Suggestions for next Bas Cricket game

[GuyIncognito]

I think if I were to rethink the announcing booth, I would have a three person booth. I'd want the commentary to sound as if they were sitting at a bar calling the match. As an example: NBA 2K. It has a relaxed atmosphere. Where it sounds like three friends just sitting around talking basketball and watching the game you're playing. And when I watch real cricket, it is the same. Commenting with appreciation for what they're watching. Not just describing the action. Thoughts anyone?

Reality is comparing a game like basketball that has four, twelve minute quarters to a game like cricket that can last five days is an odd comparison. Also, getting guys in to fill, theoretically, a whole day of cricket - in game time of course - is a huuuuge undertaking. Money, time (also time of commentators as they travel the world a lot covering other things, they have lives also lol), will never happen, the way we would like it anyway. Then you factor in things like commentary becoming repetitive, even in nba 2k, commentary gets repetitive after a few games.

Suffice to say, the commentary in its current state in cricket 19 is atrocious and I'm being polite. I don't care if they get people I've never heard of, but show some enthusiasm for the job slats and co. I feel the best way to do it, imo, would be radio callers, one thing I like about the way the devs at 2k do commentary, is not far off what you said, they sit around watch the game and call it as it happens, which is a much better way of doing things than just recording lines in a booth. Radio commentators are masters of this, with stories interwoven with a bit of call making, that would be neat, but as I said the stories would get repetitive (think Kevin Garnett and the late Kobe in 2k when calling a game). I think shane warne/brian lara cricket 99 did this a bit.

Cricket games in the past and atm I feel also need to find a more natural splice for lines of commentary. Rather than, "hello.... welcome to.... The SCG... for... India.... versus... Australia". A bit more seaming between lines etc. I don't think there will ever be enough for a sports game in general, but I think at the very least, a natural flow of dialogue would be good.

Having said all this, with covid, I feel commentary would be severely impacted, given travel restrictions, social distancing, border closures (here in Australia), so realistically I'm not expecting much next go around.

 

[ThisShowStinks]

Reality is comparing a game like basketball that has four, twelve minute quarters to a game like cricket that can last five days is an odd comparison. Also, getting guys in to fill, theoretically, a whole day of cricket - in game time of course - is a huuuuge undertaking. Money, time (also time of commentators as they travel the world a lot covering other things, they have lives also lol), will never happen, the way we would like it anyway. Then you factor in things like commentary becoming repetitive, even in nba 2k, commentary gets repetitive after a few games.

Suffice to say, the commentary in its current state in cricket 19 is atrocious and I'm being polite. I don't care if they get people I've never heard of, but show some enthusiasm for the job slats and co. I feel the best way to do it, imo, would be radio callers, one thing I like about the way the devs at 2k do commentary, is not far off what you said, they sit around watch the game and call it as it happens, which is a much better way of doing things than just recording lines in a booth. Radio commentators are masters of this, with stories interwoven with a bit of call making, that would be neat, but as I said the stories would get repetitive (think Kevin Garnett and the late Kobe in 2k when calling a game). I think shane warne/brian lara cricket 99 did this a bit.

Cricket games in the past and atm I feel also need to find a more natural splice for lines of commentary. Rather than, "hello.... welcome to.... The SCG... for... India.... versus... Australia". A bit more seaming between lines etc. I don't think there will ever be enough for a sports game in general, but I think at the very least, a natural flow of dialogue would be good.

Having said all this, with covid, I feel commentary would be severely impacted, given travel restrictions, social distancing, border closures (here in Australia), so realistically I'm not expecting much next go around.

I hear you. What I am asking for isn't in fact possible. Granted the amount of time a test match is versus other sports. But, we do agree that the current broadcast needs work. And yes effort does go a long way. (Slats)

I think if we could get a relaxed call of the match and add some stories about the players of the game it would do a lot. There are endless stories about the game that can and should be told. Start with the next cricket game and add to every additional rendition of the series. Using Rugby Challenge as an example. If they would have added to the commentary for each addition of the game they'd have a fairly decent amount by now. But, they've shown no interest in that and it is noticeably horrible. Far, far worse than Slats in effort as well.

In this years FIFA. Derek Rae did add some new commentary. It was done over the phone. Once again, Covid 19 ruined everything. Nevertheless, I thought it sounded good. If I hadn't read in advance that his additional commentary was done through a phone recording, I would have never known. It was done well. I think that trying is all that we ask.

Here is a thought. When it is possible. Add 2 more commentary teams. Bringing the total to 3. And for test matches, just used a rotation of teams to call the match. Break up the monotony.

Just a suggestion.

 

[WickeySticket]

I hear you. What I am asking for isn't in fact possible.

Just a suggestion.

One day soon you'll be able to use AI to make commentary as long as the program has enough vocab to work with it should be able to mimic voices and make new words. Pretty sure this is possible now just maybe not economical at the moment for a company like Big Ant? Not sure.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Been listening to ABC Grandstand (is that what it's called?) on Five Live Extra and do quite enjoy that team. Alison Mitchell would be a quality addition as the 'lead' commentator that introduces the game and sets it up for others. She's a good broadcaster and I suppose the hope would be that transfers well.

