Reviewer, Active player (286)
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But yeah, I'm really looking forward to some adelikat commentaries, and some from anybody else that would like to do them.
JXQ
Experienced player (761)
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I always thought that subtitles were better fit for adding technical comments to a movie than audio. It's very tough to explain some of the complex concepts going on here when in reality they take 20 frames and are near-impossible to see at real-time speed. Subtitles let you do this a little more precisely than audio (especially when improvised). I envision a technical commentary working the best when the movie pauses, rewinds, splits into separate "threads", and so forth during both audio and subtitle commentary. Text and/or audio could point things out as needed during these pauses. You could show what would happen in different circumstances, or show some variables that are monitored (boss life) and/or manipulated (next drop item), or comparison with a different way that was ultimately slower (but people may wonder about!) super-imposed over the chosen route, or some goofy outtakes that couldn't be included because they were slower. It becomes its own presentation at that point.
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
adelikat
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JXQ wrote:
I envision a technical commentary working the best when the movie pauses, rewinds, splits into separate "threads", and so forth during both audio and subtitle commentary. Text and/or audio could point things out as needed during these pauses. You could show what would happen in different circumstances, or show some variables that are monitored (boss life) and/or manipulated (next drop item), or comparison with a different way that was ultimately slower (but people may wonder about!) super-imposed over the chosen route, or some goofy outtakes that couldn't be included because they were slower. It becomes its own presentation at that point.
For my next commentary, I was planning something along these lines. At the very least working with the emulator, pausing it, showing things in frame advance, showing ram watch values, etc.
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Joined: 11/9/2008
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Location: New Orleans, LA U.S.A.
For my next commentary, I was planning something along these lines. At the very least working with the emulator, pausing it, showing things in frame advance, showing ram watch values, etc.
PLEASE also, are there any runs of well known games that fit these subtitle descriptions? I would love to view what's available and suggest what we could use more of
__--N0ISE
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Just look around. Some runs have them, some don't. Some have subtitles, and some have audio commentary. WHile this might take a bit, I'm sure you'll find something.
[19:16] <scrimpy> silly portuguese [19:16] <scrimpy> it's like spanish, only less cool
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JXQ, I think your OoT commentary sucked. You walked away from the mic for like two minutes. You also watched the video for the first time. I'll edit in additional complaints as I think of them. Hope you're doing well otherwise, Fabian
Zoey Ridin' High <Fabian_> I prett much never drunk
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Personally, I don't mind whether people make funny or informative commentary, as long as it remains an optional thing. If commentary (by the author) was to be added in the actual video (like commentated Let's Plays on YouTube for example) as opposed to in a different (mp3) file, then I would disagree with entertaining commentaries as opposed to informative commentaries. On the same note, I wouldn't mind seeing multiple commentaries for the same runs (assuming that more than one person / group of people somehow were interested to do that, were it to happen), if one was mostly informative, and one was more entertaining. For an entertaining commentary, you don't really need to prepare anything special. But for an informative commentary, it is particularly important to gather a lot of information ahead of time, reading the author's submission notes, the game topic and strategies applied, possibly adding information on previous strategies or ideas, and so on. In that regard, NapstrPSX's commentary of Halamantariel/Nitrodon's Earthbound TAS was amazing, because on top of that, he also added a lot of his own experiences with the game, as well as general, interesting information about the game that wasn't shown in the actual run. A shame that run was obsoleted. So anyway, I think that both kinds of commentaries should be accepted. I mean, if someone wants to make an entertaining commentary, chances are that person wouldn't bother making an informative one, so the run would have no commentary at all. Rather have one commentary which is good for a lot of people, than no commentary at all, right? After all, it's an optional feature when downloading a run, so it's not like someone who doesn't like an entertaining-oriented commentary is forced to listen to it. However, I think that it should be specified, when linking to a commentary, whether it's more oriented at being informative or entertaining.
