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Tech

Video Game Voice Actors Are Threatening to Strike

Voice actors want back end bonuses, just like Activision executives.
Image: SAG-AFTRA

You might not immediately recognize Jennifer Hale's name, but if she and other video game voice actors go on strike, your most anticipated video games might be in trouble.

Hale, who voiced Commander Shepard in Mass Effect, has voted in favor of a strike, along with many other members of SAG-AFTRA, the organization that represents actors, including video game voice actors.

SAG-AFTRA is asking members to vote on a strike after its Interactive Committee and big publishers like Electronic Arts and Activision failed to reach an agreement on a number of issues, including what SAG-AFTRA has called "reckless and ill-advised" fines for being late or inattentive at recording sessions.

The most important issue, however, is back end bonuses. In short, if a game makes a lot of money, voice actors want to see a cut, just like TV, movie actors, and publishing executives.

"Last year, Activision's COO took home a bonus of $3,970,862," SAG-AFTRA said. "EA paid their executive chairman a bonus of $1.5 million. We applaud their success, and we believe our talent and contributions are worth a bonus payment, too."

Voice actors in favor of the strike are rallying on Twitter with #PerformanceMatters. Phill Lamar, who voiced Vamp in Metal Gear Solid; Wil Wheaton, who voiced several characters in Grand Theft Auto and Fallout, and Ashly Burch, who voiced Tiny Tina in Borderlands are just some of the actors who voted in favor of the strike.

SAG-AFTRA members have until October 5 to vote. If 75 percent or more are in favor of the strike, it will go through, which could delay games currently in production.