Hello everyone! Just the other day I was playing through Sonic Adventure, one of my favorite games that didn't age too well, and one thing in particular that aged poorly is the voice acting. The direction is shoddy in most ares, the performances mediocre at best, and the audio quality of many of the voice files is sub-standard, with background noise and mouth clicking present throughout many of them. Sometimes, you can even hear music that doesn't belong in the scene. So I thought to myself, "Why not try and fix those issues myself?", and that is the basis of this casting call. To be clear, this is not a fandub in the traditional sense. This will not be going on YouTube or some other video sharing site. The files you record will be sent to me, where I will convert them into .adx files that can be loaded into the PC version of Sonic Adventure DX. These files will then be the ones the game uses as opposed to the original voice files. The goal of this project is to create an improved experience for Sonic Adventure, where the poor voice acting and direction can be rather jarring at times. The final product will be released on the websites ModDB and GameBanana, with instructions for installation once the mod is available, though I can tell you right now that the PC version of SADX is required, and the Better SADX mod and its mod loader are highly encouraged as well.
Every role in the game is up for grabs, except for Knuckles the Echidna, for whom I will provide the voice. The line totals may be subject to change, as I will attempt to determine how many of the lines are not used in the final game to lessen the amount of work on you all. As it stands, each major character has over 100 lines of dialogue, with Sonic and Tikal each eclipsing the 300 mark. That is to say that this will be a big project and requires a certain level of commitment. Please be ready for that. I will also probably cast understudy roles for the major characters as well. Extra/background characters, as they have sometimes as little as one line, will be chosen from some of the runner up auditions that don't make the cut or filled in by the understudies.
Please note that some characters will have more than the typical three audition lines. This is intentional, so please record all audition lines in your audition to ensure I get the best possible gauge on your performance.
According with my desire to see this mod, and by extension its VA's, improve over the original wherever possible, there are several requirements that must be met for me to consider casting you.
1. Excellent audio quality is a must. No background noise, no reverb, no laptop mics, no headset mics and no phone mics. If your audio quality is crap, I will not consider casting you. I want this mod to be an improvement, not a downgrade. You may be able to pull off the perfect Sonic, but that doesn't matter if your recording environment or equipment are low quality. Remember that.
2. You must be okay with live direction. I cannot stress this enough. Part of the reason so many of the performances suffered in the original was a lack of clear direction. As someone who is very familiar with the game, I believe I can provide the direction necessary to ensure each and every VA gives an excellent performance, but you must be willing to work with me to make that possible.
3. I don't want you to replicate past actors. Or really any other actor from the Sonic series. That said, you will not lose points for doing so. However, just know that what matters to me more than anything is your ability to act. An original take that is excellently acted will always surpass a great impression with little emotion.
4. You will need either a Discord or Skype account. This is so I can live direct you. It is up to your personal preference which one we use. I will send you the script through CCC upon casting and you will need to let me know which communication option you prefer and how to contact you through your preferred communication option. I will then work with you to set aside times where I can live direct you.
5. Don't flake out on me. Once cast please, please show up for scheduled direction times and/or don't bail on the project without an adequate excuse. I am an understanding guy. If there is something going on you can tell me and I will be more than happy to work with you and accommodate any delays. However, too many delays, even with valid excuses, will eventually lead to me finding a replacement.
6. Be committed and prepared. We will not just be doing the story or cutscenes, but all voice files in the game data. That includes hints, tutorials, menu screen voices, and character grunts and death sounds. This is a lot more work of course, but I believe it will be worth it in the long run. If that level of commitment is too much for you to handle, please don't audition. I will try and omit files that are not used in the final game, but it will still be a lot of lines.
7. Have fun with it and don't be afraid to ask for feedback. Lastly, don't let the list of rules and requirements intimidate you. I may want this done well, but that doesn't mean we can't all have fun doing it. I will also try to offer feedback on any auditions that request it. If you want private feedback, then feel free to message me through the site. I am just a poor college student though, so please bear with me if it takes a while to get to you. Good luck everyone!
