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OK. 3 weeks of casting done. For the most part I have adjusted to living in Korea. It has been awhile since my last blog, so I suppose it is time for another.
After the first 4 days of broadcasting I got to meet up with Wolf, Doa, and Tasteless. They gave SNM and I some great commentating advice before we all had some drinks. I also got to meet cArn later in the evening. Everyone is super chill and yes, Tasteless is just as cool in person as he is on camera.
The next day Wolf, SNM, and I went to a PC Bang called eNature cafe or something. Pretty cool place and I have probably been there at least 6 times since Wolf introduced me to it.
As for adjusting to korea, I got a korean sim card in my phone and have a plan with SK Telecom (yay, my favorite team!), converted most of my $ to won, and picked up a few useful korean words and phrases. I also learned some more about the cultural aspects of korea, and it mainly boils down to: respect your elders. Other interesting things include: Always walk on the left side when possible and use two hands when someone pours you a drink.
We also got to visit the EG-TL prohouse while spotv did a fun segment/interviews with some of the players. It was super fun (and I got to meet Thorzain, very nice guy!) and I even convinced the producer to go to the Team 8 house this friday for another spotv segment and interview with Major. Hopefully we can have that content out for you guys soon!
We also got a chance to check out the OGN studio and meet up with Montecristo and Doa, the current english LoL casters. In addition to that I got to pick up a SICK new keyboard, and slight upgrade to my Filco brown switch. The keyboard is a Leopold FC700R Tenkeyless with brown switches, and I gotta say I love this keyboard to death, never will have to get a new one! I also want to note that the Leopold is basically a newer model of the Filco, since the same guy made Filcos before Leopold bought him out.
I also got a chance to visit the GOM tv studio and watch some up and down matches. There are a lot of accommodations for foreigners there (you can use headphones to listen to the english casters) and everyone is really friendly. I also got to properly meet Khaldor and have a late night dinner after with him after one of the casts. Great guy, and I learned that he was really deep into the wc3 scene and has known players like Grubby for 10 years or something like that. I'll try to make as many GSL matches when I can, so if one of you guys reading this blog sees me there please come up and say hi to me!
Now for some less then happy talk. I know there is a lot of people out there unhappy with SNM and my casting. People on reddit are particularly angry and have requested us to be replaced with more experienced casters. That proleague should have done a better job finding people other than us. Unfortunately for those people, that won't be happening, but we are doing our best to improve as quickly as possible. SNM has had a particularly hard time coping with the criticism and some other personal issues he is dealing with atm, so please try to give him a break guys and let him stabilize.
I have started reading a great book that Doa recommended to me called, "The Art of Sportscasting" which has really opened my eyes to the world of sports broadcasting. There are so many things I can use from there to help analyze my casting and put me on the right steps to improve. Some of the things I will be doing more of over the next few weeks include: Watching my own casting, look for specific errors/things that I say too much/etc. Watch more vods of other casters to get a better feel for thing to say/avoid/general pacing/etc. Prepare much better for the matches. I have a notebook that I have used to record every game I've casted so far (and a few GSL ones), but I think that it is not enough and I need to figure out a better way to organize the information.
Anyway that about sums it up. My computer just came in as well, but I have to buy a new case and monitor for it. Maybe I will stream some hots soon if I have no internet issues at my current place. Oh, I am also looking for a place in Sinchon that i will eventually move to and finally I will have a more permanent location in Seoul! Cheers!
 
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You're doing a great job in Proleague and I can really see the improvement as each week goes by! Keep it up buddy. Hope you're enjoying Korea 
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The Starcraft dream, sounds like your enjoying Korea, and hope you both continue to improve.
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When in doubt, don't listen to reddit. In general, I won't lie, you have a lot to work on; though you already knew that and that isn't a problem, and really it is actually something that works in your favor. You are developing your voice as a caster - quite honestly you guys are immensely better than other E-sports casters since SC has a much longer history than other E-sports, which allows you guys to access a wealth of knowledge that other E-sports just don't have - and that voice is going to be shaped by outside voices some. Don't listen to reddit or people that want to critique you just yet. Wait till this round of proleague is over. When it ends, don't go to reddit because that place doesn't have the posting standards you need for improving a cast, go to TL and make a thread about improving. Then, and only then, we will have had the time to actually be able to critique you. Also tell SNM to perk up, he isn't a bad caster  . You guys are growing with the community, remember that.
