#videogamestrike

[yusuke-of-valla]

So, Video Game Voice Actors Are On Strike: A Quick and Dirty Guide for Tumblr Users

Starting on July 26th, SAG-AFTRA members that are part of the Interactive Media Agreement (so mostly voice actors for video games) will be on strike. If you're a member of SAG-AFTRA with questions, I would speak to them.

Most of this information is coming from the SAG-AFTRA website, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about anything or ask if you need anything.

If you are a random tumblr user who wants to know what's going on, here we go.

Why are video game voice actors striking?

AI, as one could expect. From the union's statement:

Although agreements have been reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA members, the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language.

Which Games Are Being Struck?

Games from: Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. are all being struck.

There is also a website to confirm which union projects are being struck but you'd need to be a member actively working on it to use it.

Ok so I'm not a voice actor, union or otherwise, I just like games. What should I do.

I can NOT stress this enough. Do NOT stop playing games. The union has not asked for this, and is instead asking for people to amplify our messages online using #LevelUpTheContract, #VideoGameStrike and #SagAftraStrong."

You can also sign this petition in support of voice actors getting a fair deal.

I'm not a union representative but if a game you're looking forward to is being covered by the struck companies, I'd blow up your social media and their mentions with how much you love the voice acting and the actors deserve a fair contract, but other than that you are not being asked to boycott any games or not cosplay or attend events.

A Streamer is playing a struck game! Is that crossing the picket line?

No, SAG-AFTRA explicitly says that is fine, and in fact encourages it.

An actor is promoting/promoted a struck work at SDCC, is that crossing the picket line?

No, the statement explicitly says those attending SDCC can still do work there because of the short notice, they are also fine.

Wait didn't SAG-AFTRA already do some weird bullshit regarding video game voice actors and AI?

Yes, at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, SAG-AFTRA signed a deal with Replica AI to allow their members to create digital replicas, it was a whole thing and many voice actors were pissed.

So they're hypocrites?

Ok it's more complicated than that. Their logic for the Replica AI thing is rather than allow companies to do whatever they want, it was better to have a system in place to be able to clearly say when a company was breaking the rules and ensure that talent got some compensation.

We can debate the efficacy of that strategy all day and voice actors at the time were not happy, BUT the companies being struck here refuse to even rise to THAT standard and will not agree to the most basic protections for actors, which is worse.

People and organizations contain multitudes and it is not a betrayal or hypocritical to disagree with SAG-AFTRA leadership on the Replica AI situation and side with them, and more importantly their members in this case.

Why aren't game devs striking/ It's not devs on strike so I don't care

The Screen Actors Guild covers actors, so it would not be in everyone's best interest if they were to try and negotiate on behalf of people in different fields with different needs.

However, one way to build support for the various movements to unionize at places like Activision-Blizzard and Bethesda is to support labor movements everywhere and show solidarity whenever it comes up.

Why are the actors striking when the developers should be paid more.

They should be paid more! And they should not be laid off as much. One way to help with that is to be able to point to voice actors and say, hey they got a raise, I want one too.

[the-fandom-crossroads]

I Uninstalled Genshin Impact | #Boycotthyv #videogamestrike

This video is a cut down stream I did on our twitch channel. In it I share how many play hours I have in Genshin before uninstalling the game for good. This is for accountability as I can't go back and play more of the game without that time going up. If that happens it means I went back on my word and failed at the Boycott. I explain in the video why i feel it's important for content creators to fully boycott the game and not just go free to play.

The rest of the video is me going through comments from multiple PoC genshin players sharing their own experiences and frustrations with the Natlan news. As many of them say it is not just "White US SJWs" upset with this but real people from these cultures. I felt it important to compile a large chunk of their voices in one place. If you are struggling to understand why people are upset please consider pausing at these comments and reading a few of the full comments themselves.

If you decide not to fully boycott Genshin that's up to you. But please consider signing these petitions supporting the two strikes at the very least.

Change.org petition about the whitewashing directed at Mihoyo

Petition about video game voice actors directed at voice acting agencies

[countesschewi]

SAG-AFTRA VIDEO GAME STRIKE

SAG-AFTRA are officially striking against video games. Check out the FAQ here (you'll need to scoll down a bit to find the stuff aimed at non-members, creators and fans).