Problem with a lot of commentators to transfer well is it usually takes a consummate professional (Benaud), someone who is good at acting up (David Lloyd) or someone who likes the sound of their own voice (Mark Nicholas).

In general I think it's a difficult task to fill one test match without it becoming repetitive. One thing I think would be good, for licensed players, would be a bit more specific introductions to them when they come onto bowl or into bat. Particularly if it is an official Ashes game.

I don't know how this part of the game is produced and put together, but getting in an actual radio or TV producer to try work on it and how to make it work in a game might be helpful. As it is it's very dry and feels quite disconnected from the action.

Stumbled on this podcast about commentary this morning, very interesting. "Entrenched ****wittery" is my new favourite phrase. Channel 9 with Geoff Lemon — Red Inker With Jarrod Kimber — Overcast

 

[blockerdave]

Been listening to ABC Grandstand (is that what it's called?) on Five Live Extra and do quite enjoy that team. Alison Mitchell would be a quality addition as the 'lead' commentator that introduces the game and set its up for others. She's a good broadcaster and I suppose the hope would be that transfers well.

Problem with a lot of commentators to transfer well is it usually takes a consummate professional (Benaud), someone who is good at acting up (David Lloyd) or someone who likes the sound of their own voice (Mark Nicholas).

In general I think it's a difficult task to fill one test match without it becoming repetitive. One thing I think would be good, for licensed players, would be a bit more specific introductions to them when they come onto bowl or into bat. Particularly if it is an official Ashes game.

I don't know how this part of the game is produced and put together, but getting in an actual radio or TV producer to try work on it and how to make it work in a game might be helpful. As it is it's very dry and feels quite disconnected from the action.

Stumbled on this podcast about commentary this morning, very interesting. "Entrenched ****wittery" is my new favourite phrase. Channel 9 with Geoff Lemon — Red Inker With Jarrod Kimber — Overcast

I maintain the commentary should be less “play by play” and more analytical. Discuss the pitch at that point in time, what kind of bowling it suits; are the bowlers getting reverse, is their rain due; that shot/wicket - was there swing, was the batsman late, bad footwork, wrong line?

Can they explain a batsman’s strength or weakness, or a bowlers weakness. If the field changes, can they say “they’ve put 2 men back on the hook now”... across a series/competition can they discuss how a player has performed, has this batsmen got out to this bowler or scored a lot?

All of this is just using information that is readily available in game, but it requires a radical rethink of what the purpose of commentary is.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I maintain the commentary should be less “play by play” and more analytical. Discuss the pitch at that point in time, what kind of bowling it suits; are the bowlers getting reverse, is their rain due; that shot/wicket - was there swing, was the batsman late, bad footwork, wrong line?

Can they explain a batsman’s strength or weakness, or a bowlers weakness. If the field changes, can they say “they’ve put 2 men back on the hook now”... across a series/competition can they discuss how a player has performed, has this batsmen got out to this bowler or scored a lot?

All of this is just using information that is readily available in game, but it requires a radical rethink of what the purpose of commentary is.

Oh I agree, if there was a way to make commentary a way to feed useful information about tactics, conditions, (and I'd say even as a tutorial) it would be make it far more worthwhile. I would imagine that repetition, if it's helpful, is far more tolerable than repetition for the sake of explaining you just took a single.

If you added in some personalised stuff and made it more conversational. That's one thing that stands out in PES, maybe FIFA too, is it sounds like people interacting.

Example:

Comms 1: Ben Stokes coming into the attack for England. He's perhaps best known for his batting these days but he's still a very useful bowler to have in your side.
Comms 2: Without a doubt. Before his heroics with the bat at Headingley in 2019 he bowled a marathon spell that kept England in the game.
Comms 1: Where do you think he ranks as an all rounder?
Comms 2: England have had some great all rounders over the years (I guess you couldn't mention Botham or Flintoff for licensing reasons) so it's hard to say, particularly while he still has a few years ahead of him. But I know I'd have him in my side.

A few facts about the grounds. Maybe you have one fact for each day set up. Could be 'This is the site of England's finest hour in Australia.' 'England have lost here many, many times.' 'Average score in a first innings at the Adelaide Oval is blah blah' Fact and a bit of a hint about what is a good total.

 

[blockerdave]

Since we can have rain interruptions, we should have bad light too. I played a game where “floodlights” came on, even though the stadium didn’t have floodlights.

If the game wants to put floodlights on and there aren’t floodlights in the stadium, off they come for bad light. Should be v easy to implement.

Also, more variety in timing and duration of rain breaks would be nice.

 

[Wavelberry]

Oh I agree, if there was a way to make commentary a way to feed useful information about tactics, conditions, (and I'd say even as a tutorial) it would be make it far more worthwhile. I would imagine that repetition, if it's helpful, is far more tolerable than repetition for the sake of explaining you just took a single.

If you added in some personalised stuff and made it more conversational. That's one thing that stands out in PES, maybe FIFA too, is it sounds like people interacting.

