Interview with a Gnome Death Knight
We still have no idea who did the voice of the Headless Horseman, but if you're playing a male Gnome Death Knight lately, we know whose voice you've been listening to: Dino Andrade, recently interviewed by Geeks of Doom, a voice actor who's probably most heard as "Pop" of the Kellogg's Rice Crispies mascots. You can hear his reels and demos on his website, and sure enough, that's our Gnome.Andrade says the Blizzard recording was "the most secretive thing I have ever done" -- they didn't show him anything visually about what the character was or did, and apparently he wasn't even allowed to take the script out of the recording room. Andrade also says that Blizzard is keen to let voice actors do their thing -- rather than giving direction, they let the actor come up with lots of their own reads, and then chose the one they wanted to use. It's almost hard to believe that Blizzard's voice acting is so good, given how hands-off they are (you'd think they'd aim to connect it with the art or animation in some way), but Blizzard fans know how well it works -- the voice characterisation in Blizzard games has always been terrific.
Very interesting -- while Blizzard's voices are one of the things that have really made their games successful, it's strange that they've never let us into the process more. Their sites are full of concept art and model designs, but it would be cool to hear an uncut recording session or find out exactly how voice recordings are integrated with the game. Maybe we'll see more on that in the future.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Expansions, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
benicrystal Nov 17th 2008 5:08PM
Gnomes? Gnomes and little Rice Elves.
You guys couldn't find, oh, the Troll or Tauren voice actors? :(
Interesting article either way, but...
...Gnomes?
offday Nov 17th 2008 6:14PM
Gnomes freakin' rock. You, sir, suck.
PimpyMicPimp Nov 17th 2008 6:16PM
Shut up and die. Gnomes > Your filthy subrace.
Moody Loner Nov 17th 2008 5:15PM
Embrace the gnome rage, Dino.
Crittcann Nov 17th 2008 5:16PM
Gnomes are stupid looking, sure they are part of the game but pick the Male undead DK, or yes, the Tauren, they actually look like they would strike fear into the hearts of their enemies, Gnomes, pft, /laugh /giggle
offday Nov 17th 2008 6:16PM
Who would ever expect a gnome could kick so much butt. That's what's badass about them. Of course I'd expect a huge freaking cow or a skeleton to scare me. But that's just boring, and a little predictable.
Dillon Nov 18th 2008 11:01AM
I'd take boring and predictable over ridiculous-looking.
On the plus side, alliance now has more quests where we get to kill gnomes specifically. There's been a dry stretch since Gnomeregan.
mizatt Nov 17th 2008 5:16PM
Any voices Blizzard ever uses for the rest of the company's existence will always be second to Milhouse Manastorm
Mark Nov 17th 2008 5:17PM
One of the Death Knight trainers sounds exactly like Kerrigan from Starcraft.
Jessica Nov 17th 2008 5:23PM
I would have to disagree. Gnomes of the female variety are cute, done in the right colors :) But yea, male gnomes make me grind my teeth a little. At least the folks from the Cartel are actually amusing the first 20 times or so.
Reginleif Nov 17th 2008 5:24PM
Dino also did the voice for Skull the Troll in PvPs 12 episode animated series last year.
Worcester Nov 17th 2008 5:24PM
As I work with voice-over talent on a daily basis, I can confirm that you'll almost always get the best reads when you let the performers put their own spin on it.
These are highly trained, experienced and talented people. They know their own range and capability more than anyone else possibly could. Give them too much direction, or try to micro-manage their reads and you'll end up disappointed every time.
Saelorn Nov 17th 2008 5:30PM
Blizzard effectively limited the interest in gnomish death knights when they decided to make the strength based in all trees, just like all warrior trees and (now apparently) two of three paladin trees. They could have made it easier to share gear by making two or three blood knight trees based on int and spell damage, but no...
So now I'm torn between making a gnome death knight for the sheer absurdity of it, and actually making a mechanically stronger character out of a human or knight elf. I'll probably wrestle with that decision for months before I actually get around to creating it, though.
PimpyMicPimp Nov 17th 2008 6:18PM
It makes so little difference in the long run. Pick the race you like for the sake of liking it.
Naix Nov 17th 2008 5:31PM
Once upon a time I would only pown gnome warlocks on site. Now I pown them all.
Lemons Nov 17th 2008 5:54PM
It would be awesome if gnome death knights' voices sounded all bass and evil!
Jorge Nov 17th 2008 6:13PM
"the voice characterisation in Blizzard games has always been terrific."
As far as the US English goes. The Latin American version (ES-MX) is plain horrible.
Thank god I speak both languages...
marty.hartwick Nov 17th 2008 6:14PM
"Pwn" has no "o".
Also, on topic I found the voices for some of the 'younger' male Death Knight NPCs sound like snivelling 14 year olds...
Couldn't they have found someone at least a little intimidating...
Dillon Nov 18th 2008 11:05AM
"pown" seems to be the bastard child of pwn and the people trying to actually pronounce it in vent.
Sad.
Montezul Nov 17th 2008 6:22PM
You know I've always wondered how many leper Gnomes out there would see service to the Lich King as preferable to the Toxic leprosy their currently suffering.
At the very least it gets them out into the game world, as opposed to being stuck in a dungeon nobody wants to run.