Let's Talk Let's Plays!

[Masked Hero]

Hey kids! It turns out that for some reason, it is a popular pass time to watch other people play video games. I guess that is cool, I guess. However, what makes a quality Let's Play? What separates the best of the best from the worst? Is it the type of game they play? The type of commentary? What do you think is needed for a good Let's Play?

I am totally not asking because I was planning on doing a Let's Play with my sister and I wanted to know what my target audience was thinking.

[Yellow Kazooie]

I don't watch LPs oftenly but when I do I look for someone funny

[qwertykins76]

Just be entertaining.

Somehow...

[Crystal Mech]

I gave up on doing Let's Plays a long time ago because I didn't want to be obligated to it. I like recording when funny and stupid stuff happens in-game (like what Criken does kinda) but I haven't been active in the LP business for months.

I guess some tips would be to try and get a decent mic and a good capture card, or Fraps if you're a PC gamer. More people to play with is good but 2 is usually where you want to cut the line, lest you have a whole group of guys trying to interrupt each other at once.

[Smouvy]

I like the Let's Players that actually talk about life, things that interests them, have a sense of humor etc.

There are plenty of LPers out there that only really point out what is going on in the game.

[The Colonel]

It's good to pick a game you like that will provide lots of entertaining commentary, even better if the game in specific is a less played one, like Snatcher.


A few things not to do under any circumstances:

1. Read Subtitles out loud (If the viewer can't read the text in a video of a game with no spoken dialogue, don't stop recording, your let's play of Phoenix Wright will be a surefire hit!)

2. Use a camcorder (Because then you can appeal to that niche audience of people who like watching Virtue's Last Reward with insane blur and old car radio-quality sound be played in the corner of a youtube video player.)

3. Never do editting (You worked hard to get past level 3, why should people not get to see every painful attempt you made for those first eight minutes?)

[Ty-chan]

Clement's a pretty good LP'er, so you could watch him. You need to know a lot of information about the game your playing and constantly talk about it. Also, NEVER read anything the game gives on screen EVER. It's annoying. Also, most likely, you're not JonTron, so don't try to do funny voices like you're a godly voice actor. Also, think before you speak. If you have trouble saying things fluently and are constantly breaking in between thoughts, it's not going to be good. Think of what you want to say, and then say it.

Originally Posted by MetalHeroOfTime

I am totally not asking because I was planning on doing a Let's Play with my sister and I wanted to know what my target audience was thinking.

You said we could do a Let's Play.

...
Just kidding, we cool. I'm planning on doing one with my friend in school anyway. Soon as I get the equipment, we gonna play some MM. The hassle of doing it over Skype probably would have killed it for us anyway.

[Masked Hero]

Originally Posted by qwertyo76

Just be entertaining.

Somehow...

What do you consider entertaining, Agent 76?

Originally Posted by Crystal Mech

I gave up on doing Let's Plays a long time ago because I didn't want to be obligated to it. I like recording when funny and stupid stuff happens in-game (like what Criken does kinda) but I haven't been active in the LP business for months.

I guess some tips would be to try and get a decent mic and a good capture card, or Fraps if you're a PC gamer. More people to play with is good but 2 is usually where you want to cut the line, lest you have a whole group of guys trying to interrupt each other at once.

We were planning on it just being my sister and I. Can you recommend a mic and capture card?

Originally Posted by Smouvy

I like the Let's Players that actually talk about life, things that interests them, have a sense of humor etc.

There are plenty of LPers out there that only really point out what is going on in the game.

This seems doable.

Originally Posted by The Colonel

It's good to pick a game you like that will provide lots of entertaining commentary, even better if the game in specific is a less played one, like Snatcher.


A few things not to do under any circumstances:

1. Read Subtitles out loud (If the viewer can't read the text in a video of a game with no spoken dialogue, don't stop recording, your let's play of Phoenix Wright will be a surefire hit!)

2. Use a camcorder (Because then you can appeal to that niche audience of people who like watching Virtue's Last Reward with insane blur and old car radio-quality sound be played in the corner of a youtube video player.)

3. Never do editting (You worked hard to get past level 3, why should people not get to see every painful attempt you made for those first eight minutes?)

I will take all of this advice to heart, my friend.

Originally Posted by GoldenJiggies

(1)Clement's a pretty good LP'er, so you could watch him.

