A Voiceover Legend Gets Charmingly Confused by Xbox's Scenic but Insane New Game

The release of Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 4 for the Xbox is just around the corner, and with a brand new location and pin-sharp graphics, it promises to be an epic, visually stunning adventure. Still, marketing can either make or break a game’s success and if you wish to properly convey all of the beautiful, sprawling scenery and gripping action, you’ll want to call upon the best. Enter voice acting legend Maurice LaMarche. In the new, absolutely hilarious “4 Changes Everything” from 215 McCann, LaMarche—whose never-ending credits include Pinky and the Brain, Futurama, The Simpsons, and G.I. Joe—plays a David Attenborough-esque presenter tapped to provide the voiceover for the game’s advertising. [kickout id="1"] He enters the sound booth with the understandable confidence of a man whose career spans actual decades, declaring that he’ll nail the performance “in one take.” At first, LaMarche narrates scenes reminiscent of a Planet Earth documentary, but 20 seconds in, the picturesque British country scene before him is interrupted by a screeching, speeding race car barrelling through a field of daffodils. The total atmospheric shift takes the aficionado by surprise as he fails to highlight the action to briefly mourn the “magnificent blossoms” that were unceremoniously mowed down. The remaining minute and 25 seconds showcase the evident disparity between the stately actor and the wild, action-driven game he is tasked with selling. The ad excellently balances impressive gameplay graphics with the comedic back and forth between LaMarche and actor Joel Kelley Dauten, who plays the studio director who must field the many questions of the confused voiceover professional. It also previews the impressive Dynamic Seasons feature, which will change seasons within the game weekly in an open-ended progression system. So viewers can come for the gorgeous gameplay and stay to watch a mildly frustrated Dauten begin to explain what a “hoonigan” is to a flustered LaMarche. “4 Changes Everything” is currently running in the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Germany, Australia, and France online. Forza Horizon 4 will be available on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC beginning October 2, however, those who purchase the Ultimate Edition can begin playing on September 28. CREDITS: Campaign title: 4 Changes Everything Game: Forza Horizon 4 Creative title: Seasons of Change Client: Microsoft Xbox / Forza Senior Director, Xbox Global Marketing Communications: Taylor Smith Director, Xbox Global Marketing Communications: Ryan Cameron Senior Marketing Communications Manager: Jonathan Segall Agency: 215 McCann Chief Creative Officer: Scott Duchon Creative Director: Nichole Geddes Senior Copywriter: John Choe Senior Art Director: Shawn Raissi Director of Integrated Production: Alex Spahr Producer: Christine Hurty Director of Business Affairs: Mary Beth Barney Production Generalist: Carson Bell Business Director: Peter Goldstein Account Director: Bryant Marcia Senior Account Executive: Sam Brody Assistant Account Executive: Robert Kalish Director of Strategy: Brian Wakabayashi Strategy Director: Cassidy Wilber Strategist: Christian Stewart Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks Director: Clay Weiner Managing Director: Shawn Lacy EP: Holly Vega Producer: Lisa Stockdale DP: Tim Hudson Editorial: Rock Paper Scissors Editor: Austyn Daines AE: Sebastian Zotoff EP: Raná Martin Head of Production: Shada Shariatzadeh Producer: Amanda Ornelas Producer: Dina Ciccotello Visual Effects: A52 VFX Supervisor: Stefan Gaillot 2D VFX Artist(s): Michael Vaglienty, Matt Sousa, Dan Ellis Online Editor: Kevin Stokes, Gabe Sanchez Designer: Olga Midlenko Animator(s): Peter Murphy, Kris Szumowski Producer: Michael Steinmann Production Coordinator: Andrew Rosenberger Executive Producer: Kim Christensen Senior Executive Producer: Patrick Nugent Managing Directors: Jennifer Sofio Hall Color: A52 Colorist: Paul Yacono Color Assistant: Corey Martinez Color Producer: Jenny Bright and Sarah Laborde Executive Producer: Thatcher Peterson Music Production: Human Worldwide “Changes” Music by Human Producer: Kamela Anderson Creative Director: Gareth Williams, Craig DeLeon Composers: Matthew O’Malley, Craig DeLeon, Jon Hubbell, John Barnes “Summer Oasis” Music by Human Producer: Kamela Anderson Creative Director: Gareth Williams, Craig DeLeon Composer: Gordon Minette “Spring Fields” Music by Human Producer: Kamela Anderson Creative Director: Gareth Williams, Craig DeLeon Composers: Andrew Bloch, John Barnes “Fall Hunt” Music by Human Producer: Kamela Anderson Creative Director: Gareth Williams, Craig DeLeon Composer: John Barnes “Winter’s Chair” Music by Human Producer: Kamela Anderson Creative Director: Gareth Williams, Craig DeLeon Composer: Ed Dunne Recording Studio: Lime Studios Engineer: Loren Silber EP: Susie Boyajan Producer: Kayla Phungglan Producer: Megan Hernandez Sound Design: Brian Emrich Storyboard Artist: Steve Caruthers Gameplay Supplier: Turn 10