SDCC [Chapter I, Verse IV]: Going #FullRetard for ‘Baker-Con’ 2K13!!

I’ve always been fascinated by voice actors.

To this Reverend, something has to be said for one who brings millions into their own world — without the sight of their face.

You could call these artists the voices of the voiceless; the voices of the faceless; the voices of big budget enterprises.

Of course I’m talking about the vocal talents of video games. Today (and perhaps every other day), I’m talking about Troy Baker.

If you’ve listened to our San Diego Comic Con Preview Night podcast, then you’ve heard the other GHG members (hi Moody and Sir Lancelot!) poke fun for…basically not shutting up about Mr. Baker. Sure, call it a man-crush. Whatever moniker you want to shake at me, there’s no backing away. If you call yourself a gamer, then you’ve most likely played something starring the real deal. The man is not only versatile in the characters he voices, but also happens to have one of those unique voices where…

It’s impossible to describe. Baker just has one of those badass hero voices!

Though he’s the voice of leading — and hella award-winning — video game characters like Booker Dewitt (Bioshock Infinite), Joel (The Last of Us), The Leader of The Saints (Saints Row 3 & 4), Mr. Baker will finally have his hand at a major villain with the forthcoming Batman game, Arkham Origins. Yes, the former Batman/Robin/Nightwing will now play Joker.

Hail to the motherfluffing new Clown Prince of Crime!

So, there was your resident Rev at SDCC, with the anticipation knocking on me like biochemical laughing gas. Troy Baker was guest appearing at two of today’s panels — Origins and Saints Row IV –and most people would have looked at my face like I was a 13-year old white girl getting ready for a Justin Beiber concert. Even if I’ve never even met Kevin Conroy or Mark Hamill, the respective voices of Batman and Joker the past twenty years, this Baker kid seemingly combined that excitement. I mean, dude’s really come out of nowhere the past couple years and, here I am, barely able to contain myself.

For those unfamiliar with the recent outings of Saints Row (and shame on you; yes, you, MOODY), just imagine if Grand Theft Auto and The Matrix had a drunken unprotected, drug-induced one night stand. It’s almost like handling John Carpenter’s They Live in an open world.

So, enter Volition’s creative director Steve Jaros, and of course the voice cast: JB Blanc (Zinyak, the alien overlord), Yuri Lowenthal (Matt Miller and Prof. Genki), Baker and Laura Bailey (Male and Female Boss Protagonist). As soon as Baker walks in, I stand up and shout, “You my boy, Troy!” Sure, I thoroughly embarrassed my dear friend/colleague/comic book enthusiast, Nicole. But…

Welcome to God Hates Geeks.

The rep from the Row’s publisher, Deep Silver, asked Troy: “You’re just all over the place. Is there any game you haven’t done?”

Troy Baker: “Umm…”

Me: (yelling from the crowd): “Mario.”

Troy: (looking right at me, underwear starting to drip): “Mario! Yes, you are right… (lowering the voice) as far as you know! This is Baker-Con!”

He said that — not me!

The Rev actually had the opportunity to ask a question to the SR4 panel, but of course the convention employee was whispering to everyone “Just one question, keep it brief, and absolutely…no requests!” Damn, I was really looking forward to asking Troy if he could do the line, “Do you have any idea who you’re f@%&ing with?!?!” You know, ever so equivocally. Well, thanks Major Buzzkill. Now what do I ask?

When it was my turn to come up to the mic, I said “Hey Troy, big fan since the Catherine game!”

Troy: “Oh, thank you!”

Then he quickly motions to Laura Bailey, sitting right beside him.

Me: “Yes, Laura, I didn’t forget about you! (she was in that game, too) Loved you as Catherine, you were wonderful!” (I’m an asshole!) (cue audience laughter)

How the hell did I forget the actress, who voiced the title character was sitting right beside him?

Me: (back to Baker) Now, you voiced a wide variety of characters like Booker Dewitt, Vincent Brooks, The Joker…but, how does is it feel to now be the President, and not just the President, but the “Mother F@%&ing President?”