(2)You need to know a lot of information about the game your playing and constantly talk about it.

(3)Also, NEVER read anything the game gives on screen EVER. It's annoying.

(4) Also, most likely, you're not JonTron, so don't try to do funny voices like you're a godly voice actor.

(5)Also, think before you speak. If you have trouble saying things fluently and are constantly breaking in between thoughts, it's not going to be good. Think of what you want to say, and then say it.

(6) You said we could do a Let's Play.

...
Just kidding, we cool. I'm planning on doing one with my friend in school anyway. Soon as I get the equipment, we gonna play some MM. The hassle of doing it over Skype probably would have killed it for us anyway.

1: I'll try watching their stuff later tonight.

2: I was actually thinking about LPing games I've never done before, just going in blind. I enjoy blind stuff more because you can actually see how the player reacts and it isn't scripted.

3: I can't read anyways.

4: There might be a small chance of JonTron and I being the same person. YOU DON'T KNOW ME

(5) Man, I am a born rambler. My thoughts stream from my mouth like a river made out of chocolate. It is pure unadulterated bliss to hear me speak. I am totally fluent. Fluently total.

(6) Yeah, it just wouldn't work out GollumRingies

Originally Posted by Y-Kaz

I don't watch LPs oftenly but when I do I look for someone funny

Got it, make it funny.

[Scrubber]

For me, a good Let's Play has a lot of humour, running jokes and fails.

2 that spring to mind i used to enjoy are Josh Jepsons (formerly CR3AM SODAH) Banjo-Kazooie and also his Mario Sunshine.

[AndyNPC]

Remember that time when I did that stream of Wonder Project J? I think more stuff like that should happen. Everyone who can stream a game should do it.

[qwertykins76]

Originally Posted by MetalHeroOfTime

What do you consider entertaining, Agent 76?

You don't want to ask me; I'm somewhat of a stick in the mud.

[Whyme123]

I used to enjoy watching LPs, but I haven't in months now

[Yellow Kazooie]

Originally Posted by MetalHeroOfTime

Got it, make it funny.

I'm sure you know how to be funny or witty

[ConkerKing]

1.) Pick a game you know and have played through multiple times. Watching someone die/get a game over repeatedly isn't entertaining or enjoyable to watch. Alternatively, if you want to do a game you've only played once, employ a lot of editing and cut out all the bits where you struggle. The single thing that causes most LPs to be horrible is that they don't do this.

2.) Like GJ said, talk about the game. Gather as much information as you can about it and try your hardest to be informative. People watch LPs for 2 reasons: to be entertained and to be informed. If you're not bringing the latter, you're only giving out half the product. You don't need to talk about every possible thing in the game, but just enough to make people go "Huh, so that's the correct way to do it".

3.) Have fun! If you're not enjoying the game your viewers won't either, so (to reiterate point 1) make sure to pick a game you like and know you enjoy. If you're playing through with your sister, make sure it's something she'd enjoy too - or at least would enjoy to watch if that's the case.

4.) I don't have any more advice so I'll just list a few great LPs that show off how to do things the right way.

• Jurassic Park: Trespasser By ResearchIndicates / Considered to be one of, if not the, greatest LPs of all time. If you want to make perfect, quality content, this is the formula to use.
  
• Crimson Skies By ResearchIndicates / Same LPer, same quality, but still a great example.
  
• Lost Planet 2 by helloitsdan and lithuanian dad / An example of a really great co-op LP, in case that's the road you want to go down.
  
• Dead to Rights by slowbeef and Diabetus / Proof that you can play a really shitty game and still be entertaining and informative!
  
• Retsupurae / A collection of people making absolutely horrible LPs with a group of people talking over them and making fun of them. Basically, avoid doing what the original uploaders of these videos did.

... And that's it, really. Just keep in mind that, even if your LP is perfect, a lot of people will still not like it. Usually it's because they don't like the game you're playing, so don't worry too much!

[Ty-chan]

Originally Posted by ConkerKing

... And that's it, really. Just keep in mind that, even if your LP is perfect, a lot of people will still not like it. Usually it's because they don't like the game you're playing, so don't worry too much!

Just thought I'd ad to this: Some people don't like LP's at all, but I don't know why they would watch LP's then... you'll probably be fine Metal. I know you can do it, your MetalHeroOfTime. I'd give my foot to be you. Okay, not really, but I'm pretty sure you could pull it off.