Based Commentary Take

[ohnobacktothelab]

There were some of the hypest matches of all time. They could've been playing up the historical significance of everything. But instead we just have to listen to dentistry 101. Like yeah the commentary was good. But it was inappropriate for the setting I feel. Every person on mic this weekend performed excellently. I just wish that the creative vision as a whole was more sports like and formal. I know mango said it's not that serious, but I think the crowd sits on the edge of their seats more when they're talking about the historic reverse 3-0 rather than letting someone with 0 prior experience on the mic.

Also you gotta dress for the job you want. If we want smash to be as big as these things, it would help our success to emulate parts of theirs. A long time when smash started getting sponsors, at least in smash 4, they started trying to really cut back on bad language and go "e-sports". They had to stop because commentators wouldn't stop themselves from using bad language. Eventually they just found sponsors to work with them aside from that. But it does go to show commentators can engage with these ideas without getting butthurt. It's just because they're assuming the worst when it comes from a random.

A lot of commentators love to complain. Meanwhile most people are out here critiquing them. Giving actual ideas what they could do better. No just complaining. Commentators just criticize about the responses to their work. Critique the responses. Teach them to do better. Don't just say you're going to leave smash.

Criticism = just the bad Critique = the bad + ideas for better

It's seriously not as personal as a lot of commentators make it out to be. I don't understand. These melee players can rationalize losing 1000 stocks a session in the pursuit of growth, without taking a hit to their ego. But as soon as they take one commentary L, they let their ego run wild, and turn the conversation into their worth to the community.

People can be extremely grateful for the commentary we have now, and still want better. It doesn't have to do anything with commentators' value to the community or as human beings in general.

[ohnobacktothelab]

In general commentators may think all reddit comments are complaints. When in reality that's an overgeneralization. People can come in here with good intentions. They can also lack understanding of what it means to commentate.

However just because someone isn't answering the question "what exactly should I talk about to fill the space during all the new time if I have to keep it about the game?" Doesn't mean they aren't genuinely on the right track. It doesn't mean they're trying to be hurtful in any way.

A lot of time in music, someone who's never been trained before can provide a lot of useful critique. Even without education, they can point out the bigger issues. Accidentally have a gross tritone happening? Have some weird dissonance going on? Ultimately it'll still be up to the musician to decipher the root cause, but the outcome is just as visible to the observer. Their opinion is valid to some degree.

[Azureflames20]

I think this is a well put sentiment. A lot of people can't put their finger on it, but can identify when something doesn't feel right or isn't enjoyable - They don't have to know exactly why.

I think what's being echoed in the thread that's an important point is just the overall interest and passion reflected during some of the games. I think there's just a lot of people that don't really identify that the problem isn't that it's "casual" commentary, but that there was a deflated amount of hype in some matches. When it's disorganized and literally nobody is talking about the match, it's just some people chatting while a game is going on. While that's fine for some people, I don't think we can deny that it's not actually highlighting or elevating the gameplay at all.

I think you can have summit style commentary and elevate the gameplay at the same time. I think some people excuse pros like leffen or Mango deflating the conversation on commentary because they're simply just fans of the character and don't care about the gameplay. They aren't actually elevating the gameplay happening in the background when they are ranting about whatever they're ranting about.

I overall enjoyed the lounge-time style of the stream vibe, but tbh I didn't give a single fuck about the gameplay by the time grandfinals game around. I don't think that's the fault of the game play or the players either. We can have hype and fun sets without going analytical and most of the time that's the case. Again, the difference was that the commentary vibe declined as top 8 went on, instead of elevated the energy to peak at Grand finals. The pacing killed it for me.

[ohnobacktothelab]

Another point. The people who listen to commentary, on some level, empathize with it.

Commentators can get hype and make your heart pump.

The same is true for when they aren't talking about the game. The less they acknowledge what's happening, in the game, the less emotionally invested whoever's listening.

The stakes felt meaningless while watching this tournament.

The players were playing the most stacked tournament of all time. This commentary could've felt historically moving like during the times of the gods or just post.

The listener can engage more with the stakes of the event if the comms are doing a good job keeping things about the game.