I have been watching competitive TF2 for a few years now and I have to say that the tftv's presentation of this seasons competitive tf2 matches has been excellent. I think the casters that have been bringing us content this season have reached a new level for TF2; namely Marxist, Shwan, Seanbud, Lange, Ruwin, cyzer, and a recent match i watched featuring Beasly. I am starting to see more talent and composure from these casters that has made the matches more fun to watch.
I have heard some sentiment that this season of ESEA has not been a good one, yet the content is more fun to watch than ever before.(IMHO) I think that is mostly due to the great casting and also to the new talent that has reached invite this season. So this thread is meant to be mostly a thank you to the casters and cameramen that have delivered the content via tftv, and I will say a few specific things that I think have made the casting exceptional.
1. Casters who have played with the competitors.
When the casters have some background knowledge with the players on a friend or teammate level they are able to provide an insight into the character of a team and strategies that a team might employ that are much more engaging to listen to than a simple play-by-play explanation of what is happening that second. When casters are able to offer us something that we can't see plainly in the match ourselves the level of engagement for the viewer is infinitely higher.
2. Casters who allow each other to speak and don't sound like they just met.
A match is more fun to watch when the two casters get along with each other and are able to evenly divide the talk time and maintain consistent banter without interfering with the game. This sounds like a tall order but tftv has demonstrated with a lot of their casters that this is where the bar is set. It is uncomfortable and distracting to watch a match when the one of the casters is frantically trying to announce every single frag in the fast paced invite matches while the other caster is left as the wise but silent observer with the rest of the audience. I am all for bringing in new casters and I totally understand a match or two to break the ice, but when long time casters sound frantic to announce rather than just excited about what's happening it get's a bit annoying. When the casters have good banter I will watch a match to the end even if I can tell the result after the first 3 rounds.
3. Great camerawork.
truktruk, mthsad and at least one more I think have really gotten good at sticking with the action, or in some cases the ridiculous and desperate attempts that are the most enjoyable to watch. It is so awesome when the cameraman has stuck with the play that the casters are really hyped about and I think all the cameramen have done an incredible job of achieving that. Whenever stream chat lights up with chatter it's because the cameraman has done a good job at capturing something for the audience.
4. Quickly uploaded VOD's.
I usually can't watch these matches as they're happening because of my work schedule, but thanks to tftv I can almost always catch them the next day. Being able to watch ESEA matches before the next weeks matches happen allows the spectators to keep on top of what's going on in invite without having to go click through the shitty ESEA website. For me this makes the difference between a season that I'm really excited about and a season where I just check in on the action every 3 weeks or so.
Thanks a lot to TFTV and all the people I mentioned.
I have been watching competitive TF2 for a few years now and I have to say that the tftv's presentation of this seasons competitive tf2 matches has been excellent. I think the casters that have been bringing us content this season have reached a new level for TF2; namely Marxist, Shwan, Seanbud, Lange, Ruwin, cyzer, and a recent match i watched featuring Beasly. I am starting to see more talent and composure from these casters that has made the matches more fun to watch.
I have heard some sentiment that this season of ESEA has not been a good one, yet the content is more fun to watch than ever before.(IMHO) I think that is mostly due to the great casting and also to the new talent that has reached invite this season. So this thread is meant to be mostly a thank you to the casters and cameramen that have delivered the content via tftv, and I will say a few specific things that I think have made the casting exceptional.
1. Casters who have played with the competitors.
When the casters have some background knowledge with the players on a friend or teammate level they are able to provide an insight into the character of a team and strategies that a team might employ that are much more engaging to listen to than a simple play-by-play explanation of what is happening that second. When casters are able to offer us something that we can't see plainly in the match ourselves the level of engagement for the viewer is infinitely higher.
