Final Fantasy IX: From Gaia to Terra and Back

[Ben]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/benh05/benrpff9fgbanner3.jpg

R U S H PRODUCTIONS →
During my first trek through this enchanting world, the concept I could even attempt to recreate its beautiful storyline into other forms of multimedia never crossed my mind. Because of such enlivening experiences, my art, be it drawing, writing, and voice acting have all further developed. When I found out about the art of digital audio production, I decided I would give it my best shot to breathe new life into this silent movie where it seemed honorable. Why Final Fantasy IX? There was so much I fell in love with: the colorful, cinematic backdrops, the cozy towns and lush cityscapes, Uematsu's brilliant compositions, the magic spells, job classes, and summons that paid homage to what encompasses Final Fantasy, but MOST of all the characters. The cast was so well premeditated, even the minor characters turned out three dimensional. You can't help but fall in love with Ruby, Doctor Tot, and Part-time Worker Mary. A great foundation is what makes a great structure, and they were the pillars that cradled this tightly woven fairytale. What makes a good book isn’t how proudly it stands on the shelf; it's about the people you share it with.

Which is why I would like to dedicate this piece to every actor and actress who has lent their voices and input into my productions. The ones from long ago, the ones who have been recast, and all of the fresh faces. You've become a supportive group of friends and family that I trust and truly care for. Thank you for helping to will my creativeness into existence and believing in my dreams. I wish you all the best in your own endeavors.

SYNOPSIS → ( SPOILER ALERT! )
Attempting to halt Kuja's ambitions, Zidane, Dagger, and company embark upon the mysterious world of Terra and are led to the village of Bran Bal. Seeking answers, Zidane learns of the shocking truths behind his origin. Dagger becomes concerned, and Eiko forms a search party. After Garland verifies Mikoto's words, Zidane is brainwashed.

CAST → ( in order of appearance in 'C' )
Zidane → Ben Hales
Dagger → Erica Mendez
Eiko → Joly Quindiagan
Steiner → Jared Lee
Freya → Jenna Sharpe
Vivi → Danielle McRae
Quina → Lucien Dodge
Amarant → Phillip Sacramento
Moorock → Mindy Owen

MEDIA →
ACT I → DOWNLOAD (http://www.seraphskye.com/ben/RP_FFIX-FG(1).zip) or STREAM (http://www.seraphskye.com/ben/RP_FFIX-FG(1).mp3)! ( 31 MB | 34:30 mins )
Part 'A' → DOWNLOAD (http://www.seraphskye.com/ben/RP_FFIX-FG(A).zip) or STREAM (http://www.seraphskye.com/ben/RP_FFIX-FG(A).mp3)! ( 06 MB | 08:10 mins ) - 'Welcome to Terra.'
Part 'B' → DOWNLOAD (http://www.seraphskye.com/ben/RP_FFIX-FG(B).zip) or STREAM (http://www.seraphskye.com/ben/RP_FFIX-FG(B).mp3)! ( 24 MB | 26:30 mins ) - 'A house is not a home.'

ACT II →
Part 'C' → DOWNLOAD (http://ff9.fileave.com/RP_FFIX-FG(C).zip) or STREAM (http://www.luciendodge.com/Audio/RP_FFIX-FG(C).mp3)! ( 06 MB | 06:50 mins ) - 'You are not alone.'
Part 'D' → Coming 2010

For your listening pleasure the first act seamlessly unifies ‘A’ and ‘B’. I recommend downloading it over the individual parts intended for listeners with low-speed internet connection. Final Fantasy IX is copyright Square Enix. All materials presented, including, but not limited to, the design, text, graphics, screen shots, media, files, and the selection and arrangement thereof are copyright 2003-2009 RUSH Productions (Ben Hales, Alexander Santoro), all rights reserved. Thank you for your support and enjoy!

[Erica]

Omg... I just woke up like 10 minutes ago... Don't expect any intelligent comments from me, hahaha.

Arthur - Yay for crew members!!
Priss - Sailor Erin is my hero, hahaha
Jared J Lee - Omg... You're Steiner all the way =O
Bebi - ADORABLE EIKO! AAAAAAH CUTE!!
Ben - My sexay monkey boi!! =O
Rika - OMG! U NEED TEH ACTING LEZZONZ!! PLZKTHX
Chichiri - Omg... you don't sound abnormally cute for once!! YAY!
Malipitan - Awesome getting sucking into the teleportion gate grunts =O
Maverick - See above
Rikka - See above
Maeko - Haha, your Vivi is just too cute.
Lucien - Omg... I love you. Enough said.
Sapphira - Mikotoooo! She like my favorite character in the game XD Nice job!
Aowyn - GENOMES ARE HAWT
Yoshi - See above

Nice job Ben. I'm glad to see this is finally out...

