So, not sure if this helps you at all, but here is what I do at home:

Okay, so far it is pretty awesome. Anybody know how to do any of the following?

There is already a small community that has been building up around launching Steam games from XBMC or Windows Media Center. I have a list of all the controller-ready Steam games on my WMC interface, and it works really well. In fact, I personally don't use my PS3 much these days because of it (with exclusive PS3…

To me, the biggest reason is the new file transfer manager in Windows 8. It makes a HUGE difference! The UI is much more intuitive, gives a ton more details, and it has been, in my experience, much more elegant in dealing with issues when transferring files.

Still have to respectfully disagree ^_^

Yeah, I suppose the term "get in the way" is a bit strong. I suppose I was thinking more along the lines that, perhaps they don't really understand much of the script either, and because of this they just have to do things as best they can. It seems like, with most localization efforts, the script prep for voice…

Interesting points! Wanted to add a couple things:

Well, I think part of the pool of talent problem has to do with the budget involved part of the time :(

I'd like to know how often voice actors find themselves in the following situations, as I feel that far too many people we work with end up in these situations:

Thanks for sharing! This is a lot of what I've been trying to point out. ^_^

Great example! Part of the problem is that the casting needs to look at more of the "Western" norms while they find the people to voice the characters, and voice actors of games like Mass Effect would be a great place to start at. Part of me wonders if it is a budget thing, but I don't know how much voice actors from…

I definitely agree with you on Metal Gear Solid. And I think part of the reason was that the people working on it saw that this was something that should hark to the traditions of spy dramas that already existed in Western Culture. And so, a lot of the preconceived notions that come along with Japanese shows and video…

What you are describing are the cultural expectations of the people hearing the voice acting. There is DEFINITELY a very logical and measurable way to find voice actors who will sound natural to the people who will be playing a game or watching a show.

Part of that is simply the industry in Japan. The truly talented will go to where the money is. There is a lot of money in animation and JRPGs in Japan, and there simply isn't as much here in the States.

I think you misunderstand me. Localization is a step in the other direction from what you are suggesting, and most of what you are indicating is bad productions caused by inexperienced staff and low budget numbers.

I agree with what the other people have said. It's basically another Localization issue. Localization, in theory, is taking something from one part of the world and making it feel like it was made in a completely different part of the world. So, a perfect localization would be to take a Japanese product and change it…

The true issue with the English voice acting for Japanese gaming is two-fold in my opinion. I work with localization, and I'll tell you that Japanese media, and by extension Japanese games, have almost never been true localization attempts when I've seen them in other languages. Too much of the culture that grew…

It all depends on what Ultra Violet really is going to offer. I see a lot of resistance to it here in the comments, but is that just because it is DRM? From what I can tell, it's the closest thing to Steam's policies I've seen for media, and I don't particularly mind that. So please, enlighten me if there is something…

I think her boots give her a substantial armor boost as well. Should be fine.