2. Casters who allow each other to speak and don't sound like they just met.
A match is more fun to watch when the two casters get along with each other and are able to evenly divide the talk time and maintain consistent banter without interfering with the game. This sounds like a tall order but tftv has demonstrated with a lot of their casters that this is where the bar is set. It is uncomfortable and distracting to watch a match when the one of the casters is frantically trying to announce every single frag in the fast paced invite matches while the other caster is left as the wise but silent observer with the rest of the audience. I am all for bringing in new casters and I totally understand a match or two to break the ice, but when long time casters sound frantic to announce rather than just excited about what's happening it get's a bit annoying. When the casters have good banter I will watch a match to the end even if I can tell the result after the first 3 rounds.
3. Great camerawork.
truktruk, mthsad and at least one more I think have really gotten good at sticking with the action, or in some cases the ridiculous and desperate attempts that are the most enjoyable to watch. It is so awesome when the cameraman has stuck with the play that the casters are really hyped about and I think all the cameramen have done an incredible job of achieving that. Whenever stream chat lights up with chatter it's because the cameraman has done a good job at capturing something for the audience.
4. Quickly uploaded VOD's.
I usually can't watch these matches as they're happening because of my work schedule, but thanks to tftv I can almost always catch them the next day. Being able to watch ESEA matches before the next weeks matches happen allows the spectators to keep on top of what's going on in invite without having to go click through the shitty ESEA website. For me this makes the difference between a season that I'm really excited about and a season where I just check in on the action every 3 weeks or so.
Thanks a lot to TFTV and all the people I mentioned.
IPZ best caster 2013-2014.
IPZ best caster 2013-2014.
i dont cast i make fun of asians.
i dont cast i make fun of asians.
Pretty sure Lange killed it last night for zowie finals. That man can engage an audience.
Pretty sure Lange killed it last night for zowie finals. That man can engage an audience.
serious lack of cbear this season
serious lack of cbear this season
Cobra447Pretty sure Lange killed it last night for zowie finals. That man can engage an audience.
I don't think he gives himself enough credit as a caster. Even the joke casts he's done in the past have been really entertaining and informative.
[quote=Cobra447]Pretty sure Lange killed it last night for zowie finals. That man can engage an audience.[/quote]
I don't think he gives himself enough credit as a caster. Even the joke casts he's done in the past have been really entertaining and informative.
the ability to speak for 3 consecutive years without a single pause for air.
the ability to speak for 3 consecutive years without a single pause for air.
http://leogonzalezvo.com/
Cobra447Pretty sure Lange killed it last night for zowie finals. That man can engage an audience.
lange was so high
[quote=Cobra447]Pretty sure Lange killed it last night for zowie finals. That man can engage an audience.[/quote]
lange was so high
Platypusthe ability to speak for 3 consecutive years without a single pause for air.
mrslin.wav
[quote=Platypus]the ability to speak for 3 consecutive years without a single pause for air.[/quote]
mrslin.wav
erkstonget fucked djc
djc and Bloodsire should both be commended as well.
[quote=erkston]get fucked djc[/quote]
djc and Bloodsire should both be commended as well.
5. Casters who seem like they actually care about what is happening.
5. Casters who seem like they actually care about what is happening.
Big ups to all the camera people. It's not very rewarding to sit and just change cameras for a whole match without getting to say a word, but the guys we have here at TF.TV rule. They're pretty selfless and work really hard.
I am also really into banter. Nobody cares about every single frag.
I like discussion of statistics and numbers here and there, and I like discussion of team or roster history. I like to interview teams before a cast to get insight into their preparation and how they're feeling, and I like post-game interviews. I guess I'm into what the teams are thinking and how they are feeling, versus describing every frag. I come from a sports broadcasting background and love football so that's probably where all that comes from. It helps the viewer make a connection with the teams and players, which is good for everyone.
TF.TV just absolutely kills it with production though too, don't they? HUD, overlays, overall presentation. That can add a lot.
Big ups to all the camera people. It's not very rewarding to sit and just change cameras for a whole match without getting to say a word, but the guys we have here at TF.TV rule. They're pretty selfless and work really hard.
I am also really into banter. Nobody cares about every single frag.
