Let's Plays and Reviews

[NuclearPenguin]

Anyway, im going to do a lets play and a review of a game, which game, im not sure.
I want to know how YOU think it should be done.

The main things I want to know are (Let's Play):
What games dont have many/any Let's Plays?
Do you think the commentary should be done while making the video or after?
What software do you think I should use to record it?
Do you think it is fine to record a 360 game using a regular camera on the TV?


And any tips for either Let's Plays or Reviews would be great.


Id also love suggestions for a game to start with
If possible an xbox live arcade game, theyre short and they have humor.

Spoiler: Console List

NES
SNES
64
Gamecube
Wii
Gameboy
Gameboy Advance
PSP
PS1
PS2
PS3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Uber gaming PC
iPhone
SEGA Genesis/Master System not sure which

Spoiler: 360 Games

Eternal Sonata
Ultimate Alliance
Brutal Legend
Guitar Hero 3
Eternal Sonata
Condemned 2
Dark Sector
PURE
Lego Batman
Dragon Age: Origins
Battlefield Bad Company
HALO ODST
Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts
TEKKEN 6
Fallout 3
Castle Crashers
'Splosion Man

Spoiler: Playstation Games

Freedom Fighters
Dark Cloud
Dark Chronicle
Champions of Norrath 1 & 2
Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance 1
Timesplitters Future Perfect
Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater
Def Jam Fight for NY
Wipeout Fusion
GTA SA
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Harvest Moon Back To Nature
Red Faction Guerilla
Orange Box

Spoiler: Nintendo Games

Far Cry Vengeance
Ocarina of Time
Pokemon Leaf Green
Wii Sports
Wii Play
Harvest Moon Something Something for Gamecube
Red Faction 2
Mario Party 6
Super Mario Galaxy

Thats all the games I can recall for now.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Oh cmon! No one has answered?!
Hubilub?!
Furburt?!
Pimpeter?!
TheNamlessGuy?!
Damn you all.

 

[Aunel]

I have no idea what you want me to do,

although I know what I want to do, play bass =D

 

[NuclearPenguin]

I have no idea what you want me to do,

although I know what I want to do, play bass =D

That seems to be all you ever do.
Im asking for tips about making reviews and lets play videos. Id also like to know how you prefer them to be formed.

 

[cyber_andyy]

2) commentary during the video is more entertaining, it lets you react to things in genuine emotion and surprise. No one likes a dull monotone.

3) a capture card from console, or FRAPS for PC (costs like, $15) That or you can run a cable from your console to your computer and record it with FRAPS, saving money on the capture card.

4) NO NO NO. no matter how good your commentary, bad footage will ruin the lets play, as you get bad lighting, colours, and almost no detail. that and unless you want a camera in your way, its gonna be at a funny angle.

Hope this helps

 

[NuclearPenguin]

2) commentary during the video is more entertaining, it lets you react to things in genuine emotion and surprise. No one likes a dull monotone.

3) a capture card from console, or FRAPS for PC (costs like, $15) That or you can run a cable from your console to your computer and record it with FRAPS, saving money on the capture card.

4) NO NO NO. no matter how good your commentary, bad footage will ruin the lets play, as you get bad lighting, colours, and almost no detail. that and unless you want a camera in your way, its gonna be at a funny angle.

Hope this helps

Could you help me with the hooking my 360 up to my pc for fraps with it? Id really, really, appreciate it because that would mean I could actually record a hell of alot of videos..

 

[Cherry Cola]

Oh cmon! No one has answered?!
Hubilub?!
Furburt?!
Pimpeter?!
TheNamlessGuy?!
Damn you all.

You naughty bumper!

Actually, I saw this thread and was hoping that I could first comment.

But I refreshed by accident and couldn't find it again.

Anyway, for a Let's Play, don't cram in jokes everywhere. People who watch Let's Plays are patient, they'll wait for goodness in jokes. Watch RaidouFrost on youtube for inspiration.

