Ask her nicely and Erika Ishii will sing songs from the famed Broadway show “Hamilton” for you… only with a twist. Specifically, she’s got her own Destiny-themed version of the musical’s song “Dear Theodosia,” with lyrics centered on everyone’s favorite Warmind.
Dearest Rasputin
What to say to you?
You’re my Warmind, you have a Russian name
When you came online you launched warsats
And it warmed my heart
As the new voice of Ana Bray and with an ever-growing resume of on-camera and voice acting roles under her belt, Ishii is no stranger to performing. If you’ve played games like Shenmue III, Fallout 76, Smite, or seen anime films like Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, you’ve heard Ishii’s work. As a host with shows on Geek & Sundry and Nerdist, Ishii is deeply immersed in the world of geek culture. She’s also a big Destiny fan (and a Warlock main, in case you’re curious), who told us that getting the role of Ana was “a real honor.”
“My agent, if she has really good news for me, a lot of times she’ll call me to deliver it in person, and so she did,” Ishii recalls. “There was a lot of screaming and crying, definitely.”
We recently caught up with Ishii in her home in Los Angeles, where we talked about what she wanted to bring to the role of Ana Bray, how her career has progressed, and what it’s like to hear her own voice in a videogame.
How did you prepare for the role of Ana?
I was very fortunate that there was already this wealth of lore. The game has been out for a while. I played Destiny 1, but I hadn’t had a chance to play [Destiny 2] yet. The Bungie guys were so sweet and they sent me codes to pop in [and] play some Destiny. Also I watched some “Let’s Plays” to catch up on lore and any background information I might need.
I make playlists for almost every character I play, and there’s definitely an Ana playlist.
What kind of music made the Ana Bray playlist?
When I make a character playlist, it’s songs that define who they are, how they feel about events or others. Of course there’s stuff from the Destiny 2 soundtrack. And then a lot of songs about her isolation; there’s a couple of songs from my favorite artists Vian Izak and Juniper Vale — “The Astronaut” and “The Expanse.” It has a lonely and hopeful feeling to it.
I would listen to it before I went to sessions or in between session weeks to keep fresh. Music is a huge touchstone of how I get into character or formulate and focus character.
Right tunes, right frame of mind. Makes sense. According to your Web site, you’ve got a musical background.
Most voice actors I know are musical. There’s something about the rhythm and the musicality of phrasing and performance and breath control that I think music prepares you for. People who are drawn to music are also drawn to voice acting. It’s very common.
What were the Destiny recording sessions like?
It was just so much fun. It was criminal amount of fun. It’s really just getting to play; I feel so lucky to get to do this.
Voice acting presents a unique challenge as far as acting goes, because you have to imagine everything yourself. What are the weather conditions like? Are you speaking to someone who is far away from you, or close? Then you have to layer all of the physical conditions on top. [Things like] how are you feeling? What is your character trying to get across? Is your character an expert on this topic? There’s so many elements you need to keep in mind while you’re performing. It’s a wonderful, exciting challenge.
Are there any specific challenges to building a scene?
One of my favorite challenges is fight scenes. I love the efforts that go into it. I’m a former martial artist so [I know] what it sounds like to get hit or to deliver a blow. But you also have to find out what the conditions are for that scene. So for the opening cinematic [in Season of the Worthy], you know [Ana is] trying to be quiet, but she’s distracted because she’s on the radio. It’s fun to slot in all of those elements and see them come into place because you don’t know what it’s going to look like when you record it.
Sometimes animators or developers will be able to build a scene around your performance. But a lot of times they have this idea [like], “You’re carrying a heavy gun here, so you’re doing all of this exposition while you’re jogging with a heavy gun.” It’s so cool to layer on the imagined physicality for things.
The director and everyone over at Bungie, they allowed me to bring a lot of my own take to things. They allowed me to interpret the character as I saw it and it happened to align with their vision. The best directors will have their vision in mind, and have the vision of the developers in mind, but also see what you’re bringing to the table. I was very fortunate that, with Ana, there was an element of that.
What was your vision for your Ana performance? How do you relate to her?