[soda-p0p-sauce]

I don’t post much, but support the SAG AFTRA strike.

[felassan]

SAG AFTRA news update:

"SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike July 25th A.I. Protections Remain the Sticking Point SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, acting under the authority delegated by the SAG-AFTRA National Board, and with the unanimous advice and counsel of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee, called a strike of the Interactive Media Agreement, effective July 26 at 12:01 a.m. Today’s vote to strike comes after more than a year and a half of negotiations without a deal. The convenience bargaining group with whom SAG-AFTRA is negotiating includes Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. Any game looking to employ SAG-AFTRA talent to perform covered work must sign on to the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement. These agreements offer critical A.I. protections for members. Negotiations began in October 2022 and on Sept. 24, 2023, SAG-AFTRA members approved a video game strike authorization with a 98.32% yes vote. Although agreements have been reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA members, the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language. “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate,” stated SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.   “The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually. The driving force behind that success is the creative people who design and create those games. That includes the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, and they deserve and demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies. Frankly, it’s stunning that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the lessons of last year - that our members can and will stand up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to A.I., and the public supports us in that,” said Crabtree-Ireland. “Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employers are not interested in fair, reasonable A.I. protections, but rather flagrant exploitation. We refuse this paradigm – we will not leave any of our members behind, nor will we wait for sufficient protection any longer. We look forward to collaborating with teams on our Interim and Independent contracts, which provide A.I. transparency, consent and compensation to all performers, and to continuing to negotiate in good faith with this bargaining group when they are ready to join us in the world we all deserve." said Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh.  For more information and to search whether a video game is struck, please visit sagaftra.org/videogamestrike."

[source]

[nthspecialll]

I stand with the SAG-AFTRA strike!

The livelihood of the actors who made our favourite video-games is at stake, and so is the soul and personality of the future master-pieces which they are supposed to create.

Companies are stealing the voice actor's voices and faces, making AI versions of them, slowly removing the "need" for the real deal. This is not just something that is a problem for the actors, but also for the consumers as a robot in no way will be able to replicate the emotions and the feelings we see in characters.

Some companies will completely have a disreguard to the health of their actors in the motion captures, asking them to repeat hard fighting scenes or stunts over and over again with little pay and without a medic on scene, though it is their job to make sure there is. It is tough work and they deserve to be able to make a living with conditions that are safe and humane.

The studios are refusing to acknowledge these amazing preformers as preformers.

Now what does that mean for us as players, fans and content creators? Not a lot, we are not being asked to stop playing or anything similar. Here is what their websides says for content creators and streamers:

"The only situation in which streaming a struck video game would be in violation of our strike order is if you had rendered services as a performer in that struck game. Otherwise, we are not asking you to stop playing/streaming video games. In fact the opposite! Please continue doing what you love, and any support and solidarity would be extremely appreciated!"

And as for fans they simply ask that we show our support by talking about the strike and making posts similar to these which can be found on their webside:

Video game performers deserve fair wages, safe working conditions and A.I. protections. I call on the employers to #LevelUpTheContract. #SagAftraStrong #VideoGameStrike

I support video game performers in their fight for A.I. protections and a fair contract. It's time for the employers to #LevelUpTheContract! #VideoGameStrike #SagAftraStrong

Video game companies must offer A.I. protections to ALL video game performers. Join me and show your support for those who bring our favorite games to life. #LevelUpTheContract #VideoGameStrike #SagAftraStrong

More information can be found on SAG AFTRA's webside or their social media platforms

[deathvalleyqueen]

If your knee-jerk reaction is "Well now Veilguard is gonna be delayed because of the strike" you need to sit down and learn the importance of Unions - particularly if you are American because a lot of the protections you have at your own job is because of strikes like this.

I grew up in a family where at various points in my childhood both of my parents were active union members. So obviously I fully support the strike with my whole chest.

We do what we can to support the performers who bring characters we love and adore to life - end of story.

