Let's Play!

Recommended Videos

omega 616

Elite Member
May 1, 2009
5,883
1
43
TCPirate said:
omega 616 said:
I want to know the majority of the "lets plays" I have seen (on youtube at least) go for about 4 episodes then stop.

If your going to do a lets play, DO IT! Or call it's "lets play the first 3 hours".

Shouldn't you be asking your viewers what they want to see and not a bunch of random people who know a lot of games?

On topic. Asshole Mario. Nobody else has done one in some time, it will be entertaining to see you rage so hard and it will probably get you a lot of views.

I thought i'd ask a gaming community, seeing as gamers are my target audience.
If your subs saw you posted 50 street fighter vids and that's the reason they are subbed to you, then without warning street fighter stops and DA:O comes on there screen, there going to be a little ticked.

Ask your community what they want to see, it means they get what they want, meaning you keep your viewers and they see what they want.

This is like asking movie bob for films for your family film night, sure he could recommend loads of good films but what about if your family are into "gorn" and he recommends kiddies films?

EDIT: it's just a suggestion, I just think it would keep your peoples the happiest.
 

Erana

New member
Feb 28, 2008
8,010
0
0
TCPirate said:
Erana said:
What format of Let's Play?
What angle are you coming from?
Are you really going to dedicate the hours an extensive LP requires, or are you looking to goof around with some commentary and hope your viewers have a good time?

Give us more insight on your plan for your LP before asking us for advice; we could be pointing you in a very inadequate direction.
Sorry :<
I was looking to play a game from start to finish, with a some funny but also serious commentary that is recorded as I play the game. I'll do it on PC format.
Let me go dig into some of my past LP advice...
The big thing about Let's Plays is if you feel like you can have fun with it and are willing to put real effort into what you're doing. I, personally tried to do a let's play and had a lot of fun with it until technical difficulties broke it. :( I still have a few pages worth of notes hanging around somewhere...

Really, though, there are many types of Let's Plays, most usually: Player reaction LPs, documentarian LPs, and role-playing LPs. These usually intermingle with one another, though here are a few examples to demonstrate the extremes: The reactionary, the Documentarian and the Role Player.
There are also two primary formats: Video and screenshot. Video often best represents action games, but can work well with turn-based or more slow paced titles. Screenshots lend themselves most to turn-based and slow games, but have been shown to work adequately with most genres, other than beat-em-ups and shooters.

I find the generalization that the only quality LPs are the documentarian ones false, but understandable. The main reason being is that people who are teaching the game are putting more effort into their LPs. Its easy for someone to put a video camera up to their TV screen and do a terrible video, saturating the LP arena, as is said. However, this is as rational as saying that all hamburgers are bad because most come from McDonalds. A hamburger will never be as "sophisticated" as a quality cut of beef, its enjoyable on its own merit if you can find a good chef.

And even if you aren't necessarily all that original, you are still something. If you can appeal to a certain niche Let's Play audience, there's no harm in it. I mean, I love the LateBlt/Hercrabbiness/Lucahjin/FireWizard23 Adventure game LPers and would love to see more videos like that, even though most people find them terribly dull.

Still, before you begin to Let's Play, I urge you to look beyond Youtube before making your decision. On Youtube, you're a lone individual, with nothing but your ten-minute videos to place at the mercy of its questionable community. Here, on the Escapist or another internet community, you could follow the Something Aweful's example of making a thread to host the Let's Play and act as the heart of its discussion. Also, consider alternative video upload sites, such as Viddler or Blip.TV. These allow for a longer video and provide a different level of audience interaction, which may or may not be what you need.
Of course, there's always the Screenshot format, which is eclipsed by video LPs due to a common misconception in the Let's Play audience that LP's are exclusively a Youtube thing. While technically simplistic, it requires a different toolset than video LPs and can be demanding on one's writing abilities. If you have a charming writing style and a slow game, this could very well be your ideal medium.
That was written in response to another person's post about LPing, but there's plenty of information to be gleaned from it.

