazy rather than just being honest with her on wanting to recast her.

VersusDMC927d ago

2014...how long do these NDA's last?Did she have to sign one before they made her the 4k offer?

Also scummy that if you don't accept the offer they can say whatever they want and you either go with their lie or suffer the consequences of breaking the NDA.

VenomUK926d ago (Edited 926d ago )

Reading between the lines I believe leading voice actress Jennifer Hale received a better offer than $4000.

dumahim926d ago

I've seen quite a bit of people saying this is a pretty common thing for Japan.

darthv72926d ago

hmm... the plot thickens. It seems the og voice actor was offered upwards of $4k per session with at least 5 sessions scheduled. The way she told it, it was a $4k for all.

https://twitter.com/jasonsc...

coolfool926d ago (Edited 926d ago )

@darthv72 So who to believe? Both accounts sort of seem credible.

ZwVw926d ago

Where did you read that she hasn't worked since 2014? Just because an imdb profile shows an actor/actress' page being inactive in x amount of years, doesn't mean they haven't been working in the industry. IMDB isn't 100%.

Its well known that many VAs do work for commercials in addition to local theater to get by.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 926d ago
CorndogBurglar926d ago (Edited 926d ago )

I agree. But I'm also not thrilled about the way Hellena Taylor acted in regards to Jennifer Hale taking her place.

She outright said Jennifer Hale has no right to call herself Bayonetta. That's extremely disrespectful to Jennifer. It's not her fault they offered Hellena a small amount. It's also not her fault that Hellena turned it down. It's also also not her fault that she got a better offer.

There was no reason for Hellena to say that.

darthv72926d ago

it makes her sound regretful for not taking the gig. And asking people to boycott the game isnt right. when kratos voice actor was changed, people were all over the place trying to make sense of why sony would do that to TC Carson who voiced kratos for all the original series. Maybe it was contractual and TC didnt want the gig anymore but nobody called for a boycott of GoW when it was revealed Chris judge was doing the 2018 (and 2022) games. At least i dont remember there being calls to boycott.

Taylor comes off as really petty when she could have just kept to herself. Esp with new info coming to light about the price per session. So she was going to make more than she eluded to.

GamingSinceForever927d ago

Basically she said nothing newsworthy here. Smh!

dumahim926d ago

I would have thought it would have been better to say nothing and let the whole thing get forgotten instead of stoking the coals.

GamingSinceForever926d ago

Right. She really stated that her and ole girl are cool but this is business.

Masterchief_thegoat927d ago

I got 1 and 2. I definitely not getting third one. Platinum games needs to start treating voice actor/actress with respect. Helena deserve at least 20k-200k cause I know for fact bayonetta sells

CrimsonWing69927d ago

How much did Bayonetta 2 sell?

ZeekQuattro927d ago

1.3 million on the Switch. Less than 300K on the original Wii U release.

HyperMoused927d ago

Quick google search Bayonetta franchise is worth $450m, for someone who is the voice and therefore personality of the character, $4k is pretty lousy

CrimsonWing69927d ago (Edited 927d ago )

@HyperMoused

$450 mill that goes to the company to produce more games and keep the company running.

Can I ask you something? And please don't get offended, I'm not picking a fight, just looking for a friendly discussion.

What is Bayonetta 3's project budget? Also, what do you think on average an experienced voice actor (not a rookie) makes on a project? How many days and how many hours do you think they work?

I know you're a smart lad and can google it.

Remember, this is just a friendly discussion.

DashMad926d ago

@HyperMoused
no way in hell it's worth $450m it's niche IP that barely sold 2 million with heavy discount, even with full price 60$ that only 120 million not included retail share and logistic. and i don't believe nintendo paid more than 200 million license money to sega just to add bayoneta to Smash bros.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 926d ago
Tapani927d ago

Hahaha... 200K for a couple of days work when you are a relatively unknown voice actor. Riiight!

VersusDMC927d ago

I agree that 200k is too much...but relatively unknown in what sense?

She has been the only voice for Bayonetta and this wouldn't be a controversy if she wasn't praised for the performance.

