Now, it’s popular opinion (at least I think it is) that the Master Cheif will be, and has to be, retired as a character, because the elephant in the room being that Steve Downes is no spring chicken, and reality will strike home that one day his voice just won’t be the Cheif we know, or maybe more simply he’ll just want to retire from this work in the near future.
At first thought, whichever the case there, it seems that the obvious conclusion is without Steve Downes the Chief’s character has to be retired.
But here’s the most simple point where I suddenly think that there are alternative and progressive ways around that if they want to keep the Chief as a main character in games (additional DLC?) going forward; Deep AI Neural Speech programing. (assuming Downes retires)
These days, text to speech is getting ever better, and some of the best ones start out from the voiceprint of real people and then can be adjusted.
There’s the very real possibility that Steve Downes could have his voice print mapped as a way to continue his character.
I’m not saying that this is likely, just that I think it’s possible.
Having access to some neural text-to-speech systems, I personally think with the right time and patience put into it that some voices can sound real enough to not guess it was synthesised.
What would you think of the possibilities that could set in front of Halo and its’ future with the Chief?
Or do you think that regardless of that, they should retire the Chief as the main protagonist at some point and introduce newer characters?
Who knows what future tech and laws may allow for, but I think it’s totally possible to do Master Chief with a different voice actor who fits the role close enough. Other mediums and characters do it all the time.
> 2533274841519598;2:
> Who knows what future tech and laws may allow for, but I think it’s totally possible to do Master Chief with a different voice actor who fits the role close enough. Other mediums and characters do it all the time.
I suppose that was the other obvious alternative, haha! Didn’t cross my mind that they might just find a new voice actor.
I personally feel like they shouldn’t end his journey, but they should bring in a new character to follow (in a way that won’t instantly psychologically set the fanbase against them - like Locke) and bit by bit edge the Chief out of primary focus so that there are shared focuses.
But neural speech options do add a lot of possibilities, regardless of whichever path they take.
I would much rather see Chief simply re-cast rather than Steve Downes voice be creepily puppeteered and synthesized with a computer. However, above both options I’d just opt for a new main character.
> 2533274812652989;4:
> I would much rather see Chief simply re-cast rather than Steve Downes voice be creepily puppeteered and synthesized with a computer. However, above both options I’d just opt for a new main character.
I think computer synthesization may become less creepy if its ever normalized and in the new age of tech I often wonder how far off such developments may be. I dont have too strong of feelings on the topic but I often feel that it is unnecessary in most instances its proposed. That’s just me though.
> 2533274812652989;4:
> I would much rather see Chief simply re-cast rather than Steve Downes voice be creepily puppeteered and synthesized with a computer. However, above both options I’d just opt for a new main character.
Haha I can understand that perspective.
I recently started using the services of a company that utilises Microsofts and Amazons neural speech tech, and it seriously blows my mind how natural it sounds… My initial expectations were not very high.
So when I can adjust pronunciation, pitch, tone, speed of dictation of certain words or names, I can produce spoken sentences that sound like a character-rich reader who you’d think was human. I’m sure more skilled (whereas I’m essentially unskilled ) sound designers could produce even better results more quickly.
I’m not pushing this as a thought that should become mainstream or anything, I just find the technology interesting, and what it can present to different industries incredible.
But not opposed to either suggested results. Like I said, I think they should edge Cheif out to bring in a new character to get behind while paying homage to the Chief’s character without it being all about him still.
> 2533274851997977;1:
> Heya folks!
>
> Now, it’s popular opinion (at least I think it is) that the Master Cheif will be, and has to be, retired as a character, because the elephant in the room being that Steve Downes is no spring chicken, and reality will strike home that one day his voice just won’t be the Cheif we know, or maybe more simply he’ll just want to retire from this work in the near future.
> At first thought, whichever the case there, it seems that the obvious conclusion is without Steve Downes the Chief’s character has to be retired.
>
> But here’s the most simple point where I suddenly think that there are alternative and progressive ways around that if they want to keep the Chief as a main character in games (additional DLC?) going forward; Deep AI Neural Speech programing. (assuming Downes retires)
> These days, text to speech is getting ever better, and some of the best ones start out from the voiceprint of real people and then can be adjusted.