OMFG! MY MOM MADE WAFFLES!! o_O;

[Ben]

*harts u* Yeah, I did post this early! I prolly shoulda waited til the afternoon, when all the normal va's come out of their cacoons.. but I COULDN'T! ;)

[Chinomi]

Chichiri - Omg... you don't sound abnormally cute for once!! YAY!

;D

*downloads*

[Ben]

Chichiri - Omg... you don't sound abnormally cute for once!! YAY!

;D

*downloads*

tru dat :roll:

[Chinomi]

WOW!
Mixing was GRAND! that's better than great doncha know ^_~
I don't have time to do a full review at the moment but I will don't worry =D
I know I never do this Ben... but.... *RAPEZ0RZ*
XD!

P.S.) I sound so bloody freaky when i whisper those things O_o "Terrrraaaaa" holy F--

[Jenna]

I enjoyed it!

THE MIXING

Excellent sound effects and mixing Ben. Everything was at the right level, nothing too loud/soft or anything. Not much else to say really, I am not suprised this took you a long time to do, it is of a high standard.

THE VA'S

I did find it a little difficult to tell who was who at first, but the text file helped and I am sure as more episodes are released it will be easier. I can't comment on everyone beacuse either a) I could not pick out who was playing who or b) you only had one line or something :)

Good sound quality from everybody, no bad bg noise or anything and nobody whom I thought 'you sucked', everyone was solid.

Ben - I think you show a lot of talent, but then I have always thought that about you ;). I like the fact that you sound natural and not too 'cartoony' or forced. You so sound like Zidane looks.

Steiner/Jared - Interesting interpretation, I think it works though.

Dagger/Erica - From what I did hear you sound good, suitably feminine and high and easy on the ears as most people like female FF characters to be. I think you sound very like Sapphy actually, or she sounds like you... either one :)

Eiko - Also Suitably cute but again, not much to go on in this episode really cos you had like 3 lines or something. I can imagine Eiko having your voice though.

Lupin - I cannot for the life of me remember which character Garland is :oops: but I liked the voice you used

Genomy people - You sound like genomy people... so yey!

I look forward to hearing more from some of the other people in the cast, which looks like a damn fine line up to me!

[Ben]

Chichiri < Er, anything for my narrator..? heh :}

Jenna < I'm so glad you got to listen to this before you head out, and what's more I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it. Your poor 56k! ;)

[Erica]

I think you sound very like Sapphy actually, or she sounds like you... either one :)


Oh, I was wondering if someone would notice that actually >D *cough cough* I actually tried to sound like Sapphy *blush* She's like the most awesome Garnet ever! It was kinda weird that she was cast in this production as well though, since we kinda sound alike in it XD

My fault! Oops! I'm an imposter =O

[Sapphira]

ITS ABOUT DAMN TIME, YO! :wink:

Mixing: Oh boy... you've just blown me away. I can really tell you took your time and put your best effort into the mixing here. This is an example of what every project should aspire to be. Very nice work, Ben... keep it up!

SFX: They blended very well and none of them sounded phony. My only complaint is the footsteps... while they were well mixed, I have a short attention span and thought that they were too drawn out. I have played the game, duh... haha, and I know thats how the scene actually is. But my impression with audio is that keeping things short and sweet is best. Other than that, GOOD JOB! I especially liked the ripped sfx.

Cast: Overall, I though the cast did a really awesome job. There were a few people who managed to get lost in all the movement of this clip, which was slightly disappointing, because I kinda feel like I missed some of it. :\

Arthur - I liked the cartoon-like inflections in your voice during your appearance. Very cool!

Priss - Very nice job, your voice fit the character very nicely.

Jared - I always imagined Steiner would have a deeper, more 'rusty' (haha, whoa) voice. But this one worked too.

Bebi - A very cute Eiko! One of my favorite voices in this. ^^

Ben - I like your Zidane. Your performance was very real and believable, perhaps the main reason I loved it so much. Nice work!

Rika - I HAVE A CLONE!!!! :OOOO Except that you are way better than I am. I thought that at one point in the rp, our voices clashed a little... but Dagger is one of my fave FF heroines, and I loved you as her! I'm impressed! ^^

Chichiri - GREAT narrator voice! I loved it!

Malipitan - To be honest, I couldn't single you out in this.

Maverick - See above.

Rikka - ARG, See above.

Maeko - Though you only had a short "Ahh", it was perfection. 'Nuff said.