If the game is delayed - we waited 10 years already - we can wait however long we have to so the performers have protections against the use of AI. Period. End of story. Most of us already dislike the use of AI for art, music, video etc already - this extends to so much else. We need to stand with our morals and ethics here even when it comes to a video game many of us have waited a decade for and are very excited to come out.

If you don't agree - you are legit wrong. Morally and ethically, you won't change my mind.

Legit the ball is in EA's court when it comes to Veilguard. EA has the power to sign interim contracts and protections for the performers and if they choose not to - it's on them.

We stand with SAG-AFTRA period.

EDIT: I hadn't read the full FAQ and a few very nice people corrected my previous statement - thank you - so I am editing the previous bit out and linking the FAQ so people can see what they can do to help. Sorry for any confusion.

https://www.sagaftra.org/videogamestrike-faq - here is a link where you can go to find more info on what as fans can do to help

[fans4wga]

Active on Instagram, X/Twitter, and other social media? SAG-AFTRA has asked fans to use the following hashtags and profile pics to raise awareness about the video game strike:

#LevelUpTheContract, #VideoGameStrike and #SagAftraStrong

Sample Social Messages from sagaftra.org

Video game performers deserve fair wages, safe working conditions and A.I. protections. I call on the employers to #LevelUpTheContract. #SagAftraStrong #VideoGameStrike

I support video game performers in their fight for A.I. protections and a fair contract. It's time for the employers to #LevelUpTheContract! #VideoGameStrike #SagAftraStrong

Video game companies must offer A.I. protections to ALL video game performers. Join me and show your support for those who bring our favorite games to life. #LevelUpTheContract #VideoGameStrike #SagAftraStrong

source

[davidaugust]

Show the video game employers how #SagAftraStrong we are. Join SAG-AFTRA at Warner Brothers on THURSDAY, 8/1 for the FIRST #VideoGameStrike picket! It's time for the employers to #LevelUpTheContract. ✊🎮

[teragames]

Hollywood presiona por nuevos contratos para proteger a los artistas de videojuegos

#VideoGameStrike Varios actores de videojuegos están uniendo fuerzas con @sagaftra para proteger al sector ante el auge de la Inteligencia Artificial.

Artistas de videojuegos de Hollywood, en huelga desde el pasado 26 de julio, intensificaron este miércoles su protesta contra las grandes empresas de videojuegos para exigir protecciones en el sector ante el auge de la inteligencia artificial (IA). Actores de doblaje y artistas de captura de movimiento se congregaron a las afueras de los estudios Warner Bros. en Burbank para reclamar un nuevo…

[the-fandom-crossroads]

I Quit! Uninstalling Genshin Stream | #BoycottHYV #VideoGameStrike

Terry is streaming Genshin for probably the last time. We will be uninstalling the game on stream while discussing the Natlan controversy and the Sag-Aftra strike.

If you have any questions about Why I am doing this feel free to come to the stream. TLDR is that as a content creator my genshin content is free advertising for Mihoyo. With two Boycotts happening I do not feel comfortable streaming or playing the game. Mihoyo gets told when someone uninstalls the game. I believe uninstalling along with not spending on any other Mihoyo games is the most effective way to hurt the company with what they care about. Concurrent player count/daily player login. If those numbers plummet even after Natlan's release then it will be hard to deny they misstepped.

If you do not have time to join the stream please consider signing these two petitions.

Change.org petition about the whitewashing directed at Mihoyo

Sag-Aftra petition about video game voice actors directed at voice acting agencies

[pelmenifemme]

SAG-AFTRA has declared a strike on the video game industry. Do NOT cross picket lines here.

Go to sagaftra.org/videogamestrike to check if something you are considering purchasing is currently struck. Continue to play whatever games you already own, but do not contribute more money to struck companies.

[doomsdaywriter]

#LevelUpTheContract #VideoGameStrike #SagAftraStrong

[atinygamer]

I support video game performers in their fight for A.I. protections and a fair contract. It's time for the employers to #LevelUpTheContract! #VideoGameStrike #SagAftraStrong

[felassan]

EquityUK on Twitter: "🚨 SOLIDARITY FOREVER 🚨 📣Equity stands in total solidarity with our sister union @/sagaftra as their members working in video games go on strike. #/VideoGameStrike #/LevelUpTheContract" [source]