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The Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has issued a “Do Not Work” order for Mega Man: Dual Override, instructing union members to withhold any voice acting performance work until further notice. The notice, published March 9th, says the producer “failed to initiate the signatory process.”
In simple terms, SAG-AFTRA says the production has not properly started the process required to become a union-signatory project. According to SAG-AFTRA, producers must begin that process through its signatory system, and Global Rule One requires members to work only under union contracts.
The notice does not indicate how much voice work had already been completed (although we did hear a tiny bit in the Video Game Awards reveal trailer back in December). But what it does show is that there is currently a contract issue tied to the project’s union status. If that issue is resolved, the order could be lifted.
At this time, there is nothing to suggest the notice will impact Dual Override's overall development, as it appears to primarily concern the English voice performance side of production. The game remains in development and is still scheduled for release in 2027.
UPDATE: Ben Diskin, Mega Man's voice actor, has exited the game over union-related concerns.
We’ll keep an eye on the situation and share any updates from SAG-AFTRA or Capcom.
Source: SAG-AFTRA
Somehow, even if Capcom was compliant with SAG-AFTRA I just don't imagine the voice cast for Mega Man 11 will be reprising their roles just because it's been almost 10 years between games
ReplyDeleteLooks like Ben Diskin and other actors were asked to reprise their roles, we heard new lines from Dr. Light in the trailer, hopefully this doesn't mean those already recorded lines are going to be scrapped.
DeleteI figured, but really it's not the end of the world since Mega Man games have really never been consistent with their English voice acting for more than a single game in most cases (and most people in the comments are so dismissive because they will be playing with Japanese voices anyways)
Delete...Just.. out of random curiosity... ..WeebMac from WAS? That you? Oo;;;
DeleteNo idea what "WAS" is
Deletehurray! japanese dubs are superior anyway
ReplyDeleteHurray what?
DeleteYou know the game's still gonna get an English dub, right? It just will be non-union, without safeguards and protections for the actors.
DeleteI just don't care for nor about english dubs. the only mega man game that I could stand with english dubs was PU
DeleteI don't think that's reason enough to be happy there's a union dispute...
DeleteTry and stop the anime dubbers from working, I dare you...
Deletesure it does, at the very least, it means a recast of voice actors. maybe with good ones
DeleteJust because you don't care, doesn't mean everyone else doesn't. This is more than just English dubs. It's workers not getting the protections they deserve. Stop being an ignorant weeb and develop some basic critical thinking skills.
DeleteGood lord, Erik.
Delete“He’s out of line, but he’s right.”
DeleteNo, not in this case, Jark. There are things I'd like to say, but there's no point because we won't come to an agreement. I was going to say something along the lines of what Velen said in another comment chain - voice acting has generally come a long way since the terrible dubs of the 70s and 80s.
DeleteLook at the dub for Assemble Insert and tell me that wasn't dog shit. Dubs typically aren't like that anymore.
DeleteI grew up with dubs, didn't know any different, discovered Japanese dubs with English subtitles, and now if I watch anime (downloading online), I watch it with Japanese voices and English subs I can read on screen (preferred), though yes, some dubs are fine too (Dragon Ball isn't bad with English, but Japanese is good too), but the Japanese version tends to be better in that it is uncensored and also the story isn't changed from localization. Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Yugioh anime, etc are examples. It is in English when on satellite Cartoon Network though, but not censored or much. When I first saw them on TV (Sailor Moon in 95 and Yugioh in 2002), I had no clue of it being made in Japanese and subs did not even exist for them, but I discovered them in 2009 since fans release subbed versions while keeping Japanese dubs and often I watch the original Japanese non-localized versions now. I did the same thing as weekly Dragon Ball Super episodeos were being released in 2017/2018. Some videos come with both Japanese and English voice acting that you can toggle in the VLC player. As for Megaman X4, voices sound better with Japanese voices vs X sounding like a kid. Once again, in 97, I knew no different though.
DeleteI'm happy in this age of internet, we have this option now unlike the 90s. I would never go back since I like options.
@Gary Daniel
DeleteI wish people could understand this has always been a matter of personal opinion. But if the internet is good at anything, it’s not distinguishing facts from opinions unless they’re blatantly labeled. Because “subs are superior to dubs” is as objective of a fact as “red shoes are superior to blue shoes.”
Yep, there is no right or wrong answer here since it is purely subjective here, just like the taste of a food.
DeleteYou do understand localization happens because of the differences between languages and common vernacular among other nuances, and not because of a desire to poison or muddle the original work, right?
