Players should focus on playing. Broadcasters should focus on broadcasting.
Tournaments should do more to highlight storylines.
There needs to be serious (not necessarily mainstream_ journalistic coverage of events so narratives can get built and fans can learn about their favorite teams and players.

kimchikid

Sweden162 Posts

January 10 2012 19:11 GMT

#562

Casters are good at casting and players are good at playing it is NOT the same thing or at all the same talent.

Some players may have a casting talent and then they can cast.

Asking players who are not shy and can cast to join casting in a tournament can be fun for a few games.

Favourite casters: Day9 and Tastosis

Obvously it will happen that players hate or just dislike a caster due to that they say something about the player that he does not like. Many players are very young, less than 20 years, and they may overreact to such things and not be media trained in same way.

In all ways you can compare this to any other sport really.

Arghnews

United Kingdom169 Posts

January 10 2012 19:34 GMT

#563

Gotta say I agree, watching Homestory cup 4, with Destiny, Ret and Thorzain casting was the most dense and analytical cast of SC2 games I've ever seen - I loved every single second. Even though they don't bring much "typical" entertainment value and Thorzain especially being near silent, it was the best cast I've ever seen, I learnt and heard so much stuff I never even thought about :D

radscorpion9

Canada2252 Posts

January 12 2012 00:18 GMT

#564

I agree with argh, its just 10x more interesting to hear what players perspectives are. But obviously this can't always happen because they have to play. Although really...with typical casters, what "entertainment" value is there really? Unless they're really funny people, generally its just being very loud and doing a play by play. I think that's why everyone loves Husky, he's just naturally a weird and funny guy...and people prefer to watch his casts over others primarily because of his personality.

Being a caster in most cases (the exceptions being if you truly understand the game) seems like a fairly unremarkable and simple job most of the time; you don't have to be particularly intelligent to tell people what they're seeing is happening or what will obviously happen if they build certain buildings. I remember once when Psy Starcraft presented a game on his youtube channel without any commentary whatsoever - we could just hear the sounds of the game. It was a very pleasant experience for me, sometimes I wish we could get an option just to hear the game and mute the casters (and I have noted others have supported this idea on Gom TV forums).

But anyways, the point is I'd be happy if casters had something to aspire to, be it increased in game knowledge or more 'colourful' commentary.

TheTurk

United States732 Posts

January 12 2012 00:24 GMT

#565

I agree entirely with Huk.

Strayline

United States330 Posts

January 12 2012 00:47 GMT

#566

To be perfectly honest, I wish the only* people casting were top players.

I don't need anyone to hype stuff up or squeal at the right points in the game. What really makes a cast worth it for me is if I learn something and there's a world of difference between someone saying "Well so-and-so is moving out with marine-tank at 135 supply and the Zerg is at 150... this is going to be close!" and someone saying "well Terran is finally moving out but DRG was so effective with his muta harass that this push is almost three minutes late. Terran might as well pull his SCVs because this is virtually an all-in at this point."

And frankly, you only really get the latter type of analysis from a few top players (and generally only wrt the races they actually play). Even "good" casters who know a lot and pay attention and were top players in the past aren't always caught up on the very latest trends in play and it really shows when they cast.

None of this precludes having "color commentators" entirely or means that people are morons for wanting them but my personal preference is for pros even without much "stage presence." Every time.

*it should be noted that the one exception to this rule is Artosis. It feels to me like he actually spends enough time studying games that he is able to critique high level play similar to a pro player.

Dirt McGirt

New Zealand129 Posts

January 12 2012 03:05 GMT

#567

I loved the HSC4 casting - because it was different to what we normally get at big events. I like most of the major casters and through NASL and other comps (inc HSC4 now) I've found players I really like to hear casting.

The biggest thing about HSC4 for me was how we got to know more about the players and how they interact with each other. It was super cool to see them hangout and stuff. Some of the casting was very, very impressive from an analysis perspective, and some was just amazingly entertaining (once a bit more booze was consumed!).

IMO this is where there is a difference between players and casters. Due to their jobs/hobbies casters are interacting with us a lot more than players. You get to know casters better and that all contributes to how much (or how little) you enjoy their content. Some players are in the spotlight enough to achieve something similar - pillars and guest players on SOTG, vids by the various teams on players or the team house etc...

It's not impossible for players to generate this connection with the community. A number of players do stream and commentate - sometimes people are watching as much for the personality/humor/potential BM as they are for the quality of play (Masters and upward). But it all contributes to their fan base which then influences their sponsorship appeal and whether a team might be keen on picking them up.

At the moment it seems (imo) that casters have driven more awareness about SC2. I found out about Idra in the beta via HD and Husky. Then I went and read up on his BW days and then got connected to all those other ex-BW players/commentators. Now I know a heap more about their backgrounds and that is important for me as a fan and a consumer of SC2 material.

In other sports/entertainment I watch the caster/presenter certainly has an impact on my enjoyment of it. But the main reason I'm watching is because I love the sport and/or my favourite team/player is involved. I'll watch my favourite rugby or league team play even though I can't stand the commentators.

There aren't any casters I would mute in SC2. I do have preferences but overall it's the players I'm following. I want to watch the players/teams I support or games that have a lot riding on them.

Inequity about pay, real or imagined, is something that is going to work itself out as the scene develops. It's hard taking examples from mainstream, established sports where the $$ involved and the fanbase is just huge. We need to be positive about everyone who puts energy into growing SC2 as an eSport - we are trying to coax that golden egg out of the goose (sponsors) so players and casters get the $$ and exposure we think they should receive.

It's too easy to fixate on a caster/player you don't like and use that as your ammo for why you think they are crap or overpaid. If you don't like them then vote with your viewing power. Don't subscribe to their youtube channel, don't watch their stream, support the people you do enjoy.

belatube

United States27 Posts

May 04 2012 15:15 GMT

#568

There was a time when $50 -$100 prize pool in BW was such a big deal and rare and winning that cash was such a great accomplishment. Most of us that bought this game for the first time just want to play because we enjoy it. and now peoples mentality have change. and Complaining about why he is makign more or etc when we as players should just be thankful its there for the taking.. Im not a programer not even close to one.. and im sure 98% of high level masters and some GM work just as hard to improve there game, play countless hours, some even maybe more than pros. But im sure they do it cuz they enjoy the game and just want to be better. and for most them dont even think of making money on the game even if they do play 5-6 hours a day. Some trolls will say .. well thats because they are scrubbs and is not good enough to make money. But in the end it was never about making the money to begin with. For some pros who are upset about this situation they should just stop and be thankful.. Thankful that E-sports has grown so much that now outside of korea. They get to travel around the world and stay in hotels for free, meet fans they never dreamt of having, and a the chance to win THOUSANDS of $$ to play a VIDEO GAME!!