Question about voicework in upcoming cinematics

I'd post this on the Ask a Dev thread but its locked atm.

The logical thing you'd expect is that the next cinematic would feature The Merovingian.  This would be great since he hasn't appeared in a cinematic since 2.1!  For that matter, none of the original actors from the movies have appeared recently, the last one was Gina Torres as Niobe in 5.1.

I'm wondering if any of these actors still can or are able to do voicework for MxO.   I know SOE is not exactly spending top dollar as far as this game is concerned, but I was wondering if these actors were contracted or anything beforehand to insure their voicework would appear in the game for a set amount of time. 

It would be horrible if, for example, they just used some random actor with a cheesy French accent to the play the Merovingian.  It just has to be Lambert Wilson...I mean, really.

Also, I'm sure the stock collection of soundbites that are used in criticals is probably running thin.  It would be nice if they could record some new ones.

Rarebit said there's an unused Mero/Persephone conversation that'll show up in one of the new cinematics. So... there you go, I guess. 

kou_urake wrote:

Rarebit said there's an unused Mero/Persephone conversation that'll show up in one of the new cinematics. So... there you go, I guess. 

oh? *digs*

Meh we all know what the Merovingian sounds like, who I want to hear is Veil.  I mean comon, we don't know what she sounds like and it would be nice to hear her voice in a Cinematic. 

I believe that Veil's original character was meant to be a "sweet, old, grandmotherly" type.  Which is why she says "dearie" all the time.  I actually kind of wish they kept Veil's personality from when she was Toorima.  Toorima was a VERY cool and very likeable character.  Made it all the more shocking when she turned out to be the traitor. 

EDIT:  What the hell is wrong with these forums?!

Sure buddy!

Group pic of the Novalis II:

She's all the way on the left.

Here's her portrait:

It's interesting to note that of all the Novalis II crew pics, Toorima's is the only one with a blue background. 

Also, for *CENSORED* and giggles, here's her bio:

Toorima
(Tasha Spencer)
Communications Expert on the Novalis II, Master Knife Thrower

"Toorima is crude sometimes, but most of the time she is the best of us - she works hard, stays focused, and gets results." - Neurophyte

Of all the members of the Novalis II crew, Toorima is perhaps the most secretive.  She keeps her feelings and thoughts close and often only expresses herself through crude humor; strange for one who has been designated to be the communications expert on the ship.  When she isn't offending (and amusing) the rest of the crew with her jokes, she is usually somewhat quiet.  Extremely efficient, she often comes off as cold and unfeeling.  It has become a mission for the rest of the crew to continually probe and prod to get her to reveal a bit more about herself.  She is a bit of a mystery, but one they seem intent on cracking.

Toorima spends a lot of time sending data packets to Zion. Rumors fly about long conversations with Zion Command. Is it a friend, a relative, a lover?  Whatever she's up to, she isn't talking.

I wish I had screens from back in the day...  I actually had developed into a friend of Toorima's.  Which is partly why my character hates the Cypherites so much.

~Fen

Here's some more info for you then, that you might like: 

First off, is an old DN1 info post that shows the beginnings of the Cypherite organization. 

EDIT:  THESE FORUMS SUCK MAH **fig newtons**.

Link.

And here's the forum post by Aether that shows Toorima being captured by Zion:

Tamarin looked back at the nine chairs of the Broadcast bay. Smoke hovered lazily over one of the chairs. Each face, in repose, as if sleeping.

A whirl of servos, and each supine form jerked once. Seven sat up, blinking. One... didn't.

A moment of silence, then the sound of his body sliding to the floor.

The voices began to sound.

"What the hell..."

"I was in the middle of talking to..."

"Where the..."

"Hey! What's going on!"

"Tamarin, report."

Sawayaka's voice cut through the others, and Tamarin, sweating freely, took a deep breath to speak.

Just then the alarms began.

"Proximity!"

WanNi's shout was followed by a shout from Al3xandra.

"Vashuo! Wake up!"

Tamarin cleared his throat.

"He's not waking up, Alex, he's the reason I pulled you out of there."

Sawayaka closed her eyes for a moment, overwrought.

Chaos reigned as everyone tried to do something... anything.

"Listen. Alex, you and Toorima get up to the cockpit and find out what's out there. Oni, you, Lelan, and Odran look after Vashuo. WanNi, you, me and Tamarin need to talk. Now move!"

Alex strapped into her seat, eyes filled with tears. She was still foggy from the forced jackout and the alarms, but she couldn't mistake the boneless sprawl of Vashuo's body on the floor of the Novalis II. Her friend... dead. First Neurophyte, and now this.

Toorima, on the other hand, was coolly efficient. Establishing a comm-link with the approaching hovercraft, she began speaking quickly and urgently into the microphone.

Back in the Broadcast bay, Odran and Lelan began moving Vashuo's body. Oniyuzu reported to Sawayaka.

"Captain, it looks like a device was attached to Vashuo's cranial jack before he went into the Matrix today. A small electrical charge broke the connection between his brain and the jack, killing him."

"The body cannot survive without the mind."

WanNi turned and punched the bulkhead.

"Captain, this is Alex. There is another hovercraft, designated HvCFT Sedna, about to dock with us. Zion Command confirms their authenticity. Toorima has uploaded our server logs and comm dumps to them."

"Acknowledged. Any word about what we should do?"

"Captain, this is Toorima. Zion Command has dropped off our comms. We're eating static right now."

"What? What happened?"

"Checking now. No, Alex, forget it, I've got it. Just let me... yes. It looks like the Sedna clipped our antenna coming in. They've linked their comms with us until we get back."

