The Voice Acting in the New Prince of Persia is Racist [Mobile/Archive]

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 10:53 PM

Now I'm a completely chill guy when it comes to being politically correct and I'm even currently serving a 6 month ban on Neogaf for supposedly being rascist. But when I watched the guided tour video (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-prince-of-persia-gameplay-run-jump-and-climb-through/) and discovered that Nathan Drake is our Prince of PERSIA I was a bit outraged. This is hot on the heels of
http://img.skitch.com/20080821-biug1e4y7qwcxuxm7e4b16y52y.jpg

which frankly makes me even more pissed. I'm Persian myself (parents are afghan) and I've been called various racist things and had to endure horrendously unfunny jokes. But I've never actually been too mad besides getting pulled over at the airport. But to me this is like fucking blackface and I won't tolerate it. If anyone knows of a phone number to Ubisoft I can use I would be grateful. This was one of my most anticipated games of the year but I won't buy it if I have to hear the sound of Ubisofts marketing department being a bunch of racist fucks every five seconds.

mike.m

08-20-2008, 10:55 PM

Ok I'll bite, who's this guy and why does it make this racist?

heavyd853

08-20-2008, 10:57 PM

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 10:59 PM

Or maybe there's a lack of availability on the (I'm assuming) limited amount of Persian or Middle Eastern voice actors?

I can at least assume they don't intend for any racism, its just a problem with the resources they're provided with or something along those lines.
This is a high budget game and I'm sure there are plenty of VA who can do a accent. And I bet you the current voice actor cost a premium anyway since he did Uncharted.

leveskikesko

08-20-2008, 11:00 PM

I wouldn't call it racist because there's really no proof of that, and I think you're reading way too into things right now. A stereotypical voice would be somehow less racist? (not to say it was racist to begin with)

However, I think it's a shame we got a white Prince of Persia. It's as if as soon as there's a chance for hollywood to show a little variety, they completely and shamelessly blow it off.

I have always envisioned the Prince as a tan guy with Persian features, after all it's supposed to be Prince of Persia. The guy in the movie looks has a strong Northern European look, and it's almost laughable to even begin to consider him Persian. I doubt it would be that hard to find someone that can act, while looking the part in such a diverse country.

Hell, I'm not even saying I want a Persian(although it would be nice to finally see a Persian person on the big screen), but rather just someone that at least looks remotely Persian. It kind of seems they chose this guy for his star appeal more than anything else.

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 11:01 PM

Ok I'll bite, who's this guy and why does it make this racist?
The guys that I assume your talking about are Jake Gyllenhall (sp) and whoever did the voice of Nathan Drake in uncharted. But those two guys are just doing their job. The real problem is at the feet of the higher ups.

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 11:04 PM

I wouldn't call it racist because there's really no proof of that, and I think you're reading way too into things right now.

However I agree to an extent, it's a shame. I have always envisioned the Prince as a tan guy, after all it's supposed to be Prince of Persia. The guy in the movie looks Northern European, it just doesn't look right and I doubt it would be that hard to find someone that can act and also play the part. It kind of seems they chose this guy for his star appeal more than anything else.
There's actually nothing wrong with the look of the prince (in this new movie, new game, or even Sands of Time). Persian guys aren't all dark (most people think I'm Mexican or jewish). The voice betrays his look though and it completely takes me out of the setting.

Chacrana

08-20-2008, 11:06 PM

Whatever it is, it probably doesn't matter.

leveskikesko

08-20-2008, 11:06 PM

There's actually nothing wrong with the look of the prince (in this new movie, new game, or even Sands of Time). Persian guys aren't all dark (most people think I'm Mexican or jewish). The voice betrays his look though and it completely takes me out of the setting.

Huh? I know they aren't super dark. I've known some Persian people, and trust me I know what they look like. I'm not saying he has to be dark like an Indian, but they could have at least chosen someone that didn't look straight up Northern European. It's just too unrealistic for my taste, even if it is somewhat of a fictional story.