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Great work man, keep it up. Love the effort.
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Your casting is honestly not bad. Glad things are going well for you Justin... Korea is a blast! :D
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United States8476 Posts
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Yes, you guys honestly aren't that bad in-game, I just feel the weakest part of your guys casting right now is the down time in between games like right before they start. Either way you guys have improved a lot and I think you'll keep on improving. Just keep your chin up and keep pushing, because haters gonna hate regardless, even tasteless and artosis get shit on from time to time. Just wad through some of the criticisms of tasteless when he was working on the GomTV Avertech Intel Classic when he first started.
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Agreed with Poke (and Monk). Also you're definitely improving too. Very cool to hear that the GOM casters have been very friendly (never know in such a specialized field if others will see you as threats). Keep it up and keep working.
Also, never go to redit or chat for feedback. Try to find someone you can trust and rely on to give you good honest thoughts and advice (as well as encouragement).
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United States97276 Posts
Your casting is definitely improving. I think every casting duo struggles in the beginning. It's all about finding chemistry with your co-caster. You two will find it eventually. Just look at Wolf and Khaldor for example. In the beginning they weren't the best combo and people gave them a lot of criticism. After casting together for a while they really started to click and are now one of the best casting combos in sc2. More casting experience and time will help you guys out. Good luck!
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I actually enjoy your casting
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Go Whiplash (:
You'll do well, good luck watching your own casting, I can't watching me talk whatsoever!
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Love ya man, your casting really leaves me hoping for nothing more; that is to say I think you use your talents quite well and effectively! Korea sounds awesome, have fun!
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United States10328 Posts
good luck
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Cool to hear you're getting to know the other casters in korea!
Also you guys are a pretty cool casting duo, just let people get used to your voices!
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Proleague has been a real treat this year. Ignore reddit, you guys are doing fine.
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Yea. I enjoy your casts as well. They are focused on the game much more than the other boys at GSL that talk often about everything but the game!
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Like the PL motto "New initiation". This is a brand new thing and there will be some minor tweaking here and there. Also it takes time for people to find a chemistry that works for them. Criticism are harsh, especially when its by your peers, but try to ignore them and keep on improving. Listening to yourself is a good first step. Also continue to support SNM.
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Yeah, people need to stop being dicks in the LR threads.
On a more positive note I always liked your guys casts and I've noticed they've been improving each time.
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Sounds like its been pretty awesome and stressful at the same time. Good luck in the future! EG-TL Fighting!
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I'm okay with your casting but not the other guy's ~.`;
whiplash fitiing.
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On January 10 2013 06:37 KawaiiRice wrote:
I'm okay with your casting but not the other guy's ~.`;
whiplash fitiing.
not a fan of SNM? lol
you guys definitely started off rough, but it's improving, for sure.
great job, esp to you whiplash, I kinda have to agree with Kawaiirice here
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People hate on everybody, even the most successful casters. Tasteless, Day9, Totalbiscuit, Wolf, etc. All you can really do is try to be as good as you can be and ignore the people who are just assholes about it.
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I feel for SNM. He's a quality guy in a tough situation.
I think 90% of the problems he faces are related to stress. Once the nerves are in control he'll feel more at ease, be able to listen to you better(Whiplash), not repeat what you said.
On January 10 2013 09:19 GolemMadness wrote:
People hate on everybody, even the most successful casters. Tasteless, Day9, Totalbiscuit, Wolf, etc. All you can really do is try to be as good as you can be and ignore the people who are just assholes about it.
This is also true. Nerds think that criticizing people harshly makes them look Alpha and in control.
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Korea (South)11232 Posts
the enature pc bang is really good. I like it.
btw do you wear glasses and went there with a korean friend?
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On January 10 2013 11:25 Chexx wrote:
the enature pc bang is really good. I like it.
btw do you wear glasses and went there with a korean friend?
Lol yes, and my korean friend is SNM
edit: Thanks for all the comments and support guys, it really means a lot to me!
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On January 10 2013 10:09 Emzeeshady wrote:
Your casting is not as bad as people say it is. I feel really bad for SNM because I can tell he is trying hard but I know english is not his first language.
