My final P is an obvious one, but probably the least adhered to in gaming broadcasters (save perhaps Koreans). If it’s not obvious to start with, let me put it in black and white. In everything you do, in everything you say and in every type of event regardless of size or broadcast format its going out on, you should be professional. That extends from what you say on live TV to what you say on an audio broadcast from your bedroom.
Sure, there are others out there swearing and cursing as if its second nature, but I don’t see commentators doing that in any sport I watch on TV. It can also be seen as cool too, especially to such a young and highly influenced audience, but it depends on what you want to do with this. If you are out to gain some e-fame and make a small name for yourself, sure, going on an audio cast and swearing at all the players is going to making you look cool to all the 12 year olds, but if you really want to be taken seriously in this business and go on to have a career in it, it probably wont.
Likewise, being professional doesn’t mean you can’t have fun on air, you really should be having fun or there is little point in doing it in the first place. Shows are a little different too, I am talking about commentating here and when it comes to shows, if you play a sounder up front that explains there is going to be strong language in it, then its probably fine, but just remember, its not big or clever to go on air and swear for the sake of it.
You may also consider this. As an industry, video game broadcasting is very, very small. There are only a handful of full time professional commentators in the western world and even less full time broadcasters. Whilst all of us want it to grow and allow others to become full time salaried commentators, we also need to remember that every one us has a responsibility to help grow the entire industry of competitive gaming. To do that, we need to be as professional as the lack of money will allow us and work together to aid the whole of gaming and gaming broadcasting to grow to the point that we have many more casters on TV and in high production works, not just a few.
