Interview [Issue 26] Preparing to Stream - A Commentator's Perspective

[GoldRock 6,165]

It's a week or so before the stream.

The news has just come in that the streams for an upcoming tournament will require commentators for the growing English community. The times and dates are revealed by Semyon in our Skype group. It's up to us to check our commitments, and to see if there's the possibility of us being available for at least one of the streams. For some of us, that involves checking whether we'll be back from work in time; for others, it involves making arrangements for a couple of hours of uninterrupted commentary. After some discussion, with each of us giving the dates we can and can't attend, the pairings for each stream (as each stream requires two commentators) are decided by our administrator, @SuperNick95. If there's issues with commentators not being able to make certain streams, our Community Manager, , is always willing to step in and help to solve the situation.

Fast-forward to the day of the stream itself...

...and by now, the two commentators for the stream have been determined. Mr. Kirov is usually making preparations for the stream with the development team, and he often takes this opportunity to brief the commentators on the rules/format of the upcoming battle. He can also provide some information about the participants (if not, it's our job to familiarise ourselves with them through Starladder clan profiles etc.), and he reminds us about important points for us to explain to the viewers during the stream. In addition, commentators and admins alike usually check the general Guide we use, to make sure the details provided within it are up-to-date.

Now most of the advance preparations have been made, we have to sit tight and wait until...

30 minutes before the stream.

Both commentators get on Skype. Usually, this time is used to make a variety of last-minute checks, including setting up Teamspeak (the software we use) and making sure the password for the EN commentators section of the Cybersport-based channel is correct, as well as running tests to check our microphones are picking up our voices clearly, and at a good volume. We also often take this opportunity to discuss who will open the stream, what intro we'll use, what sorts of things we'll discuss between rounds, when to explain the various key points, how we might end the stream, and so on.

As well as this, each commentator has his own username and password for Tanki Online's exclusive E-Sports server; as this is often used for the major clan tournaments, we have to check we can get into the server. It's a lot like the test server, and it's main purpose is to minimise lag - since there would be very few players on the server, this helps to do so. Also, the developers can make use of some cool extra functions, such as manually resetting the timer of a match whilst keeping the teams of players on the right sides. Not to mention that the E-Sports server gives players access to a very expensive Garage, with anything you could possibly want for playing Light Format during clan wars. The top clan players have earned it, after all!

 

 

In addition to this, commentators have access to Spectator mode on both the normal servers and the E-Sports server; we usually make sure the controls for this are working properly, and that we can set specific points on the map from which to watch the action, before the stream starts. On that subject...

 

Just before the stream starts.

 

There's a nervous few minutes where we wait for the go ahead. Often, we go over how we're going to start the stream and what we're going to say during different parts of it. Generally, we wait for the signal from the Russian CyberSport team - after all, they're the ones who're going to be fortunate enough to have the lion's share of the viewers. Whilst we're waiting, we often go and get a drink - there have been occasions where my mouth has dried up in the past towards the end of a particularly lengthy stream, a sip of water or whatever's at hand usually does the trick. The link of each round will pop up in the Teamspeak channel chat during the stream; this allows us to use Spectator to view the match from our own perspective in order to commentate, whereas our cameraman (@F.L.A.S.H) is the one who provides the shots for viewers to watch, And once everything's ready, @F.L.A.S.H asks if we're good to go; when we confirm we are, he states a brief "On air." to let us know that we can begin our intro.

 

 

 

 

After the stream.

 

The streams usually last for around one and a half hours in length. So, once we've spoken the concluding words of the stream, we wait for @F.L.A.S.H to let us know that the streams over. Then, we often chat about the stream for a few minutes, discussing how we think it went and what mistakes we might have made. At the same time, players are sharing their initial feedback on Skype, which is useful to us to gain an early indication of how the stream went. Where possible, we have a third commentator moderating the Twitch chat (powers were given by Semyon after the suggestion), and he can also turn up on Teamspeak and offer his own thoughts after the stream. Sometimes, we 'experiment' with different ideas depending on how previous streams went - ranging from considering giving commentators a 'sentence limit' during the more heated action so both get to speak one after the other, to using a 'key phrase' to indicate if one commentator has to take a short break so the other commentator can take over. We appreciate the feedback we receive, since it helps us to come up with ideas like those ones, which could help to make the quality of the streams even better in the future.

 

After all, there's a forum topic for that purpose...

 

 

And that just about covers everything! Thanks for reading - if you have any further questions about what the commentators do behind-the-scenes to deliver the best service we can to our viewers, or if you just want to find out more, feel free to go ahead and ask! 

[aBdUlLaHkInGg 39]

Great Article,now I came to know that what happens before the stream starts :).

Edited September 6, 2014 by aBdUlLaHkInGg

[williew 1,999]

Great article Goldie! I never knew this till now.. 

[MA3CTPO_HA_XAHTEP 832]

The most interesting article I have ever read. Good job, Gold!! :)

[Reeco9 1,567]

An insightful article, good job  ;)

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

Excellent Work GoldiLocks ^_^

I didnt knew the teamspeak thing :ph34r:

[phill4177 115]

Nice! Really enjoyed it, gj :D

[7919zola 252]

Boy, I knew a lot of work went into commentating, but I had no idea it was this much. Question though: You say that you all participate in the streams that are convenient for yourself's (not at work, or when you have free time maybe), but what time of the day is it for you when you normally commentate a match? In the morning, afternoon, evening? 

[lordmostafa 3,821]

We love you guys, our commentators  :wub:

Well done Rocky :P

[GoldRock 6,165]

Thanks, guys!

 

Boy, I knew a lot of work went into commentating, but I had no idea it was this much. Question though: You say that you all participate in the streams that are convenient for yourself's (not at work, or when you have free time maybe), but what time of the day is it for you when you normally commentate a match? In the morning, afternoon, evening?

The vast majority of matches have been held at 5pm UTC+0, recently - so whilst that makes them in the evening for European commentators such as myself and joost, it would mean that an American commentator (e.g. GeneralVeers) would have to find time mid-way through the day, which isn't always easy if the streams are during the week.

[Superlative 500]

Amazing.

[7919zola 252]

The vast majority of matches have been held at 5pm UTC+0, recently - so whilst that makes them in the evening for European commentators such as myself and joost, it would mean that an American commentator (e.g. GeneralVeers) would have to find time mid-way through the day, which isn't always easy if the streams are during the week.

Ah, I see. Just curious about how convenient it was for you all, thanks.  ;)

[Guest Maserati]

GoldRock -   Best Commentator

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

There's obviously more to it, but the article does sum up the main points, so you guys get the gist of what happens behind the scenes :)  Nice article Goldie

[Rob 141]

Nice!

[Shaloo7 1,216]

Awesome! :)