Rusty Ghia

08-20-2008, 11:10 PM

Vinny

08-20-2008, 11:15 PM

I don't think this is really racist... or offensive. This is in no way supposed to be a historically accurate portrayal of a Persian prince. If you want a historically accurate portrayal of a Persian prince, go read a book.

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 11:15 PM

Wait, you're crying foul because the Prince of Persia isn't voiced/acted by a Persian?

Here's a little tidbit for you: Bart Simpson isn't voiced by a 10-year old boy, but by... a WOMAN!! Sexist and ageist!

I watched only the first minute of the video and I saw nothing racist. Yeah, it's silly that the Prince of Persia has an American accent, but who cares?

Some people just love to be offended.
I'm not crying foul because he isn't voiced by a Persian. I'm crying foul because he doesn't SOUND like a persian. Now if Bart Simpson suddenly sounded like a old woman many people would cry foul.

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 11:18 PM

I don't think this is really racist... or offensive. This is in no way supposed to be a historically accurate portrayal of Persians. If you want a historically accurate portrayal of Persians, go read a book.
Dude Persians aren't a extinct species.

bobo2k4

08-20-2008, 11:23 PM

miyamotofreak

08-20-2008, 11:27 PM

Ummm I don't see how this would be considered racist.
It's an American game made for an American audience. Dynasty Warriors was voiced by nothing but Americans and I see nothing wrong with that. Yea, I prefer a more authentic feel too but weren't the previous games the same?
Actually Sands of Time had a accent and the DW games have some (weak) asianish voices. American for American doesn't make sense either. If they used Nathan Drakes voice for say CJ from GTA people would be livid.

mrlokievil

08-20-2008, 11:36 PM

Actually Sands of Time had a accent and the DW games have some (weak) asianish voices.

I'm guessing you haven't heard the voices in the DW games. They were definitely not Asian. This would be racist if they were doing a stereotypical racist accent but he's just doing a voice.

They used British voice actors for Siren and no one complained.

Vinny

08-21-2008, 12:49 AM

Dude Persians aren't a extinct species.

I'm not sure why you think I even made the notion of them being extinct...

DarkSageRK

08-21-2008, 12:56 AM

pimpinc333

08-21-2008, 12:58 AM

Greetard

08-21-2008, 01:01 AM

The dude who plays Xerxes (a Persian) in 300 was Brazilian. Who gives a fuck? Gerard Butler is Irish but played King Leonidas. I'm Greek and could care less.

Did you care when Nathen Lane and Robbin Williams played a gay couple in Birdcage? No.
Did you care when the Asian "students" in 21 were played by white people? No.
How about when it was revealed that ~90% of the voice actors for Prince of Egypt were white? No.

You're making a whole lotta noise about a whole lotta nothing. And only when it happens to you.

looploop

08-21-2008, 01:11 AM

The dude who plays Xerxes (a Persian) in 300 was Brazilian. Who gives a fuck? Gerard Butler is Irish but played King Leonidas. I'm Greek and could care less.

To be fair, Xerxes had a pretty (hilariously) shitty and inaccurate portrayal there. I could understand being pissed at seeing a Persian thus represented.

Nathan Drake as the Prince of Persia though? Not quite so worthy of such umbrage in my eyes. Foreign characters are dubbed/voiced by Americans all the time.

KingBroly

08-21-2008, 01:11 AM

I don't understand how this is racist. At all. The guy who voices Kratos is black, so does that mean God of War is racist?

62t

08-21-2008, 01:19 AM

The old Dynasty Warriors had tons of problem with voice acting, the biggest being names that were mispronounced.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 01:26 AM

Even if you were able to prove that you knew what every Persian who ever existed sounded like, all you'd be able to show is that the voice acting is bad.

Stop trying to look for racism here. Maybe you'd find it on some train tracks. Look there.
The Nathan Drake voice is distinctively caucasian and is not even attempting any type of accent. As soon as I heard I was weirded out (I'm playing Uncharted on crushing right now). Now I'm not accusing the voice acting of being bad at all (its just Drake) but the direction is very offensive. Even Altair in AC had a accent. And don't bring Kratos into it, he was even imagined as black (I think Jaffe wants the guy from Blood Diamond to play him in the movie). GTA San Andreas was a game distinct for its setting. And if CJ was voiced by the Uncharted guy people would be pissed. And Prince of Persia is about the setting and I think the Prince should be authentic and I can't imagine the developers wanting anything else. That's why I think it's marketing. I'm sure this issue is going to come up when its time for release.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 01:26 AM

To be fair, Xerxes had a pretty (hilariously) shitty and inaccurate portrayal there. I could understand being pissed at seeing a Persian thus represented.