As for reviews, use some of mine as examples.

Keep them well structured, don't go over the top with the craziness unless it isn't a serious review, and use pictures with well thought-out punchlines at the bottom. People love those.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

You might be better off PM'ing those guys.

Or maybe trying reviews yourself!

I did PM them. How do you think I lured Hubilub into my van thread?

 

[Axeli]

What games dont have many/any Let's Plays?

No idea actually... I think you should do a bit older games that aren't insanely popular, but not too obscure either.

Do you think the commentary should be done while making the video or after?

No experience here, but I'd think the best course of action would be to first think of what you are going to say, do the initial commentary while playing, then add or redo parts afterwards and otherwise edit the audio to be more entertaining.

What software do you think I should use to record it?

No idea, though I do recall seeing FAQs on the subject... Check the front page of Something Awful's LP forum.

Do you think it is fine to record a 360 game using a regular camera on the TV?

No. It's not any more complex to record from console on DVD or HDD that it is to record normal TV channels. Not being willing to go through that little trouble makes the viewer feel that you aren't putting much effort to your LP in the first place.

And any tips for either Let's Plays or Reviews would be great.

Be either funny, quirky, observative or have a sexy voice. Or all of those. It's also important to sound natural and smooth (good editing probably helps a lot).

 

[reg42]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

 

[NuclearPenguin]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

 

[reg42]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

That's a small problem.
What capture software do you use then?

 

[NuclearPenguin]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

That's a small problem.
What capture software do you use then?

..Fraps
Check out my youtube videos, mainly the age of conan ones and you will see how it cuts a slight bit every 15 seconds.

 

[reg42]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

That's a small problem.
What capture software do you use then?

..Fraps
Check out my youtube videos, mainly the age of conan ones and you will see how it cuts a slight bit every 15 seconds.

Okay will do. EDIT: Do you have a link?
So it records. Stops. Then starts again? Now that's weird.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

That's a small problem.
What capture software do you use then?

..Fraps
Check out my youtube videos, mainly the age of conan ones and you will see how it cuts a slight bit every 15 seconds.

Okay will do. EDIT: Do you have a link?
So it records. Stops. Then starts again? Now that's weird.

No, it records for 15 seconds
Then stops recording until I press the button.

 

[Julianking93]

I've never done a Let's Play before so I don't know what to tell you.

What systems do you have?

 

[NuclearPenguin]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

That's a small problem.
What capture software do you use then?

..Fraps
Check out my youtube videos, mainly the age of conan ones and you will see how it cuts a slight bit every 15 seconds.

Okay will do. EDIT: Do you have a link?
So it records. Stops. Then starts again? Now that's weird.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Aytlisu

 

[NuclearPenguin]

I've never done a Let's Play before so I don't know what to tell you.

What systems do you have?

NES
SNES
64
Gamecube
Wii
Gameboy
Gameboy Advance
PSP
PS1
PS2
PS3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Uber gaming PC
iPhone
SEGA Genesis/Master System not sure which

 

[reg42]

I can never find a video capture software that works properly. FRAP won't capture the sounds for some odd reason

Never had that problem.. But it does only record for 15 seconds for me.

That's a small problem.
What capture software do you use then?

..Fraps
Check out my youtube videos, mainly the age of conan ones and you will see how it cuts a slight bit every 15 seconds.

Okay will do. EDIT: Do you have a link?
So it records. Stops. Then starts again? Now that's weird.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Aytlisu

Ok shot

 

[Julianking93]

I've never done a Let's Play before so I don't know what to tell you.

What systems do you have?

NES
SNES
64
Gamecube
Wii
Gameboy
Gameboy Advance
PSP
PS1
PS2
PS3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Uber gaming PC
iPhone
SEGA Genesis/Master System not sure which

Oh. Okay then...

Uh...do a LP of...um...what games do you have for PS2? Its pretty easy to get a capture card for PS2.