> There’s the very real possibility that Steve Downes could have his voice print mapped as a way to continue his character.
> I’m not saying that this is likely, just that I think it’s possible.
> Having access to some neural text-to-speech systems, I personally think with the right time and patience put into it that some voices can sound real enough to not guess it was synthesised.
> What would you think of the possibilities that could set in front of Halo and its’ future with the Chief?
>
> Or do you think that regardless of that, they should retire the Chief as the main protagonist at some point and introduce newer characters?
Wholeheartedly in agreement. I think it’s time for his character to be phased out after infinite as a playable character. I think that as his character ages it would make sense if we was in the action less. Maybe in the next installment he could be a badass NPC who mostly hangs out and advises the newer spartans but occasionally gets his hands dirty. I also just think that his story line with cortana etc. and his character as he is are a little bit overused/getting old. I would love for this game to introduce a new character that could take over as the playable character for future DLC etc. for a smooth transition. With a platform like Infinite, you could play as different Spartans in different DLC. Would welcome more stories like Reach, especially early war stories (or other kinds of game, i.e. battlefield, Halo wars, far cry style games.)
If Chief dies, he needs to die a truly legendary death.
After that, I want to follow Arbiter’s story, or play as a Marine or play some kind of prequel campaign, like the Human-Forerunner war or something.
I think the main reason to end Chief story is not about Steve’s voice but instead that it has to end at some point in the story no matter of who is voicing the Chief. Time passes in the Halo universe and before we see a 80 year old Chief fighting the Covenant over and over in a never ending repetition where nothing is resolved I would rather see another character taking the mantle in a completely different scenario in the universe with new threats and new stories. The Halo Universe is so big and it has plenty of opportunities to explore stories with a different cast and there are plenty of characters that could easily fit as the new face of Halo.
steve downes loves doing chief, and its near enough his normal voice without having to change it to much so he could play it as long as he can. we’re probably talking about 15 years or so.
Then you could just re cast chief voice at that point, people would understand seeing there is no other choice. OR they could just do a young John game where hes doing battle that happened b4 halo ce. There so much they can do with him.
Saying that they should totally do some spin off games, odst style with new characters. I feel when they tried to replace chief in halo 5 it was just to forced. You cant add new characters like that. Best way to do it is in spin off games. There some fantastic characters in the Kelley gay book trilogy that could have some great games. Then you have Blue team and what they got up to ext.
Either way i find it ironic how people hated chief side lined in halo 5 and now i’ve seen quite afew posts about chief being retired… strange.
> 2533275010793662;9:
> I think the main reason to end Chief story is not about Steve’s voice but instead that it has to end at some point in the story no matter of who is voicing the Chief. Time passes in the Halo universe and before we see a 80 year old Chief fighting the Covenant over and over in a never ending repetition where nothing is resolved I would rather see another character taking the mantle in a completely different scenario in the universe with new threats and new stories. The Halo Universe is so big and it has plenty of opportunities to explore stories with a different cast and there are plenty of characters that could easily fit as the new face of Halo.
I can imagine a family member of the Master Chief succeeding him for his mantle but the Master Chief story will most likely continue on in the DLC campaigns of Halo Infinite.
> 2535432369270945;8:
> If Chief dies, he needs to die a truly legendary death.
> After that, I want to follow Arbiter’s story, or play as a Marine or play some kind of prequel campaign, like the Human-Forerunner war or something.
I would like to follow the arbiters story at some point but I’m not sure if that how I want it to go. A marine perspective game would be interesting but would probably have to be centered in some unique setting like a prequel to the covenent against insurectionists or really homing in the point how helpless they are in the greater conflict. Either way so long 343 executes it well I will probably enjoy it
> 2555390681439134;10:
> Either way i find it ironic how people hated chief side lined in halo 5 and now i’ve seen quite afew posts about chief being retired… strange.
People didn’t like how things went in Halo 5 because, despite sharing equal amounts of the box art and being advertised as equals in marketing, Locke had far more playtime (12 missions) compared to Chief (3 missions). Adding on the fact that Locke’s side of the story wasn’t very interesting compared to what was happening on Chief’s side and it’s a recipe for disappointment and backlash.