Lucien - For some reason, this voice didn't work for me. The performance was spot on, but the voice wasn't... Garland - to me, anyway - always gave off an ancient, almost god-like presence. The voice didn't sound ancient enough, I guess... and was too breathy at times, which was distracting to me. Needs some work, but like I said before... the performance was spot on. ^^

Sapphira - Ugh. I just.... *STRANGLES SELF*

Aowyn & Yoshi - Two of my favorites in this... the lack of emotion in your voices really stood out to me and made your characters sound so real. Awesome!

[Ben]

Sapphy < *gasp* Dude. I just remembered something!

Special thanks to Sapphira for the Steiner footsteps!

Figures I forgot something, dammit! >0 Anyways.. I'm glad you liked it. :}

Man, all while I was mixing, those footsteps were my biggest concern. I kept wondering if I should add or withdraw them or skip them all together, so I completely understand what you mean. They annoyed me to no end. But, I figured if someone wants to go out on a limb and play the game whilst listening to this, they'd see how close the rp is related.

SOUNDS >> The fact of the matter is, PSound only rips nearly 200 sounds before it times out on me, freezes up my comp, etc. There were hardly any ripped sounds used (aside from the fmvs, which GoldWave extracted) besides Sapphy's Steiner steps, the chocobo in the Voice Check, and the abrupt turbulation the Hilda Garde recieved (about 35 seconds into the play).

So a lot of these I had to make myself, such as the locomotion of the Hilda Garde and Garland's entrance/exit (which was a really stressful part of the process). I went to so many frikkin libraries is crazy, but hopefully some of the sounds used in this sound better than those provided in the actual game.

[Darth Mongoose]

I loved the way it was mixed. It was very atmospheric and 'otherworldly' perfect for the part of the game that it's based off. I liked the use of the place names actually being put in there, Chichiri's whistering was really quite spooky in the background. Ben at first I was unsure because he's nothing like how I imagined Zidane, but I really warmed up to him because he's much less annoying than I imagined that character and sounds believable based on how Zidane looks and speaks.
Rika, Priss and Sapphira were all excellent but kinda sounded very similar to each other (It was a bit like 'which high pitched American is which' to me, but that's 'cause it's not my native accent so I couldn't detect small accent and vocal differences as easily as you guys probably can.)
I was extremely impressed by the use of proper Steiner footsteps out of the game! That was cool! I love the Steiner footstep noise, it's my favourite sound effect in that game so I was pleased to hear it.
And Garland...well, he knocked us all down with his performance! (obscure FF joke 'I am Garland! I will knock you all down!' from FF one or two.) He was very good, but I bet his throat was sore afterwards ^_^

[U-1]

Nice stuff. I'm happy to have been a part of it.

[Bebichu]

Whee! I finally got to listen to this! Sorry, it took awhile. ^^ Great mixing, Ben! I'm glad to be apart of this, even with the few lines. Hehe. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out who were some people in the clip. Eh heh... And who said that creepy 'Terrrraaa....' very softly in the background? Like a ghost. Haha. Chichiri? :x

I'm using your real names. :p

Priscilla - I think you only had one line? But I can image Erin having your voice! It's very suitable.

Jared - I also thought Steiner's voice would be a bit deeper, but I can hear your voice coming from his mouth.

Lupin - Same as above. ^^;

Joly - You suck. LOL. Wow, when I recorded those lines, my voice was a bit muffled because I had to wear orthodontist equipment for several months. It was a bit hard to tell what I was saying. I don't have it anymore, but I hope my voice doesn't sound too different in the next parts. ><;

Ben - I think Riku whenever I hear your voice -- which is good, I'm KH obssesed. But it works for Zidane too.

Erica and Bethany - You two sound pretty. LOL. Both of you DO sound the same at times too. But I could determine who was who.

Kendra - You're creepy. I like you. XD

Great job, cast! ^_^

[Dylan]

This is amazing.

[Aowyn]

I'm so late on this XD but omfg. The mixing is amazing and the cast are awesome!

[Ben]

XD I'm so sorry half of the people couldn't be depicted. For those of you confused, Malipitan, Maverick, and Rikka only had one line. A grunt. In between 1:25 and 1:35, you should be able to here them. Just a little something I tossed in. So they ARE a part of the act, but just barely. ;)

Also, I was a little skeptical if people were going to like the narration of places (Terra, Bran Bal..), but I'm glad you guys did.

Darth < Thank you for all the wonderful comments. Zidane comes off as mischievous to me too, at the first part of the game, but I think he matures a little as the story progresses. I'm glad you liked the voice. XD And Poor Lupin. He was probably guzzling that oj when he was done recording!

Lee < Glad you could make it. :)

Joly < Yesh, Kendra says 'Terra'. She = narratooor. :O *touchgrope* I so didn't know that you had 'metalmouth' when you were doing these! Which, of coarse, means you rock more, because I never would have guessed in the first place.

Dylan < Appreciate it, man.

Aowyn < omg HAWT.GENOME :F (Can I have your autograph?)

[Exoma]

DArn, Damn, hobo Monkey Sticks i wanted to be something :( but its too late..oh well...

ITS STILL AWESOME!! ^_^

*orgasmicthingyfromtheherbalessencescommercial*

[malipitan]

ahh, so no wonder I was so confused.

But, yea Ben, that was a fantastic piece. I really hope to see more from you, even if it does take another six months. LOL slacker ^_^

[Margo]

So...great... I love FF9 sooo much. It makes me sad just thinking about it... I haven't played it in soooo long. *Dies*

Ben - GREAT job mixing! The sound effects all worked, and you made the voices all fit together great, and moosic too!!! It makes the long year all worth it ^__^ You did a good Zidane too. Not exactly how I imagined him, but it really works ^__^ Great job.

Arthur - Okay, so you weren't in it long, but while you were...great. Heehee ^^;;;

Priss - Good Erin. You too, weren't in it all that much @_@ But...good job ^^

Jared - Cool Steiner. Again, not how I imagined him when I played the game, but it worked ^_^

Joly - Cute Eiko ^_^ Yet AGAIN, not how I imagined the character when I played the game, but it did work ^_^

Rika-chan - I love you, Rika-chan!!! You're still sooo my idol!!! I love Dagger! She's, like, my favorite FF character along with Zidane, Tifa, Cloud, Celes, and Locke! Lol. Great Dagger. Sadly enough, it was again not how I imagined the voice in the game @.@ But you still did a good Dagger ^__^

Chichiri - Great Narrator. It sounded kinda eerie and I liked that lol. I like your Holy F- comment. Hahaha.

Malipitan - Sadly...I didn't hear your voice o_O I don'no if it was too quiet or what... But I couldn't hear you @_@

Allan - Same as Malipitan...

Rikka - Great Quina! Hahaha, it was really funny. I really don't remember hearing it in the Part I, but I did in the voice test thingy. It was cute, and made me laugh. Again, not exactly how I imagined the voice--- jeez, I need to shut up... I imagine things too differently -.-

Maeko - Cute Vivi! ^^ I really liked it in the voice test thingie, but I couldn't hear it in the Part I? o_O Maybe I'm going deaf...

Lupin - Cool Garland. It sounded...cool. Lol, not really much else to say. Cool! Not really how I imagined...but I thought I was gonna shut up about that... Hmm...

Sapphira - For some reason, you just sounded a lot quieter than Ben... Hmm, good job though ^_^ *Not going to mention anything about how she imagines voices*

Alice - Cool genome. ^_^ Not much else to say...

Josh - Cool genome ^^ But my imagination... *Slaps self*


Everyone did really good! Don't mind my silly imagination!! ><;; Anyway, I look forward to hearing more ^_^ This was so cool.

[Maverick]

Yo,

I hear the next part's coming out soon! Come check the first part out before the new one hits the wires. Don't want to be left behind, now, do ya?

This time I've got more than a grunt. Yay!

[Bryan D]

I have never been a huge FF9 fan, but I have to say that I liked this. Good job. Keep up the the good work.

[Lucien]

Yeah, I just need to give Ben my last redo XD then he can finish the next part.

[Josh Miller]

Yeah, I just need to give Ben my last redo XD then he can finish the next part.

It's YOUR FAULT *stabs*

wait I'm not in the next part am I...*wanders off disappointed leaving the shocked and stab lucien to crumble to the ground in a bloody heap*...although now I may be. =D

[Erica]

*uses Phoeniz Down on Lucien*

Bad Yoshi! No killing cast members to get more lines in the RP >/

[Jing]

I give props. Awesome!

[Josh Miller]

*uses Phoeniz Down on Lucien*

Bad Yoshi! No killing cast members to get more lines in the RP >/

Awww, but I've already murdered lucien...what...twenty or so times now.

[Lucien]

OMG :O redo sent! No need to kill me....anymore.

[Jude the Rat]

So...

When's the next one coming out?

[Haunting Your Kids]

This be good stuff. Can't wait for the next one. The sound mixing was incredible, like this was a piece from the cancelled PS2 version (WHY'D YOU DO THAT, SQUARE??). Now to review on voice work.

Art as Crewman: Although minor, it was fair. I kinda expected it to sound more urgent, but it's cool.

Priscilla as Erin: It sounds to me like you're reading that first line for the first time. Good voice, so-so presentation.

Jared as Stiener: You kinda sound like if Orlando Bloom was playing tough guy. A little higher than I expected, but still very good.

Joly as Eiko: ARGH! It's so cute! Great performance.

Ben as Zidane: Gret choice in voice. Hey, that rhymes! Real good acting too.

Erica as Dagger: Great performance and voice. Keep it up on the next one.

Kendra as Narrator: It was pretty cool, but I don't really think it was needed. Again, it is clever to have.

Lupin as Garland: I always imagined Tony Jay as Garland, but you totally changed that. You made him sound very scary and wise. Love it.

Bethany as Mikoto: She's really eerie sounding, like what anyone'd expect. Loved the voice there.

Alice and Josh as Genomes: Monotonous, eerie, new to everything. That's how a genome oughta sound.

Really, really good. :D :D

[Ben]

Hey, kids! Ben here, with the update on From Gaia! Part 'B' is now available for download! Also, 'A' has been reuploaded, but check out the first act if you're just coming on board! <3

[ig.]

Part B - sonic attack!

"From Gaia..." demands a great amount of knowledge of FF9 from the listener - it jumps from plot to Active Time Events seamlessly, and though it may be disorienting to a new listener, a person who is well-versed in the game will no doubt recognize the care that has been taken by Ben in recreating it in audio form. Bran Bal is a desolate place, firmly crushed under the heel of an ancient tyrant - and Ben provides suitable atmosphere and ambience as he replays key scenes from the game.

As I've often been told, the theme of FF9 is death - both literally and figuratively. The exchange between Ben and Lucien that makes up the last quarter of the clip paints that in a way that text can never convey. There's a quiet desperation in the dialogue that builds as Ben's Zidane does, bringing it to an abrupt end that leaves one waiting on a resolution. Lucien's Garland is a subtle beast of menacing, as if he understands he's in control of both sides of this tragic chess game. And Ben keeps on pouring the emotion into the dialogue as the news gets worse - I have no doubt he will step it up in Act II and bring about some memorable scenes.

A big standout for me in this clip is Sapphy - I've totally forgotten how good she is while performing. Her Mikoto has a calmness that belies her subdued soul. Erica's Dagger is great also - rebellious with a hint of dignification...perfect! Everyone brought their A game to this production, and it shows. This is quality, folks.

And I'm like a post-production extra! Kickass.

[fairuza]

This RP was mixed very spot on. It really reminded me of the game so much as well as remind me how awesome this game was and still is.The cast was perfect and as I listened to these episodes,I couldn't seem to find any fault with anything. There was a really great chemistry with each actor involved in these characters.Everything from the sound effects,music and the acting was very authentic and had a professional touch in quality. The levels in audio were also quite a treat!

In Part B,things got even more interesting. Especially with Zidane and Garland. The moment of truth between the history between Zidane and Kuja and their destined paths Garland chose for them was triggered very effectively. Lucien's performance for Garland had a great impact with the audience with a calm yet intimidating tone as well with Kuja's scheming,sinister end to this clip. I think that this production deserves a solid Grade A with it's many efforts and the impact it leaves with whoever that listens to this. Great job to everyone on this production.:D

[Sukisho]

Hmm you know I never noticed this years ago, but then again that was probably from the fact that I don't think I got deep into FFIX -SPOILERS AHOY, RIGHT? ( too bad I never got a hold of it or I'd try to do that now D: ) Oh well, I guess.

With that aside, I still found it to be a very enjoyable RP to listen to ^^ The mix was very well done that it brought out a very beautiful sound. The atmosphere of the game was recreated in a great way, from some awesome acting to nicely placed music & sfx. The whole sound just made it feel as if it really was like playing (or listening to) a Final Fantasy game. I loved it <3 It drew me in pretty fast, even though picturing it at times of course would require a bit more knowledge of the game but I still got most of what was going on.

Though the fact I use a very high quality headset as my speakers, brought out some technical issues, that other people may or may not hear normally. It caused me to have a few times where the audio would clip in and out, mostly near the end in the Zidane and Garland part. Usually caused by either noises from the microphones or maybe high frequencies in some of the audio (like different volumes hitting each other and causing it to be louder than it was intended), I personally couldn't make out which may have caused that bu other than that it was put together nicely.

I hope to hear more soon ;)

[veebee]

I'm confused! I saw how old this thread was, and now I'm not sure if I listened to the right RP. Which one is the newest? I might have listened to the older one (which was amazing).

[Clintykins]

Oh my god hot.

[Ben]

ig > In retrospect, I'd have to agree. On the outside, FFIX is very polished and colorful looking, but the theme of death IS apparent, not just because of - the characters that actually die, but the 'flow of souls' concept. I particularly caught on when the black mages came into play. Thanks for your insight, Kujig.

fairuza > Isn't FFIX wonderful?! I mix for the other fans too, mk? <3

Sukisho > Soldia guuurl, get up offa that booty and play FFIX... sitting down. I'm glad you got a listen in, Flarey. :} I particularly had a challenge noise-reducing Lucien's Garland lines, specifically. It's all his fault! No no, it's mine. Also, these lines are about three to four years old. Ouch, I know. So we've all moved on to better equipment now, thank the lawd!

