The Challenge
Imagine you wake up one day, check your email and there is request asking you to record the voice of an orc and a goblin. You record it and send it to Blizzard Entertainment. You have no idea what for, and you don’t want to ask for more details. You see you’re probably NOT the only one getting this email and you think you might lose precious time in the back and forth questions. So, you read the instructions again and decide to take the plunge.
You record some samples. You listen to them. It sounds awkward to listen to your own voice, but click send anyway. No promises, no expectations.
Weeks later, you are told you have been selected to give life to one of Hearthstone's cards in the next expansion! And not only that, you also receive an invitation into a professional voice-recording studio. In the company of the same heroes that record Hearthstone's cinematic songs for Latin American Spanish, you recognize the legendary René Sagastume who’s there for rehearsal and direction.
Card: Apexi Smugler
One of the email recipients to this initiative was Manuel Hernán Delgado, better known as Rane in the world of Hearthstone.
I asked myself, did Blizzard choose Rane or did Rane choose Blizzard?
Blizzard LATAM’s team project to select the voices of some of their dedicated esports casters had only started being planned a few months before, but Rane… well, he was a hero in the making years before he even casted his first game.
I was curious to know more about how he first got introduced to Hearthstone.
Rane, what was your first encounter with Hearthstone really like?
Rane--
Hearthstone was first introduced to me by two friends (Juli and Licha), who, knowing my passion for strategy games, told me that I had to try it. And so, in the company of friends and the Innkeeper, I entered the Grand Tournament and learned the basic concepts of the game. I have enjoyed the game ever since.
After a while, the three of us decided to go a bit further. We started to organize tournaments. First, they were for acquaintances through WhatsApp groups, then we ventured with initiatives open to the entire community. That was the moment Tierras de Fuego (my team / organization) was born and nothing was ever the same, for the group and for me personally.
From that point on, Hearthstone was not just a game, it was a passion. A lot of things precipitated in a very short time. I started to stream and narrate games, improved my competitive skills, I met many wonderful people who are my friends today and definitely have made an impact in my life. Without knowing it, Hearthstone was beginning to be a part of my life.
I could go on and on, talking about details of how my dream came true and how I live it day by day by playing, narrating games of the highest competitive level, and giving life to every initiative we have in Tierras de Fuego, sharing all this with my friends.
I think that’s what my story sums up to, the importance of people I met on the road. I don't need to give you an extensive list of names because they know who they are and what they mean to me. Today, from where I am, I try every day to give back to the community everything that I have had the grace to receive thanks to them.
Card: Replicat-o-tron
I was also curious about what this unique experience must have been like for Ezequiel Seibel (Shoda), our other participating esports caster. I reached out to him and he answered the following!
Shoda--
The recording process was one of the most unique experiences that I have had the pleasure of doing.
When I was presented with the opportunity to give my voice to a card from the game that I love so much, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
The experience of going to the studio and recording was super rewarding, we were greeted by incredible professionals and treated as if we were dubbing artists too, and they really made us feel part of things. With their help, I believe we were able to make a product we could be proud of and I get to receive the incredible gift of having my voice in the game forever. It’s an unforgettable experience.
The hours we spent in the studio were very useful, they gave us all kinds of instructions and advice to be able to do the job in the best possible way. It was very professional and a lot of fun at the same time. I am deeply grateful for having had this opportunity.
Voice Over Talent for Games
As one of the main contacts within Blizzard to cast voices for our games in Latin American Spanish, I can say we’ve been fortunate to have top caliber talent from other sister industries in movies and series. An additional aspect that I keep an eye out for is talent who started off as gamers, then became voice actors. That is one of the reasons why this project was so important: to expose another area of expertise within gaming to the fans; to establish a bridge between the world of players and the career path of voice-over.
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About Hearthstone
With more than 100 million players worldwide, Hearthstone is Blizzard Entertainment’s internationally acclaimed, free-to-play digital card game designed for novice and veteran card-slingers alike. Players can choose from 10 powerful hero classes and customize their decks with minions, spells, and weapons based on the unique fantasy of the Warcraft® universe. Featuring a variety of game modes ranging from epic head-to-head duels to story-driven Solo Adventures, Hearthstone offers a vibrant and rewarding experience stacked with strategy, personality, and fun. Hearthstone is available globally for Windows and Mac PCs; Windows, iOS, and Android tablets; and iOS, and Android mobile phones.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone, Overwatch®, the Warcraft, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the multifranchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes twenty-two #1 games* and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's online gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.
*Sales and/or downloads based on internal company records and reports from key distributors.
Special Thanks
I am grateful for the contributions by my colleagues: Christopher Honour, Esteban Villaseca and Andre de Abreu.