Troy: “Well, I’m still taking over the world!” (audience burst of laughter) “I was a fan Saints Row before and a Grand Theft Auto fan, as well…but what I loved what SR did was that they let you play the game, as opposed to the game playing you, if that makes any sense. So, the great thing about Saint Row: The Third was that nothing was out of bounds, and they got to really push the envelope. And one thing that I love about SR4 is that you get to play as Nolan North (Nathan Drake from Uncharted)…not just the voice, but actual Nolan North… What, no one’s excited for that? (cue delay applause)

I think we all would rather play as you, Mr. Baker. Though, I have checked out the trailer for the upcoming Infamous game, and the protagonist he voices does have a striking resemblance to him. Crazaaayyy!!!

Up on stage in the near massive CBF Hall for the Batman: Arkham Origins panel were WB Creative Director Eric Holmes and voice actors Roger Craig Smith (Assassin’s Creed) and (my not-so-secret hetero whatever) Troy Baker. As soon as the cast walked on stage, Monsignor Moody — who couldn’t resist a piece of the Baker-Con himself — kept telling me to settle down.

Moody: Do I need to tie you down to your chair?

Yes. This is how you do panels. Even my boss would agree that the Arkham Origins panel was among the best at the Con. Baker and Smith were just screwing around, doing funny voices the entire time. I nearly pissed my pants when they both did Adam West impressions. Smith: “Wait, what was that? Shatner?” Not to mention Baker’s impression of Christopher Walken. My Godlovesgeeks, he just kept going! Gotta love it!

When is there going to be a goddamn Oscar for Best Voice Actor? And, seeing our heroes enjoy the shit out of what they do — and enjoy performing for the fans — is what makes the experience of going to the Con so enjoyable. Of course, both actors did address the issue of becoming the new voices of Batman and Joker. Smith and Baker intend to pay homage to these characters, and tweek the voices a little bit; but not deviate from what has always been known from the fans. Baker wants to make sure that players see the Joker, and not Troy Baker doing some impression of Luke Skywalker’s Joker. “I don’t want you see this goofy looking mug (his), over that handsome face (of The Joker).

Goofy mug!?!? There were plenty of ladies in the audience — and me (wah-ha!) — who were so not thinking that! Gotta admit, his grinning Joker laugh gave me chills! When he was asked “what’s next?” His response, “Hey, I’m available for anyone who wants to hire me.”

There went the crowd, and there goes the phone.

So, is Troy Baker is up there with such talented voice actors as Nolan North, Kevin Conroy, and Mark Hamill? Absolutely. I admire the fact that he is a gamer himself, and that he really prefers voice acting in video games. Let’s face it, video games these days deliver the cha-ching. They are a new form of media, deserving of the same kind of recognition and respect as television and film. Lastly, I neglected to mention that Troy Baker is a talented singer and musician. If you haven’t heard the cover of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” (with Baker also on guitar), along with fellow voice actress Courtnee Draper, it plays during the end credits of Bioshock Infinite. Sha-pow.

Well, I look forward to playing whatever future character Baker voices, even if that equates to buying a damn Wii-U. And, with that..  we. Suh. Lute. You.

Hail the to the Mother F@%&ing Chief!!!

• Saints Row IV will be available August 20th, with the first DLC, Enter the Dominatrix (a “behind-the-scenes” style mocumentary of all content cut from the game, originally slated for SR3), set to drop 45 days after release.

• Jaros blamed America’s favorite refreshment, beer, for the origin of the Dubstep Gun.

• Batgirl won’t be in Arkham Origins — released October 25th — but your Worst Nightmare will. Warner Bros. Montreal showed off an allotment of skins, in addition to the haunting figure so many of Bruce’s criminals imagine at night, with the likes of Adam West Batman and Knightfall.

• A female version of Copperhead was also introduced, which actually brought much delight to game consultant and DC writing god, Geoff Johns. Since the poisonous martial artist — who took 3 motion capture performers to nail — works from the shadows, it’ll be interesting to see how Batman “takes it from behind,” for once.

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