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Fabian wrote:
JXQ, I think your OoT commentary sucked. You walked away from the mic for like two minutes. You also watched the video for the first time. I'll edit in additional complaints as I think of them. Hope you're doing well otherwise, Fabian
Fabian, I think your commentary on JXQs commentary lacked cohesive argument. It also did not deliver in your typical amount of awesomeness. Rating your post 3.4 in entertainment, 5.6 in technical. EDIT: -mmbossman
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I honestly don't think audio commentaries are necessary for every single run. Let's take my Elevator Action run as an example: There's just one trick that's used through out the run. Subtitles would be enough to tell how it works. If JXQ would make an audio commentary of my run for entertainment, that might be fun, but not necessary.
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mmbossman, Can't win them all, F
Zoey Ridin' High <Fabian_> I prett much never drunk
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Is there a page where all runs with commentaries are collected?
I'm just some random guy. Don't let my words get you riled - I have my opinions but they're only mine.
Reviewer, Active player (286)
Joined: 12/14/2006
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I don't think so, but I think it would be a neat idea.
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Location: Bubbling nearby...
I agree with that. I think that having a list of all commentated runs would make many players actually check out these movies even if they previously weren't interested in them. That would be my case, anyway.
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PSI Slime wrote:
I agree with that. I think that having a list of all commentated runs would make many players actually check out these movies even if they previously weren't interested in them. That would be my case, anyway.
QFTT
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Location: New Orleans, LA U.S.A.
Bezman wrote:
Is there a page where all runs with commentaries are collected?
this needs to be done
__--N0ISE
Player (121)
Joined: 2/11/2007
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Agreed. How about here? http://tasvideos.org/Movies/Commentaries.html I can start this if there's no objections to that location.
I make a comic with no image files and you should read it. While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free. -Eugene Debs
adelikat
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/me hands Alden a green light.
It's hard to look this good. My TAS projects
Player (121)
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woo here it is: http://tasvideos.org/Movies/Commentaries.html I just did the ones in this thread and another one *someone* mentioned on irc. So feel free to add more yourself or post more in here and I'll update occasionally.
I make a comic with no image files and you should read it. While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free. -Eugene Debs
Reviewer, Active player (286)
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Now we just need a place to link it. (I suggest on the Movies page at least) Also here are some more (subtitle) commentaries I remember (I'm ignoring the commentaries that just list improvements) - Magician 1st run - EVO the Search for Eden
Player (121)
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Thanks arkiandruski, those have been added. Also, I added a link to the page a couple of days ago from the Movies page under the "Special Categories" tab.
I make a comic with no image files and you should read it. While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free. -Eugene Debs
Reviewer, Active player (286)
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Here's another: Turok 3. (youtube link in submission text)
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When it comes to in-video commentaries, I would most definitely prefer subtitles myself, as when I'm watching a TAS of say, Ristar, I'd much rather listen to the game's great sound track and relaxing sounds then some nerd nasally talking about how far Ristar's arms can stretch in pixels. (It's okay I still love you guys) As far as the video format goes, multi-track drifting MKVs are something I'm typically familiar with, though I can understand not using it. Particularly on the encoding side, MKVs are so picky. I don't know how widespread .fm2 files are but given the fact that I usually keep up on a few video communities, it can't be all that popular yet. If they're anything like MKVs, you should definitely have a help page on the site for how to play them back, probably somewhere in the codecs page possibly.
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Reviewer, Active player (286)
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Active player (434)
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I am a very boring person, but nevertheless I talked over Zelda 2 glitched at some point shortly after I made it. It is better than any sleep aid.
Reviewer, Active player (286)
Joined: 12/14/2006
Posts: 717
Quick question: is anyone running alden's page? The only change I've seen recently is someone adding their own run and they didn't take the ones posted in this thread into account. I'd be willing to do it if nobody else steps forward, but I'm not an editor. If I get permission to work with just that one page, though, I'll do my best to keep it up to date.