I think every character that you play you find something of them in yourself, or put a bit of yourself into them. Ana is inquisitive and I think she really wants to help in the way that she best knows how. Exploring your past and your history — whether it’s in an undiscovered “sci-fi” sense, or just you as a person — is difficult. That was something that was interesting to explore.
What’s it like to be part of the Destiny cast?
I still can’t believe that I got to join this cast. That cast is stacked. Some of the greats of voiceover and on-camera. Such incredible actors that I get to say I’m in an ensemble with. A lot of people that I looked up to, or were idols of mine. I’ve joined the ranks and it’s unbelievable to me.
I love seeing the diverse and really rich characters of the world of Destiny. The fact that [Ana is a] queer Asian woman was kind of huge for me. I identify as pansexual. It’s really amazing because that’s not something you get to see a lot in media; queer women of color. That felt very significant to me.
Have you played the game since you’ve been in it?
Not yet! I want to jump back in, especially since I was power leveling my Warlock before the season dropped. Now that [my performance is] in, I’m a little nervous. It’s odd hearing myself; most artists are very self-critical but I haven’t jumped in yet.
We’re sure the fans are loving it. What’s it like to hear YOUR voice when playing a game or watching a movie you’re in?
I was in the Gundam movie [Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative] and I got to take my mom to the screening premier of it. And the first time a character speaks, [it was] just an out-of-body experience. I was like “Oh, that’s me!” That happened in the trailer where Ana has those lines. It didn’t feel real seeing her mouth move and my voice come out of it. It was so wild. I have friends who play Destiny. They would send me clips and say, “I heard you in my living room!”
What has your path to voice-over acting been like?
I feel like no VO actor has the same story. Everybody comes from different backgrounds. I did on-camera acting for a long time. I always wanted to do voice over. I grew up with cartoons and videogames. One day I made the decision that I wanted to do VO specifically for videogames because it’s this new exciting medium that we have growing up in our lifetimes. Imagine being at the advent of cinema and getting a chance to make films. I wanted to be part of performing for this exciting new narrative medium.
Was there a game that served as your inspiration?
I grew up with videogames. There have been so many incredible performances by legends and pioneers. I think it was playing The Last of Us that I decided, “Oh for sure, this is what I’m going to do.”
I was always so scared to do it because it’s a different skill than on-camera acting. Other than the different techniques you need to learn, there’s a financial investment involved with it; paying for a demo, paying for classes, workshops and everything you need to be ready and have a calling card and show that you’re serious in the industry.
But it was playing The Last of Us that I said, “Yeah it’s worth it to me. I want to make art like this. I want to be a part of this medium that I really love.”
I was very fortunate to have a lot of good mentors, friends, and colleagues that gave me opportunities. I was lucky to have a lot of background that prepared me for a lot of those opportunities when they arose. On-camera acting, improv, [and] music helped so much.
It’s really truly wild to me that I get to do my dream job.
—
In the near term, Erika will be narrating the new Vampire: The Masquerade novella that’s due for release this summer, and she looks forward to her next opportunity to jump back in the role of Ana Bray.
New Kickstarter RPG Promises To Make Use Of Switch Joy-Con’s IR Camera
Today sees the launch of a new Kickstarter campaign for Sword of the Necromancer, a dungeon-crawler action-RPG hoping to release on Switch.
The game itself revolves around a mechanic which allows you to revive your defeated enemies to make them fight alongside you. You’ll be using this power – granted to you by the titular Sword of the Necromancer – to gather up an army, equip yourself with weapons and relics, and take on the guardians standing between yourself and your goal.
Interestingly, the game promises to make use of the criminally underused IR camera which can be found in the Switch’s right Joy-Con. You’ll be able to get items, weapons, and monsters by scanning special codes, essentially working just like amiibo do in games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
You’ll be able to obtain these IR codes by purchasing physical collectable cards or through free social media distribution in the future. If you’re playing on a Switch Lite with no camera, you can either use a smartphone app or enter codes manually.
