As a largely remote actor working weekly in the interactive space, “How do I get started in video gaming?” is a question I get more times than I can count. The pandemic opened up many opportunities for remote talent to work in gaming. From my home studio in Chicago, I’ve worked on such titles as DC Dark Legion (Warner Brothers), Zenless Zone Zero (HoYoverse), Fantasian: Neo Dimension (Square Enix), Starfield, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Bard’s College Expansion (both through the Bethesda Creator Program). Though the return to “normal” has come with a return to the studio in some cases, there’s still a pathway to success for those of us outside of a major market.
Training
As with any genre, understanding the specific needs of the gaming side of voice-over (and the skills you’ll need to cultivate to meet those needs) is the first step to breaking in. Many of us who are interested in working in games started as gamers ourselves. If you don’t play video games, consider doing so in order to understand today’s landscape. Video games look and sound a lot different today than they did 10 or 20 years ago. If you’re not into gaming (or find the cost of games and their consoles prohibitive), you can watch playthroughs of today’s top games on YouTube for free – this is important market research, don’t skip out on it!
Then, sign up for a class tailored to video game voice acting. Some great places to study include VoiceTrax West, Actors Connection, The Halp Academy, the National Association of Voice Actors, Red Scythe Studio, Scary Good Studio, SkillsHub, and, of course, Such A Voice! All of these places (at the time of this writing) offer online classes and lectures, so they can be attended from anywhere. Many popular voice directors and casting directors also offer classes independently on their social media or websites, so it’s worth getting to know folks and getting onto their mailing lists, so you don’t miss out on opportunities to learn.
Getting Your Space Up to Par
If you plan to audition and work remotely, having a sound-treated space is non-negotiable. Prioritize soundproofing your space over expensive equipment, and work towards upgrading to higher-end microphones and preamps when you can responsibly do so. Smaller indie studios will often accept mid-tier equipment, so they’re a good place to start. Down the road, studios casting for bigger AAA projects will expect industry-standard equipment and great sound treatment in order to even be considered as an out-of-studio talent.
Getting a Demo
How do you know you’re ready to record your interactive demo? This decision is very subjective and of course you can always update your demo as your skills progress, but I think there are some general ways to know if you’re ready:
- You’re getting consistently strong feedback from instructors in class
- In 1:1s with your coaches or mentors, they tell you you’re ready for a demo, and/or
- You’re already booking video games on your own
If at least two out of these three conditions are met, it might be time to start researching reputable demo producers. Look at the rosters of the top gaming agents in Los Angeles and listen to their talents’ demos. You may be able to locate the producers of these demos by going to top talents’ social media and looking for a post where they’ve shared the reel. You can ask for recommendations from your mentors currently working in the field, and of course, Such A Voice offers a demo program geared toward video games and animation.
Building Your Resume
Once your demo is finished, it’s time to shop it around! Because gaming is a highly sought-after sector to work in, I recommend building your resume on your own before seeking representation. Some places to do that include:
- Online casting sites (Voices, Voice123, Backstage, Casting Call Club)
- Social media (X, Bluesky, LinkedIn, voice-acting-specific Discord servers)
- Google search for audio production companies for video games, and
- Taking class with casting directors and following their guidelines for submitting to their personal rosters, if applicable.
Seeking (gaming-specific) Representation
With a solid demo and a good amount of indie, mobile, AA, or even AAA credits under your belt, you may be ready to seek representation for gaming. Do your research on this: the vast majority of voice-over agents do not specialize in gaming, and some that do have a gaming department might only get auditions once in a blue moon. The institutions I mentioned above for taking classes may also offer agent showcase nights. This is one of the most effective ways to see if you vibe with an agent before submitting, ask for their personal best practices and what they look for in talent, and most importantly, show them what you can do.
Alternatively, if you have a close friendship with an actor who is represented by a reputable agent, they may also be able to recommend you to their agency. A word to the wise: these connections happen organically and are offered freely. I do not recommend asking actors you do not know very well (or at all) for agency referrals. Referrals are precious favors that should not be taken for granted. Our agents are very busy people who have an obligation first and foremost to serve the talent they already represent, and asking them to take time out of their day to listen to a friend’s demo is a favor that we can only call in very selectively.
A few agents gatekeep the very best opportunities in gaming. If you want access to those opportunities as a remote talent, you’ll want to be up front with them about:
- Your willingness and ability to travel to LA, if you are willing and able
- The caliber of your home studio and equipment, and
- Your ability to run a successful remote session, ideally with dubbing capabilities
Keep in mind that an ideal agent relationship is a true partnership. Be willing to work as hard for them as you expect them to work for you. Stay up to speed on industry expectations, even after securing representation. Consider bringing your direct gaming relationships to the table in order to present a unified front to your clients. If you are willing and able, be ready to travel when remote recording isn’t an option.
There is plenty of work out there for the taking, and being remote doesn’t mean you can’t have a piece of it. Now go forth and game on!
P.S. If you haven’t yet taken our introductory voice-over class, where we go over everything one needs to know about getting started in the voice-over industry, sign up here!
