Got up very early this morning eager to watch the official coverage of the World Record 4500-player Grand Prix in Las Vegas; have been fairly disappointed with the commentators during match coverage so far, maybe SCG has spoiled me?
What are your thoughts on Marshall Sutcliffe & Sheldon Menery being the major commentators for official events? I think they really need to bring in a 'pro' who isn't playing (kind of difficult for this event though) like they did with LSV a little while ago.
Hopefully this doesn't sound too 'whiny', I just think the coverage could be so much more enjoyable
The choice of commentator is a common complaint when it comes to Magic coverage, so you're probably not alone. Personally, I'm not on any sort of internet where I could stream it, but in the past the best commentary has been when they've had Brian David Marshall and Louis Scott Vargas doing commentary together.
Don't get the wrong idea, I think Marshall and Sheldon are great; Marshall's Articles are a joy to read and Sheldon was a great Judge but I think there needs to be a high-level player with some charisma to commentate over the matches, they provide a much greater depth of knowledge on lines of play and the reasoning behind decisions etc.
The choice of commentator is a common complaint when it comes to Magic coverage, so you're probably not alone. Personally, I'm not on any sort of internet where I could stream it, but in the past the best commentary has been when they've had Brian David Marshall and Louis Scott Vargas doing commentary together.
I do love the BDM/LSV 'combo' but it seems both of them are actually playing in the event!
Luckily this format is interesting enough to draw my attention from the commentator choice for the most part.
I just don't like the fact that the rounds are taking FOREVER
4500 players (probably less than that now) separated into 4 separate pools. Player to judge ratio is ridiculously skewed, there will be many games that go into time, putting in all the late results last minute, printing out multiple copies of pairings (God knows how much paper they will go through today), and hopefully there won't be any mistakes in pairings where they have to reseat and reprint an entire round over again.
It's going to be very hard to find a top-level player to commentate who isn't playing in this event or outside enjoying Las Vegas.
Oh definitely, this event sort of HAS to be an exception because of the sheer hype and attendance of the set/GP. I'm hoping they can get a 'pro' who doesn't make Top 8 tomorrow to commentate over the Top 8 feature matches
I'm more annoyed by how blurry the video is. I can't even read the cards, even on full screen, so I am left to rely on the pictures. Unfortunately, there are tons of pictures that I don't recognize because they were never big in constructed.
This is a crazy complaint but since it's hard to actually read the cards the new art on some of the cards is making it hard to keep track of what is going on in places. I haven't been drafting MM so I can't pick out the new arts that well and connect them with a card. That makes the commentating more frustrating because I can't just follow on my own as well.
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Modern xWBreakfast at Urza'sxW UWGBantUWG GWRNaya ZooRWG
I agree the stream quality could be higher (WOTC doesn't have hardware that can stream 1080p HD footage?). The issue with card art could be alleviated if they displayed the cards played/in-hand in a similar way to the last Pro-Tour I watched, I found that very helpful as I don't follow the newer sets to the extent that I should.
Damn you Ben Friedman! Could've seen E-Fro go infinite with Kiki and Pestermite!
It was super blurry, but I have to say the commentary was really good. I was listening to the coverage much of the afternoon as I was doing other things and I could follow it really well without visuals.
I do have to give them credit where due, the commentary improved greatly after my initial complaints, still left something to be desired...(I'd much prefer analytical commentary of a match by a 'pro' than the 'reactive' commentary that was going on for example.)
It's almost as if WOTC is watching everything I do and making adjustments according to my every whim!
Marshall is great at what he does, he has a sonorous voice and is good at talking to the audience. I think that he is best when paired with someone who is a bit more knowledgeable than he is, like a Zac Hill. That's the sort of pairing that works best I think. The same sort of dynamic plays out when LSV is in the booth with Richard Hagon and Brian David Marshall.
The only thing Zach Hill is knowledgeable about is how to say 'DEVASTATING!' a million times a minute lol.
I do think Marshall is good, he seems quite the Limited expert. I guess they could get BDM back in the booth for today too since he didn't make day two, we'll have to see what happens! Or get PV to do commentary from Brazil?
Zac Hill made the top 8 of a pro tour and worked in R&D during the time period in which Magic has experienced record growth. Saying he knows nothing goes beyond mere hyperbole.
...printing out multiple copies of pairings (God knows how much paper they will go through today)...
6-7 pages per 50 players, depending on how they're printing out result slips. So Round 4 pairings (where the number of players peak) would have just under a ream of paper used between the four scorekeepers.
Note, though, that once this tournament started, the logistics weren't that bad for the scorekeepers, as from their perspective they are each handling a ~1100-player event. The big logistical hurdles come from work outside the rounds: you need to split 4k+ players up manually, and join them in software that does not support even 2k players.
Zac Hill made the top 8 of a pro tour and worked in R&D during the time period in which Magic has experienced record growth. Saying he knows nothing goes beyond mere hyperbole.
I think you took his comment a little too seriously there. I'm pretty sure it was meant as being sarcastic or a joke
Commentary is pretty good with Marshall, the arrogant complaints in this thread should be spent elsewhere regarding WotC, like towards byes in round 1-3.
But that wasnt the reason I came to post;
Other viewers than me experience constant pauses in the broadcast ?
(Both vid + audio pauses for 1 to 2 secs every 3-10 secs.)
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- This is, honestly, a grotesque advantage.
Noah Weil on scouting, an attorney from Seattle with 20 Pro Tour appearances.