There's also this guy's thread: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.238837-Tips-for-Making-a-Lets-Play

Let me stress this: Let's Plays are labors of love. do you have the time to commit to the obligation?
Also, this is why I strongly reccomend a game you know well, and love enough to do another entire playthrough of it. You've gotta keep yourself interested.

If you're really ready to go for it, why don't you sit down and just do a demo of what you're planning to do. Just grab a game you really like, and do something for maybe five minutes. Give us a taste of what you're about.
Seeing you in action speaks volume, and we can help you better from there.
 

TCPirate

New member
Dec 1, 2009
143
0
0
omega 616 said:
TCPirate said:
omega 616 said:
I want to know the majority of the "lets plays" I have seen (on youtube at least) go for about 4 episodes then stop.

If your going to do a lets play, DO IT! Or call it's "lets play the first 3 hours".

Shouldn't you be asking your viewers what they want to see and not a bunch of random people who know a lot of games?

On topic. Asshole Mario. Nobody else has done one in some time, it will be entertaining to see you rage so hard and it will probably get you a lot of views.

I thought i'd ask a gaming community, seeing as gamers are my target audience.
If your subs saw you posted 50 street fighter vids and that's the reason they are subbed to you, then without warning street fighter stops and DA:O comes on there screen, there going to be a little ticked.

Ask your community what they want to see, it means they get what they want, meaning you keep your viewers and they see what they want.

This is like asking movie bob for films for your family film night, sure he could recommend loads of good films but what about if your family are into "gorn" and he recommends kiddies films?

EDIT: it's just a suggestion, I just think it would keep your peoples the happiest.
I intended on doing Drakensang first and then once that's finished, asking my viewers what they would enjoy seeing next.
Erana said:
TCPirate said:
Erana said:
What format of Let's Play?
What angle are you coming from?
Are you really going to dedicate the hours an extensive LP requires, or are you looking to goof around with some commentary and hope your viewers have a good time?

Give us more insight on your plan for your LP before asking us for advice; we could be pointing you in a very inadequate direction.
Sorry :<
I was looking to play a game from start to finish, with a some funny but also serious commentary that is recorded as I play the game. I'll do it on PC format.
Let me go dig into some of my past LP advice...
The big thing about Let's Plays is if you feel like you can have fun with it and are willing to put real effort into what you're doing. I, personally tried to do a let's play and had a lot of fun with it until technical difficulties broke it. :( I still have a few pages worth of notes hanging around somewhere...

Really, though, there are many types of Let's Plays, most usually: Player reaction LPs, documentarian LPs, and role-playing LPs. These usually intermingle with one another, though here are a few examples to demonstrate the extremes: The reactionary, the Documentarian and the Role Player.
There are also two primary formats: Video and screenshot. Video often best represents action games, but can work well with turn-based or more slow paced titles. Screenshots lend themselves most to turn-based and slow games, but have been shown to work adequately with most genres, other than beat-em-ups and shooters.

I find the generalization that the only quality LPs are the documentarian ones false, but understandable. The main reason being is that people who are teaching the game are putting more effort into their LPs. Its easy for someone to put a video camera up to their TV screen and do a terrible video, saturating the LP arena, as is said. However, this is as rational as saying that all hamburgers are bad because most come from McDonalds. A hamburger will never be as "sophisticated" as a quality cut of beef, its enjoyable on its own merit if you can find a good chef.

And even if you aren't necessarily all that original, you are still something. If you can appeal to a certain niche Let's Play audience, there's no harm in it. I mean, I love the LateBlt/Hercrabbiness/Lucahjin/FireWizard23 Adventure game LPers and would love to see more videos like that, even though most people find them terribly dull.

Still, before you begin to Let's Play, I urge you to look beyond Youtube before making your decision. On Youtube, you're a lone individual, with nothing but your ten-minute videos to place at the mercy of its questionable community. Here, on the Escapist or another internet community, you could follow the Something Aweful's example of making a thread to host the Let's Play and act as the heart of its discussion. Also, consider alternative video upload sites, such as Viddler or Blip.TV. These allow for a longer video and provide a different level of audience interaction, which may or may not be what you need.
Of course, there's always the Screenshot format, which is eclipsed by video LPs due to a common misconception in the Let's Play audience that LP's are exclusively a Youtube thing. While technically simplistic, it requires a different toolset than video LPs and can be demanding on one's writing abilities. If you have a charming writing style and a slow game, this could very well be your ideal medium.
That was written in response to another person's post about LPing, but there's plenty of information to be gleaned from it.

There's also this guy's thread: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.238837-Tips-for-Making-a-Lets-Play

Let me stress this: Let's Plays are labors of love. do you have the time to commit to the obligation?
Also, this is why I strongly reccomend a game you know well, and love enough to do another entire playthrough of it. You've gotta keep yourself interested.

If you're really ready to go for it, why don't you sit down and just do a demo of what you're planning to do. Just grab a game you really like, and do something for maybe five minutes. Give us a taste of what you're about.
Seeing you in action speaks volume, and we can help you better from there.
Well I've looked at the game, some brief gameplay videos and it defiantely seems like my type of game. I have the time to do a full play through and I do want to play and finish this game.
 

GiantRaven

New member
Dec 5, 2010
2,423
0
0
lacktheknack said:
If you have quick reflexes and can improv easily, go with video, otherwise, go with text-and-screenshot.
Eh, only if you commentate whilst playing. If you record your commentary after capturing the video then you can take some time to think about what you want to say.

TCPirate said:
Well I've looked at the game, some brief gameplay videos and it defiantely seems like my type of game. I have the time to do a full play through and I do want to play and finish this game.
I'd consider it a really bad idea to LP a game you don't know inside out.
 

Josh123914

They'll fix it by "Monday"
Nov 17, 2009
2,048
0
0
Mass Effect 1 - The cleavage jokes would be endless and the impending doom of the galaxy will be srs business
 

SplicedUp068

New member
Jan 12, 2009
168
0
0
Cheesus333 said:
Metroid Prime!

Fallout 3/New Vegas!

Uhmm... that's all I've got. Sorry.
Haven't you seen? There are already LP's of those on the LP archive, and they're quite good.
 

AlternatePFG

New member
Jan 22, 2010
2,858
0
0
GiantRaven said:
TCPirate said:
Well I've looked at the game, some brief gameplay videos and it defiantely seems like my type of game. I have the time to do a full play through and I do want to play and finish this game.
I'd consider it a really bad idea to LP a game you don't know inside out.
This, especially if it's a video Let's Play. No one wants to watch someone running around without having a clue of what they are doing and having prior experience with the game can provide insightful commentary. Inside out isn't necessary but at least one playthrough prior is an absolute must.
 

SammiYin

New member
Mar 15, 2010
538
0
0
omega 616 said:
I want to know the majority of the "lets plays" I have seen (on youtube at least) go for about 4 episodes then stop.

If your going to do a lets play, DO IT! Or call it's "lets play the first 3 hours".

Shouldn't you be asking your viewers what they want to see and not a bunch of random people who know a lot of games?

On topic. Asshole Mario. Nobody else has done one in some time, it will be entertaining to see you rage so hard and it will probably get you a lot of views.

That looks amazing, where would one go about acquiring this?

OT: Amnesia Lets plays are always fun
 

Sammisaurus

New member
Jun 10, 2011
71
0
0
Do something older that no one else is doing. I watch Let's Play videos mostly to see games that I haven't/can't (as in pc exclusive games. My computer is not very good with games) so I get to see what they're like. If other people are like me, then doing one that no ones else has should make it popular :D
 

omega 616

Elite Member
May 1, 2009
5,883
1
43
AlternatePFG said:
GiantRaven said:
TCPirate said:
Well I've looked at the game, some brief gameplay videos and it defiantely seems like my type of game. I have the time to do a full play through and I do want to play and finish this game.
I'd consider it a really bad idea to LP a game you don't know inside out.
This, especially if it's a video Let's Play. No one wants to watch someone running around without having a clue of what they are doing and having prior experience with the game can provide insightful commentary. Inside out isn't necessary but at least one playthrough prior is an absolute must.
Nah, I think there is something to be said for "I am experiencing this game at the same time as you" feel and stumbling along. "OMFGcata" does this style, he has being doing the latest duke game, the witcher 2, terraria (with TB) and just finished fear 3.

SammiYin said:
omega 616 said:
I want to know the majority of the "lets plays" I have seen (on youtube at least) go for about 4 episodes then stop.

If your going to do a lets play, DO IT! Or call it's "lets play the first 3 hours".

Shouldn't you be asking your viewers what they want to see and not a bunch of random people who know a lot of games?

On topic. Asshole Mario. Nobody else has done one in some time, it will be entertaining to see you rage so hard and it will probably get you a lot of views.

That looks amazing, where would one go about acquiring this?

OT: Amnesia Lets plays are always fun
I haven't got an igloo (clue), try the ninth circle of hell?

Seriously, that game looks fooking hard! Like "I wanna be the guy" hard, the kind of hard that makes "super meat boy" look like the latest Alice game.
 

Sammisaurus

New member
Jun 10, 2011
71
0
0
AlternatePFG said:
GiantRaven said:
TCPirate said:
Well I've looked at the game, some brief gameplay videos and it defiantely seems like my type of game. I have the time to do a full play through and I do want to play and finish this game.
I'd consider it a really bad idea to LP a game you don't know inside out.
This, especially if it's a video Let's Play. No one wants to watch someone running around without having a clue of what they are doing and having prior experience with the game can provide insightful commentary. Inside out isn't necessary but at least one playthrough prior is an absolute must.
Unless that person is Toby Turner. Then we're okay with him running around without a clue on what he should be doing xD
 

Fetzenfisch

New member
Sep 11, 2009
2,460
0
0
TCPirate said:
Okay, I've made my choices.
I'm going to do a Let's play of Drakensang. I will be playing it from the beginning with no tutorial and on the hardest setting (if it has one). It will be in video format and I shall be doing a commentary feed over the top, recording the commentary as I play.

I'll update this thread when I've got the game and done my first video but any tips you can provide on how to make it an entertaining Lets Play would be greatly appreciated.
Great decision. If you got any questions during your playing just ask good ol' me, may it be game mechanics or backround info of the game world.
It should have a difficult setting if i remember correctly.


And i have to object the guys saying that you should only make LPs of games you know from the inside out. THese usually look like a mix of a speedrun and a commercial. Entertaining LPs are the ones with a believable feeling of (like someone said before) "i experience this together with you" and real first time surprises and reactions.
 

lacktheknack

Je suis joined jewels.
Jan 19, 2009
19,316
0
0
GiantRaven said:
lacktheknack said:
If you have quick reflexes and can improv easily, go with video, otherwise, go with text-and-screenshot.
Eh, only if you commentate whilst playing. If you record your commentary after capturing the video then you can take some time to think about what you want to say.

TCPirate said:
Well I've looked at the game, some brief gameplay videos and it defiantely seems like my type of game. I have the time to do a full play through and I do want to play and finish this game.
I'd consider it a really bad idea to LP a game you don't know inside out.
On the "add it later" scripting: Take it from someone who's tried: It's NEVER as good if you script it afterwards. Unless you consider EVERY possible facet and seam, people will notice.

Also, not knowing a game before you LP it is called a "Blind Playthrough", and many people quite enjoy these (see the aforementioned MangaMinx "Amnesia", for example).
 

Fetzenfisch

New member
Sep 11, 2009
2,460
0
0
lacktheknack said:
Also, not knowing a game before you LP it is called a "Blind Playthrough", and many people quite enjoy these (see the aforementioned MangaMinx "Amnesia", for example).
just what i am saying.

p.s. less foruming more elderscrolling!