VoiceBox > Hey VB, thanks for checking out the clips! A little history to answer your question: Part 'A' ('Welcome to Terra.'), the eight minute clip, was released over four spanking years ago. Due to outside factors, the second clip couldn't be completed until recently. The second clip, which I have been slowly toiling away at over the years, is the twenty-four minute clip. Smoosh those together and BAM!, you have ACT I! ^^

Clintykins > OMG, my baby! So glad you liked iiit~

- - -

EDIT: Remember kiddos, if you listen - comment! Tell me how much you enjoyed it or post some constructive criticism! It helps me mix faster, har har! =)

[Sukisho]

Sukisho > Soldia guuurl, get up offa that booty and play FFIX... sitting down. I'm glad you got a listen in, Flarey. :} I particularly had a challenge noise-reducing Lucien's Garland lines, specifically. It's all his fault! No no, it's mine. Also, these lines are about three to four years old. Ouch, I know. So we've all moved on to better equipment now, thank the lawd!

Yeah I would...if I could find it XD

Oh I figured they were pretty ancient but just felt the need.

[veebee]

VoiceBox > Hey VB, thanks for checking out the clips! A little history to answer your question: Part 'A' ('Welcome to Terra.'), the eight minute clip, was released over four spanking years ago. Due to outside factors, the second clip couldn't be completed until recently. The second clip, which I have been slowly toiling away at over the years, is the twenty-four minute clip. Smoosh those together and BAM!, you have ACT I! ^^

That was the one I listened to! It was spectacular! Brought back some memories! I actually started replaying the game after listening to it. I personally think it's the best Final Fantasy til this day (FFX with a close second). Good stuff! I love how Freya has an accent! I always pictured her having one. And Eiko was spot-on! I'd love to see Beatrix appear in the next installment (only because she's my favorite character).


Shit! My battery on my laptop is dying! I have to cut this critique short! I'll be back!

[U-1]

Woah, went and listeaned to all of act 1!
Wow, that was pretty cool!
It was nice getting a refreasher on what has happend in the past few years.

I'm doing the lines for the next part now! I hope my voice hasnt changed too much.

[Chinomi]

I finally got a bit of time to take a listen!
While I don't have enough time to give my full thoughts; my expectations were met! And I expected a high quality, high-class cast product. It was amazing, Ben. Great job, sexy! <3!

[Ben]

Sukisho > Amazon.com, leik woah.

VoiceBox > I'm glad tuning in prompted you to play FFIX again. Every Final Fantasy I've ever experienced brought unique enjoyability; FFIX is extra special, though, and not just because it's a beautiful game, with gorgeous graphics (for its time, specifically), and the most memorable ensemble of characters (playable and NPC) but because of how it relates to me, personally. Have fun your next playthrough and keep listening! Your feedback is appreciated.

U-1 > Steiner! It's been a while, eh? Rest assured the hiatus is over! =)

Chinomi > Aw, thank you, Chichi. I try. *fondle* Doesn't she whip out one fantastic, haunting narrator, folks?

[Sukisho]

You're funny XD

[Kei]

Old School Ben, how old was I when I did those lines 17? 18? I groan at my old mic that's for sure, I wish I could have redone them on my new mic for you.

But regardless this is some top notch work, totally being overlooked by so many people, this is what makes the VAA awesome. Variety of talents working together to create something truly entertaining and truly well made. I want to see you more around the boards dude, we could use you!

[Menchi]

A Great listen Ben,

Mixing was top-natch with spot-on music,

All the voices were also to the highest level, I always think of Aramant having a deeper voice in my head, but what the hell...

I can't wait for the next part,

...{to continue with the FF trend, Menchi goes to work on mixing FFX}

[Sapphira]

I'm logging in for the first time in years to comment on this beloved project. The story and characters of Final Fantasy IX hold a special place in my heart and it's such an honor to be part of this group of people that are bringing it to life.

It's refreshing to see that a new part has been added and that the quality of the production is at it's highest, even despite the fact that many of these lines were recorded several years ago and set backs in real life had stalled the production for some time.

Everyone did an amazing job on their lines. Dialogue seemed to flow seamlessly between each character and everyone fit their roles and portrayed their characters in a believable way.

All of the work Ben has put into creating an aural atmosphere fitting of Terra and Bran Bal has paid off tremendously and really brings each scene to life. Close your eyes and listen... can you see it? Can you feel it? I can.