CrimsonWing69927d ago (Edited 927d ago )

@VersusDMC

I'm gonna' be buck fitty on you with this, I had no idea who the voice actor was for Bayonetta until all this exploded.

I did a quick IMDB search and uh, well 75% of her work is only Bayonetta. I mean, she's no Nolan North or Troy Baker and she doesn't have much projects under her belt.

VersusDMC927d ago

@crimson

Who cares if you didn't know who she was? Bayonetta fans know and they are the ones making this a bigger contoversy because they loved her performance.

Most people don't know who voices Isaac in Dead Space. But fans of Dead Space are happy that he is coming back for the remake.

Why not spend an extra 25-50k to get the original actor and not subject the fans to a new voice that some might find good enough but some might find is just not the same.

CrimsonWing69927d ago (Edited 927d ago )

@VersusDMC

Yea, I get the sentiment, I really do and in a world where you can throw cash out despite a project budget it’d be a wonderful world.

My point on not knowing the voice actor was to demonstrate that she doesn’t hold the clout that other well known voice actors do.

On average experience voice actors make $200 - $350/ hour or they get paid less per word. Again, that’s high end experienced game voice actors.

Do you know how long it took Hellena Taylor to do the recordings for the original Bayonetta? She actually tells it in an interview you can YouTube, she says it took her 4 days at 4 hours per day.

That’s it.

Now, doing quick math at $350/hour she would have gotten $5,600. If you go the low-end at $200/hour she would have made $3,200. Why do I know this? Well, I did extensive research having a debate in another forum post.

In a 2022 interview with a prominent game voice actor he says typically a session can go from 1 - 5 hours. Another said most VA’s make between $4000 - $6000 a month.

Now, call me crazy, but is $4000 a bad deal? Seeing how it’s actually the average for voice actors and is a set amount (maybe the minimum, but that’s debatable) for the actual voice actor union Taylor is a part of.

I don’t know how you can justify 25-50k for a single voice actor with a limited budget that we have no clue about that goes to not only development/production, but also marketing for a niche AA game that as of last year only sold 1.04 million units globally (we’ll round it to 2 mill just for arguments sake). It’s not a huge seller, but it does have a very strong fan base.

How come all the other voice actors didn’t turn down the offer or go on Twitter to complain and boycott the game? She even said it was the minimum (though from my research it’s not the minimum) and nobody did anything illegal. You may have a personal investment in her voice, but you don’t know how development cost is allocated. You put aside specific budgets for specific departments before even production starts.

I can send you all the links to back up my claims. I’m just being lazy right now.

Just to keep the discussion rolling how much does somebody like Troy Baker make an hour or per word and how long is a recording session for them?

VersusDMC926d ago

You are just throwing random numbers around. Average rates.

I want rates for the voice of main character of a franchise(the one on every cover)that has voiced the character since the first game and every game and other media ( since 2009 Bayo 1, 2, Smash WiiU and the Anime in helenas case)

Let me know the rates of the main character voice actor of a highly anticipated first party 3rd entry to a popular franchise. That's the only rate that matters.

I_am_Batman926d ago

VersusDMC: "Why not spend an extra 25-50k to get the original actor and not subject the fans to a new voice that some might find good enough but some might find is just not the same. "

When you start throwing around $25000-$50000 like that on a project with thin margins, you'll quickly turn a decently profitable game into a flop. And no, $25000-$50000 alone won't make that difference, but you have to consider the ripple effect this could have. What do you think other Bayonetta 3 voice actors will say when they find out that she's getting paid 10x more than what they get? And why only pay the voice actors more? The music is important right? Let's give the composer a raise. What about the writers? Artists? Programmers? You get the point.

You call this a highly anticipated sequel in a popular franchise, but in reality Bayonetta 2 was almost certainly barely profitable enough to even convince Nintendo to fund a sequel. I wouldn't be surprised if they stay close to the minimum accepted pay for most people involved in the project. She didn't think the offer was fair and declined, so they've found someone else to do the job. That's all there is to it. Calling for a boycott seems very selfish to me.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 926d ago
VersusDMC927d ago (Edited 927d ago )

You don't need to not play it. Last time i didn't want to support a game(ninja theory DmC) i just rented it.

