Let's Play Series

[deathneko11]

Ok so I've been debating lately on whether I want to do a let's play game in the future (pc only, no console systems here)

 

I've made my mind up that I'm gonna give it a shot, but I want to do it on one of the games that just came out or will be coming out in the very near future since people will be looking for this kind of thing.

 

My 2 purposes for doing so are youtube channel promotion and for fun.  Mainly for fun.  But who knows, if I get enough subscribers after a couple of let's play videos I can talk to machinima for a contract :p  rofl, that'd be interesting.

 

 

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here had suggestions on what sort of game yall think would be interesting for a let's play series.  I want my first to be a good one, blind if possible.  I look forward to everyone's input.  And once I get some suggestions, I just might make a poll to see the most popular one ^.^

[Aiyen]

I personally love lets play series! But only if people are playing hardcore modes etc.

 

I had a great deal of fun watching one of XCOM Enemy unknown, where the most difficult mode is... well impossible essentially (When you add in a few second wave options anyways).

The guy had a great way of making sure to only show the action, and had a generally fun way of doing it.

 

Sadly it took quite a lot of time to do all the editing etc, so he switched over to a mode where he showed everything he did.. but that quickly got really boring since... 45 mins of pressing end turn is not really fun to watch.

[torminater]

Well, a LP is a whole lot of work, plus youtube's aka Google's change to how comments work don't really make the interaction between you and your fans easier...

[deathneko11]

I already know how much work it will be but I'm looking forward to the challenge. ;)

 

However I would like to request keeping posts here on topic. All suggestions are welcome. :)

 

Now what should be my first game? What is everyone looking forward to seeing on the screen eh?

[rootsrat]

I would love to see LP of X:Rebirth!

[Aiyen]

I would watch that.... if there was some sort of crazy theme, you HAD to follow, and not just playing it safe all the time! :)

[WilliamImm]

I'd be willing to see any game that wasn't played by 6 million other users in an attempt to attract views. Rule out Minecraft (doesn't take to LP very nicely - those that are interested would probably play it themselves), Happy Wheels (same reason as Minecraft), I Wanna Be The Guy and similar (unless you can pass most screens in a few trys), and Slender (who would want to see a "horror" game where all you do is pick up random notes with a chance of you-know-who stopping by to say hello). Pokemon LPs generally are boring unless the grinding is removed completely, and if some special gimmick is used. And no, having mock conversations with the characters is not a effective gimmick. Also, if you want a good idea of things NOT to do (and humor yourself while you are at it), watch Retsupurae's videos.

 

And also (though those should be fairly obvious), make sure you have a good microphone, a good set of recording software (FRAPS or Dxtory being two great examples), and make sure you at least EDIT the raw footage (that's a major thing that most wannabe LPers don't do). Cut out long and tedious parts (like grinding, or backtracking), do multiple takes, and if you want, you can extra bits to the footage. Don't edit with Windows Movie Maker unless you are on a entirely shoestring budget (which you shouldn't be), it's very barebones. Invest in a capture card for your PC if you want to do LPs of console-only games - never point a camcorder at your TV and record from there, it will just look horrible. You would mainly use the capture card if you want to do console-only games on recent systems - for old games, emulation works fine. But if you have the old console and the game for it, you can capture card that for extra authenticity (emulation ain't perfect).

 

Additionally, make sure your commentary (if any) is entertaining - don't state the obvious, and don't go completely blind (make sure you at least have some humor). Make sure you are intelligible, too - because if you aren't, you are defeating the point of commentary.

 

I hope this helps - I really don't want you to be lumped with the crud LPs.

[deathneko11]

hmm, thanks for the advice guys!

 

@Will: I'm actually getting ready to purchase a soundblaster card for my pc for better audio quality. I plan to record with fraps since the only game i've ever played that fraps can give me issues with is skyrim when heavily modded. Any other game I can blaze through, even with fraps. Also will use camtasia for editing, I have become rather accustomed to it since I started my video tutorials.

 

I plan to do a blind let's play for whatever game I choose. I want the audience to experience it with me, and I want my experience with the game as the first time playing it to show through the videos and be genuine. I feel like this adds a lot of flavor to lets play videos that cannot be found in a let's play series that is not blind. I have watched quite a few youtubers let's play series and this is just something that I have grown with through personal experience as the viewer.

 

As far as the games that everyone else is doing, I've ruled out the current TES series and the fallout series. It seems like EVERYONE is playing those games, and frankly I want to do something different. But interesting. Which is why i'm stumped as far as what game I want to do for my first one.

 

I'm debating on whether I want to pick up a current pc title or just bide my time a bit until something comes out that should be fun to play that a lot of people are anticipating.

 

Right now what I have available on my pc are these titles, let me know if any of these jump out at yall for the first game. Me personally though I think I should look for another title but I'll wait and see what ya'll think.

 

Assassin's Creed I, II, III, IV (all would be blind)

Bioshock i, II, Infinite

Mass Effect III (would be blind)

Metro 2033, Last Light

Amnesia the Dark Descent

Amnesia a Machine for Pigs (would be blind)

Batman Arkham Origins (would be blind)

Half-Life II (would be blind)

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (would be blind)

Outlast

Tomb Raider (the newest one for pc) (would be blind from about halfway through the game)

Lost Planet II, III (both would be blind)

 

So do any of these jump out at ya'll for a decent first let's play series? Loving the feedback guys, I look forward to hearing more from everyone.

[WilliamImm]

Mass Effect works best if you do a Trilogy LP (ie: start from 1 and go to 3), by the way. And I'm looking to play Origins too, so I'd rather wait untill I can get it. Otherwise, go nuts.

[Devinoextra]

I'd be willing to see any game that wasn't played by 6 million other users in an attempt to attract views. Rule out Minecraft (doesn't take to LP very nicely - those that are interested would probably play it themselves)' date=' Happy Wheels (same reason as Minecraft), I Wanna Be The Guy and similar (unless you can pass most screens in a few trys), and Slender (who would want to see a "horror" game where all you do is pick up random notes with a chance of you-know-who stopping by to say hello). Pokemon LPs generally are boring unless the grinding is removed completely, and if some special gimmick is used. And no, having mock conversations with the characters is not a effective gimmick. Also, if you want a good idea of things NOT to do (and humor yourself while you are at it), watch Retsupurae's videos.

 

Yea there are millions of guys doing lets play videos... it has come to a point where youtube will just delete your account if your lets plays are not top 5% in terms of quality.

 

Better go for tutorials or something if you want to do gaming videos :)

[phazer11]

Uh or you know use a better service (you know like one that doesn't force you to give up your IP rights) and post it somewhere like here to get the viewership.

[TheCompiler]

What a coincidence, i've just started a let's play YT channel yesterday (only 2 video parts, Dark Souls). I'm planning to do more games, Skyrim + STEP included. One thing to notice is that i'm not native eng :P

 

EDIT: if you want to check: