Constructive criticism needed

[G0rgatr0n]

About a month and half ago my friend and I started a YouTube channel. It is based around video games. I am looking for anyone who watches lets play or YouTube videos and can provide some constructive criticism and advice on how to improve. Please feel no need to check this out if this is not something that interests you. I have posted to a few video game forums but cant seem to get any actual help. Thanks to those in advance who can.

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBacklogGames

[shickingbrits]

Seems too much like other video game videos.

I watched for a couple minutes and never knew why i was watching.

Title: won't generate hits.

Commentary: needs structure from the onset.

Controversy: you shied away from it.

I've only watched such videos by accident, ie the title got me to click on it. An early spoiler would allow the viewer to know what he is watching and get them to watch on. Boom: this is what the video will show you and after seeing it, you can do it as well. Once you have established desire to watch, the dialogue can be as is currently. But never say, I won't criticize this because...Just criticize it. The more divisive the better.

[AndyDufresne]

What are you using for mic setup currently? Improving the audio quality eventually I think would be a worthwhile endeavor. I don't watch a whole lot of LPs, but I do venture into Quill18's LPs sometimes if he is checking something out. And I enjoy most of Polygon's Overview videos as well. Best of luck.


--Andy

[DaGip]

It's good you are looking for criticism. That means that you really want to succeed at this. So the first thing is persistence. Keep making videos, take criticism, and keep making videos. Eventually you will get to the point in which people will want to start watching them. My two favorite video game guys on YouTube are:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Kikoskia

and

https://www.youtube.com/user/drunkencommando

I am subscribed to both of them because they are genuinely themselves and very entertaining in their narrative. Kikoskia is extremely funny in his DOOM series.

Now, should you be like them? No. But the entertaining quality can't be ignored. You have to find your own way of entertaining people. Do you need better audio? I don't know. Maybe. The audio made me think you guys were conversing on Skype.

If you are looking for subscribers, remember: Entertain, entertain, entertain.

[KoolBak]

I like playing some games with my boys....bioshock 2, Mario cart, 1st person shooters, etc.....so I'm not necessarily a stick in the mud....usually.....lol

So my youngest son watches these things all the time; primarily to figure out how to get past some difficult part but also for entertainment from the authors he likes. I monitor this closely as I've seen a lot of inappropriate authors cursing (he can hear all the cursing he needs from me) and, well, other shit....

The ones I personally don't mind are the ones that sound like someone you're talking with, that you wouldn't mind talking with at say a party...they're coherent, pleasant voice control, not inane....the ones that have a lot of screaming, horrendous sound effects (made by the author) and ridiculous banter grate on my damn nerves and I block them....my 10 year old even finds them annoying. Clean, funny commentary, useful information, interesting banter, good quality recording.....some people got it, some don't.....just like in RL.

PS - we also tend to prefer the single individual approach as opposed to the two people that typically end up trying to out shout each other.....you owe me at least 2 cents.....

[DaGip]

I like playing some games with my boys....bioshock 2, Mario cart, 1st person shooters, etc.....so I'm not necessarily a stick in the mud....usually.....lol

So my youngest son watches these things all the time; primarily to figure out how to get past some difficult part but also for entertainment from the authors he likes. I monitor this closely as I've seen a lot of inappropriate authors cursing (he can hear all the cursing he needs from me) and, well, other shit....

The ones I personally don't mind are the ones that sound like someone you're talking with, that you wouldn't mind talking with at say a party...they're coherent, pleasant voice control, not inane....the ones that have a lot of screaming, horrendous sound effects (made by the author) and ridiculous banter grate on my damn nerves and I block them....my 10 year old even finds them annoying. Clean, funny commentary, useful information, interesting banter, good quality recording.....some people got it, some don't.....just like in RL.

PS - we also tend to prefer the single individual approach as opposed to the two people that typically end up trying to out shout each other.....you owe me at least 2 cents.....

But as an adult, I like some cursing. Drunkencommando curses a bit...an "f" bomb here and an "f" bomb there, plus it works well with his Boston accent. Kikoskia on the other hand doesn't swear at all, so I would probably let my kids listen to him. However, I don't have any kids anymore (all growed up); so let the cursing commence! (Just as long as it suits the situations and is entertaining).

If your target is directly towards children, then I would definitely refrain from cursing on the video; but if your target is younger to older adults, then dropping a swear word here or there is quite expected as I am sure any of us adults that play video games swear or curse from time to time. It is part of the genuineness I was speaking of earlier. As long as the cursing isn't all the time. Vulgarity is not appealing or entertaining. But during a scary part of a game if the player says "Shit!" or drops an "f" bomb, I don't shy away...it involves me with the player and shows our shared humanity.

I have to agree that the two commentators gets kind of confusing, that's why I like the two subscriptions I have. They are solo commentators. I'm not saying that duo commentators won't work, I just think it takes more work to find the dynamics for what your schtick will be.

[KoolBak]

Well said Gipster

[Dukasaur]

I have to agree that the two commentators gets kind of confusing, that's why I like the two subscriptions I have. They are solo commentators. I'm not saying that duo commentators won't work, I just think it takes more work to find the dynamics for what your schtick will be.

It might be more work to develop your schtick, but I think 2 voices have a lot more potential than 1 for creating the schtick in the first place.

A play-by-play guy (in sports) and a colour commentator....
A straight man (in comedy) and a prankster....
Captain and Tenille...

[DaGip]

I have to agree that the two commentators gets kind of confusing, that's why I like the two subscriptions I have. They are solo commentators. I'm not saying that duo commentators won't work, I just think it takes more work to find the dynamics for what your schtick will be.

It might be more work to develop your schtick, but I think 2 voices have a lot more potential than 1 for creating the schtick in the first place.

A play-by-play guy (in sports) and a colour commentator....
A straight man (in comedy) and a prankster....
Captain and Tenille...

I wasn't saying duo commentating wouldn't work. It just takes dynamics between the two: Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Chris Farley and David Spade, Bob and Doug McKenzie, etc...

If they do not have those dynamics down as a team, their schtick won't work. When done properly, it might be more interesting than a really funny solo commentator.

However, as far as video game channels go; I have only found two that I subscribed to over a period of seven or eight years on YouTube.

Maybe for some added inspiration, the OP can hang out at iNSTAGIB.tv. http://instagib.tv/

There is sometimes some interesting commentary on that channel. Live WebGameChat.

[muy_thaiguy]

Generally, there's 2 ways to go. 1. When doing single commentary, people want to listen to you and what you say. The game itself is secondary unless it pertains to say, what your viewers think about what you are doing. Take a look at VintageBeef for this sort of thing on singles.

Group, which is 2 or more, just relax and act like you normally do without being recorded, unless you're doing some role play stuff, than go into character. Otherwise, chat with each other, have fun, that sort of thing. Because when you're having fun, your viewers are too.

Some good group ones to check out are gamesocietypimps, guude/coestar/millbee play Mario kart 8, Trouble in Terrorist Town, and Prop Hunt for examples.

[G0rgatr0n]

Thanks for all of the imput. There is some good point and counter points in there and I appricate every taking the time to help us out. Any more ideas I am all ears for sure. Thanks again guys.