Overall, this project has reminded me of my first experience playing through FFIX, falling in love with the story and identifying with so many of the characters. Listening now makes me want to play again.

Finally, listening to this reminds me of the joy I once had with all of my friends here at the VAA... acting together, singing together, putting together projects that meant something to us. It's been a long time since I've had the means to enjoy this hobby, but it's wonderful to see that so many of the people I cared about are still around for the ride. I feel inspired to jump back in with all of you. Maybe I will. ♥

[Kei]

I feel inspired to jump back in with all of you. Maybe I will. ♥ Omigosh omigosh omigosh

[Ben]

Sukisho > No u! :>

Kei > You were still in the womb when you recorded for me, betch. Honestly, there was no need to re-record. You delivered, pal. Glad to finally take your RUSH virginity.

Menchi > Thanks for the comments, Menchi, much appreciated! I do believe Maverick's talented, but alas, he is no where to be found. So, Lioncourt has now filled Amarant's shoes, and quite nicely I might add. I will tryyy to churn out the next part asap, but it looks as though I might have to recast again; the release date still stands, but that's much to long to hold your breath.

Sapphy > bhbwdshbahv!1?? SAPPHY!? Joly shite! Words cannot express how much the VAA could use your presence. I'm so glad you enjoyed this. It not only means a lot to me when my cast members tell me how much they loved listening, but you were also an inspiration to me in your mixing days. I'm glad to have you back on board for Mikoto, and I hope Dreamflow comes out of recession too. <3

Kei again > Make her mix! :O

[Ben]

Hey kids, what better Final Fantasy to celebrate this calendrical anomaly (09/09/09) than Final Fantasy IX? Just for that, I've decided to bump this radioplay. Give her a listen, and harken back to the days ye first traversed worlds aboard Hilda Garde III on yer PS1.



And also, the third part is slated for release today, but whatever...

[Ben]

Part 'C' is now available.

[Erica]

Oooooooooh shit, son.



Will listen to Part C when I get home from class :E

[Erica]

Double post because I'm awesome

And so is this RP. I honestly don't quite remember this part of the game so things seem weird to me.. but I really think it's just a matter of me replaying it. (I know you'll hate me for this, but IX wasn't exactly my favorite so I don't remember most it!)

Zidane → Ben Hales
You know I love your Zidane, bb. I want to say the performance was a bit tooooo flat.. but I vaguely remember this particular part of the game as a very depressing time for Zidane, so it's all cool. With that said, the ooooonly gripe I had with your lines was.. they were so much louder than everyone elses' most of the time.

Dagger → Erica Mendez
WELL. I guess this wasn't too painful for me. Just glad you were willing to bring me back after all this time (Canary 4 lyfe). I feel like I should have used a different inflection on some lines.. but blah blah blah complaining about my performance blah blah.

Do I still owe you a line?

Eiko → Joly Quindiagan
I MISS HEARING JOLY IN THINGS. Eiko is my all time favorite Joly role. So. Frakkin. Adorable. I love it always.

Steiner → Jared Lee
I've always thought Jared's take on Steiner was particularly awesome. And for some reason, it's so much cooler in part C than it ever was... well, maybe before this is years later and we've all improved since then.. but yeah XD;

Freya → Jenna Sharpe
I like Jenna's Freya, but her accent is a lot different than the original Freya's accent so it's reaaaally weird trying to get used to one over the other.

Vivi → Danielle McRae
I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS YOU. Save for the mic quality, I thought you sounded adorable. Nice addition to the team (:

Quina → Lucien Dodge
Oh baby♥

Amarant → Phillip Sacramento
Why do I feel like this is the deepest I've ever heard your voice? XD A looooooot deeper than the first Amarant's voice too, but it gives him more of the 'badass' feel that he needs. Aaaawww yeah. Rock on, Phil :P

Moorock → Mindy Owen
I'm honestly not sure what character this is .-.

[Ben]

Thanks for the raw critique, sweety. I tried to catch you online when I posted this; glad you discovered it.

As for Zidane, at this point in the game, he is so emotionally and physically drained, I couldn't go too far with him without sounding unnatural; we've never seen this side of him until now. Therefore, everyone else's true selves shine around him. I tried to ease him back into his old self towards the end of the clip without sounding contrived, since he is not just going to forget what just happened to him, the things he's learned, etc.

The redo you owed was for this clip, but it doesn't stand out, and I really wanted to meet a deadline.

Also, Moorock is just your friendly neighborhood moogle. Moogle? Wtf.

[ig.]

Part C! This has got to be one of my favorite parts of the game - very cerebreal and affirming (in between the boring gimmick battles). It's the middle narrative climax in the series of emotional gut punches that wound out Disc Three.

