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Could voice actors become gaming's star attractions?
Mon, 21st May 2012
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Gaming’s leading man Nolan North has told eurogamer.net that he foresees voice actors becoming genuine selling points for gaming titles.

If he’s right, then he’ll be a busy man – North is already the George Clooney of the gaming industry, having appeared in more than 100 games including Resistance, Batman: Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed, Black Ops and Portal 2.

North is perhaps best known for his leading role as Nathan Drake in the hugely successful Uncharted series.

He made the comment in response to a question about whether players are turned off by recognisable voices.

"I think there’s slowly been a shift away from ‘Oh, he’s in too many games’ to ‘Oh, I like him, I’m going to get that game because he’s in that.’ Why not? That’s what happens in the movies, right? I think there’s going to be a shift and more and more voice actors are going to get recognised like that.”

North’s latest role is in the upcoming Spec Ops: The Line, a modern day adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

The game has already received some controversy and may be banned upon release in the United Arab Emirates for its depiction of futuristic Dubai; however North says the game is deeper than most shooters.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing how it comes out…it really goes into the psyche of the soldier in combat and how it can affect them. The gameplay gives players real choices to make…just like a real soldier in the field might have to face.”

And though North has appeared in any number of blockbuster games, he maintains a down-to-earth attitude about his job.

"I don’t really mind if I’m the lead character or ‘Soldier number 5’. I just like to work, I enjoy what I do. I laugh in the booth thinking, ‘Gosh, they’re paying me for this.’”

Spec Ops: The Line is due for release next month, but we’d like your thoughts on North’s opinions – will voice actors ever earn the same fame and popularity as movie stars?