Most of the WotC commentators I can't stand, with Sheldon and Zac Hill being the worst offenders. I don't like Hagon either, but he's got such an enthusiasm that I can't fault him.
The best WotC offers is usually BDM or whenever Rashad decided to cover a break. Otherwise, SCG's coverage people are usually significantly better - especially if Ceddy is one of the commentators.
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The only good thing about this post is the edible chocolate roaches they gave out! Mmm mmm!
*crawl crawl*
Wait a minute, edible roaches don't crawl! EDIBLE ROACHES DON'T CRAWL!
Its best when the commentators can match the format they are covering.
I like Sutcliffe for this; he is a knowledgeable limited guy and I enjoy it when the commentators talk about the format with actually experience and knowledge of it.
Sheldon Menery feels like the odd guy out a lot of times; I remember one past event they had 3 people commentating and I think in 1 conversation between rounds SM said maybe 3 words in the 15-20 minutes they were talking.
I really don't like BDM much, and I couldn't say why. I really like Rich Hagon though, he brings that jovial, lively aspect to the coverage to keep things interesting.
As far as SCG coverage goes; its VERY hit or miss...and when they miss its a real bad miss. I have stopped watching the standard portion for the most part because they seem to get people on camera that are just jamming a deck because its goodstuff and not because the people know how the deck runs, or the coverage people ramble on about off-topic things and don't even cover the match.
What are your thoughts on Marshall Sutcliffe & Sheldon Menery being the major commentators for official events? I think they really need to bring in a 'pro' who isn't playing (kind of difficult for this event though) like they did with LSV a little while ago.
Hopefully this doesn't sound too 'whiny', I just think the coverage could be so much more enjoyable
(Also known as Xenphire)
I do love the BDM/LSV 'combo' but it seems both of them are actually playing in the event!
Luckily this format is interesting enough to draw my attention from the commentator choice for the most part.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=10650708#post10650708
4500 players (probably less than that now) separated into 4 separate pools. Player to judge ratio is ridiculously skewed, there will be many games that go into time, putting in all the late results last minute, printing out multiple copies of pairings (God knows how much paper they will go through today), and hopefully there won't be any mistakes in pairings where they have to reseat and reprint an entire round over again.
Oh definitely, this event sort of HAS to be an exception because of the sheer hype and attendance of the set/GP. I'm hoping they can get a 'pro' who doesn't make Top 8 tomorrow to commentate over the Top 8 feature matches
Modern
xWBreakfast at Urza'sxW
UWGBantUWG
GWRNaya ZooRWG
Damn you Ben Friedman! Could've seen E-Fro go infinite with Kiki and Pestermite!
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
I was trying to work out what one card was for ages until I realised I was looking at Vivid Creek with a glass bead on it.
It's almost as if WOTC is watching everything I do and making adjustments according to my every whim!
I... Yes! Yes, of course! What are you implying!
Zac Hill made the top 8 of a pro tour and worked in R&D during the time period in which Magic has experienced record growth. Saying he knows nothing goes beyond mere hyperbole.
6-7 pages per 50 players, depending on how they're printing out result slips. So Round 4 pairings (where the number of players peak) would have just under a ream of paper used between the four scorekeepers.
Note, though, that once this tournament started, the logistics weren't that bad for the scorekeepers, as from their perspective they are each handling a ~1100-player event. The big logistical hurdles come from work outside the rounds: you need to split 4k+ players up manually, and join them in software that does not support even 2k players.
静
I think you took his comment a little too seriously there. I'm pretty sure it was meant as being sarcastic or a joke
(Also known as Xenphire)
But that wasnt the reason I came to post;
Other viewers than me experience constant pauses in the broadcast ?
(Both vid + audio pauses for 1 to 2 secs every 3-10 secs.)
Noah Weil on scouting, an attorney from Seattle with 20 Pro Tour appearances.
1 Young, Kelvin * 36 66.66%
2 VIP Cahill, Steve * 36 58.33%
3 Collins, Sean * 33 75.00%
4 Iramain, Jorge * 33 75.00%
5 markeson, scott * 33 72.22%
Noah Weil on scouting, an attorney from Seattle with 20 Pro Tour appearances.
The best WotC offers is usually BDM or whenever Rashad decided to cover a break. Otherwise, SCG's coverage people are usually significantly better - especially if Ceddy is one of the commentators.
*crawl crawl*
Wait a minute, edible roaches don't crawl! EDIBLE ROACHES DON'T CRAWL!
I like Sutcliffe for this; he is a knowledgeable limited guy and I enjoy it when the commentators talk about the format with actually experience and knowledge of it.
Sheldon Menery feels like the odd guy out a lot of times; I remember one past event they had 3 people commentating and I think in 1 conversation between rounds SM said maybe 3 words in the 15-20 minutes they were talking.
I really don't like BDM much, and I couldn't say why. I really like Rich Hagon though, he brings that jovial, lively aspect to the coverage to keep things interesting.
As far as SCG coverage goes; its VERY hit or miss...and when they miss its a real bad miss. I have stopped watching the standard portion for the most part because they seem to get people on camera that are just jamming a deck because its goodstuff and not because the people know how the deck runs, or the coverage people ramble on about off-topic things and don't even cover the match.
WBG Karador GBW
R Daretti R
RG Omnath GR
WRG Modern Burn GRW
WB Modern Tokens BW
DCI Rules Advisor as of 5/18/2015