Let's Talk Commentating at Majors

[CrimsonShadow]

So KiT was an awesome event all around, and full of hype. But there's something that's been bothering me (and others as well) and needs to be addressed if we're going to keep growing our community.

A major is a fantastic chance to showcase our games and our community spirit. But the commentators need to understand; you are NOT at your local. You are not at your community pizza place or on TYM; you're at a major and you are representing everyone.

Constantly bashing players for being less experienced, less skilled, or playing differently than you would is inexcuseable and it needs to stop. I lnow people think it's funny to call people 'random' and 'Gandhi' and whatever else on stream, and maybe it's cute once, but putting down a player for the entire duration of all his matches on stream (and even afterwards) is ludicrous and will discourage players who are learning from wanting to play onstream.

It made me a little sick to watch it, and I hope it never happens again. I don't care if you saw it on a Capcom stream, we are better than that. The lack of professionalism on the mic is excusable at a local but it ruins opportunities for us on larger stages.

PLEASE think before you open your mouth on a microphone in front of a few thousand people.

Edit: Just to clarify, this doesn't refer to every single person who commentated for KiT -- and this isn't the only major where it 's come up. It's a general issue.

 

[Filipino Man]

@Emperor DMS had the right balance of commentary honestly. He created hype towards future majors and tried to amplify rivalries already made while still keeping it in game and civil.

 

[FrothyOmen]

Just kidding. This has been waiting to be said by somebody for a long time now. Foul language and player bias are rampant, the only really professional commentary was MLG most of the time. EVO was pretty good too. I'm a perpetrator just as much as anyone else, see any of my commentary from SB:A or 2012 (?) CoCo

 

[Dizzy]

I went back and watched the top 8 of injustice at KIT and thought the commentary was great, especially considering both of them had never done commentary for a major top 8 before. If this was happening I guess it was during pools as I didn't hear any of the commentary for that

 

[4x4lo8o]

Thank god this is being brought up. Sometimes I don't understand what people are thinking when they're on the mic

 

[FrothyOmen]

I went back and watched the top 8 of injustice at KIT and thought the commentary was great, especially considering both of them had never done commentary for a major top 8 before. If this was happening I guess it was during pools as I didn't hear any of the commentary for that

Yeah, it was mostly during pools.

 

[CrimsonShadow]

I went back and watched the top 8 of injustice at KIT and thought the commentary was great, especially considering both of them had never done commentary for a major top 8 before. If this was happening I guess it was during pools as I didn't hear any of the commentary for that

Yeah, the worst of it was during pools.

 

[Zoidberg747]

We must have been watching a different stream.

Saying "I have no idea what he is doing" isnt really that offensive. I guess some people could find the Gandhi thing offensive, but Ill let those people decide.

I really enjoyed the commentary at KiT. I think it is better to have a little fun with it than be uptight and super professional, because at the end of the day it is still people playing video games.

Edit: I didnt see much of pools so maybe I didnt see the bad stuff

 

[RiBBz22]

Just kidding. This has been waiting to be said by somebody for a long time now. Foul language and player bias are rampant, the only really professional commentary was MLG most of the time. EVO was pretty good too. I'm a perpetrator just as much as anyone else, see any of my commentary from SB:A or 2012 (?) CoCo

Our commentary was top tier. Me and Drunk Michaelangelo was broken tier.

 

[SZSR]

Thank god this is being brought up. Sometimes I don't understand what people are thinking when they're on the mic

I'm not saying KIT, but at other tournaments it seems like some people are not thinking at all.

 

[StevoSuprem0]

Yeah I kinda agree. People are showing up to these events, in many cases, for the purpose of honing their skills and getting more experience with high level play and matchups that they aren't accustom to. Their participation, regardless of their skill level, is doing nothing but benefiting the scene as a whole. Maybe make a joke once if they are doing something a little off-beat that shouldn't really work can be acceptable, but bashing people simply because they aren't playing super top tier is pretty lame. Constructive criticism is one thing, but talking down about someone's style is another thing entirely.
...
...
...
...
...
...
....unless it's Playing 2 Win......

 

[EMPEROR_JUPITER]

So KiT was an awesome event all around, and full of hype. But there's something that's been bothering me (and others as well) and needs to be addressed if we're going to keep growing our community.

A major is a fantastic chance to showcase our games and our community spirit. But the commentators need to understand; you are NOT at your local. You are not at your community pizza place; you're at a major and you are representing everyone.

Constantly bashing players for being less experienced, less skilled, or playing differently than you would is inexcuseable and it needs to stop. I lnow people think it's funny to call people 'random' and 'Gandhi' and whatever else, and maybe it's cute once, but putting down a player for the entire duration of all his matches on stream (and even afterwards) is ludicrous and will discourage players who are learning from wanting to play onstream.

It made me sick to watch it, and I hope it never happens again. I don't care if you saw it on a Capcom stream, we are better than that. The total lack of professionalism on the mic is excusable at a local but it ruins opportunities for us on larger stages.

PLEASE think before you open your mouth on a microphone in front of a few thousand people.

how would u know? uve never been to an event . and saucy jack was the funniest commentator ive ever heard. and DMS kept it entertaining. id ask u to commentate but u never go to anything except troll around the forums because u think that green name gives u authority. @CrimsonShadow

 

[9.95]

So KiT was an awesome event all around, and full of hype. But there's something that's been bothering me (and others as well) and needs to be addressed if we're going to keep growing our community.