DeleteLet me give a perfect example from Mega Man: Mega Man Zero 1's JPN script. Zero while speaking to Copy X about why X was and hero and he wasn't, he uses the adjective "Ikujinashi" which specifically means one of the following depending on context: "coward; sissy; weakling; loser; milquetoast; good-for-nothing". On top of saying he was always worrying.
Now we know the kind of person X is. None of these really sound like a good descriptions do they? X may lack the conviction to go to extremes or be as bold as Copy X has been, but Zero, being X's best friend and partner, recognizes it as a positive quality. So milquetoast would be the closest fitting description of X, someone who is "timid".
But timid doesn't quite fit.... So what if we said he was a "gentle person" instead? He didn't want to hurt anyone and only fought because he felt he had to, to protect Humans and Reploids.
This is why localization is important. If left as is, we get that Zero is insulting X while praising him as a hero. Like he's talking out both sides of his mouth. But Zero isn't the type to do that. So in English, him being so derisive of him would be odd.
@RS Proto Man
Deletehey, don't knock 80's/90's dubs. sure there are stinkers, but there were also some great ones. samurai pizza cats was an amazing dub, basically a new show itself.
but the thing is, there wasn't nearly as much anime being dubbed 30 years ago as there are now. yes, there have been improvements in dubbing since then, but there is a lot of anime and a lot of corners being cut.
in the 80s, you had like what, 10 animes being dubbed like the entire decade? exaggerated, sure, but still. now you have like 20 per season being dubbed, and being dubbed quickly to be pretty much simulcasted. old anime was dubbed like years later.
doesn't matter how much it advances if proper investment isn't there.
@velen hard disagree. localization happens because someone wants to make money. plain and simple. they do whatever they think will net them the most money. if they think one piece will be more popular with children, they'll censor out cigars and make characters into jokes. if they think japanese culture is too foreign for viewers, they'll call clearly japanese food "donuts" or even draw over it. that's straight up what it's about.
Deleteas for what actually happens during localization, it all depends on the localizers. some have different tastes, agendas, biases, dislikes, etc. they'll change a lot based on that, such as the now infamous localization of クリスマスパーティー, which is katakana (for foreign words) that literally spells out kurisumasu paateii (christmas party) to "happy holidays", missing out entirely as to what christmas is in japan (basically another valentine's day). it's very odd because american based cartoons will be more respectful of foreign cultures than localized anime from that culture.
just like with voice acting, there is good localization, and there is bad localization, and they can go other way for a multitude of reasons.
@Erik Those examples you provided were from 4Kids, which no longer exists and is no longer relevant to today as those dubs were over 20 years ago. Providing those examples truly shows how ignorant you are when it comes to English dubs. Also, accusing companies of simply wanting to make money is hilarious since English dubbed anime is what made it popular in the West. Give credit where credit is due.
Delete4kids was (they're not dubbing animu anymore, afaik) one specific crappy company whose CEO was on record saying "Kids don't read." I don't think you can put every single company in the same trash heap as them.
DeleteSamurai Pizza Cats was fun, but it was absolutely not a good dub, be honest.
Anyway, I can't win with some of you.
DeleteAre we really just in a slap fight now about which dubs are and aren’t good?
DeleteBecause Bo-Bobo was the best English dub ever, and nothing will ever come close to that high again. (WARNING: this is an opinion! There’s no way that can possibly be categorically true for everyone!)
I sometimes wonder how bad they'd screw up a dub of Sexy Commando, Sugoiyo, Masaru-san. It has way too many Japanese puns to get a good localization.
Delete@jark
Deleteit was pretty good for such a nonsense anime.
Meh, was just gonna play it in Japanese anyway.
ReplyDeleteMega man doesn't need voice acting. The first 7 got along just fine without it.
ReplyDelete::sigh:: If this was the late 90s or early 00s I'd get it. But it's not. We have EXCELLENT voice actors for all of these games now and I happen to be actual friends with a few of them or followed by the people who voice our boys in blue (getting followed by X's VA himself blew my brains out my ears for a few days for real a few years ago when THAT happened) but regardless, we need to stop this BS mentality of "Subs are superior" - Rock is American anyway, that's fact and canon.
Delete"subs are superior" will continue for as long as japanese voice acting remains superior. there are rare occasions where the dubs are decent and rarer still when they are better than the japanese. in general, english dubs tend to range from awful to cringeworthy.
DeleteI'm good friends with Johnny Gioeli from Crush 40/Hardline who did a lot of the Sonic vocal songs back in the late 90's early/mid 2000's. My dad's his best friend. I could write a novel on how Sega screwed him and Jun Senoue over hard with royalties and cancelled collabs for decades. Sega still tries to slip their music into their current games without them knowing, so they don't have to pay out.