I like discussion of statistics and numbers here and there, and I like discussion of team or roster history. I like to interview teams before a cast to get insight into their preparation and how they're feeling, and I like post-game interviews. I guess I'm into what the teams are thinking and how they are feeling, versus describing every frag. I come from a sports broadcasting background and love football so that's probably where all that comes from. It helps the viewer make a connection with the teams and players, which is good for everyone.
TF.TV just absolutely kills it with production though too, don't they? HUD, overlays, overall presentation. That can add a lot.
I don't mean to take away from the casting of the Zowie tournament at single bit, those guys did an amazing job focusing for hours. But does anyone know why the uber advantage plugin wasn't being used? I heard Bloodsire mention using it at one point, but it wasn't used by the cameraman.
I don't mean to take away from the casting of the Zowie tournament at single bit, those guys did an amazing job focusing for hours. But does anyone know why the uber advantage plugin wasn't being used? I heard Bloodsire mention using it at one point, but it wasn't used by the cameraman.
cbear is the definition of a great caster, real talk
cbear is the definition of a great caster, real talk
as long as they
a) know about the game so they can analyse what is going on
b) don't just point out the obvious, greaver style
"there are red players and blue players shooting eachother"
c) don't sound like they're bored and can engage the audience
d) know when to be loud and excited and when to be more reserved and calculated
then i'm happy
as long as they
a) know about the game so they can analyse what is going on
b) don't just point out the obvious, greaver style
"there are red players and blue players shooting eachother"
c) don't sound like they're bored and can engage the audience
d) know when to be loud and excited and when to be more reserved and calculated
then i'm happy
Greaver was a great caster I don't know why you would insult the great ozfort casting cabal as such.
Greaver was a great caster I don't know why you would insult the great ozfort casting cabal as such.
greaver was the chip and no mercy was the dip
the chip is just a delivery service for the dip
greaver was the chip and no mercy was the dip
the chip is just a delivery service for the dip
Good casting is someone that casts a match without being boring
/thread
Good casting is someone that casts a match without being boring
/thread
had great casters but also some new casters that are very solid.
had great casters but also some new casters that are very solid.
Very happy with the casting and overall stream quality from tf.tv, but I sure do miss the DJC/CBear pairing from TOTH
When they sang a whole new world, it was magical.
Very happy with the casting and overall stream quality from tf.tv, but I sure do miss the DJC/CBear pairing from TOTH
When they sang a whole new world, it was magical.
TF.tv is the best in terms of production value and casters, but why is the camera in first person 100% of the time? midfights are hard to follow when youre watching one or two player's perspective only, or rapidly jumping between different players. It works for quake because there are only two people at any time, and chances are one pov will likely capture all of the action.
Im not asking for eXtv style "shakey cam", but big fights should definitely be seen in third person imo.
TF.tv is the best in terms of production value and casters, but why is the camera in first person 100% of the time? midfights are hard to follow when youre watching one or two player's perspective only, or rapidly jumping between different players. It works for quake because there are only two people at any time, and chances are one pov will likely capture all of the action.
Im not asking for eXtv style "shakey cam", but big fights should definitely be seen in third person imo.
Radmanmidfights are hard to follow when youre watching one or two player's perspective only
agreed.
there is way to much happening in a mid fight to catch all the action from 1 players perspective, it would be nice if there could be more third person for mids and certain control point pushes
I'm sure that there is a reason why they stick with first person though, maybe someone else can answer.
[quote=Radman]midfights are hard to follow when youre watching one or two player's perspective only[/quote]
agreed.
there is way to much happening in a mid fight to catch all the action from 1 players perspective, it would be nice if there could be more third person for mids and certain control point pushes
I'm sure that there is a reason why they stick with first person though, maybe someone else can answer.
http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/14358-dear-extv-third-person-camera
Marxist + Seanbeasly casting duo: needs to keep happening <3
Marxist + Seanbeasly casting duo: needs to keep happening <3
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFfpE5foxD4[/youtube]