Vanillaware’s latest game title, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, is getting delayed for a few weeks, pushing its release on September 22, 2020. The choice comes from the desire to have the game coincided with a day 1 patch, adding an English voiceover into the game.
The patch specifically applies to the physical copy of the game which will not be having the VO contents out of the box. A trivial topic it may be for some. However, having an English voiceover only makes the localization more thorough versus one that doesn’t.
Considering the circumstances, the cause for the voiceover getting second priority is intuitive. The ongoing pandemic being a major key player to it. Specifically, via the repercussion of the work-from-home setup that proved difficult in the gaming industry in general.
Difficulty Amid the Pandemic
In an article by the PlayStation Blog, localization team member Allie Doyon told the challenges that come with working remotely.
Doyon explained how the setting has shifted from the traditional in-house production to something remote. Citing briefly along the way the transition that took place in the process, all of which underpinned by health safety.
In her own humor, Allie Doyon placed the idea of work safety by needing to uphold a healthy pair of lungs. Which, intuitively, is indeed something that all VO actors capitalize in for livelihood and career. Unfortunately, also the target of the virus’ deleterious effect on its victims.
Maintaining Quality Standards
For a job that usually happens within closed doors, having to work with the voiceover remotely has had its challenges. The venue being a primary issue considering that studio-quality audio recordings do not just happen at any place. As it appears, working at the studio was out of the option.
True to the WFH fashion, the localization team had to make with what’s plausible to get the project done. This means employing whichever available technology and making makeshift means to perform everyone’s role in the process.
For the voiceover actors, especially, that implies making an improvised room for audio recording while connecting with everyone via conference calls.
Although not necessarily the case, Doyon jokingly sampled having to work in a closet just to meet the goal. Whether a sarcasm, a joke, or not, the reason behind it is likely believable.
With or without English dubbing, Western audiences should still count themselves lucky that this high-acclaimed title is making its way westward.
Image used courtesy of IGN/YouTube Screenshot