Posted Jan 24, 2009 at 09:11AM by Isaac C. Listed in: News, Grand Theft Auto 4, Games Tags: Rockstar Games, New York Times, Niko Bellic
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No New Lines For Niko Bellic - Image 1 


If you were hoping that Grand Theft Auto IV's expansion will give you some bonding time with Niko Bellic, think again. When asked if Michael Hollick will return to voice Bellic for The Lost and Damned, Rockstar's VP of product development Jeronimo Barrera replied "Hell no!"

It's understandable that Niko won't play a major part in the expansion, since the main character will be Johnny Klebitz. The Lost and Damned will show Niko pop up here and there, but only during those times when he and Johnny crossed paths in the main game, so Hollick doesn't really have to return to the studio to record new dialogue.

But the real question is, why give a firm "hell no" to Hollick? He did, after all, win the best male voice award during the 2008 VGA. Barrera didn't explain why, but it's not hard to reason out. When GTA IV came out last year, he b*tched to the New York Times about how he only got US$ 100,000 for his gig, when the game itself was earning millions in sales.

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14 Comments


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   by StingBlah - 2009-01-24
 » he should b*tch.

$100,000 is a pittance for such a huge game!

   by DannyDanger - 2009-01-24
 » $100,000

No matter how poor I sound, thats alotta money dammit!

   by darknaiyo - 2009-01-24
 » .........

that just being greedy. more than one person participated in making the game

   by matts1900 - 2009-01-24
 » Underpaid

Consider that the games industry brings in a similar amount of revenue to the film industry. When you compare GTA IV, one of 2008's biggest games, to one of 2008's biggest films, you will see that actors get paid disproportionately more for doing voice work in films than people do for fulfilling a similar role in a video game.
While $100,000 is a lot of money, I think he still has every right to complain for being underpaid, having been the lead character for such a high profile game.


   Re: blkthunda - 2009-01-24
 » ...

Why does he have the right to complain? He's the one that accept the contract, he should've negotiate for more money but he didn't.

   Re: projectionist - 2009-01-24
 » matts is wrong.

wrong.

coming in to act out lines for a couple days is nothing compared to gaining 50 pounds for a role, and being on set for 12 hours a day 6 days a week for months shooting a movie.

   Re: sony_player - 2009-01-25
 » ^

He said voice work for movies, not physical acting. While i don't agree, it is a fair analogy
   by Justingraziano - 2009-01-24
 » ...

Dont give a ***** about the crappy expansion. I have the PS3 version and even though I also own a 360 I'm NOT getting the 360 version cause then I have to pay for online. ***** that and ***** you Microbull*****.


   Re: Mr Toasty - 2009-01-24
 » ..

Your insight into this matter astounds and amazes me.

I am enlightened.

   Re: Shabbypenguin - 2009-01-24
 » justin...

you my good man, are an idiot... you can sign up for a free xbox silver account and download it the expansion

   Re: Justingraziano - 2009-01-24
 » ...

I know that but I dont want to pay for multiplayer. That's why I bought the PS3 version instead of the 360 version at launch and I've had about a total of 12+ hours of enjoyment online for free since it's release.

   Re: rollypoly - 2009-01-25
 » wow...

12 hours? thats it? no wonder you don't want to pay for live...

   Re: Justingraziano - 2009-01-30
 » ...

Exactly, I dont play online constantly, so why should I pay 50 bucks a year for an occasional playing online? Sometimes I'm just in the mood to play online, sometimes not. I remember once I bought Xbox Live for the original Xbox, wasted $50 bucks and played it maybe 4 times.
   by rollypoly - 2009-01-24
 » meh

he agreed to do the game for $100,000... so thats what he got.

he should of had more foresight and negotiated a contract based on sales instead of one lump sum...



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