Youtube Let's Play channel...

[VenomKing666]

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if people around here would like to give me maybe reviews or advices about my new youtube channel I recently started, where I play various videogames while providing commentary. I think I am pretty good at it but of course I am always looking for ways to improve.

Here I am: http://www.youtube.com/user/MatPlayingVi dya

Tell me what you think.

[TechnoGoomba]

Jesus Christ, stick with only one game. The only way all those games could possibly work is if you updated each one on a different day of the week.

[mario-dude]

Ok, i like your commentary it humorous at points and you have a voice that is easy to listen to. although you seem to have moments where you blank out and say nothing for half a minute. Just try to keep talking through the video.

And i agree with the guy above me. You are playing too many games at once, slow down and play them one by one. Either that or have a main LP that you update frequently and a side LP that you update every now and then.

Subscribed as well out of interest.

[VenomKing666]

At 12/28/10 07:32 PM, mario-dude wrote: Ok, i like your commentary it humorous at points and you have a voice that is easy to listen to. although you seem to have moments where you blank out and say nothing for half a minute. Just try to keep talking through the video.

Yes, this happenned especially in the Super Meat Boy videos. I have to try to fix that, I think I also talked about it in my TF2 ramble, wich is a non-live commentary as opposed to most other stuff.

And i agree with the guy above me. You are playing too many games at once, slow down and play them one by one. Either that or have a main LP that you update frequently and a side LP that you update every now and then.

I have to agree too. I wanted to maybe start with 3 games at first, I would play, and some side games, I guess also for a start I wanted to start various games to try to get a wider range of interests. But most of it was me being sidetracked because OH GOD I NEED TO MAKE A VIDEO OF THIS!

Subscribed as well out of interest.

Oh well thank you kind sir.

[KeroKeroMario]

You sound a LOT like Chuggaaconroy. I'm watching your Super Meat Boy playthrough, and it's pretty good. You need to commentate a little more, or at least give a few pointers on the game. Still, it's entertaining and good quality recording, too.

[Jercurpac]

I'm not really big on Let's Plays, but I think there are some general pieces of advice that would help anybody getting noticed on Youtube.

- Play obscure games. The only time I watch Let's Plays is when I want to see footage of a game that I otherwise wouldn't be able to find. Plug Super Meat Boy or Metro 2033 and Let's Play into the search bar and at least 4 series of Let's Play videos will pop up. That's just going to make it harder for people to find you. Get the subscribers then move on to newer and more popular games.

- Do a run through of a game before you record. That way you wont get stuck at parts and you'll already have ideas for commentary. Like in your Meat Boy video, no one wants to watch you spend three minutes on a level and only giving out disappointed grunts.

- Consider editing videos if only to cut bad commentary and add better ones or even do all the commentary after the fact until you get better at improv.

- I like your accent. Accents are good, makes you easier to remember.

- Be more talkative and directly to the audience. people respond better when they're the ones being talked to rather than general commentary towards the game.

Just some general thoughts, hope they help.

[VenomKing666]

At 12/28/10 11:34 PM, Jercurpac wrote: I'm not really big on Let's Plays, but I think there are some general pieces of advice that would help anybody getting noticed on Youtube.

- Play obscure games. The only time I watch Let's Plays is when I want to see footage of a game that I otherwise wouldn't be able to find. Plug Super Meat Boy or Metro 2033 and Let's Play into the search bar and at least 4 series of Let's Play videos will pop up. That's just going to make it harder for people to find you. Get the subscribers then move on to newer and more popular games.

Thanks, I try as much as possible.

- Do a run through of a game before you record. That way you wont get stuck at parts and you'll already have ideas for commentary. Like in your Meat Boy video, no one wants to watch you spend three minutes on a level and only giving out disappointed grunts.

I got mixed feelings for that and I think both can work well, not playing a game does give a more genuine feeling to it I think, yes I can improve on improv however. But yeah playing a game you already played give the advantage of not getting stuck and already having material.

- Consider editing videos if only to cut bad commentary and add better ones or even do all the commentary after the fact until you get better at improv.

I did do one video where I recorded after. Also I do cut stuff like that, mostly loading screens. And it gets hard to cut playtrough of games because then people miss on the gameplay, wich is an adventure.

- I like your accent. Accents are good, makes you easier to remember.

Thanks man.

- Be more talkative and directly to the audience. people respond better when they're the ones being talked to rather than general commentary towards the game.

That is a hundread percent true, I need to start right now, I guess I have trouble doing so because I am low on people watching me, but I should entirely disregard that fact.

Just some general thoughts, hope they help.

They did, and I really thank you.

[mario-dude]

I guess another bit of advice is the names of the videos. You should actually have the words "lets play" in the title because it will be easier for people to find you that way. And lets plays of obscure games will make you popular more quickly.

For example i think this lper is fucking hilarious because of his game choices

[36Holla]

These might have already been said, but here are some general rules to follow. Some of them may apply to you while others may not.

-Introduce yourself at the beginning of each video or have some kind of introduction if you're doing voice commentary. The first video I see on your channel listing is a SMB video and it starts off with you saying "Ow." That doesn't tell me who you are.

-Complete a game before trying to LP it. Sometimes games are impossible to go through without dying but if you know how to beat it, that means less videos you need to record, and it looks better if you go through a game and look like you know what you're doing.

-Don't talk over cutscenes. If I'm a person who's never played the game before, I want to know what's going on without listening to someone else "ruining the movie" so to speak.

-Have a backup set of topics related to the game to talk about in case there are down times during the LP. Talk about the gameplay, or a related backstory about the games development or tips on what the best way to get past a certain situation you might be facing at the time in the game.

