So I found out a week ago that I will no longer be buying a GSL pass next season, as I can watch all GSL/KSL/GTSL/etc. vods with Chinese commentary on youku.com, the Chinese version of youtube. I haven't gone back to the GOMTV casts since, even though the quality is better and the loading is faster.
The reason? Skill level of the English commentary is AWFUL in comparison to commentaries in many other languages. Korean roommates tell me that the Korean commentators in SC2 are actually pretty damn good not too far behind BW commentators, and my Russian roommate tells me the level of Russian casts are usually much higher as well.
Personally, I find the Chinese commentaries to be better and preferable as well. The Chinese dual-casts usually breaks down as follows (percentages as estimates to convey my point):
20% joking/poking fun at players/not being serious
10% player introduction
40% fillers/simply stating what's happening on screen
10% game result predictions
20% in-depth analysis of builds/timings/etc.
Essentially, it all comes down to this; I can turn off the sounds/commentary from English casts and safety know I won't miss a thing from simply watching and not listening, whereas in Chinese casts I am constantly enlightened by the insightful observations/analysis of the commentators.
I know there have been discussions regarding specific English commentators, but overall I feel this is an issue that needs to be addressed. How did the situation arise? Are the English commentators just bad in comparison with poor game knowledge, does the English-speaking audience prefer this "easy-going", "state what's happening" type of commentary, or are the commentators simply delivering a product to suit the skill level of the intended audience?
Poll: Do you think English casts should focus more on in-depth analysis?
Yes (200)
83%
No (41)
17%
241 total votes
Your vote: Do you think English casts should focus more on in-depth analysis?
On January 26 2012 10:18 kukarachaa wrote: I can vouch for Russian cast being absolutely amazing and way more entertaining than the English ones, its on par with tastetosis when it comes to humor and fun, but with way more knowledge about the game, considering all the casters are in GM.
On January 26 2012 10:16 AndAgain wrote: I can confirm that Russian casts tend to be better than English ones. (Unfortunately, it's hard to find them because I don't know how to read Russian well.)
[quote]On January 26 2012 10:20 ggrrg wrote: You can't generalize "English casts". There are so many people casting in English and the differences between them are huge.
I'm sorry if I seem to be over-generalizing as I probably am, but on the whole I think most English casters offer less in-depth analysis than most Chinese/Russian/Korean/etc. casters.
I like my english casts how they are and I'm a little surprised to hear that the chinese casters go more in depth than english casters actually -. And I voted for english casts because I can understand english, though watching sc2 commentated in another language is fine as well.
german casts are much worse than english ones, but PLEASE PLEASE casters of the world, we (read: I) want more analysis. Thats why i love homestory cups, all the pro's just know what I want to hear.
On January 26 2012 10:08 piplup wrote: It's because everyone's trying to copy/one up tastosis
I agree with this, I think alot of casters are trying to be popular and liked, more than come off as smart or communicate about the game indepth. That being said I enjoy the lightheartedness of most English casters, and so the Tastosis style of lots of silly jokes has its place as well. It is unfortunate though how that tends to set the trend for others. On GomTV.net so many of the complaints from people that I see are about other casters simply not being like Tastotis.
People want different things from a cast, some people want in depth analysis and strategy talk, others want to get excited and just let the game be enjoyable to watch. Its impossible for a caster to appeal to everyone.
It would be interesting if you got hard data on this, for example in a cast of 10 minutes how many actual seconds is spent on each of your categories? The percentages you wrote are somewhat out of thin air and very dependent on the particular caster.
If possible changing the second poll would probably be preferable. I'm rather sure that most TL posters don't have the option to have any casting other than English, so it will get some pretty misleading results (if you're trying to make a point).
I kind of agree. There needs to be more analysis and less joking around. It's great that two co-casters have good chemistry and are good friends, but we don't need to hear about your daily activities in every single cast. If something important happens, please comment on it! This goes especially for the early game, where it seems that many casters have just deemed it as a downtime. Sure, commenting on the first SCVs built isn't that rewarding, but don't let the "downtime" last into minute 4-5, when builds are actually forming.
I think the problem with english casters is twofold, firstly, alot of them arn't actually good enough at the game/follow the trends which are happening at the top level closely enough to say something like "because this fifth unit is a stalker rather then a sentry, we are seeing blink into dt" or something like that. Alot of the casters in the foreign community are just essentially diamond/masters players who just talk about what is happening on the screen. The people who are actually capable of giving high level insightful commentary, such as artosis and day9, are clearly trying to gear their commentary to a less hardcore audience, as day9's dailies are mostly to help newer players, and the gsl is clearly (in my opinion) not meant to be watched by the high diamond players trying to make masters, but by the silver leaguers and their non playing friends.
If you watch artosis's stream (or the vods, he hasn't streamed since his kid was born) you can see how in depth he can go with his commentary, its just not that exciting for the casual viewer and requires quite alot of knowledge to understand.
Korean casters > all. Tastosis can be pretty funny and make some good calls but just the energy and hype the korean casters bring (in BW at least, never seen a cast with koreans in sc2 ) makes up for the stuff you don't understand. But after a while you still kinda get what they are saying because of the names of the unit, spells and what you see on the screen.
And most english casters don't do in-depth analysis just because they can't. They are just to bad at the game itself. :/
Well, i can only understand French (maternal language) and English... French casters are usually bad (imo), but sometimes I watch it because I'm tired of English. So, I can only say that I prefer English casts even there are better casts in other languages (and I would watch them if I can).. Your second poll is not good imo.
I am for more knowledge and in-depth commentaries.
edit: I would add there are many programers who provide sometimes amazing casting with a real big knowledge of the game (HSC casts by example, some of them really amazing)
not sure about sc2, but the first time i watched a korean BW VOD with subtitles I learned an insane amount of new stuff even though I had been ICCUPing for around a year and was C
I can confirm that Russian casts tend to be better than English ones. (Unfortunately, it's hard to find them because I don't know how to read Russian well.)
On January 26 2012 10:08 piplup wrote: It's because everyone's trying to copy/one up tastosis
Yeah, that's really true. Everybody is trying way too hard to be funny. Even Tastosis over do it.
I can vouch for Russian cast being absolutely amazing and way more entertaining than the English ones, its on par with tastetosis when it comes to humor and fun, but with way more knowledge about the game, considering all the casters are in GM.
You can't generalize "English casts". There are so many people casting in English and the differences between them are huge. I'd agree that a wide range of casters seem boring/superficial/lack knowledge etc. However, Day[9] is top notch and I'm certain that his casting skills at least match those of other Chinese/Korean pro casters. Pretty much the same goes for Artosis. Not to mention that there are a bunch of English casters, who might not be overly analytical but still provide an extremely pleasant viewing experience.
btw German casters are terrible... Khaldor used to be very enjoyable in German, but nowadays he pretty much casts only in English.
EPT
If something important happens, please comment on it! This goes especially for the early game, where it seems that many casters have just deemed it as a downtime. Sure, commenting on the first SCVs built isn't that rewarding, but don't let the "downtime" last into minute 4-5, when builds are actually forming.
) makes up for the stuff you don't understand. But after a while you still kinda get what they are saying because of the names of the unit, spells and what you see on the screen. 