Novalis II abruptly stopped in mid-flight, then began descending, pushed from above.

"Captain! Sedna is cutting through our upper hull! Bulkhead twelve, next to the ventral hatch!"

"Toorima! Find out what is happening and get them to stop!"

"Sorry, Captain, they have cut off our comms. We'll have to ask them when they get aboard."

"Captain, this is Odran, Vashuo has been put in a safe place. What do we..."

With a click, all the internal speakers on the craft switched on at once.

"Attention crew of the Novalis II. This is Captain Redhand of the Sedna. You are ordered to lay upon the deck with your hands on your head, and await our crew who will bring you into custody."

Sawayaka stabbed the button on the ship intercom.

"On what authority? We have a medical emergency here! You can't just come on board and detain us!"

"Zion Security, be advised the crew is resisting our boarding operation. Use tasers and restraints to detain each one."

WanNi and Sawayaka looked at each other in shock.

Alex turned to ask Toorima what was going on, and saw her already laying on the deck of the cockpit, with her hands on her head.

"I suggest you do the same, Alex, these guys sound like they mean business."

One by one the crew of the Novalis II were led into the detention area of the Sedna. First, Toorima, looking cool and comfortable despite the restraints about her wrists.

"Captain Redhand, this is Toorima. She did not resist detainment, and promises to cooperate."

"Put her in a bunk, keep her restraints on."

Alex was brought in next. She was cradling her left wrist, and restraints were placed on both her arms and her legs.

"What is this! We're loyal to Zion!"

"Captain Redhand, this is Al3xandra. She attempted to get up while we were putting her restraints on. I believe she has a broken wrist."

"Put her in bunk as well. Get the doc to look at her when we can."

Oniyuzu and Odran were next. Both were unconscious, with taser darts sticking out of their shoulders. A strong odor of chemicals hung around them.

"Captain Redhand, these are Oniyuzu and Odran. We found them guarding the body. They had to be... persuaded... to come aboard.

The others were brought in. Sawayaka and WanNi were trussed up with a number of restraints. Both sporting taser darts in their chests.

Lelan was last.

"Captain Redhand, this is Lelan. He attempted to fight his way out of the hovercraft. After we put a taser into his chest, he said, quote, ‘You won't take me down, Captain Carnage. Not after our last meeting!' I recognized this as a line from one of his movies, ‘Empire of Salesmen'. We were forced to tase him four times."

"Permanent damage?"

"Does it matter?"

"No. But Niobe and Ghost will be here in their ‘craft in fifteen minutes. Clean everyone up, and cut their restraints. Lock the cabins we put them in. Move!"

"Captain Niobe! Very glad you made it. We have put the entire crew in protective custody, locked into separate rooms. Tamarin and our Operator are going over the operational logs of the entire crew."

"Good, Captain Redhand. I won't lie to you. If Veil is on this ship, then we will have apprehended the highest ranking Cypherite we know. It is of the utmost importance that we find out who killed Vashuo, and which crew member is masquerading as the Cypherite leader in his or her spare time."

"Pardon, Captain Niobe, but ‘Veil?' I don't believe I have heard that name before?"

"You might not have, Redhand. Veil is the code-name of a Zion operative who has risen to the very top of the Cypherite organization. Some of our operatives have infiltrated the Cypherite ranks. Along the way Veil's name has been whispered as a leader to be respected and feared. Some reports place Veil as a woman, but most have him as a tall man."

Captain Redhand smirked, "Well, none of these we collected today are especially tall, but I'll turn over interrogation to you, ma'am."

"Captain Redhand, bring in Sawayaka. I want to talk to her first."

"Well, Captain, I... can't do that. Sawayaka is unconscious. She resisted the invitation to board."

"Odd. How about WanNi? Oniyuzu? Alex?"

"Toorima is available, ma'am."

"Bring her in."

Toorima walked in, eyes moist. Her reddened eyes and nose betrayed the fact that she had been crying. Captain Redhand nodded to Niobe and left them alone.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry for my condition. I just heard the details about Vashuo, and what happened on our ship. You think there is a traitor on board?"

"Yes, I do, Toorima. You're the first I've talked to. I have a few questions, then we'll let you rest. No one is in trouble, yet. You are all assumed to be loyal to Zion until we find evidence to the contrary. I know its hard, because one of your friends is a traitor, but you must know that you are innocent in my eyes unless we find otherwise."

"I understand, Niobe. I just, can't... believe this has happened. I... I'm so sorry this has happened."

"Toorima, were you on mission assignment when Vashuo died?"

"Yes ma'am! I was performing my mission, and was talking with a friend when Tamarin pulled me out. Oh my god! You don't think Tamarin did it, do you? I mean, he had the opportunity while we were jacked in, but... Tamarin...?"

"Let's focus on the matter at hand. Ghost reports to me a number of fragments are strewn about your emergency jack-out locations. We've never seen this phenomenon before. Do you have any idea, as a communications specialist, what could have happened?"

Toorima spoke through sudden tears, "It would have to be deliberate. Focused pulses through a cell-phone would disrupt their RSIs.. I don't know! Who could do this! Who would!"

"Toorima, we will find out who did this. I promise. I'll let you go back to your room. Try to get some rest. We'll interview the next person."

Niobe spoke into the intercom over Toorima's quiet sobs.

"I'm done speaking with Toorima for now. Now tell me again why everyone else was subdued with such force?"

This story was a team effort, a collaboration between the members of the Live Events Team. Some of the finest people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. Kudos team, on a job well done. -A

Speaking of voicework, I rather hear Ookami... *rawr*  */wink*