Nathan Drake as the Prince of Persia though? Not quite so worthy of such umbrage in my eyes. Foreign characters are dubbed/voiced by Americans all the time.
Well Frank Miller is a fucking lunatic so thats 300's problem.

pimpinc333

08-21-2008, 01:43 AM

Dude you are fucking crazy just admit it.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 01:45 AM

Dude you are fucking crazy just admit it.
How am I crazy for thinking its racist? Hell, my case is much better than N'Gai Croal on RE5.

MRJESUS925

08-21-2008, 01:47 AM

The Nathan Drake voice is distinctively caucasian and is not even attempting any type of accent. As soon as I heard I was weirded out (I'm playing Uncharted on crushing right now). Now I'm not accusing the voice acting of being bad at all (its just Drake) but the direction is very offensive. Even Altair in AC had a accent. And don't bring Kratos into it, he was even imagined as black (I think Jaffe wants the guy from Blood Diamond to play him in the movie). GTA San Andreas was a game distinct for its setting. And if CJ was voiced by the Uncharted guy people would be pissed. And Prince of Persia is about the setting and I think the Prince should be authentic and I can't imagine the developers wanting anything else. That's why I think it's marketing. I'm sure this issue is going to come up when its time for release.

If the Prince of Persia was authentic then he would sit in a palace and do prince things, like Fuck princesses. Not fight evil people and control time. The game is totally surreal, yet you want his voice to sound as realistic as possible. Plus, I have to imagine that if you weren't persian you wouldn't care about this "story" at all.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 01:53 AM

If the Prince of Persia was authentic then he would sit in a palace and do prince things, like Fuck princesses. Not fight evil people and control time. The game is totally surreal, yet you want his voice to sound as realistic as possible. Plus, I have to imagine that if you weren't persian you wouldn't care about this "story" at all.
I don't give a fuck about authentic (as I've made clear) I just want the fucking Prince of Persia not to sound like fucking Nathan Drake.

darkcecil32

08-21-2008, 01:59 AM

I wonder why they didn't just keep the same voice actor from the sands of time trilogy?

chakan

08-21-2008, 02:00 AM

Its called acting. You don't have to be your role.

Sheesh.

Chacrana

08-21-2008, 02:04 AM

How am I crazy for thinking its racist? Hell, my case is much better than N'Gai Croal on RE5.

N'Gai Croal's tirade was stupid, but you've actually surpassed it.

pimpinc333

08-21-2008, 02:04 AM

Its like you are paranoid everyone is out to get the poor Persian guy with bad acting and bad voice overs. Boo Hooo.

Chacrana

08-21-2008, 02:06 AM

And Prince of Persia is about the setting and I think the Prince should be authentic...

I don't give a fuck about authentic (as I've made clear)...

You be the judge.

MRJESUS925

08-21-2008, 02:08 AM

N'Gai Croal's tirade was stupid, but you've actually surpassed it.

Epic reponse. Chacrana FTW.

chakan

08-21-2008, 02:09 AM

The Nathan Drake voice is distinctively caucasian and is not even attempting any type of accent. You are right, someone is being racist here.

Now I'm a completely chill guy when it comes to being politically correct and I'm even currently serving a 6 month ban on Neogaf for supposedly being rascist.I believe half of this statement. You figure out which half.

MRJESUS925

08-21-2008, 02:13 AM

This thread just turned into a bash-fest against the OP. :lol:

Ahadi

08-21-2008, 02:27 AM

I'm not crying foul because he isn't voiced by a Persian. I'm crying foul because he doesn't SOUND like a persian.

