Video game acting can be a tough gig. Just ask Alex Hernandez, the main man in the recently launched game MindsEye. After the game’s rough start, he’s seriously worried about his future work. It seems the bad buzz around the game has hit him hard, making him wonder if his time in the industry is over.
MindsEye launched earlier this year from developer Build A Rocket Boy. But it didn’t go smoothly. Players found many technical problems and bugs. The gameplay itself also got pretty negative reviews. Hernandez, as the game’s main character, was on the cover. This put a lot of unwanted attention directly on him.
Hernandez poured a lot into the project. He shared his feelings on the FRVR Podcast, which Eurogamer covered. “It’s tough when you’ve spent two and a half years on something,” he explained. “You feel proud of it, and you put everything into it.” He enjoyed the process and working with his team. “I had great experiences and worked with wonderful people,” he added. “I’m proud of them and truly wish them success, just as I wish for myself.”
Despite his hard work, the player feedback shocked him. “The response was so harsh,” he admitted. “I just thought, ‘I’m probably not going to get another game acting job.'” He understands why. “If your face is on the game cover, people link you to it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s fair or not; your face becomes the symbol of that game.”
Even with the harsh words, Hernandez believes players have the right to speak up. He gets why gamers react so strongly. He sees them as a special group, feeling deeply about their experiences. Online, people often say things they might not say face-to-face. Still, he believes everyone has the right to share their opinions, no matter how strong.
This isn’t Hernandez’s first rodeo with a struggling game. Before MindsEye, he also acted in Mafia III. That game, too, didn’t get the best reviews. To have two major game roles end up with such poor public reception might just be a case of bad luck for the actor.
MindsEye is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.