Joseph David Kucan is an American video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter, and casting director for various gaming companies and films. He is a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is well known for his role as Kane from the Command & Conquer series.[1]
Joseph Kucan | |
|---|---|
 Kucan at the 2009 Gamescom | |
| Occupation(s) | Video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter, casting director |
| Notable work | Kane in Command & Conquer |
Career
editKucan started working with Westwood Studios in 1992. He was originally hired to direct the voice talent, but as CD-ROMs became more popular, he began to experiment with recording full motion video.[2] In the Command & Conquer saga, Kucan portrays the series' most iconic character, Kane, the messianic/prophetic leader of a pseudo-religious mass movement with transhumanist ambitions called The Brotherhood of Nod.[3]
He is also featured in Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and the subsequent expansion pack Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath for both PC and Xbox 360, where he reprises his role as Kane. This was the first entry in the series he did not direct.[4] In 2008, Kucan was inducted into the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 as the longest recurring actor in any video game franchise to date for his portrayal of Kane.[3]
He reprised his role once again as Kane in Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight which marked the conclusion of the Tiberian series and thus the role of Kane.[3] In 2020, the role of Kane was again taken up by Kucan for a trailer for remasters of the original Command & Conquer and Red Alert. He also helped Petroglyph Games out by providing old assets for the remasters in the form of old beta max tapes and CDs.[5]
In 2013, Kucan, along with his partner, Ann-Marie Pereth, and brother, Daniel Kucan, founded A Public Fit Theatre Company based in Las Vegas, NV.[6]
Games
edit- The Legend of Kyrandia - Book One (1992), Virgin Games (voiced Brandon)
- The Legend of Kyrandia - Book Two: The Hand of Fate (1993), Virgin Games (voiced the narrator, implied to be Brandon)
- Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos (1993), Westwood Studios (voiced Nathaniel the Herbalist / Phillip)
- The Legend of Kyrandia - Book Three: Malcolm's Revenge (1994), Virgin Interactive (voiced Brandon)
- Monopoly (1995), Hasbro Interactive
- Command & Conquer (1995), Westwood Studios (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996), Westwood Studios (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
- Lands of Lore II: Guardians of Destiny (1997), Avalon Interactive (directed cut-scenes)
- Blade Runner (1997), Virgin Interactive (voiced Crazylegs Larry, wrote the script and directed voice-over)
- Dune 2000 (1998), Westwood Studios (directed cut-scenes)
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Retaliation (1999), Westwood Studios (directed cut-scenes)
- Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun (1999), Westwood Studios - EA Games (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
- Nox (2000), Westwood Pacific (directed voice-over)
- Command & Conquer: Firestorm (2000), Westwood Studios - EA Games (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (2000), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes)
- Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge (2001), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes)
- Emperor: Battle for Dune (2001), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes)
- Command & Conquer: Renegade (2002), Westwood Studios - EA Games (voiced Kane and directed cut-scenes)
- Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat (2002), Westwood Studios
- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (2007), EA Los Angeles (played Kane)
- Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (2008), EA Los Angeles (played Kane)
- Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight (2010), EA Los Angeles (played Kane)
- Command & Conquer Remastered Collection (2020), Petroglyph Games
References
edit- ^ Takahashi, Dean (2000-03-16). "Joseph Kucan Finds Celebrity As Computer-Game Villain". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
- ^ Ahrens, Nick (2008-03-31). "Raising Kane: The Joe Kucan Interview". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2008-04-04. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
- ^ a b c Welsh, Oli (2009-11-16). "Command & Conquer 4's Joe Kucan". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
- ^ "Q&A: C&C3's Kane speaks!". GameSpot. 2007-02-15. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
- ^ "Command & Conquer Remastered Collection: Joe Kucan returns as Kane". VentureBeat. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
- ^ "APF Founder/Producing Director: Joseph Kucan; A Public Fit Theatre Company". A Public Fit Theatre Company. Retrieved 3 October 2018.