Game Features: – Turn your foes into allies: use the Sword of the Necromancer to revive defeated monsters and make them fight alongside you. – Gather weapons and relics: each weapon is different from the others thanks to the procedural weapon generation system, which gives them various effects and attributes. – Fight with all your might: defeat your enemies using a variety of weapons and objects and dominating the fluid head-to-head battle system. – Level up: enhance your character by fighting enemies and upgrade your stats. Improve your summoned monsters by fighting alongside them. – Death is not the end: Each try gets you closer to the Necromancer. You will lose all your equipped weapons and monsters, but you will retain half the level you achieved in your run. Also, you can choose to exit the dungeon at some moments, losing all your level progress but maintaining all your equipment. – Learn the truth: Discover Tama and Koko’s past as you advance through the dungeon. – Localco-op play: Use the Flask of Homunculus to create a copy of the playable character and play with a friend in local co-op game.
If you’re interested in the project, make sure to check out the Kickstarter page here. The game’s already in “an advanced stage of development” and is hoping to raise just 15,000€ to push it over the line.
Do you like the sound of this one? Would you enjoy using physical cards to scan into the game? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Rocket Pass 6 is speeding into the future. Check out the most wanted ride, Ronin, in the Rocket Pass 6 trailer and unlock it immediately with Rocket Pass Premium!
Rocket Pass Premium grants access to 70 tiers of futuristic items inspired by science fiction, like the HoloData Boost, UFO Engine Audio and the Rad Rock Goal Explosion. Plus, complete three additional Weekly Challenges only found in Rocket Pass Premium to unlock Tiers even faster. Rocket Pass Premium also comes with 1,000 credits to use in Rocket League‘s item shop or to unlock additional Rocket Pass tiers.
Rocket Pass 6 available until July 15 so get your car on the cutting edge today. New to Rocket League? Download the game today on the Microsoft Store at 50% off now through April 20. Take to the field, party-up with your friends and climb the ranks in competitive playlists, or check out the Extra Modes that change up the soccer gameplay!
Rocket League is ready for the future with Rocket Pass 6. How far will you go?
Japanese game rating board CERO suspends operations due to COVID-19
Japanese entertainment rating organization CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Agency) will be shutting down for a month as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company explained its staff will be unable to review submissions from home, and will therefore be suspending all operations until at least May 6, 2020.
It’s a decision that could lead to some game delays in the region, with all home console titles in Japan requiring a CERO rating before launch — similar to how PEGI and ESRB ratings work in Europe and North America.
“The government declared state of emergency regarding COVID-19, and the Governor of Tokyo asked people to refrain from going outside until May 6. Since reviewers visit our office to conduct review, it is not possible for our staff and reviewer to work from home,” reads a CERO statement.
“For this reason, all operations, including review (including those under review), will be suspended from today until May 6. All staff will be on standby at home, and the office will be closed during this time. We will announce the resumption of business on our website.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and thank you for your understanding.”
After over 800 weeks of releases, Ubisoft is ending work on new Rocksmith DLC
Newsbrief: Ubisoft’s Rocksmith team is getting to work on something new, and ending the creation of new Rocksmith DLC as a result.
The shift marks the end of quite a reign as the team has so far released DLC song packs across 383 weeks (for a total of 1570 songs) since the guitar-teaching rhythm game series got its start in 2011.
“For over a decade, we’ve watched players learn, grow, and constantly surprise us with your talent, creativity, and eagerness to help one another reach your goals,” reads a post from the team. “We truly could not be more proud to play a part in this guitar journey with you.”
Despite switching focus to a new, yet unannounced project, the Rocksmith team notes they plan to keep up with community events like regular developer streams and, eventually, updates on what they’ve got in the works.
Minecraft's Nether Update Will Have Music From Celeste Composer
The upcoming Minecraft Nether Update will feature music from composer Lena Raine, most known for her award-winning work on Celeste and Guild Wars 2. Three original tracks will be featured across the new biomes introduced to the Nether when the update releases at some point later this year.
The track Rubedo will be played in the Nether Wastes, Chrysopoeia can be heard in Crimson Forests, while So Below will feature in both Soulsand Valleys and Basalt Deltas.