This was as far into the thread as I got before I felt like I needed to chime in. I'm also Persian, my dad is from Iran. If you seriously want the Prince to sound like a Persian, then they will need to change his animations so that he talks with his hands, gets into what hes saying, standing up, moving around, and acting out both sides of a conversation between him and someone else. Also, a legit Persian accent on the Prince in the game could very well take away from the overall game experience. Don't get me wrong, its a cool accent, but like, come on... I can honestly say I wouldn't be able to stand it for an 8 to 12 hour game, let alone a 3 hour family gathering.

Halo05

08-21-2008, 02:45 AM

I'm wracking my brain here after being away from my history classes for awhile but I'm pretty sure that the people who built the Persian Empire into a massive, continent-spanning organism aren't even really the same people who currently live in Iran.

Look, when Alexander of Macedon conquered most of the known world, he encouraged marriages and relationships between his Greek armies and the various nations they absorbed, it helped everyone to sort of integrate. If you're going to look at it from a date after ~300 BC, it's perfectly reasonable to think that a "Prince of Persia" could look and sound very much like a man from Europe.

ninja dog

08-21-2008, 02:52 AM

It's racist against my taste...the dialogue is so out of place. I feel like I've been bait and switched after that freaking awesome Sigur Ros trailer. That's the true crime here.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 03:58 AM

This was as far into the thread as I got before I felt like I needed to chime in. I'm also Persian, my dad is from Iran. If you seriously want the Prince to sound like a Persian, then they will need to change his animations so that he talks with his hands, gets into what hes saying, standing up, moving around, and acting out both sides of a conversation between him and someone else. Also, a legit Persian accent on the Prince in the game could very well take away from the overall game experience. Don't get me wrong, its a cool accent, but like, come on... I can honestly say I wouldn't be able to stand it for an 8 to 12 hour game, let alone a 3 hour family gathering.
I actually do that too. Ninja Dog pretty much nails how I feel about the whole thing. And to the people saying I'm making something out of nothing, f*** you. I found it offensive and I'm sure I'm not the only looking at feedback from other sites.

leveskikesko

08-21-2008, 04:02 AM

You shouldn't throw around the word racist so carelessly. It's not a good habit.

Or do you actually think it's racist?

The Crotch

08-21-2008, 04:10 AM

Hmm. I hate to contribute, but this has been bugging me for-fucking-ever. Did anyone think that the Vizier in Two Thrones sounded like he was from Africa? And looked like he had gained about 60 pounds?
They used British voice actors for Siren and no one complained.That's because British accents are major aphrodisiacs.

Even Cockney?

Especially Cockney.

bardiya27

08-21-2008, 04:29 AM

Im Persian, and your topic is fucking stupid.

And please enlighten me as to how you are Persian if both your parents are Afghan? Were you born in Iran?

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 04:30 AM

You shouldn't throw around the word racist so carelessly. It's not a good habit.

Or do you actually think it's racist?
I don't toss the word racist around.This is the first I've ever accused anyone of being racist besides my mother (who knows she is). I do however think that having such a white sounding guy doing the Prince is a bit racist. I really do.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 04:33 AM

Im Persian, and your topic is fucking stupid.

And please enlighten me as to how you are Persian if both your parents are Afghan? Were you born in Iran?

Are you fucking stupid? You do know there are Persians outside of Iran right?

bardiya27

08-21-2008, 05:02 AM

Are you fucking stupid? You do know there are Persians outside of Iran right?

I do know there are Persians outside of Iran dumbass. I am one. I am asking you how are you Persian if both of your parents are Afghan and you were not born in Iran.

Sounds to me like you are Afghan.

Koggit

08-21-2008, 05:48 AM

bardockkun

08-21-2008, 06:01 AM

Voice of Samurai Jack is done by a black guy and he is awesome at it (AND I'm Asian!).

So in short, just because the guy who does the voice isn't the same race doesn't mean he won't kick ass. Hell if Samurai Jack was voiced by say...Jet Li then it would sound more racist and wrong then it really should be.

