Starcraft evolution: Commentator operational!

Unique people. Commentators, shoutcasters, casters, broadcasters, whatever you want to call them.
I don't know for how long they are around, but I discover them in Starcraft 2 beta. Pretty surprising and exciting for me. They became a part of the big game. It is like watching any other real life sports event. Thanks to high technology, reliable internet services, practical SC2 game features (replays) and sophisticated hardware and software support, this people grab their chance to became famous. At least in gaming community.


The first statement is that everyone can arm himself with all necessary resources to become commentator. You need SC2 beta key, strong computer power, microphone, YouTube account, and here we go.

But now we get to the human factor. The human factor, or caster himself is the main thing that get in contact with his subscribers. We, as listeners, doesn't know his technical resources, software etc. All we know is voice (and sometimes picture), we have a game, and the content that gets out of both.

Commentators build their own shoutcasting style. More or less successful. Is it easy to get?

It depends on person. Commentator should go to fulfill some expectations. We love someone who have excellent game knowledge and experience, because we like to learn new things, we like to see others good moves and mistakes. We try to get better players by watching other games with firm guidance. This is primary goal. There are commentators that adds some bonus to this. Some of them are fun, amusing, some put lots of passion in game, and masters are even able to put a bit suspense to the game, to make it more dramatic.

I am subscribed to 18 Starcraft 2 shoutcasters at the moment. My favorites are (in no particular order) PsyStarcraft, HDstarctraft, HuskyStarcraft, BlizzShouter, AskJoshy, SCBattleGrounds, SchickySC and recently MakhStarcraft.
This is my choice. Those are people with their own style. Sometimes I can't listen to some of them if I am not in a right mood:)

I will mention a few in details. For all of them is something in common regarding their videos. They have excellent game knowledge, they share advices, they have good control of map and events during match development. To be on right place on right time is pretty important, isn't it? :)

PsyStarcraft is one that I can listen in all occasions. He has (and share) game knowledge, and his sense of humor suits me. You never know when he will just throw it out like a lightning from a clear sky :) Sometimes you can consider him rude, but I don't take that to serious.

BlizzShouter is the first one I discovered. He is living SC2 encyclopedia. If you are at numbers, you listen to him. He use numbers more then every other and it is good for learning. He knows so much data that sometimes he cannot even say everything he wants. If he lost concentration he will sometimes mix words.

HDstarctraft and HuskyStarcraft are legends. Progamers that have another toy - shoutcasting. I think that they personally enjoy shoutcasting more then others. New video? Yea, lets have some fun! On the other side they tend to be more commercial and they are the most productive. It is fine with me. Sometimes I don't like Husky's voice.

The rest of my favorites are excellent, but I cant find anything that will make them fly above others. I recommend all of them.

As for the rest I am subscribed to, if they are not on my favorite list doesn't mean that they don't have potential. Maybe they upload rarely, still getting their style and practicing.

And also there are some noob commentators. As I am noob player I can deal advices to other noobs.
Here is my few things for noob and wannabe commentators (if they even read this blog).

1. Well, sory, if you cant make good quality video, with good sound, no lagging etc. then you have problem with your gears. We are spoiled by your top shoutcasting colleagues. We like loud and clear voice, sharp image on fullscreen.
2. You should not stop speaking at all the game time. If you dont know what to say it is not shoutcasting.
3. Don't comment obviouis things which are understandable from the image itself. "SCV now moving south, his opponent's SCv is moving north, they pass by each other in the middle". Consider who, why, how, where, what, what reason....
4. Dont speak about fight on a second expansion while your mouse is on other side of map. Let the view follow your speaking. While we are at this, there are some settings for smooth map movement, don't make us dizzy trying to click an overlord on the mini map.
5. Put some emotions in this. Don't sound like you are shoutcasting as punishment for loosing last game.
6. Be careful with data, numbers and stats, don't speak wrong. If you must, and you are not sure - then say you are not sure.
7. Be analytic, express your opinion, don't just follow the event like you are explaining what you see on the screen - to a blind man.
8. From time to time we would like to learn something that you know and we don't.  Make your commentary useful.

Can't think of any else point.

That's it. My five cents about Starcraft 2 commentaries and people behind them.