A major is a fantastic chance to showcase our games and our community spirit. But the commentators need to understand; you are NOT at your local. You are not at your community pizza place; you're at a major and you are representing everyone.

Constantly bashing players for being less experienced, less skilled, or playing differently than you would is inexcuseable and it needs to stop. I lnow people think it's funny to call people 'random' and 'Gandhi' and whatever else, and maybe it's cute once, but putting down a player for the entire duration of all his matches on stream (and even afterwards) is ludicrous and will discourage players who are learning from wanting to play onstream.

It made me sick to watch it, and I hope it never happens again. I don't care if you saw it on a Capcom stream, we are better than that. The total lack of professionalism on the mic is excusable at a local but it ruins opportunities for us on larger stages.

PLEASE think before you open your mouth on a microphone in front of a few thousand people.

While I haven't streamed a major since ECT5, I will say that I have always tried to strive for better commentating during serious matches. Casuals, I don't care so much, but larger events and majors I'm very strict as to my policies. I have turned down the fader on MANY well known players while commentating because they were unable to curtail their foul mouths or incapable of focusing on the match and arguing with the chat instead.

Streamers need to grow a set and remember that it's YOUR stream. If people want to commentate, ask them to do so to the best of their ability or you'll find someone else.

 

[EGP Wonder_Chef]

how would u know? uve never been to an event . and saucy jack was the funniest commentator ive ever heard. and DMS kept it entertaining. id ask u to commentate but u never go to anything except troll around the forums because u think that green name gives u authority.

dayummmm

 

[ShadowBeatz]

I think Saucy Jack and DMS did a great job commentating KiT and I'd love to have them back again (with the exception of that "hemma" crap XD, but I digress)

But I will say there have been a ton of streams that I have watched where some commentators will literally laugh at a player when they don't know who they are and they do something they haven't seen before, and it's just uncomfortable to watch.

 

[coolwhip]

Commentary was perfectly fine during top 8. MAAAAAYBE Saucy Jack dropped a bit too many GGA inside references but let's be honest, the entire community is familiar with them so they're hardly inside references anymore. I'm not saying the commentary was phenomenal, but it was fine. Nothing wrong. I didn't catch every set in pools so maybe there was something there that stood out to you.

Part of commentating is critiquing a player's performance so unless the commentator is flat out laughing, mocking, or completely shitting on what a player is doing, it's totally fine. In fact, it's helpful since you're explaining to those watching who aren't as good at the game why what a certain player is doing is wrong. This is of course, assuming it was done in a semi constructive manner.

I missed the Gandhi part so I don't know what's that about.

 

[trustinme]

how would u know? uve never been to an event . and saucy jack was the funniest commentator ive ever heard. and DMS kept it entertaining. id ask u to commentate but u never go to anything except troll around the forums because u think that green name gives u authority.

i don't know whether to laugh or cry. Just mash overhead stretch Armstrong and enjoy yourself. ok I've decided to laugh although I don't 100% agree.

 

[Killphil]

For the record, I got laughed at/made fun of for half the time I've been on stream. It is a little disheartening, considering its the same people that I like to hang out with when I go to events. But I'll brush it off. As long as you're not some tard blowing up an entire community for supporting its games on stream then I think we're mostly good.

 

[shogunoflive]

For two guys that never commentated a Top 8 at an event before they did pretty good, and they had never worked together before. Saucy Jack is a naturally funny and well spoken guy. With more practice and a bit of direction from a producer he would be a GREAT commentator.

I think with all games, that top 8 commentary needs a bit of work. The commentators should always have a copy of the brackets, and if possible have had some one on one time with the players in top 8 so they can provide some extra info to the viewers during the matches.

 

[CrimsonShadow]

I missed the Gandhi part so I don't know what's that about.

I think if you saw it you'd understand.

But KiT wouldn't be the first time this issue has come up -- just the first time I thought to sit down and start a discussion about it.

 

[LanceMonsoon]

I thought the commentary was great, I don't see the point of this thread at all, why not message the commentators you had problems with and address it to them personally, instead of making a thread blowing them up? You are basically doing the same thing you don't want them to do, which is talk down to people. Kitana Prime, Saucy Jack, DMS, 16bit all were great IMO and funny. Idk mano but you know this thread won't go anywhere because nobody takes you seriously and I doubt any of the commentators really care what you have to say about them. So stop bitching and maybe you can try to do a better job if you ever go to an offline event.

 

[Zyos]

To be honest kit was great commentary you dont want it to be stagnant, its one of those you cant please everyone deals. As much as i know i dont need you to call out the strings though for a newer player its very helpful, as far as the making fun/picking on people i'll have to go watch all of pools again i guess

 

[Yoaks]

I was watching 8WAYRUN stream yesterday and at one point both commentators where arguing over what was a more optimal combo for Shazam and they continued too disagree and argue on what the player should of done different during a completely different match. I know The Break is only a local, but it was annoying me that both commentators were ignoring during the match just too get their point across.

 

[Under_The_Mayo]

I think the commentary at KIT was the best we`ve had in any tournament in 3 years.

 

[trustinme]

Lmao & @LanceMonsoon & @EMPEROR_JUPITER