Koggit

08-21-2008, 06:06 AM

Even beyond voices, in movies actors of certain races play characters of another race. It happens all the time and nobody cares because there's absolutely nothing racist about it. If anything, it's anti-racism, symbolizing unity among all races, sending the message that we're not different enough for it to matter.

heavyd853

08-21-2008, 06:17 AM

Yeah c'mon, Robert Downey Jr is playing a black man in the tropic thunder movie!

Thats not racist!

trq

08-21-2008, 06:25 AM

1. White guy voicing a Persian is not racist at all. Absolutely in no way. People of one race voice characters of another race all the time -- in games, cartoons, anime, etc. Sometimes girls voice guys, also. Or guys voice girls. Absolutely nothing is racist about it (and nothing is sexist about one gender voicing another). You're being ridiculously oversensitive.

He's not saying that it's racist because it's a white guy -- he's saying it's racist that they aren't even trying to make him sound Persian. I'm not sure that'd I'd use "racist" here either, but you're misreading what he wrote.

2. I'm a Caucasian 22yr old and I've been pulled aside at the airport too. Many, many people have, it's sad that you just assume it's because of your race and get upset and consider them racist.

Maybe you should stop playing the race card in situations where race plays no role...

You don't know the frequency or circumstances under which he was stopped, and the fact that you've been stopped has no bearing on what happened to him.

Anyway, it's actually kind of an interesting point. I can understand why they'd go with Jake Gyllenhal (sp) for the movie (Who else are they going to get? Tony Shaloub?), but why not just get a voice actor who can do a middle eastern accent? It's not that tough. It's Ubisoft, and they've been consistently good about this sort of thing, so I doubt any kind of racism, but I'm reminded of the 2003 animated Sinbad movie removing any Arabic cultural elements for fear of an unpopular reception, and the many years of Hollywood casting white actors as Asian and Latin, while actual Asian and Latin actors watched from the sidelines. So while I'm pretty sure that the ghost of Medgar Evers could post on CAG and get told to stop being so oversensitive, what the OP's talking about *does* happen, and sometimes it *is* racist.

Whether it's happening here is another story.

GTzerO

08-21-2008, 10:18 AM

Looks like everyone took a shit on the OP just because he used the word "racist". People are so sensitive.

Suppose Niko Bellic , Roman Bellic, and Dimitri sounded like regular American white guys, wouldn't it be stupid and not as good as the accented version? I enjoy Niko's accent and if the actor just spoke in a Caucasian accent then it just wouldn't be the same. Now, as far as I know, the guys are played by American dudes, but they're making an accent to fit the character. The black guy who talks for Samurai Jack uses are much softer tone of voice to fit the character rather than an obnoxious stereotypical black accent (Augustus Cole) . I'm not asking them to actually look for a Persian person and put them in the game, but why they would give him an accent that completely doesn't match his character is beyond me.

dmaul1114

08-21-2008, 11:36 AM

I do know there are Persians outside of Iran dumbass. I am one. I am asking you how are you Persian if both of your parents are Afghan and you were not born in Iran.

Sounds to me like you are Afghan.

This doesn't seem like rocket science. His parents could be Persian and moved to Afghanistan etc.

As for the topic, I don't see it as racist. Just laziness for the voice acting and video game movies all suck balls so it's no surprise they put no effort into finding a persian actor for the lead.

Plus, as for giving him an accent--given the character and the setting the prince shouldn't even be speaking English. This isn't GTA with an immigrant coming to the US. Having him speak english is just a way of getting around having it in Arabic or whatever with english subtitles which would be the most authentic. I guess having an accent would be a bit more authentic, but it's not worth getting bent out of shape and playing the racist card over IMO.

benjamouth

08-21-2008, 11:45 AM

You shouldn't throw around the word racist so carelessly. It's not a good habit.

Or do you actually think it's racist?

Well said, this is inaccurate, not racist.

Everytime someone shouts and stamps their feet about something like this being racist, it just gives people more of a reason to roll their eyes and say "political correctness gone mad" when something really IS racist.

Ikohn4ever

08-21-2008, 11:53 AM

Now I'm a completely chill guy when it comes to being politically correct and I'm even currently serving a 6 month ban on Neogaf for supposedly being rascist.

