No one can argue that video games have evolved uite a bit over the years. Some of the best games are made that way because of the voice talent behind the characters that bring the story to life. At least that is the way the voice actors' union SAG Aftra sees it, having been trying for more than a year to negotiate a new deal for its members since last year. But now, a line has been drawn in the digital sand.

 In a union bulletin released today, it was revealed that a strike is planned for this Friday, October 21, if an agreement cannot be reached. Meetings are planned between the two sides throughout the week, but the union said in the statement that it is "not confident management is willing to make the changes necessary to bring this contract up to the standards of our other agreements.". The details of the strike:

"All covered services must be withheld, including, but not limited to: voice acting; motion or performance capture work; background work; principal on camera work (including singing, dancing and performing stunts); authorizing the use of your voice or of a sound-a-like voice in a videogame; consenting to the reuse of prior work into a struck game; performing on a trailer for a struck game and performing on 'downloadable content (DLC)' or other ancillary content connected to a struck game."

The notice says that any game is production as of Feb. 17, 2015, could finish production. But those starting production after that date will be subject to strike. Affected publishers would include:

• Activision Publishing, Inc.
• Blindlight, LLC
• Corps of Discovery Films
• Disney Character Voices, Inc.
• Electronic Arts Productions, Inc.
• Formosa Interactive, LLC
• Insomniac Games, Inc.
• Interactive Associates, Inc.
• Take 2 Interactive Software
• VoiceWorks Productions, Inc.
• WB Games, Inc.

SAG-Aftra expects to publish a list of games affected soon. The union also has posted a section on its website to keep members up-to-date on the negotiation, along with an FAQ and a regularly updated section on the negotiations.

"The videogame employers we are striking continue to operate under the terms of an agreement structured more than twenty years ago for an Industry that was only beginning to utilize professional performances," the document explains to member. "Since then, games have evolved to provide increasingly immersive and cinematic experiences that compete with television and theatrical motion pictures for consumer dollars. It is time for this now mature industry to pay and treat professional performers according to the standards and precedents that our union has established and defended for generations."