The Escapist Film Festival 2009: Kounter

[Swishdude]

Kounter

Kounter is a video game debate/discussion show modelled after ESPN?s 'Pardon the Interruption'. Two average gamers: the passionate and experienced Shane and the reasonable, intermediate Alex, discuss the news stories and issues that all gamers talk about, albeit in more formalized fashion. The primary focus will be video games but all areas of geekdom are up for grabs.

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[Frank_Sinatra_]

Okay, I like the idea of a debate show for gaming, but when you were debating it seemed more like Shane was doing most of the 'debating.'
Even though this is your first video you could have chosen a different setting for your 'debate room,' and it would have helped the atmosphere a lot if you both would have dressed up into a suit and tie.

 

[Swishdude]

We will take that into consideration if we get the chance to make another! Our green screen didn't work out, and we didn't want to come off to hostel for the first episode. Alex punched me right after we shot this. If there is a second episode I will put it in the blooper real in the credits!

 

[JackBauer47]

I'm Alex and I did hit him right after we shot this. And I'd do it again.

We do need a better set if it becomes a series. But we were under time and budget restrictions.

 

[Swishdude]

Budget or not, that green fabric was damned expensive. I can still feel the hole in my wallet it burnt.

And damn it we are to friendly to each other! We really need to beat the crap out of each other come episode 2.

 

[tthor]

i think this show has a lot of potential. sometimes, you just don't feel like having all the sarcasm, and just want a sensible debate. i hope you get the chance to make more videos, because i think you guys could do a great job.

 

[Swishdude]

Thank you very much, we hope we get the chance as well!

A new background is promised for whatever comes next.

 

[Mr. Blond]

sorry...i only made it 50 seconds in

 

[DRMaddock]

I know the feeling. My friend and I did the "But I Did It in a Videogame" vid. Costuming took us over budget before we even started, which required a few changes to the script I liked your debate style. I'd be really interested to see the bloopers!

 

[Angrypudding]

Umm so this is like Fox News for Video Games? I like Intermediate Alex, I can listen to him. Shane could ditch the hoodie for something more appropriate like a Sports coat and a jinx shirt. I like the idea. The topics you've picked were so/so with the exception of Natal project. Also for this to work I feel like you would have to back up your debates with polls and numbers.. not just opinions. Has a good potential. Still saving my vote though.

 

[Earz4life]

Lex Talionis was done on AU$100, i know this because i had to round up donations from everyone in order to purchase some legal music; everything else we did was sourced. I'm sure you could have done something with the background: paint a landscape, or even sit in front of a shiny wall or anything. I have attempted green screen before and its so tricky it can be almost an inviable option.

About the video, i feel that its a mix-cross between ENN and the general articles weekly on the Escapist. Hence it does not bring anything generally new to the site; however it does directly present contrasting views, which can save some gamers (myself for instance) from doing all the research upon the game to make sure its exactly what they want before spending the cash. Overall it has potential, but lacks a little in polish.

 

[Random Argument Man]

I love this idea. It would be fun if you could get other gamers on the show though.

 

[DalekJaas]

If your gonna do a debate show then you should try and have a panel of something featuring gamers and non-gamers, but was aight vid.

 

[Swishdude]

Umm so this is like Fox News for Video Games? I like Intermediate Alex, I can listen to him. Shane could ditch the hoodie for something more appropriate like a Sports coat and a jinx shirt. I like the idea. The topics you've picked were so/so with the exception of Natal project. Also for this to work I feel like you would have to back up your debates with polls and numbers.. not just opinions. Has a good potential. Still saving my vote though.

I was wearing a blazer, I think you mean Alex

 

[GuiltBlade]

Ok.
1) Green screens are there to be used, not to be background. They just look terrible otherwise.
2) ENN, ok different idea and different content but still two news show related series isn't going to work as you'll be constantly compared to the Loading ready run crew. And no offence if its a choice between you and them, it'll be LRR.

 

[eljawa]

ok video...but nothing special, since you guys have similar views

 

[lookingforloper]

idea: Great! outcome: left me desiring more...MUCH more. i think when it comes to contests like this it's about maximizing your resources with your ideas and creating the best possible outcome. you had a green screen, and you can do SOOOOO much with them. even if it's putting in a black background or the set of CNN or SOMETHING! you need distractions when watching debate shows. why is ESPN so successful? because not only are the hosts entertaining, but they have news tickers, information on the bottom of the screen and so on. other than debaters, to make debate enjoyable to the common man, you need flash.

 

[Torque669]

Okay, I like the idea of a debate show for gaming, but when you were debating it seemed more like Shane was doing most of the 'debating.'
Even though this is your first video you could have chosen a different setting for your 'debate room,' and it would have helped the atmosphere a lot if you both would have dressed up into a suit and tie.

I agree with this. Its a nifty little idea which could also take in user comments to really make forum-goers feel like they can contribute to videos in some way. But like "Frank_Sinatra" said you really need to get in a suit and get a nicer desk and a background.

 

[Swishdude]

Well I come from a film/video background. I know that with a bit more time (and a working green screen without hot spots) we could really improve the visual impact on the show. I was pretty happy with how everything turned out. We made this with a small budget and with a goal in mind, making it easy to shoot & edit an episode every week.

If we continue, I think Alex and I really need to have more of a debate. We were simply far to friendly for our first time. Suggesting less topics is actually a pretty neat idea. I think that could be something that we can explore. We both had discussed having forum/viewer topics and mail being a big part of the show, but since this was our very first episode we didn't have any viewers to help us out on that!

I wanna thank everyone for there comments so far, I am taking each one seriously and taking notes on how to improve our show.

 

[JackBauer47]

Yeah, if we win I'll definitely invest in something more appropriate to wear. I think I went for the hoodie because I was trying to not make it seem as if this was something too formal.

And yeah, there are some definite improvements we can make in terms or the set. Shane bought the green fabric to try and make a green screen but it just didn't work. We decided to put it up anyway because other wise, it just would have been a wall with plastic covered insulation behind us and I think the green looks better than that would have.

I suppose at this point, we're really asking you to look beyond our technical limitations to see the potential in the format.