Earth-616 is at the top of the Spidey fandom. Following the successful integration of Spider-Man into the ever-expanding MCU, the character was reinvigorated in video game form, before receiving universal acclaim through Miles Morales' feature film debut in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. . After confirming the sequels to everyone in the works, the first came from Insomniac Games with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the first game to play the character. Marvel's Spider-Man (2018) usually ranks up there with the best versions on PlayStation 4, so any follow-up needed to be a closer look, even more so after confusing early marketing about the game's length. Miles Morales, however, he did it. to (Venom) shatter any expectations that the experience would not live up to its predecessor, with an overwhelmingly positive critical consensus. It's not hard to see why. For anyone who has delved into Insomniac's take on the ``Web-Slinger,'' you'll quickly realize it's a labor of love, as it introduces you to both Miles, his friends, his family, and now . the hometown of Harlem for the first time. This is where the heart of the story lies, with a diverse cast from different backgrounds and cultures. One of the more notable Harlem residents we meet is Hailey Cooper, a street performer who lives nearby and quickly makes a clear connection to the superhero. Hailey's character is a rare representation in games for the deaf community. The latest mainstream attempt came from Square Enix's The Quiet Man two years ago and has been criticized for using disability as a game device, without exploring reality. But Spider-Man: Miles Morales offers a sense of authenticity, making for some of the most heartfelt moments in the narrative.
No callback
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(Image credit: Insomniac Games) “I didn't know it was for Spider-Man at the time, I just knew it was for a video game,” says Natasha Ofili, who plays Hailey in the game and is also deaf. “They sent me a breakdown of the roles and wanted me to do my voiceover audition, which was in ASL (American Sign Language), signing and speaking at the same time,” she recalls. "I thought the only way to fall in love with the place was to fall in love with the people; Hailey was one of them." Mary Kenney - Insomniac Games Originally entering Hollywood as a fashion designer, Ofili burst onto the screen with roles in Netflix's The Politician and Amazon Originals' Undone. Now going into the games, Hailey's casting has been much faster than expected. "Typically, the process is to do an automatic band, then get a callback, and then book the position," Ofili explains. "So when I auditioned and got hired a few days later, I was like 'Whoa! Immediately without remembering!' I was so happy and so excited to be in a video game." Insomniac Games' advanced writer Mary Kenney thought of the idea for Hailey's character while working on the ``Friendly Neighborhood'' quest line, a series of quests in which Miles helps her, and falls in love, with her new neighborhood, Harlem. falling in love with the place was falling in love with the people; Hailey was one of them," Kenney tells us via email. "The first thing I learned about Hailey was that she was an activist. Passionate, fearless and at times irreverent, Hailey wouldn't be afraid to speak her mind, not to Spider-Man or to those who threaten Harlem. The second thing I knew would be deaf.” After being at Insomniac for just a week, Kenney admitted that pitching the idea to his creative director and lead animators was a “scary” situation. “I was expecting a pushback, 'it's too much work,' or 'nobody's ever done this before,' she said. 'Instead, it was emotion. Everyone wanted to make Hailey a reality. No game is created by one person, and many of us were involved in Hailey's creation: characters, animators, actors, programmers, and many more. "
Historically bilingual
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(Image credit: Insomniac Games) One of the defining factors that separates Miles from Peter Parker is that he's bilingual, knowing both Spanish and English in the comics. Insomniac decided to go one step further by adding ASL to Miles' repertoire. "I think today you might be surprised because so many people know sign language in the world and we don't. It's universal, so naturally it makes sense for Miles to know it." Natasha Ofili “I think today you will be surprised that many people know sign language all over the world and we don't,” says Ofili, speaking of the election. "It's a universal thing, so naturally it makes sense for Miles to know," she said. This decision helped with the creative process, as Ofili and Nadja Jeter (who voices Miles) did a motion capture, the former stating that they "clicked right away." Whether it's their first meeting, brief interactions on the street, or a dedicated mission in which Hailey gives Miles his scarf, the spark is clear to all. “In many ways, she represents Miles's growing bond with the neighborhood,” says Kenney, of the importance of the character. Adding this: "Miles' journey is to become his own Spider-Man. He has to learn what he fights for: the people and home he loves. Hailey already knows that. Being his authentic self, he pushes Miles to become a better Spider-Man."
'distinctively rare'
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(Image credit: Insomniac Games) It was an experience that "exceeded" the broadcaster's expectations, receiving positive messages from deaf communities around the world. However, it is still considered incredibly rare for a person with a disability to describe a role of this magnitude. "I don't think there's ever been such a thing," Ofili said. “It's really rare in the entertainment industry. In general, the roles of the deaf are very, very limited. We still have this stigma... with people with disabilities and just showing them on the screen. "I don't think there's ever been such a thing. It's very rare in the entertainment industry. In general, the roles of the deaf are very, very limited. We continue to have this stigma... with disabled people and showing them on screen." Natasha Ofili “It's a great step forward to finally present a disabled person as a person,” she adds. Ofili believes that entertainment actors may not know how to reach out to communities with disabilities, or generally don't know how, but it's a conversation that needs to be addressed as it's still common for Hollywood movies to cast non-actors. disabled people in disabled areas. One of the most recent examples of this was Bryan Cranston playing a wheelchair user on The Upside in 2017. A Ruderman white paper study found that 95% of characters with disabilities in the top 10 TV shows are performed by actors without disabilities. Video games also fight to place people with disabilities as protagonists. “We have a lot of talented people with disabilities who want to work,” Ofili says. "They want to give their heart and play any role. I hope that really opens up all video game, media and network companies to create not one character, but many." After shipping Miles and Hailey, many are hoping to see the character's return in the future. For one, there's a post-campaign line, where Miles asks if there's a free turn at FEAST, so he can show Hailey around. "I hope we see more," says Ofili. “They definitely have chemistry for sure. I think at first it was like 'hey this guy is cool' and 'he looks really cool' to 'I kinda like this guy', so I think their interactions are very natural and organic... and it could blossom into a flower. "