What makes solid TM commentary?

[nicknacknob]

Now I am a huge racing gamer, but I also have a large interest in the fighting game genre: a community that while may be dwindling in the arcades is actually gaining more and more popularity throughout the country (U.S.). The primary way they have grown from just small, separated clusters of hardcore gamers to a united competitive community in just about a decades time is largely because they recorded their matches and posted them online. Eventually, with the advancement of technology, commentary was added. And now today, live streaming of tournaments with commentary has come into the scene. Anyways, I read this article that really peaked my interest: it's about the state of commentary within the fighting game community and what makes it unique compared to Starcraft II and other games and genres. http://shoryuken.com/2011/10/19/improvi ... -quandary/
Basically, I really want this community to grow, especially in the U.S., and I think the best way to do this is by posting videos with commentary, and live-streaming tournaments whenever possible. This hope was rekindled, and why I decided to actually join the forums of the series I've been playing for so long and post this, after I went to GEEX; I was one of the 10 finalists in the tournament. They had a commentator going throughout the finals, though I'm not sure how much he had actually played the game. It was great to meet other people face-to-face who play this game and who are passionate about it! I want to see more of that!

Which brings me to my question: What is it, in your opinion, that makes for enjoyable commentary within the racing game genre, specifically the TrackMania series? Feel free to share links to commentated vids...actually please do; whether from TM or another game!

Personally, I think an ideal commentary team for TrackMania would be a sports-like setup consisting of 3 people: 1 to control the spectator camera (no audio), 1 to commentate the play-by-play (who is doing what on the track, current rankings, etc.) and 1 to color commentate (provides analysis of the racers'/teams' strategies, lines, etc., fills in time when racing is not in progress [like in between rounds and maps], etc.). The main challenge that I think the TM COM Team faces is the fluidity, or movement, of the game. Because of this the spectator cameraman is the most important member of this team and has got to be on the ball. He should be able to switch to different cars quickly but must try to bring up the ranking screen (to select racers to view) as little as possible for it covers the entire screen and interrupts the viewing experience. I could go into more detail but let's start with this.

Please share your thoughts on this matter and share your own TM COM Team if you have one (or critique mine)! Hopefully this thread will help the TM community as a whole!

Happy racing!
-Nick

[metoxys]

Depends.
If it's about the track, you need only one guy to comment on the track, such thing as amount of scenery, if it's fullspeedable, nice parts et cetera
If it's about a comp, comment on things like current best times, if mistakes are being made, if the driving is solid, if there are risky parts or something

[nicknacknob]

Depends.
If it's about the track, you need only one guy to comment on the track, such thing as amount of scenery, if it's fullspeedable, nice parts et cetera
If it's about a comp, comment on things like current best times, if mistakes are being made, if the driving is solid, if there are risky parts or something

So you're saying even in a competition, it's better with only 1 commentator? I don't know, I just feel like with so many racers and things going on that it might be difficult to keep up with everybody. Do you know of any videos with good TM single-person commentary?

[Trackmaniack]

I can't say I know of any videos--but people tell me I have a radio-like voice...so give me a script, a race to comment on, basically tell me what to do And I'm more than willing to help out

[AlexKF]

I do think having 2 commentators is good.

I think actual things that can be commented about is details of:
- Player: past tournamrnts won/participated in, clan team, nick name, other interesting info
- Map creator: again, what maps he has made, a small interview before so commentators can talk about the map when its loading, how long it took, other facts about it
- Expressing opinions on whats going in the map/player/racers

(what about a chat room so people can interact with the commntators?)

[metoxys]

Depends.
If it's about the track, you need only one guy to comment on the track, such thing as amount of scenery, if it's fullspeedable, nice parts et cetera
If it's about a comp, comment on things like current best times, if mistakes are being made, if the driving is solid, if there are risky parts or something

it's better with only 1 commentator?

Must have been either bored or drunk when I wrote that. Didn't finish the last sentence xD
Two guys I meant. For each job 1 guy.

[Ravious]

I'd say (1) the racers, (2) the map, and (3) the actual race in order of importance.

Unlike SC2, LoL, etc. very little needs to eb said during the actual race. It's pretty apparent most of the time what happened. The commentator can provide a little more expert advice like "Dan took that turn just a little too far", but for the most part the viewers can see.

What makes the best/most interesting commentary in my mind are facts the viewers might not know. Do the racers have different styles? Is there certain tricks and hotspots on the map to watch out for? Are the racers archrivals? Does the map maker have other maps that can be discussed?

The problem with TM is that the races are so quick. It's almost more akin to a fighting game in speed and visualization than a slower, more commentatable game like LoL or SC2, which has lots of downtime and starting time for commentary.

[MacDuffman]

I have a little experience shoutcasting, but what you need is 2 commentators. One for play-by-play and another, who takes less of a play-by-play role, and more of an analysis role, while still integrating the live action in his/her words.

Also, you need a dedicated camera person in contact with the casters. The gives more focus on commentary and less focus on the though of "where should I go next." Commentary must flow from content, not vice-versa. It is the commentators' duty to imply where the action and focus should be, not direct. Directing is forcefulness, and forcefulness is unbecoming to an audience.

Perhaps there can be a plugin that could be created for competitive play, to shift cameras, via the number keys, etc. Cameraworkers can have reference and switch to a player without breaking the continuity of gameplay (by bringing up the standings to switch).

I'm also not too familiar with Trackmania 2's hud display, but what about a custom competitive spectator hud to make matches more user friendly to watch? Info like splits, and points can be displayed in the top, or low corners of the screen. Thoughts?

[AlexKF]

Also, you might want to see how the F1 commentators do theirs, it might have a few things you could use for TM, maybe.

[metoxys]

Also, you might want to see how the F1 commentators do theirs, it might have a few things you could use for TM, maybe.

*imagines F1 commentators say "He should have airbraked!"*