Delete@Erik, you're the only one continuing it. Stop acting like your opinion is fact.
Delete@Erik: My guy, I'm someone who has watched subs for nearly as long as I have watched anime, and that's since the 90s and me not learning about or getting to watch subbed until the late 2000s. Lots of the English Dubs these days are actually good and well done, and depending on the production even rival the likes of Yu Yu Hakusho in quality.
DeleteAnd that's considering even my own preference for subs over dubs generally. In other words: you're full of crock.
sure velen, sure, name 5 recent good ones
Delete@Erik Again, that's your opinion. Doesn't mean it's fact.
Delete@Erik: Frieren Beyond Journey's End, both seasons. Sentenced to Be a Hero. The ongoing dub of the newest Pokemon series. Any Konosuba dub is practically gold, and Fate / strange fake dub. Did you seriously think I couldn't name 5? Don't be such a pompous lout.
DeleteBut knowing a person like you, you're probably going to dismiss them out of hand cause you can't stand the possibility of being wrong.
oh boy, Frieren. I cringed so hard at ""the royal capital is in sight". like, first line, sounds absolutely awful.
Deletekonosuba, I've actually watched with spanish dubs. spanish dubs were fantastic. english dubs though? falls pretty flat. that's one I know and haven't even seen in japanese and can say your taste is just awful, not like that's recent either, but still, tells me a lot about your taste... or lack thereof.
an example I'd toss out there of an actually good english dub would be baccano. that's an actual decent dub. maybe watch that first as a basic barometer then come back with at least decent dubs.
@Erik Calling someone's taste awful for liking an English dubbed anime is not only immature, but wrong. Again, stop acting like your opinion is fact. Also, labeling all English dubs as bad is giving massive weeb energy. If you hate English so much, why are you speaking it? You clearly prefer Japanese, so maybe you should start speaking that instead. But you probably won't cuz like all weebs, your logic is hypocritical. Smh
DeleteI'm not calling anyone's taste awful for liking english dubbed anime, I'm calling someone's taste awful for liking awful english dubs. I clearly listed a decent english dub, but I guess you skipped over that part, right?
Deleteit's not English per se that's bad, though I have many grudges against it. it's the voice actors that are the problem. japanese dubs are not superior because japanese is superior. it's superior because their voice actors are superior voice actors. they take the roles very seriously and give 110%. there are good american VAs, and some even do anime, but doesn't mean their performance is good for that project.
that, and shows tend to be best in their original language. american cartoons can be pretty awful when dubbed in other languages, though the french are pretty dedicated to voice acting, generally turns out pretty well.
also, I am in fact learning japanese on side, though I much prefer the superior korean with it's sublime writing system, but my true love is l'italiano, for being perfectly phonetic. but that's just my linguistics hobby, irrelevant completely.
I've watched anime in a bunch of different languages, and there are some poor dubs in every language, but english is generally the most phoned in for anime. spanish dubs are great for saint seiya and konosuba. I'm rather partial to the german dub of one piece, especially because ruffy sounds better to me than loofy.
Nope. You're out here acting like your opinion is fact. Also, hating on English voice actors by calling them inferior to Japanese is certainly a choice. I'd love to see you try doing voice acting yourself. You clearly have no respect for the people providing voices for English-speaking audiences. Typical weeb mentality. Also, you only named one good dub out of hundreds. Your argument still sucks.
DeleteItalian language is pretty great. I would have opted to learn it in high school if they had it as an option, but alas, the closest they had was Latin.
Delete@Nico
DeleteI don't have to try to be professional chef to say that italian food is better than japanese food.
That doesn't make any sense. Typical weeb logic
Deleteit's addressing your "I'd love to see you try doing voice acting yourself" line. suggesting that one who can't do, cannot criticize.
DeleteBring back the MEGAMAN 8 english dubs
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly meme-worthy, if nothing else.
DeleteThis but unironically.
DeleteThis really sucks, unions provide protections for english voice actors so to suddenly stop going union after mm11 leaves me worried. I genuinely hope capcom turns around on this.
ReplyDeleteNormally, sure. But not with SAG. They are basically a cult. They have ruined many careers and continue to shackle people. Anyone paying attention during the strike realized this. They are incredibly toxic and not supportive of their members.
DeleteEven if you don't give a flip about the English actors, guys, you have to admit that this whole situation with the VAs is just a big slap in the face. Have some tact.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm confused by some of the reactions here.