If I could give a little bit of helpful advice it would be that you should separate yourselves into two roles. You should do the commentating, the play by play and SNM should do the analyzing after you say what is happening. All the best casting duos do this (except maybe Wolf/Khaldor)
Tasteless - commentator
Artosis - Analyzer
Total Biscuit - commentator
Apollo - Analyzer
Mr Bitter - Commentator
Rotterdam - Analyzer
Anyway good luck guys! also don't ever go to reddit for feedback ><
not to be a bitch, but its analyst ^^
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On January 10 2013 12:00 Torte de Lini wrote:Show nested quote +On January 10 2013 10:09 Emzeeshady wrote:
Your casting is not as bad as people say it is. I feel really bad for SNM because I can tell he is trying hard but I know english is not his first language.
If I could give a little bit of helpful advice it would be that you should separate yourselves into two roles. You should do the commentating, the play by play and SNM should do the analyzing after you say what is happening. All the best casting duos do this (except maybe Wolf/Khaldor)
Tasteless - commentator
Artosis - Analyzer
Total Biscuit - commentator
Apollo - Analyzer
Mr Bitter - Commentator
Rotterdam - Analyzer
Anyway good luck guys! also don't ever go to reddit for feedback >< not to be a bitch, but its analyst ^^
I thought it was analytic or analytical.
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eNature PC Bang reminds me of some old ass team
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Korea (South)11232 Posts
On January 10 2013 11:47 Whiplash wrote:Show nested quote +On January 10 2013 11:25 Chexx wrote:
the enature pc bang is really good. I like it.
btw do you wear glasses and went there with a korean friend? Lol yes, and my korean friend is SNM edit: Thanks for all the comments and support guys, it really means a lot to me!
Than you were sitting in front of me and my gf. ^^ Two foreigners maybe you remember
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Semi-bump but I didn't know you blogged/posted here until someone mentioned/linked you in the recent LR thread.
On January 10 2013 09:19 GolemMadness wrote:
People hate on everybody, even the most successful casters. Tasteless, Day9, Totalbiscuit, Wolf, etc. All you can really do is try to be as good as you can be and ignore the people who are just assholes about it.
Agreed.
Sadly that's been more and more the case recently. I say the golden days of LR threads were mid 2011 or so (after people realized hating on Husky wasn't cool).
Nowadays, caster bashing happens to everyone. I definitely think it's important for people to note that if an organizing (especially in Korea) have these English casters, that usually means there are no other better qualified casters.
I definitely enjoy both you and SNM's casting, Whiplash .
In fact, I make sure to tune in almost every time and at least leave the audio on to do something else while listening .
Finally one more thing about negativity on forums.
I'm not sure about others but there was a point in time when I didn't read stuff on the internet but because of what I read, expectations of things changed (negativity or hate bandwagon as I call it). I've been on various forums before and some people have noticed this as well.
There is always room for improvement for things but when people start nitpicking and making everything seem out to be worse than it seems, it can give that same impression to others. While there aren't lengthy or downright hate-filled posts, there's a ton of (unnecessary and nonconstructive) negative one or two-line comments regarding casters that I see in nearly every LR thread.
I wonder if TL can have a bit more stricter rules on criticizing the caster on the LR threads (did TL have more strict rules during 2010-2011? I remember there being more warnings about everything >.>). There's constructive feedback (or constructive anything, really) and there's unnecessary negativity towards a caster or person which can make LR threads tiresome and off-putting to read.
Anyway, you guys both have my support (again, I make sure to tune in whenever I can + when I can't watch, even just listening to the cast is enjoyable) .
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One other thing to remember is that, particularly when Tastosis were starting, there weren't a lot of other experienced English-speaking shoutcasters to which they could be compared. But now there are a bunch of experienced casting duos to which you're benig compared. So that's tough.
I also think that probably some people are unconsciously jealous.
One thing about SNM's voice. I'm not sure if he just speaks accented English, but I think his enunciation & diction could be improved. Given that you're in essence performers and your instrument is your voice, you want your voice to sound as good as possible. I'm sure there are books & programs on improving that sort of thing -- on my high school debate team, we did drills speaking while biting on a pencil to force us to overenunciate. And people like actors & singers sometimes go to speech therapists. Same thing with high-up execs who want to improve their voice quality. It's not that the actors & singers have speech pathologies, but because therapists have a very good understanding of the voice. Some of them specialize in providing that sort of service.I dunno. It's just a thought. And actually, right now, SNM is sounding more, I dunno, forceful and it sounds good.
Good luck! And I hope you enjoy the experience to the utmost.
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EPT