I like to be informed by playing the game . So you still can not support them by renting it, buying it used or getting the "unofficial" PC version that will run and look better.

Freeball927d ago

$200k for what is estimated to be 16-20 hours of work over 4 DAYS? Get some perspective. You're not hiring Tom Cruise.

anubusgold926d ago

@Freeball You need to get some perspective movie voice actors get paid way more and games make more money than most movies.

Yui_Suzumiya926d ago

Most voice actors I'm friends with are lucky to make $2,000 a month. These people need their heads examined if they think VA's are making A-list celebrity money.

927d ago
Epicor926d ago

Who are you to say what an unknown voice actor should earn? "I know for fact bayonetta sells", LOL!!!!! Yes, so if earns money, that money should go directly to voice actor? Give me a break. Platinum games should have just straight up told her they don't want to use her services anymore. That lowball offer was just disrespectful.

Yui_Suzumiya926d ago

I'm friends with many voice talent and they make alot less than I do and I'm just a nursing assistant at a hospital. They'll be lucky to make $300 to $500 for dubbing 12 episodes of an anime series, lol

gleepot926d ago

Wow you have no idea how much money VAs make do you?

Army_of_Darkness926d ago

You think she should get 20k-200k for doing a few lines here and there?! 🤣🤣 Yeah ooookay bro... Maybe for a more story driven game with a bigger script, sure! But not for a game like bayo!?

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 926d ago
jznrpg927d ago

Not much of a response really .

repsahj926d ago

Good thing they replace her.

Show all comments (61)
240°

Microsoft CEO Boasts Gaming Success Across Xbox, PlayStation, PC Game Pass, and More

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella shared a bullish report on the performance of the Xbox gaming business also on PlayStation.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
1d 1h ago
Christopher1d ago

I'm kind of hoping they drop most hardware support here with a 'good enough console' next generation and focus more on being a publisher. Obviously that is doing well for them and they can still push cloud gaming since it's going to tons of smart TVS and devices. They're now the largest video game publisher in the world, if they aren't doing the most sales and pre-orders, then they would be in trouble. They aren't.

Lightning7719h ago

They're gonna try again with a new gen console. If they want to compete they need to actually be competive. Say games like Halo, Blade Elder Scrolls or whatever big game it is. Needs to only be on Xbox and PC. If those games go multiplat it needs to be after a few years or at least a year later definitely not 6 months as a good portion of ppl will wait. Knowing MS they'll probably try and compete, then when things don't go there way they pivot and change the metrics again.

crazyCoconuts14h ago

I don't think you're reading the tea leaves here. Leadership hasn't used the word "exclusive" in quite a while, and they're now boasting about PS sales. They're probably done with consoles and exclusive at this point.

DodoDojo14h ago

I don't think they'll try. They have been beating a dead horse for so long now and they have finally realized it isn't going nowhere.

Fearmonkey11h ago

MS is going to drop being hardware exclusive, they are going publisher and subscription. You will be able to buy a Xbox, but you will be able to play on any platform, that's their new goal. After the hit with Oblivion remastered and major sales on PS5, no more Xbox/PC exclusives long term..

rlow111h ago

I think with the latest price hike on their console, they’re well on their way to axing hardware.

Christopher10h ago

Hardware axing entirely is bad news. They've sold most of their hardware on the Series S this generation. I think if they capture a lower hardware market that can still buy games (especially on sale), they'll actually hit a good market considering how the economy is going. Especially in the U.S. People are going to want to keep gaming and streaming isn't that good for online gaming at all.

Lightning7710h ago

@crazy they've stated multiple times they're going another gen. The next gen Controller even got leaked.

Tired of repeating myself whenever it comes to this subject of Xbox having another gen.

