BETA | GAME ACTING
Arne Meyer (insert) believes that shooting over the entire development period rather than in intensive three-week periods means the studio can get the most out of its performers, such as Emily Rose and Nolan North (above)
The Game’s a Stage
Now the fidelity of mo-cap technology is catching every nuance of a game actor’s performance, the performer’s role is in the spotlight. Will Freeman asks the leading roles from Uncharted 3 how their craft is changing, and how they are changing games
WITH UNCHARTED 3wrapped, the actors that gave Drake and many of his co-stars life have had a chance to rest and reflect on over five years embodying the same characters. In that time, a lot has changed. Drake has
emerged as one of gaming’s most convincing protagonists, whilst mo-cap and animation technology has vastly improved its ability to record every detail of an actor’s performance. Today a performer can put their all into a game character, from the squint of an eye to their emotional soul. As such, game actors now have a huge creative influence and larger responsibility than ever. That considered, isn’t it about time they were allowed to exercise a little more of their craft?
34 | DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012
Actors have had input in film and television for decades. Perhaps game developers could benefit from encouraging a little of the same. Naughty Dog certainly seem to think so, and Nolan North and Emily Rose – who play Uncharted’s Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher respectively – have almost become as much a part of the team as those in traditional dev roles, such as level designers and artists.
BORN TO PERFORM Under the watchful eye of series director Amy Hennig, North and Rose have had a remarkable effect on a game that has become something of a mascot and key franchise for the PlayStation 3.
Amy Hennig birthed the characters, but
she has allowed us to raise them. We were able to infuse our personalities over the past five-and-a- half years into who
the characters are. Nolan North, actor
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