[36Holla]

P.S. I subbed and have some LPs on my channel as well so feel free to sub back if you like them.

/shameless advertising.

[GeneralPlanet]

Retsupurae shows good examples of what NOT to do on an LP channel.

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

Hey man, I'll subscribe and watch a few videos and comment when I get time. I love these Let's Play things. It can help me nostalgia or check out new games I might get. Watching gameplay is surprisingly awesome, as long as the narrator isn't annoying and a douche.

[Blaze-Heatnix]

I never thought you'd stoop so low.

[kidd25]

go do metro 2033. i wanna know what happens!

[VenomKing666]

At 12/29/10 11:28 AM, 36Holla wrote: These might have already been said, but here are some general rules to follow. Some of them may apply to you while others may not.

-Introduce yourself at the beginning of each video or have some kind of introduction if you're doing voice commentary. The first video I see on your channel listing is a SMB video and it starts off with you saying "Ow." That doesn't tell me who you are.

Yes this is because this is the second part of a session. I usually intro myself at the beginning of a session and at the end, unfortunately this session might span multiple videos. Also I originally tought I could put the Super Meat Boy as one video, unfortunately the limit is 15 minutes, I tought it had been removed.

-Complete a game before trying to LP it. Sometimes games are impossible to go through without dying but if you know how to beat it, that means less videos you need to record, and it looks better if you go through a game and look like you know what you're doing.

I get your point, however I think playing a game for the first time, given you have the charisma to support it, gives it some charm and authentivity, I am uploading some more amnesia right now and I die twice I think, but my reactions I think make for great entertainment, especially for a game like Amnesia where all the greatness of the game is being scared by the unknown. But I think both first plays and replays have their obvious advantages.

-Don't talk over cutscenes. If I'm a person who's never played the game before, I want to know what's going on without listening to someone else "ruining the movie" so to speak.

I try to play around with both. I think this comes to opinions, I try of course to make sure everyone understands everything said in a cutscene. But sometimes as a viewer myself I like when someone got funny comments on particular cutscenes.

-Have a backup set of topics related to the game to talk about in case there are down times during the LP. Talk about the gameplay, or a related backstory about the games development or tips on what the best way to get past a certain situation you might be facing at the time in the game.

That is a really nice tip. I always try, thanks for the feedback man!

At 12/29/10 12:18 PM, GeneralPlanet wrote: Retsupurae shows good examples of what NOT to do on an LP channel.

These guys are really awesome, they kind of alienated the term "let's play" for me tough. Also they only review flash games now (flash games from here mostly). But yeah they are pretty funny guys.

[Blaze-Heatnix]

At 12/29/10 11:28 AM, 36Holla wrote: -Introduce yourself at the beginning of each video or have some kind of introduction if you're doing voice commentary. The first video I see on your channel listing is a SMB video and it starts off with you saying "Ow." That doesn't tell me who you are.

If their username is right under the video, what's the point? He should only introduce himself when he starts a game, not when he comes back to it.

-Don't talk over cutscenes. If I'm a person who's never played the game before, I want to know what's going on without listening to someone else "ruining the movie" so to speak.

So is Unskippable ruining cutscenes for you? Nobody watches LPs to learn about the game they're playing, they go to hear funny commentary about what's going on.

-Have a backup set of topics related to the game to talk about in case there are down times during the LP. Talk about the gameplay, or a related backstory about the games development or tips on what the best way to get past a certain situation you might be facing at the time in the game.

LPs aren't walkthroughs. It's one thing to keep the video interesting, but looking like you're a professional doing this for some website makes you look like a tool.

[Crink]

i liek ur voic

[36Holla]

At 12/29/10 04:32 PM, Blaze-Heatnix wrote:

At 12/29/10 11:28 AM, 36Holla wrote: -Introduce yourself at the beginning of each video or have some kind of introduction if you're doing voice commentary. The first video I see on your channel listing is a SMB video and it starts off with you saying "Ow." That doesn't tell me who you are.

If their username is right under the video, what's the point? He should only introduce himself when he starts a game, not when he comes back to it.

It adds personality, it's good for anybody who's jumping into the LP on that video, and helps those people get a feel for the person who's playing from the beginning. Also it seems that viewers of series like something they're familiar with and a general intro at the start of a video tends to give that feeling.

-Don't talk over cutscenes. If I'm a person who's never played the game before, I want to know what's going on without listening to someone else "ruining the movie" so to speak.

So is Unskippable ruining cutscenes for you? Nobody watches LPs to learn about the game they're playing, they go to hear funny commentary about what's going on.

Believe it or not, some people watch LPs to actually watch the story in the game unfold. Moreso when there's actually a story in the game. This is more of a personal preference than anything, but I tend to not watch LPers who talk over the cutscenes as much.

-Have a backup set of topics related to the game to talk about in case there are down times during the LP. Talk about the gameplay, or a related backstory about the games development or tips on what the best way to get past a certain situation you might be facing at the time in the game.

LPs aren't walkthroughs. It's one thing to keep the video interesting, but looking like you're a professional doing this for some website makes you look like a tool.

I think you misunderstood what I meant. Knowing some background about the game or giving tips on certain situations doesn't automatically make someone a professional and if people are interested enough to watch an LP of the game in the first place, then there's a decent chance that they won't mind hearing some extra information about it during a time of the game when there's not a lot going on.

[VenomKing666]

I wanted to reply to Blaze but Holla did it. And I have nothing to add other than the fact I agree.

[VenomKing666]

Looks like this thread is dying, but anyways I just want to say thanks again for the tips, it helped and it is appreciated!