IRetrouk7h ago

Xbox consoles are done, all we gonna get is some branded 3rd party shite at best, ms aint interested in being a console manufacturer no more, this much is obvious.

hiawa237h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Microsoft has too much money for that. They are rumored to release a PC/console hybrid in 2026. They will push all you hope as a publisher while having new hardware next year, so the games will appear on their platform and every other platform which is good to me if the goal is to sell software. If that is where the money is why would anyone fault MS for that? The prices are going to be insane for the next PlayStation and console from Microsoft, though, but it is what they voted for, so this is what we got.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 7h ago
Obscure_Observer15h ago

“We continue to transform the business and focus on margin expansion as we bring our games to over 500 million monthly active users across devices. We ended the quarter as the top publisher by pre-orders and pre-installs on both Xbox and PlayStation Store.”

Amazing news!

Xbox reigning within rival territory.

Big slap in the face of haters who used to crap on Xbox´s games and its quality.

IAMRealHooman14h ago

........you must be part owl, you keep 180ing, your position.

-Foxtrot7h ago

One minute he says that they will NEVER go third party

Now he's all for it like this was Microsofts grand master plan all along.

Obscure_Observer4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

@-Foxtrot

"One minute he says that they will NEVER go third party"

Fact.

"Now he's all for it like this was Microsofts grand master plan all along."

False.

Never said it was Microsoft´s master plan all along. But it is REALLY working for us, as the fact that you´ll be able to enjoy Xbox gamers isn´t killing us. Rather the contrary, we are happy that everybody is funding our games on Gamepass.

Specially now with the imminent new $80 price tag for Xbox first party games.

It is what it is.

IAMRealHooman12h ago

how about that massive price hike?

Relientk779h ago

He loves it. Now he gets to support the trillion dollar company even more by giving them more of his money.

Reaper22_10h ago

I agree.. great news for Microsoft and tbe xbox brand. Your Playstation is now a xbox. Microsoft wasn't kidding around when they said xbox will be everywhere. Now they are laughing all the way to the bank. Imo sony needs to do similar things. They're putting their biggest titles on PC. Might as well bring them over to other consoles too. They aren't making much on console sales.

IAMRealHooman7h ago

Of course MS wants PlayStation owners, their is literally twice as many of them.

andy858h ago

Theres been one game in the last few years that's been good. Indy. Long way to go before you start talking about their games and their quality

Bathyj7h ago

Xbox gamers really are the strangest demographic. Not so long ago you are all saying PlayStation isn't the competition Amazon is because Phil said so. You love to parrot what your corporate talking say. That wasn't actually true Xbox and PlayStation were in direct competition but because Xbox was losing so badly Phil had to act like they weren't.

Cut to present day and Xbox and PlayStation aren't competition because Xbox has no hardware presence it's zero. In fact Microsoft is now a third party publisher and they need PlayStation they don't need Xbox or Xbox gamers they need PlayStation gamers and PC gamers and mobile phone gamers and switch gamers.

You're here cheering for the fact you've become irrelevant because you think it's important that your uncle Phil is making money. You think PlayStation gamers are upset if Microsoft releases more good games in a year than sony does. when Microsoft makes a good game you shout take that playstation!

PlayStation gamers simply say thank you I will third party publisher that makes me games

Reaper22_6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

I think you're confused. Microsoft never saw Sony as their biggest competitor. They've reiterated it for years. Sony is doing the same thing by putting their biggest franchises on PC, which is OK with Microsoft. Their will be more playstaion games coming to Microsoft ecosystems. Maybe not to xbox consoles but playstation won't be the only place you can play their games. Kind of how it is now. I would bet that they are making plans to do just that but they probably fear the backlash from their fanbase which is silly because noone is gonna stop playing games just because it's on on another platform.

Obscure_Observer4h ago

"Cut to present day and Xbox and PlayStation aren't competition because Xbox has no hardware presence it's zero."

If that was remotely true you wouldn´t be so mad about Xbox gamers getting day one games on Gamepass that you have to pay full price for.

"PlayStation gamers simply say thank you I will third party publisher that makes me games"

And we´re thankful for Playstation gamers supporting Xbox games funding our day one games on Gamepass.

Like I said: Everybody wins.

gold_drake54m ago

i agree
my friend is also xbox everything, hes the same weird guy ha

gold_drake56m ago

propaganda again?

arent u tired of it yet?