I am extremely honored & excited to finally say that I'm the composer for the upcoming Nether Update for @Minecraft !!
"I am extremely honored and excited to finally say that I'm the composer for the upcoming Nether Update for Minecraft," Raine said on Twitter. In the latest Snapshot blog post, meanwhile, the composer explained her approach to creating new music for Minecraft: "One of the primary instruments in Minecraft is the piano, and so one of my challenges to myself was to see how far I could push the sound of the piano until it resembled other things entirely–again, that alchemical process.
E3 2020 Won’t Get An Official Digital Replacement, Despite Initial Plans
When E3 2020 was cancelled earlier in the year, event organiser Entertainment Software Association said that an “online experience” which could replace the physical event was being explored. It has now been confirmed that no such digital event will be happening this year.
The news comes from an E3 representative, who shared the following statement with PC Gamer:
“Given the disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be presenting an online E3 2020 event in June. Instead, we will be working with exhibitors to promote and showcase individual company announcements, including on www.E3expo.com, in the coming months. We look forward to bringing our industry and community together in 2021 to present a reimagined E3 that will highlight new offerings and thrill our audiences.”
Several publishers have confirmed that they either are, or are considering, hosting their own digital events this summer to replace E3 2020, including the likes of Nintendo, Microsoft, Square Enix, and Ubisoft; Bethesda has confirmed that it will not host an event.
As for E3 2021, the “reimagined” show mentioned in the statement above has now been confirmed to be taking place next June.
Were you hoping to see an official replacement event from E3? Or are you happy enough for publishers to just get on with their own thing this summer? Share your thoughts with us below.
Xbox Series X Won't Change The Xbox User Interface At Launch
The Xbox Series X is due at the end of 2020, and although Microsoft has revealed a lot about the new console, many things remain mysterious about it too. The new console is unlikely to radically reinvent the user interface offered by the Xbox One--in fact, all signs indicate that it will essentially be the same.
According to The Verge, Microsoft will make some further tweaks to the Xbox One interface soon, improving the "Guide" functionality on the dashboard and allowing you to customize the order of your navigation tabs. A new "Parties & chats" tab will correlate social features, and a few other parts have been streamlined and simplified.
As this article point out, in preview videos for the Xbox Series X, the interface looks identical to this; it's likely that these changes will carry over exactly to the new system. On Twitter, a member of the Xbox support team circa 2013, Missy Quarry, has explained that this makes a lot of sense. "One of the biggest user problems was getting used to an entirely new UI and they begged for the 360 dash," she says.
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News recap from ‘Inside Xbox’ April 7 episode
Today, on our first Inside Xbox episode of 2020, we got a closer look at the single-player campaign in Grounded, the upcoming survival adventure game from our friends at Obsidian Entertainment, revealed the latest Xbox Game Pass titles, discussed the recently revealed Xbox Series X tech, and gave viewers the skinny on the most important things to know about the upcoming Gears Tactics.
There was also plenty of surprise news dropped on today’s show: Typhoon Studios revealed the Journey to the Savage Planet DLC, Hotline Miami Collection is getting a surprise Xbox One release, and we got our very first look at The Last Campfire, an intriguing new title from developer Hello Games.
For a full recap, read on below or watch the replay of Inside Xbox episode above when the VOD is available.
Go Big or Never Go Home in Obsidian Entertainment’s Grounded
Obsidian Entertainment announced upcoming survival adventure game Grounded will enter Xbox Game Preview with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Steam Early Access on July 28, 2020. As part of today’s announcement, the team also revealed a brand new trailer focusing on the single player experience for Grounded, and a first-ever livestream with Obsidian Entertainment’s Game Director, Adam Brennecke and Social Media Manager, Shyla Schofield, who gave a closer look at the game. For more details, check out the full Grounded Inside Xbox post here.
A Closer Look at Xbox Series X Technologies
A few weeks ago, we took an in-depth look at some of the tech powering the Xbox Series X and got our first look at the new Xbox Wireless Controller. On today’s show, our own Major Nelson had a chance to sit down with Jason Ronald, Director of Product Management on Xbox Series X, to break down some of what was shared about our most powerful console ever. They discussed everything from graphics technology like DirectX raytracing and variable rate shading to audio processing, Quick Resume and storage options. Ronald also highlighted the Xbox Velocity Architecture, including what this entails and what it will enables for games.
