Quinton Flynn Talks About Voicing Raiden & Why Voice Actors Get "Shafted" For The Work They Do

TheGamingLiberty.com:

"In the first part of our exclusive interview with the man behind the voice of Raiden, TGL delves into Quinton’s Irish roots, asks him about how he first got involved in voice acting, we talk to him about the negative reaction that defined Raiden’s arrival on the Metal Gear scene and why he believes voice actors don’t get the credit they deserve for the work they do....."

[Retroplayer]

Ah man, despite not being Raidens biggest fan when MGS2 rolled around I do think he's a wonderful voice actor and after reading this he comes across as a damn nice guy!

That said, that last line in the article kind of has me worried about Rising. Surely, no one else can voice Raiden. He IS Raiden. Anyone else agree?

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

His voice is so awesome
He also does Axel in Kingdom Hearts which is why like him even more

[SwilloTGL]

I hope is isnt re-cast for Rising.....I cant really hear anyone else in the part to be honest....

[Retroplayer]

Well, he's like Nolan North in the way that he has a very unique and recongizable voice. I mean, imagine if they re-cast Nathan Drake.

Still, fingers crossed he's involved. I don't think Konami are that stupid though!

[jack_burt0n]

from the ppl doing voice work i know it really is incredible how little they get paid, its shocking.

[SwilloTGL]

Ya, Jack, Voice overs dont get the residuals they probably deserve

[Retroplayer]

Hell yes! They're getting shafted.

[Raendom]

Standing in front of a microphone for a few hours a day is hardly demanding work. :\

[Neckbear]

No, not really, they get paid in the thousands for one day of work.

[ATiElite]

Talking into a microphone for a couple hours and your done! I'm sorry that's not a million dollar job. Don't go raising video game prices to pay some under worked voice actor.

James Earl Jones who was the voice for Darth Vader got paid very well but look how iconic his voice AND character are. Get to that level and then you'll get a raise.

sure these voice actors have talent but they usually do this in like one or two days. if they want the big bucks they need to transition to voice acting on a show that runs weekly.

I have more sympathy for game testers who have to play a crappy game over and over and over again and again and again than for a Voice Actor who is done in like a few hours.

[LoaMcLoa]

Actually, they do get paid pretty well. Depending on how many jobs they take too.

Raendom: Really, it's just as hard as acting. You have to express youself and do perticular body movements to get the right voice.

[jack_burt0n]

You become an iconic part of a franchise and your being paid $1k a game, you think thats fair?, u guys must be teenagers or just stupid.

Good game testers get paid as much as anyone else on a project, they are highly sort after its only the interns that get paid peanuts.

[Baka-akaB]

Not to mention only a few are actually really good at it .

Most just couldnt care less and comes for the check .

[mastiffchild]

@Baka-akaB-that's the issue here. If more of them treated the gig like NN and DH then we'd see a much better level of pay across the board for gaming voice actors. I know a couple of people who've done the job and also acted on stage and on TV/film and they reckon it's harder in some ways to act fora game character but even they admit that a lot of the bigger names(those, tellingly who aren't big gamers themselves)who voice game characters treat it as a poor relation and just go through the motions. Game directors aren't thick and they know who puts their all into it(which is why we see a few names crop up more often these days in big games I guess-directors know they can trust NN, for example, to try his best)and who just phone it in.

I can see how emoting into a microphone, on your own in a little room might be a crappy way to do your acting and a difficult way to stay in the moment and for the extra difficulty the task does deserve more kudos if it's done well but that will only come when more actors themselves take it seriously and with big names like Jack black and Vin Diesel actually putting in big, proud performances(in Vins case as a gamer, IDK about black)maybe that time is coming.

Whatever, we need more actors to treat the job seriously if these actors who do are to get the cash and props they may well deserve. I think it's probably a very different and difficult way to do your acting myself with very little to bounce off and never being sure where the player is in terms of mood when they play through to any of your scenes-a lot less controlled than film and in games with a lot of player choice it must be hard to have to do a voice for each choice and know your character's motivations etc.Tougher than just reading into a microphone-people always think acting's a lot easier than it is until they do it.

If they paid writers better and involved them more i8n the core of games they'd get better stories and scripts and we'd get better games too. One area gaming is still growing up is in marrying all the artistic disciplines together and when it learns how we'll all be better off and part of it is recognising the importance of good actors and good writers to the industry and to games themselves.

[SwilloTGL]

Yeah, E3 will tell all hopefully

[Jack-H]

Although I'm not exactly the biggest raiden fan. I liked his "arc" in MGS4. Not because he was a gray foxish guy all of a sudden, I just liked the character more. I guess he grew up a lot since 2. I always thought all of the voices were great. I mean... Could you make an US Metal gear solid without Hayter? They are a vital and much appreciated part of the industry.

[likerussia]

Interesting, I'd kinda miss his voice if he isn't in it.

[SwilloTGL]

I'd miss him too

[Kos-Mos]

Great voice. Great character in MGS2 and MGS4. People who didn`t like Raiden=usa boys.
People who like Raiden=Men.

You`re not homosexual because you like a feminin male character. You`re not homosexual because you have feelings. You`re not homosexual because you whine.
You`re just real.
Keep it real like Japanese developers do.
Just look at gears and tell me how I can take that game serious.

[Jack-H]

Not really sure what your point is. No one thinks that Raiden fans are gay, I especially don't. I just didn't like his character. No harm meant.

[Kos-Mos]

The common man is a fool.

[denero1]

voice actors should go on strike then :\ to be taken seriously :\ why should companies make millions upon millions and voice actors get screwed its the voice actors who immerse players into the game -_-

[maddfoxx]

Shafted? Voice actors get paid thousands to sit in a studio and talk in a microphone for a few days. I do more work then them and just make minimum wage. Quinton is good at conveying emotion, but I wouldnt call him a great Voice Actor. He uses the same voice for all of his characters.

To me, a great voice actor would be Tara Strong. Shes capable of producing more than one voice for her characters. I think mister Flynn is confusing respect with popularity. To be honest, no one cares about voice actors because we dont really get to see their faces or real personalities.

[Jack-H]

"no one cares about voice actors" ...any fan of ANY game does care. Just like Tara Strong as Batgirl. Kevin Conroy as The Batman.. Solid Snake... Nolan whatshisface from Uncharted. I understand your point but you shouldn't act like you speak for everyone, or anyone except for yourself.

[maddfoxx]

I should probably word that differently. . . The mass-majority care more about stars like Jonnhy Depp than any voice actor. Its because movie actors offer more than a simple voice actor ever could.
Im not trying to discredit Flynn. Im just not liking how hes complaining about having an easy job that yields significantly more money than the average adult makes.

[DanteKnightsTemplar]

awesome interview. seems like an awesome real guy. I never understood why there was mgs Raiden hate. Raiden mgs 2 and 4 = awesome !

[SolidMGSnake]

So in games like Uncharted and LA Noire where its more than just the voice you're supplying, you'd get paid more?