What really happens when the person behind your favourite gaming hero finally steps into the booth knowing their voice could change a world, or let down a legion of players?

In this episode of ReadyAimFire, actor and comedian Inel Tomlinson brings us into the volatile, high stakes craft of bringing video game characters to life. From embodying the fearless Quartus in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 to revealing what it’s really like to join an established franchise as the cool-headed Keelan in The First Descendant, Inel pulls back the curtain with warmth and surprising honesty.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• The untold emotional reality of voice acting how actors navigate secrecy, fan expectations, and the fierce vulnerability of creating a character nobody’s met yet.
• The unsung art of voice direction in games, where scenes are recorded out of order and directors become your “gods” often saving actors’ voices in the process.
• Find out what it’s like to balance the unpredictable life of a jobbing actor, from surreal filming days with set dogs and Resident Evil mansions, to grappling with the looming threat of AI in creative industries.

“It’s a really tough job… you’re having to use your imagination to put yourself there, and it’s up to the voice director to transport you.” — Inel Tomlinson

Step into the fire with us this conversation might just change how you think about the stories, voices, and people who shape the games you love. Press play and join the journey.

🧭 Timestamps:

00:00 - Voiceover Studio for Game Development

05:54 - Blueprints: A Unique Mystery Experience

08:27 - Unveiling Game Characters Post-Audition

10:04 - Voice Director Guides Actor's Performance

13:21 -  Joining an Established Franchise Challenges

16:52 - Behind-the-Scenes in Gaming

19:41 - Wii Motion Control Memories

23:14 - Diverse Voices Enrich Gaming

26:42 - Balancing Fun and Future Uncertainty

30:23 - Real Life Resident Evil Filming

35:06 - Challenges of Solo Game Development

38:31 - AI Job Market Challenges

39:35 - AI's Impact on Video Game Ethics

44:22 - Monster Hunter's Growing Popularity

48:44 - Celebrating Button Bashing in Gaming

50:09 - Horrible Science New Series Launch

👤 Guest Info:

Inel Tomlinson  is known for his voice work in Space Marine 2, The First Descendant, and other major video game titles. He has appeared on the BAFTA award-winning series Horrible Histories, and continues to work across television, radio and stage. 

🌐IMDb  📸 Instagram

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

(chronological order of appearance)

• Fractured Space on Steam
• Pinewood Studios Official Site
• Red Dwarf Official Site
• Aldi UK
• Wikipedia: NES
• Wikipedia: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES video game)
• Blue Prince Steam Page
• The First Descendant Official Site
• Kirsty Gilmore (Voice Director)
• Space Marine 2 Official
• Warhammer Community
• Get Fit with Mel B
• Twitch
• Ring Fit Adventure
• Jupiter Picross
• Tetris Official
• Horrible Histories BBC
• Neil Newbon Official
• The Last of Us (Game)
• The Last of Us (TV)
• God of War Official
• Metal Gear Solid Official
• Nintendo Official Site
• Sega Official Site
• SAG-AFTRA Official Site
• Monster Hunter Wilds Official
• Monster Hunter Rise Official
• Mega Man Official
• Street Fighter Official
• Tekken Official
• Horrible Science Sky Kids

💬 Quotes:

"One of the good things about the industry as well, is in video games and animations, I guess you get to kind of voice characters that aren't like you a lot of the time, which is. Which is just as fun to do."- Inel Tomlinson

"It's a really tough job. Like, understated and I think underappreciated. What, like the. What voice directors do in the video game genre, because it's very different to every other kind of piece of media out there."- Inel Tomlinson

🎧 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
• Episode 7: Hannah Price, Oli Chance, Morgan Rushton & Martin Vaughan on Final Fantasy XVI
• Episode 8: Anthony Howell & Will Porter revisit Alien: Isolation
• Episode 9: Charlotte Mcburney on a Plague Tale

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