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I know, it's not as catchy a song as the Rainbow connection, but there's been some debate recently about whether caster should use their nicknames when casting major tournaments. I'm also sticking a "Rambling Warning" on this post as it's late, but I want to get something down or I won't sleep. Ideas tend to buzz in my head until I deal with them, and t turns out blogging is a good way to do that.
I know there's been a bit of a discussion on this issue, and I figured that meant that my two bits wouldn't make that much of a difference, so I wouldn't need to worry about adding to it.
As far as I can tell, the main issue is that it take something away from the scene to have people with silly names doing the casting, which makes it hard to get new people into the scene, because it's seen as odd or unprofessional, and I can certainly see where that's coming from. Especially as I've seen people with really stupid names on-line and it's often a tell about someone that they have a certain type of name on the ladder. It's the instinct that you get that this asshole is totally gonna cheese you. You know the type...
The difference here, I think is that it's seen as unprofessional to have the nicknames since, as was pointed out on the Starcast podcast, the casters call each other by their first names most of the time anyway. Which begs the question of why have them if they're not gonna be used? For me, that's true, but there's been a tradition of silly names in sports of all kinds for some time.
Take for instance,
Gavin "Bonzi" Wells
Ricky "The Hit Man" Hatton
Ralph "Shug" Jordan
That's just picking a smattering of the names on the relevant wiki page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sportspeople_by_nickname
Granted, there aren't many people on that list who also do commentary, but a quick Google search reveals that it does happen. The question becomes, if we want to be respected by the mainstream, does having names like "Husky", "Mr Bitter", "Frodan" and so on really take anything away from our image to people outside the scene? I know that fans of Sc2 wouldn't blink an eye at the concept of someone calling themselves something odd, but is that something that translates to the rest of the world.
I think there's been a trend in recent years for people, thanks to the power of the intartubes and the discovery that other people share your name, to invent an identity for themselves that is more unique. This has also been influenced by Hollywood as we've seen major movies come out starting with Hackers, back in the day and more recently the Matrix movies where characters online took on "handles" that they could build prestige behind.
Which in some cases, Total Biscuit and Day9 come to mind, is now turning into a brand, so they're unlikely to change that because of the amount of time and effort that's gone into making that brand happen.
For the rest of us though, I think it's worth keeping them, but not making them a focus. They can add a little colour to an intro, and also I believe that it's easier to remember those nicknames than it is to remember normal sounding surnames. Yes, it may sound a bit odd, but I think people can handle it, and there's no harm in doing an introduction as "Mike "Husky" Lamond", even if you don't use the Husky name much after that.
Not to mention that "Hey everybody, this is M to the Ike Mike" would just sound even weirder...
(I'm gonna post this now and possibly revisit it when I get the chance andit's not nearly midnight. Maybe I'll think differently after a night's sleep...)
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If TubbytheFat, Drunkenboi, and Icooktacos change their names I will quit Starcraft.
Just kidding. To make a note, the nicknames in the wiki article seem more like names that fans give players, like "Protoss President" for MC. I think these screen names in the esports scene aren't so bad. I remember that mini-documentary with that English woman interviewing Wolfdor and she wasn't fazed by the concept. She even had her own screenname immediately ready, Hatchback (Hunchback lol).
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I agree, in fact korean starcraft doesn't use igns at all.
I think using real names is the next logical step in progressing this towards becoming a mainstream scene.
The word Flash is never mentioned in korean commentary, neither are the commentators nicknames. They always use real names for korean progamers, period. The only time they don't is for foreigners due to our convention, but occasionally they mention the real names too.
Until we see any e-Sport start using real names over igns, we are going to be seen by others as immature and not a real sport that anyone should take seriously.
Exclusively using nicknames for pro-athletes and commentators is a perfect example of how the way we do things is actually much weirder than it seems, we've become so indoctrinated into this culture that we have become blind to it. Just imagine a football game where commentators referred to every player by some obscure name.
You just need one sports icon with a name like "lickmyclit" and the game turns from one of immersion into a circus.
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On September 17 2013 09:23 sluggaslamoo wrote:
I agree, in fact korean starcraft doesn't use igns at all.
I think using real names is the next logical step in progressing this towards becoming a mainstream scene.
The word Flash is never mentioned in korean commentary, neither are the commentators nicknames. They always use real names for korean progamers, period. The only time they don't is for foreigners due to our convention, but occasionally they mention the real names too.
Until we see any e-Sport start using real names over igns, we are going to be seen by others as immature and not a real sport that anyone should take seriously.
Exclusively using nicknames for pro-athletes and commentators is a perfect example of how the way we do things is actually much weirder than it seems, we've become so indoctrinated into this culture that we have become blind to it. Just imagine a football game where commentators referred to every player by some obscure name.
You just need one sports icon with a name like "lickmyclit" and the game turns from one of immersion into a circus.
Interesting. Never noticed this before (about Koreans using real name) even though it's true. I wonder if it does actually change things.
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To offer a counterargument, in some ways having a screen name, even if the commentators don't use it to refer to each other, subconsciously lets viewers of tournaments know that they are 'one of us'. As in, in their off time, they too are playing the same games we play, facing the same joys, challenges and frustrations. They can say things like, "oh it looks like player X is going for Y all-in, this is very strong even if the opponent knows its coming, I die to it every time on ladder!" Also, in the rare chance that we bump into them on ladder, you can say hi! because you recognise their screen name.
I agree that people should be sensible in choosing non-offensive names. Either change it if you're going to have a public presence, or just not show it.
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On September 17 2013 12:23 FakeDouble wrote:
To offer a counterargument, in some ways having a screen name, even if the commentators don't use it to refer to each other, subconsciously lets viewers of tournaments know that they are 'one of us'. As in, in their off time, they too are playing the same games we play, facing the same joys, challenges and frustrations. They can say things like, "oh it looks like player X is going for Y all-in, this is very strong even if the opponent knows its coming, I die to it every time on ladder!" Also, in the rare chance that we bump into them on ladder, you can say hi! because you recognise their screen name.
I agree that people should be sensible in choosing non-offensive names. Either change it if you're going to have a public presence, or just not show it.
But that's the basis of the argument right?
I understand that you are playing the devils advocate, but I still wanna provide a counter-counter argument .
The problem is that we are secluded in our own little bubble which can appear somewhat exclusive, weird or unwelcoming to outsiders, and doesn't help the scene grow, it only helps it stay the same.
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Good read.
League of Legends has been moving away from Screennames for a caster and by now they are (except for the Korean Casters, who are not hired by Riot) mostly adressed as Joe Miller, Jason Kaplan, Jason "quikshot" Henry, etc.
I think settling on the midground and leaving the screen name in quotes between the names wouldn't hurt anyone and may make us look a little bit more professional.
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You're forgetting one important difference; in traditional sports, no one gives themselves a nickname.
How sad would it be if Cruijff called himself "the savior"...
Anyway, I guess it suits 12 year olds, but at some point we need to grow up... both players and casters.
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EPT