DeleteEh, they'll always be a few weebs who think the Japanese version of anything will always be superior.
DeleteI’m not trying to encourage Capcom being miserly. Truthfully, I even enjoyed some of the English performances from 11. But I’ve been around the block a couple times, I’ve seen this same song and dance before. If SEGA wouldn’t even play ball with *the* most iconic Sonic voice in 2011 (keep in mind, the time between Heroes/Generations and 11/DO is comparable), I’m not surprised Capcom isn’t chasing after a Mega Man voice actor who was only *okay*. I feel for Ben, I truly do. But even if I loved the English dub of 11, this wouldn’t surprise me. Capcom hasn’t once kept the English cast for a 20XX game, I didn’t expect them to start.
DeleteCapcom hates unions so much it's crazy
ReplyDeleteA day ending in 'y' for a lot of companies, unfortunately.
DeleteCorporations in general hate unions, because giving workers a fair or better deal for the work they already make gets in the way of making the most profit
DeleteMy favorite line is the "we have an open-door policy" when they're anti-union. It usually means "the exit door".
Deletesome of these replies can't be serious
ReplyDeleteImagine being happy that workers are missing out on their livelihood because a greedy corporation refuses to comply with unions and worker protections, all because you hate English dubs.
ReplyDeleteI swear, weebs are some of the most delusional, ignorant, and sociopathic people in fandom. Then again, these are the same chuds who were whining during the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami because their precious anime and manga got delayed, all the while ignoring the safety and lives of those affected. How incredibly selfish.
SAG-AFTRA is a terrible "union" please do some research before calling who greedy.
DeleteThis comment is giving "Leave the multibillion dollar company alone". Both things can be true at the same time, and it doesn't change the fact that weebs here are being ignorant and hateful for the wrong reasons.
Deletenah, no one here has love for crapcom, especially with how they treat our boy. but sag-aftra is even less deserving of love and has pretty much destroyed hollywood and bullied people for no reason.
DeleteWeeb detected = opinion rejected
Delete"Crapcom" is literally developing a new game as we speak, the ONLY thing some fans ever whine about. I'm so glad people like them make up such an infinitesimal part of the fanbase.
Deleteoh gee, a new game every half a decade in one series and maybe we'll get a mega man legends collection by 2035. I should be soooooo grateful to crapcom for the pittance they offer us. 9 years after the last new mega man game between 5 serieses?
Deleteyeah, I'm glad he's maybe finally getting another game unless cancelled AGAIN (don't count your chicks before they hatch after all) but 1 new 12 level adventure every decade does not free them from "crapcom" status
I'd much rather get a solid game every 8 or 9 years than annual releases that lead to dwindling sales and indefinite moratoriums.
DeleteThen again, I'm the type of person who will stay a fan no matter how many new games are released. Maybe it's because I grew up and don't spout "Crapcom" everywhere online like a petulant 15 year old.
I'd much rather a solid game for the various serieses every 2-3 years, y'know, a normal dev cycle for the same small scope games we're getting anyway.
Deletebut that's just me, maybe because I'm not a fanboy of a company that doesn't give a damn
SAG-AFTRA is ass anyway, I've seen the drama in other communities, these guys screw over people whenever they get te chance. People are calling Capcom greedy? These guys are no better.
ReplyDeleteBoth things can be true at once. Also, the people celebrating are only doing so cuz they hate English dubs. Nothing to do with SAG-AFTRA being controversial.
DeleteReading the topic, all I can think of is: People not doing their job and holding consumers hostage with strikes will only encourage AI to do the voices instead since primitive technophobic inefficient unions cannot compete with something that is cheaper, 24/7, or an automated non-union that passes on perks to consumers and is better and cheaper from a consumer perspective as well, but that's fine since I'm ok with Japanese dubs with English subtitles. Unions don't have the imagination to support economic paradigm shifts new deal style and prefer holding back innovation to preserve obsolete jobs vs promoting shorter affordable work weeks to share the work as we automate and unconditional better safety nets as we automate the economy. Ok, then they will lose consumers to innovative companies that offer and better cheaper product with 24/7 service, and in the long run, with adequate competition, lower the cost of living vs unions artificially trying to keep it high and stifle econ growth. Some worker rights are good, but I don't like them in the form of a union for said reasons and at the cost of innovation or paradigm shifts to our system.
Deletevery well put gary.
DeleteI'd also add that not all unions are good all the time. unions are good things on paper, but doesn't always turn out that way in practice
That's unfortunately true, Erik. About the unions sometimes being ass, I mean.
Delete