The Evolution of Xbox Game Bar Continues
We’re continuing the evolution of Xbox Game Bar, the customizable gaming overlay built into Windows 10 for PC. Starting today, Insiders will have access to apps from partners like Razer, XSplit and Intel directly from Xbox Game Bar through new widgets — no more having to Alt+Tab to separate apps while gaming. We’ve seen incredible interest from PC gaming partners in this fan-requested feature, and we look forward to growing the number of available widgets. For more information on the Xbox Game Bar news announced today, please check out this post.
Announcing More Great Titles Hitting Xbox Game Pass
We’re thrilled to announce that on April 13, Xbox Game Pass will be expanding to Japan and Korea. Xbox Game Pass for PC will launch in beta for gamers in Korea and will be included as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefits, which is already available for gamers in the region, while all Xbox Game Pass services for console and PC will come to Japan for the first time. We also shared new titles joining the Xbox Game Pass libraries across console and PC, including Alvastia Chronicles, Journey to the Savage Planet, Overcooked! 2, Football Manager 2020, Mistover and Stranger Things 3: The Game. For more details on our Xbox Game Pass news this episode, check out the Xbox Game Pass post here.
Project xCloud Preview Adds More Great Games from EA
We’ve added even more titles to the Project xCloud preview! Beginning today, participants can play three more great games from EA on their Android phones or tablets, including The Sims 4, Unravel Two, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Additionally, this morning we announced that the Project xCloud preview will be heading to 11 new countries across Western Europe. If you’re interested in joining the Project xCloud preview so you can stream these great games, please visit xbox.com/projectxcloud.
Forza Street Races onto Mobile on May 5
Get your engines ready … Forza Street is coming to your iOS and Android devices on May 5. We’ve received incredible engagement from players during Android pre-registration and are excited to let iOS gamers know they too will hit the streets in just a few weeks. For a limited time, we’ll also be giving out the Founder’s Pack to anyone who plays Forza Street between May 5 and June 5 as a welcoming gift. Pre-register now on Google Play and the Samsung Galaxy Store, and for more information, check out the full Forza Street Wire post here.
Breaking Down Five Things You Need to Know About Gears Tactics
Today, The Coalition celebrated Gears Tactics going gold with a new video highlighting five badass things you need to know before launch and their commitment to a gameplay experience tailored to PC, including new details on a partnership with Intel. Available April 28 on Windows 10 PC, Steam and with Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta), Gears Tactics has players assume the role of Gabriel “Gabe” Diaz as he recruits, equips, and commands his squad on a mission to hunt down the relentless leader of the Locust army: Ukkon. For more on Gears Tactics, including the latest design collaboration with acclaimed artist Luke Preece, click here.
Set Sail with Sea of Thieves’ Free Ships of Fortune Update
Prospective pirates got a look at the new Sea of Thieves Ships of Fortune update arriving later this month. Ships of Fortune adds new depth to the game’s trading companies, allowing players the option to represent their favorite Trading Companies as emissaries for boosted rewards and exclusive cosmetic items. What’s more, a new and mysterious Company known as The Reaper’s Bones is also making their debut tasking players with pillaging rival ships and taking their Emissary Flags and loot as trophies. For more details on our Sea of Thieves news this episode, check out our full post here.
A New Batch of ID@Xbox Games is Coming to Xbox One
In today’s show, we took a look at a brand-new game called The Last Campfire, a dark fantasy from developer Hello Games that combines a beautiful art style with a wide variety of puzzles to create a wholly unique experience. There was also a new trailer for Atomicrops, an action-packed farming simulator where you must cultivate and defend the last farm in a post-apocalypse wasteland. Finally, it was announced that the action-packed top-down shooter Hotline Miami Collection is not only coming to Xbox One, but is actually available right now. Surprise!
We hope you enjoyed the show, and we’ll see you next time!
