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Ever wondered what goes on inside the studio for one the most acclaimed game series of all time?
In this episode of the ReadyAimFire Podcast, hosts Kez and Tom welcome an extraordinary panel featuring the performance directors, casting directors and localisation experts whose fingerprints are all over Final Fantasy XVI, Alan Wake II, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and many more beloved games: Hannah Price, Oli Chance, Morgan Rushton and Martin Vaughan.
Dive with us into translation trials, performance tribulations and endless T poses, as our guests reveal what really happens when scripts are top secret, the pressure is high, and the gaming magic that fans demand has to make it to the screen.
You’ll hear:
- About dramatic graveside scenes with Ben Starr that had directors literally crying in the studio – and they almost didn’t shoot them
- How Kez had to snog – with a mocap camera strapped to her face! (Imagine forgetting how to kiss, live on set!)
- The time Martin had to cast a character described as “Rebel Wilson, Kanye West, and Cristiano Ronaldo, all in one”
- How performance direction and localisation aren’t just technical roles, but creative, deeply personal crafts, turning even awkward technicalities (like the interruptions of endless T poses) into breakthrough moments.
“That's kind of the most magical thing somebody can do, is be in that room in that stupid suit and then give a heartbreaking performance” - Oli Chance
From unscripted laughter to bonding over onion rings, this is the emotion, the mess, and the beauty of storytelling in games. Settle back, press play, and enjoy!
🧭 Timestamps:
00:01:07 – Introducing the performance team behind Final Fantasy XVI
00:03:12 – RADA, BAFTA, and “onion rings on a spike” - forging industry friendships
00:05:40 – From theatre to games: Hannah’s transition and juggling specificity
00:11:28 – Directing actors through grief – handling vulnerability with care
00:15:36 – The essential question that fosters safety in the booth
00:17:36 – Talkback gone wrong: the perils of studio silence
00:19:39 – Beyond the role – casting for character and chemistry
00:24:12 – Unhelpful casting notes and the “Rebel Wilson, Kanye, Ronaldo” brief
00:29:24 – Alan Wake II madness: musicals, buses, and Sam Lake’s process
00:32:51 – From cleaning toilets to Square Enix: Ollie’s unlikely career start
00:36:02 – Cultural shifts: British English and Dragon Quest VIII’s localisation
00:41:36 – Translating Japanese dialogue: subtext, literalness, and ellipses
00:45:20 – Performance capture puzzles: syncing bodies, voices, and scripts
00:49:57 – Game of Thrones meets Final Fantasy XVI – what the game really is
00:53:05 – How do you kiss in mocap? Navigating intimate scenes
👤 Guest Info:Hannah Price is a performance director, theatre director and filmmaker. Her many credits in gaming include: Alan Wake II, The Division 2, Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 2.
Oli Chance is the co-founder of Shloc Limited, localisation and performance specialists. His credits include Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age and several titles in the Inezuma Irebun series.
Morgan Rushton is the co-founder of Shloc Limited. He’s worked on several games in the Final Fantasy series including Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIV and FInal Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, along with many other Shloc projects.
🌐IMDb
Martin Vaughan is a casting director who’s worked on numerous titles, including Cyberpunk 2077, Returnal, Alan Wake II, Split Fiction and A Plague Tale: Requiem.
🔗 Resources & Mentions:(chronological order of appearance)
- Final Fantasy XVI (Official)
- Square Enix
- Shloc Ltd
- Alien: Isolation
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)
- Hungry Horse
- Dragon Quest (Franchise)
- Side (Audio Production for Games)
- Fable
- Brian Blessed
- Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC)
- Game of Thrones (Official)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Alan Wake II
- Death Stranding
- The Last of Us
- Akira
- Digic Pictures
💬 Quotes:
“I think that they [Square Enix] as compared to some other developers, have put a lot of effort into getting Western performances in their games right.”
– Morgan Rushton
“In games, you have to get what you want really quickly and it has to be specific. But if you pull those together, you get really great performances.”
– Hannah Price
Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to:
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🎧 Check Out More ReadyAimFire Episodes:
- Episode 1: Devora Wilde on Lae’zel and Performance in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Episode 2: Michael Geary on Warhammer, Magic, and Mushroom Warriors
- Episode 3: Damien Goodwin on directing Returnal, Helldivers 2 and more
- Episode 4: Doug Cockle on D&D love and voicing Geralt in the Witcher
- Episode 5: Tom McKay & Luke Dale on Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
- Episode 6: Kirsty Gillmore on directing for games including Baldur’s Gate 3
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