What else can I say about your mixing that I you haven't heard before? You've got a ton of love for the game and it just oozes out of every scene you've put together.

And because of how old the production is, it's sort of like a time machine of old-school ava goodness. A huge display of talent, each and every person I consider a class act.

I - oh wow hey, a moogle sound! :)

Looking forward to the final part. Ben is saving the best for last people, believe it.

[Seishiro17]

I'm surprised to find that I have yet to post in this thread seeing as how I love all of ben's work. as always this is top shelf stuff so let's just jump into it.

scenes of this nature are one of my final fantasy pet peeves but this was put together in a way that does not sound foot-in-hat retarded, a great feat in and of itself. while I can't complement the mixing more than anyone else already has I think that the monsters and the battles were done especially well in this part. also moogle SFX? WHEN WAS THIS FOUND??

Ben - I think that while it's true that zidane has a limited emotional range during this section, erica has a point. I think that a different delivery for a few lines would have enhanced his role in the scene.

Erica - it was a little weird to hear this in comparison to the previous parts, while the delivery is mostly solid, the change in voice after years is a little bit of a bumpy ride.

Joly - VERY well done. there isn't much to say really. 10/10.

Jared - I agree with erica 100% I left this feeling you were able to dig deeper into steiner, and the production was better for it as this scene is all about being able to do just that.

Jenna - personally I like the newer accent more. very solid, I liked you a lot in this. I can't really say too much about the role but the performance just felt... right too me.

Danielle - it's always hard to inherit a role like this, but I think you did a good job overall

Lucien - SUCCULENT

Phillip - I think you went a little too low in this one, previous performances meshed better with the character in my mind if that makes sense.

Mindy - one line but you hit that nail right on the head :)

overall another awesome installment in the From Gaia series, I'm looking forward to the next part!

[fairuza]

Ah,yay! It's out!:D

I must say that just like the last installment,this was a brilliant masterpiece. Everyone was excellent in their roles and I think that the mixing was beautiful in itself. This scene always had me feel a bit emotion in this game and I'm really happy you decided to take this scene head on. I had a great time working with you and I can't wait to hear the next part!

[U-1]

This was done very done.
I never played the game so I cant give any indiidual crits.
As far as I can tell the everyone played their parts very well.

The mixing was also good.

Thanks for the help Ben.

[Jenna]

Wow it took me ages to actually listen to this cos I couldn't find where I saved it!
Anyway, thankfully it was worth the wait. I will have a good go at commenting on everyone.

Ben: You know I love your voice, you and Ig are like voice over twins. I like your understated delivery in this and I do hear the emotion and don't need to be shouted at in over the top anime style in order to get the message. Job well done.

Garnet: Nice job, your voice suits Garnet's well and I hear the concern for Zidane in your voice.

Eiko: Cute voice but your mic sounds so muffled! Not sure how easy a character like Eiko is to voice as she seems a bit random and there are not a great deal of places you can take the character...I can't really remember the game that well so I could be wrong but at the moment she seems like the token cute voice.

Steiner: I love how people decide that certain characters need a British accent but it does work for Steiner who strikes me as being quite 'proud and old skool'. So yeah, I approve :) I liked it.

Vivi: I don't think you had many lines in this did you so kinda not much I can say other than the voice suits the character but the mic isn't that great.

Quina: Okay, much as I love the performance and the comedy all i can hear is Gollum from Lord of the Rings :P Maybe a little differentiation would have been good but hey, it made me smile.

Amarant: Actually this was the stand out performance for me. Your voice had nice presence without you sounding like you were trying too hard. Although you didn't have many lines I could tell how you had approached the character and what sort of person he was. I think you gave him some depth which perhaps was missing from the other performances (apart from maybe Ben and Erica) .

I definitey can't wait until the next part where I hope we will get to see how some of the characters/performances develop. I think in the next bit **** starts to go down and we can see how each character will react to that.

It is a tough thing to produce as a radio play because people who aren't familiar with the game may not really understand what is happening (hell, I played it and I didn't understand what was happening!) but I did feel the music and SFX and mixing worked to create an atmosphere even though the dialogue in this part of the game is so sporadic and the whole scene is a bit weird (or cerebral as Ig pointed out)

If I could suggest any improvements they would be for the actors to really think about the character's actions and motivations as opposed to going with your first impression. Sometimes the first impression is spot on but sometimes it comes easily because it is a bit cliched and needs developing a bit. I dunno... I know what I am talking about in my own head lol.

[Mindychan]

Hey, Bennnnnn!

I suck big time but I'm just now getting around to reviewing your FF project! However, ACT II 'You are not alone' is not an active link. Any way you could reupload this file? ^^ I am downloading ACT I at the moment and will give a review soon! ~