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 54m ago
MrDead14h ago

We brought two of the biggest publishers in the world, cost thousands of people their livelihoods and consolidated a huge part of the industry, look how successful we are at gaming!

crazyCoconuts14h ago

Top Secret Strategy for How to Become the Biggest Publisher in the World:
1. Buy everybody

The3faces12h ago

And this has been standard business practice in every industry. Don't hate the player hate the game! lol

Reaper22_9h ago

Buy everybody....if you can.

Obscure_Observer11h ago

I have no doubt that the vast majority of developers and studios will be looking at Microsoft as far job security is a concern.

Microsoft will allow its studios to release their games to every single platform, which means more investment on new games, more money, more jobs positions, better payment, benefits and recognition among gamers worldwide.

You though MS would crash and burn

You want MS to leave gaming forever but GAMERS clearly wants otherwise.

You said MS doesn´t know how to make great games but Xbox games dominating sales on Playstation clearly says otherwise.

Now you also have Playstation gamers to blame for helping the rich to get richer.

I warned you. You were on a fool´s errand all the time.

Now all you can do is watch as MS and Xbox gaming grows bigger and better than ever and release games for everyone!

crazyCoconuts7h ago

At the end of this road, Bethesda, Activision, etc, will still be releasing games for everyone and Xbox consoles will be no more.

If that's what you claim to have foreseen, then congratulations, you win.

MrDead3h ago

You think three major publishers no longer competing and thousands fired to feed the piggies at MS is a good thing, I don't.

More and more owned by fewer and fewer is what you're cheering for, all that leads to is $80 first party games kid.

Luc2014h ago

When you have to say that something was a success, it means it wasn't

Show all comments (46)
60°

HITMAN Signature Edition hits Switch 2 June 5 with Mario & Luigi–inspired outfits and full trilogy

HITMAN Signature Edition lands June 5 on Switch 2 with 100+ hours of content and Mario & Luigi–inspired pre-order bonuses.

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Neonridr6d ago

sucks that it's one of those game cards though. 61GB download required.

ZeekQuattro5d ago

Oh God, I can already see the Luigi Hitman memes returning.

190°

OG Destiny artist recalls Bungie’s “disgruntled” reaction to Halo 4’s art style change

Original Destiny artist Darren Bacon recalls how Bungie reacted to the art style change of Halo 4 by 343 Industries.

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Tacoboto9d ago

Bungie at that time became the most wonderful bunch of hypocrites in the gaming industry. Knowing this now, gosh the entitlement they felt was out of this world.

Nothing like buying yourself from Microsoft because you don't want to be the Halo Studio anymore, and the FIRST THING you do is sign your next IP over to Activision, for a DECADE, while they are in the middle of ousting the heads of Infinity Ward so they can exert even more control over COD while screwing out the devs at IW...

Should've come as no surprise then that Activision gutted the content of Destiny 1 before launch and was a horrible partner through Destiny 2, until history repeated itself and Bungie had to split from Activision only to wind up in the arms of another major conglomerate that also doesn't know how to handle these unmanageable devs.

Profchaos9d ago

Tti their credit they praised the technical abilities of 343 and I remember at the time thinking halo 4 was a huge graphical leap above reach everything else was rubbish when I actually got to play it but there was no doubt it looked good for the 360 and is probably the best looking game on the system.

But ultimately I think bungie has always had a leadership problem and going independent ultimately proved this it's only getting worse with studio heads being outed by Sony for abuse allegations seems like all bungies past success has been in spite of management not because of it.

But really I think the bungie we have today is not the same one we had in that Xbox era of Bungie

PhillyDonJawn9d ago

I liked the artstyle change. For the most part. Something looked worse but most of everything else looked better. Weapons and vehicles for sure. The wraith come to my mind instantly.
And how can they get mad when the bungie changed it with Halo Reach?

Sciurus_vulgaris8d ago

I know a lot of people dislike Halo 4’s arts style, but there’s thing about it I like and dislike. Personally, the Halo 4 design of Master Chief’s armour is my favourite depiction of the character’s armour.