Example:

Comms 1: Ben Stokes coming into the attack for England. He's perhaps best known for his batting these days but he's still a very useful bowler to have in your side.
Comms 2: Without a doubt. Before his heroics with the bat at Headingley in 2019 he bowled a marathon spell that kept England in the game.
Comms 1: Where do you think he ranks as an all rounder?
Comms 2: England have had some great all rounders over the years (I guess you couldn't mention Botham or Flintoff for licensing reasons) so it's hard to say, particularly while he still has a few years ahead of him. But I know I'd have him in my side.

A few facts about the grounds. Maybe you have one fact for each day set up. Could be 'This is the site of England's finest hour in Australia.' 'England have lost here many, many times.' 'Average score in a first innings at the Adelaide Oval is blah blah' Fact and a bit of a hint about what is a good total.

The one caveat for that would be that I would be sick of that and it would sound scripted AF by the fourth test match I asked Stokes to bowl... They only work out of the box for one series and in a game where the user creates an alternate reality where as many as ten years worth of test matches, ODIS, T20s and World Cups could happen those stats would be out of date in an instant which is why you'd want to stick to play by play commentary or do a heck of a lot of scripting to try and make organic commentary for every available situation. I know which one is more cost effective especially if you're going down the route of actual cricket commentators rather than gentlemen who can 'hold the phone!'.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

The one caveat for that would be that I would be sick of that and it would sound scripted AF by the fourth test match I asked Stokes to bowl... They only work out of the box for one series and in a game where the user creates an alternate reality where as many as ten years worth of test matches, ODIS, T20s and World Cups could happen those stats would be out of date in an instant which is why you'd want to stick to play by play commentary or do a heck of a lot of scripting to try and make organic commentary for every available situation. I know which one is more cost effective especially if you're going down the route of actual cricket commentators rather than gentlemen who can 'hold the phone!'.

That's why I would say you go all in on an Ashes commentary for the Ashes mode. Put some kind of flag on commentary lines when they are used to prevent some from being used again (I dunno if this would work saving and restarting). Or all in for comms in T20. Or make it easier to mute the comms team.

 

[Wavelberry]

Or employ me cheaply to do a billion commentary lines. Both work.

 

[blockerdave]

That's why I would say you go all in on an Ashes commentary for the Ashes mode. Put some kind of flag on commentary lines when they are used to prevent some from being used again (I dunno if this would work saving and restarting). Or all in for comms in T20. Or make it easier to mute the comms team.

Some specific commentary based on perks, and maybe relative ability to others in the team, and situational to the current competition/series /match seems the best way to keep it (relatively) fresh and the implementation shouldn’t be overly complex.

i.e. if the fielder at cover has high rating for the position and a throw accuracy perk, a few lines warning against taking a run against him... if the bowler for the last few overs of the ODI has a “death bowler” perk, comment about their skill at the death (or vice versa if there’s a negative death “perk”), got some skill about playing spin, the commentary can be about the batsman will look to get on top or the bowler will have to be on it; a slow start perk and talk about how the batsman looks to play within the self or how the bowlers have to get them early.

Captain or best player in the team, comment on how the pressure to perform is on them, or the determination of the opponent to get on top, if the batsman is significantly weaker skilled than the bowler talk about how the bowlers will be confident of getting them out.

for match situation, tell me if it’s reversing (or if it’s not, which might remind me to shine the bloody ball), tell me it’s time to try some spin, how long to the break (again maybe there’s a perk that effects concentration before/after a break so that will help...)

across a series or competition track since the performance stats are tracked, some comments on that - player x has already scored 2 hundreds, he’ll be keen to stay on top of the bowlers/bowlers need some new plans etc.

the game MUST know when a wicket has occurred what led to it (wrong line, wrong foot, extra movement, bad shot, great ball) and the analytical feedback of this would add hugely to the commentary.

Intersperse these with a bit of play by play and you’ll have vastly better, more varied and interesting commentary.

you don’t actually need the game to do any additional processing - ALL of the stuff here must already be known to the game, you just need commentary to be triggered by it.

IMO the biggest commentary issue in all the games has been a failure of imagination and trying to get the commentary to do the wrong thing.

 

[jabbathehut]

Would like commentary to talk about the state of play eg only 9 overs left to hold out for a draw.I know its my fault but i lost track of days and overs in a test match and having taken 9 wickets and with no warning game was announced as a draw.

 

[blockerdave]

I really want more than the 2 types of rain interruption, and for when there is significant visible rain that it triggers an interruption.

 

[Ed Smith]

I really want more than the 2 types of rain interruption, and for when there is significant visible rain that it triggers an interruption.

Agreed. I also wouldn't mind having a choice of weather by day for tests as well. Rather than just being given a cloudy day at random, of 5 straight cloudy days

 

[blockerdave]

Agreed. I also wouldn't mind having a choice of weather by day for tests as well. Rather than just being given a cloudy day at random, of 5 straight cloudy days

and being really niche, I’d love an option to include a rest day in a test match