I find this first sentence funny. Thats like saying "my Klan costume is for historical reenactments, but I'm not a racist". Hopefully CAG will institute the 6 month ban for starting dumb threads.

Koggit

08-21-2008, 01:31 PM

He's not saying that it's racist because it's a white guy -- he's saying it's racist that they aren't even trying to make him sound Persian. I'm not sure that'd I'd use "racist" here either, but you're misreading what he wrote.

Test:
1. How many Asian game characters get American voices in games?
2. How many movies based off of historical foreign characters get played by Americans speaking English?
3. How many movies are based in other countries with Americans speaking English?
4. How many movies/cartoons/games are based on other planets with Americans speaking English?
5. How many people whine about it?

Answer key:
1. Lots
2. Lots
3. Lots
4. Lots
5. Only the OP

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 01:40 PM

Yeah c'mon, Robert Downey Jr is playing a black man in the tropic thunder movie!

Thats not racist!
Actually this
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Minstrel_PosterBillyVanWare_edit.jpg/800px-Minstrel_PosterBillyVanWare_edit.jpg

is very racist but Downey's role in tropic thunder is satirical.

miyamotofreak

08-21-2008, 01:42 PM

I find this first sentence funny. Thats like saying "my Klan costume is for historical reenactments, but I'm not a racist". Hopefully CAG will institute the 6 month ban for starting dumb threads.
Meh, Neogaf has some of the most jackass and bipolar mods.

Lord_Kefka

08-21-2008, 01:54 PM

Yeah, I gotta go with the flow here. The use of anyone non-Persian for a simple voice acting gig doesn't feel like a big deal. Maybe if the civil unions felt a Persian voice actor applied and was turned down because he wasn't white you'd have a case. But it's all about displaying a proper tone and accent. If it was played up (think if Barrett from FFVII was voice acted!!!) then you could call it racist. But if it's a respectful performance by a trained voice actor? No biggie. People study accents and dialects professionally and I hope the new voice actor is one of those.

Although that screenshot of Jake Gly... Gyl.... whatever, as the Prince for a movie? That's just fucking stupid. I'll be crossing that off my list of movies to see.

62t

08-21-2008, 02:05 PM

It is bad voice acting? Maybe. But in historical context he wont even be speaking any kind of English at all. Same with most Hollywood movies (except for Mel Gibson's recent movies)

guinaevere

08-21-2008, 02:09 PM

I'm not crying foul because he isn't voiced by a Persian. I'm crying foul because he doesn't SOUND like a persian. If the guy came out with a thick persian or arabian accent, every one would cry foul that the game was racist for using stereotypes.

The old Dynasty Warriors had tons of problem with voice acting, the biggest being names that were mispronounced.Thanks for reminding me of a great example. OP, have you played Koei's Samurai Warriors series? Kenji sounds like he's from the deep south. Not like Miyazaki or Kagoshima, south. But like Kentucky or Alabama, south. That is the exact same issue, and no one calls Koei racist.

We reserve our criticisms of Koei for important issues. Like the fact that the games are horrible.

That's because British accents are major aphrodisiacs.

Even Cockney?

Especially Cockney.
ew. No no no. Cockney = horrible. Irish, maybe. ...fine, definately.

This thread will most likely be closing soon. But we'll let it stand a little longer in case any sanity comes to town.

Gentlegamer

08-21-2008, 02:20 PM

The Nathan Drake voice is distinctively caucasian I didn't know Caucasian was a language.

If the character isn't really speaking English, why should he have an accent anyway?

benjamouth

08-21-2008, 02:24 PM

This thread will most likely be closing soon. But we'll let it stand a little longer in case any sanity comes to town.

Even the word hopeless has hope in it. :lol:

kaw

08-21-2008, 02:28 PM

Let me get this straight... You're calling the casting of a white voice actor in the role of a Persian racist? So by that same train of thought Star Wars must be racist against white people because the voice of Darth Vader was a black man even though Anakin was white.

Were you also this outraged that Aladdin from the Disney movie was voiced by a Caucasian guy? Your thread is stupid. Please go fail somewhere else.