I think people are open to having Chief be retired at some point, but it would need require a much better story than Halo 5’s to set it up.
> 2533274892901745;13:
> > 2555390681439134;10:
> > Either way i find it ironic how people hated chief side lined in halo 5 and now i’ve seen quite afew posts about chief being retired… strange.
>
> People didn’t like how things went in Halo 5 because, despite sharing equal amounts of the box art and being advertised as equals in marketing, Locke had far more playtime (12 missions) compared to Chief (3 missions). Adding on the fact that Locke’s side of the story wasn’t very interesting compared to what was happening on Chief’s side and it’s a recipe for disappointment and backlash.
>
> I think people are open to having Chief be retired at some point, but it would need require a much better story than Halo 5’s to set it up.
I agree with you, Helljumper RUSS.
I was all for a new character entering in H5, but the manner that Locke was inserted in was clumsy and psychologically stupid, as a storytelling and corporate decision.
Why try to introduce a new protagonist by way of having him attempt to take THE face of the franchise down?
From the get-go, that set a majority of fans against Locke. I still think a lot of fans would be for a new protagonist or storyline. Take a look at Reach or ODST for examples.
That being said… I personally would like a more character-rich character to play as. Not that I want endless lines of dialogue… I just want a little more Humanity from the character to care a bit more about their experience in the narrative.
The problem with H5, I think, was it was more about John than it was about the broader narrative with John being a vehicle in it, which lead to poor decisions regarding Locke’s character.
There’s more to it than that… But I think that’s kind of a fundamental element of the issue.
But everyone is adding valid and interesting points.
Younger Chief story’s pre-CE (With Downes or a new actor) - EU Novel characters - There are a LOT of great ones to choose from here - A new character introduced through the game
Master Chief is a Spartan, he can continue to get old and fight like before. Johnson came from the project Spartan 1 (Orion), he was very old but look like if he had 40 years.
If 343 have good story for Chief for the next 20 years, that won’t bother me. However, I don’t want to see the Chief be recycled in bad stories for ever, like in Halo 5.
> 2535436152010337;16:
> Master Chief is a Spartan, he can continue to get old and fight like before. Johnson came from the project Spartan 1 (Orion), he was very old but look like if he had 40 years.
> If 343 have good story for Chief for the next 20 years, that won’t bother me. However, I don’t want to see the Chief be recycled in bad stories for ever, like in Halo 5.
Ooooo that’s a bit savage
Haha but I agree wholeheartedly.
A part of my wants new characters, and the other part wants it to stay with Chief, so my personal compromise is wanting both. Why can’t I have my cake and eat it? Haha.
I was playing Reach on the MCC last night with a friend and we both agreed that at least in our eyes two of the best Halo games (ODST and Reach) don’t have John as a character at all. While the Master Chief is iconic and great it is wholly possible to have a great Halo game without him, either a new Spartan or even better a Spartan that we the players get to define and create like Noble Six but with even more control would in my eyes be as good, if not better, than continuing to use the Chief forever.
> 2533274820430915;18:
> I was playing Reach on the MCC last night with a friend and we both agreed that at least in our eyes two of the best Halo games (ODST and Reach) don’t have John as a character at all. While the Master Chief is iconic and great it is wholly possible to have a great Halo game without him, either a new Spartan or even better a Spartan that we the players get to define and create like Noble Six but with even more control would in my eyes be as good, if not better, than continuing to use the Chief forever.
As such, I will pose a theoretical future game:
Set 50-100 years in the future!
Long enough for current story threads to be almost entirely closed up, but not so long that the tech should have changed suuuuper dramatically (considering Humans are using ballistic weaponry still at this point while Covvies use plasma), and a chance for an entirely fresh slate.
There are some great characters in the books tbh. the recent kelly gay trilogy has a great set of characters, and feels very firefly at times. Im all for new stories, but im still all for keeping chief around for awhile longer.
I personally didn’t like halo reach much at all, but mostly because it messed with canon at the time. Odst was fantastic however.
) sound designers could produce even better results more quickly.