First Let's Play Game Suggestions?

[pyrokin]

I can't really think of a good game to do for my first let's play, I don't want to do too much of an open world game, as I still have school going on. Please list some suggestions and why based on these games I have on Steam:

Half-Life, Half-Life 2, HL2 Episode 1, HL2 Episode 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Nightmare House 2, Penumbra: Overture, Penumbra: Black Plague, Sniper: Ghost Warrior.

I did not include things such as Minecraft, Terraria, or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. because of their unspecified amount of time they could take. If you like you can list some that I didn't list.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Make it something you know reasonably well so you can script at least part of it. Unscripted LPs are very difficult to make funny. Also, I wouldn't go with Left 4 Dead because that really requires more people...Also, make it something short - long games are hard to keep interesting. To that end, maybe Sniper: Ghost Warrior is the best choice.

 

[El Dwarfio]

SNIP

Personally I find linear games to be quite limited in scope for LPS, there's only so much yo can show and chances are it would have been shown before. So unless your brilliantly funny with something new to offer I'd stay clear.

Now if you take an unscripted game, or a game with unscripted elements, then you can let the game write the comedy for you, as your essentially telling your own unique story with the possibility of random hilarious shit happening.

Examples of said games include Dwarf Fortress, ARMA, GTA games / Saints Row Games, most RTSs, open world RPGs etc etc.

Don't listen to the guy above, if you script it peope will no and forced comedy isn't comedy.

 

[Antitonic]

Personally, I feel video LPs work better with more than one person, while SS LPs are easier to handle solo.

Unless you have people willing to work with you, none of those games seem appealing to me. I would suggest a good RPG, one you've beaten at least 75%, or you can follow a walkthrough with.

But, it's your project, and your choice.

 

[ubersyanyde]

Start with a game that you know very well and have above average skill at. No one likes watching someone suck at a game unless they're really funny, which you won't be because it's your first LP.

Alternatively, grab a few friends and play something like Mario Party. Co op commentary is a hell of a lot easier and will improve your commentary skills for when you go solo.

 

[pyrokin]

SNIP

Personally I find linear games to be quite limited in scope for LPS, there's only so much yo can show and chances are it would have been shown before. So unless your brilliantly funny with something new to offer I'd stay clear.

Now if you take an unscripted game, or a game with unscripted elements, then you can let the game write the comedy for you, as your essentially telling your own unique story with the possibility of random hilarious shit happening.

Examples of said games include Dwarf Fortress, ARMA, GTA games / Saints Row Games, most RTSs, open world RPGs etc etc.

Don't listen to the guy above, if you script it peope will no and forced comedy isn't comedy.

Yeah I understand what you mean about the linear games, but in all honesty I don't really care much about comedy in my videos, I care more about just doing my own thing. By all means your suggestions were good, but I think the reason I'd like to have a semi-linear game is to keep from faffing about too much (like I would in GTA/Saints Row/open worlds.) Besides I'm not all that interesting, nor is my voice, so I wouldn't want to torture people when walking or driving great distances.

 

[Phlakes]

Make it something you know reasonably well so you can script at least part of it. Unscripted LPs are very difficult to make funny.

I don't know, unless you're very theatrically inclined any scripting can feel really forced. From what I've seen (and experienced), the best thing to do is just be engaging and talk about interesting things, so playing something you know well still applies. Unless you're going into it blind, that's also a good way to go.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Do whatever the hell you want. Whatever you know best. Fact is, you're not gonna be mind-blowingly amazing on your first LP. Keep trying until you have a commentating style down. You aren't gonna nail it on the head right off the bat.

That said, practice makes perfect, so I say: pick whatever game you're most interested in, give it a go, and if it's awful, so be it. Upload it to Youtube (not because it's great, but because then you can fish for criticisms), keep going, and soon you'll find your rhythm in no time. As long as you realize you're not going to be perfect, and that perfection will take dedication and practice, you can achieve anything. So go for it!

 

[LobsterFeng]

RE 4 was the first game I ever attempted a LP of, and that's because I could play that game in my sleep. If you feel like you're like that with all of the listed games, then I'd say the choice is yours.

 

[The_Echo]

snippety

First of all, whatever you do, do not do it blind. My first LP was a blind run of Metroid Fusion. To say the least, it didn't go well. (I did get better, though. I swear!)

Second, you'll want a game you're comfortable with. Obviously I can't give any suggestions tailored to you, but I know my way around the Spyro trilogy very well, so that would have been a better choice for me.

Last, do a few practice runs before you do the final video. A lot of people have trouble with the concept of talking and playing a game at the same time. The balance is a little tricky to achieve.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I can't really think of a good game to do for my first let's play, I don't want to do too much of an open world game, as I still have school going on. Please list some suggestions and why based on these games I have on Steam:

Half-Life, Half-Life 2, HL2 Episode 1, HL2 Episode 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Nightmare House 2, Penumbra: Overture, Penumbra: Black Plague, Sniper: Ghost Warrior.

I did not include things such as Minecraft, Terraria, or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. because of their unspecified amount of time they could take. If you like you can list some that I didn't list.

Do something you enjoy doing. That's what I'd recommend.

Oh, and do send me a link.

Do whatever the hell you want. Whatever you know best. Fact is, you're not gonna be mind-blowingly amazing on your first LP. Keep trying until you have a commentating style down. You aren't gonna nail it on the head right off the bat.

That said, practice makes perfect, so I say: pick whatever game you're most interested in, give it a go, and if it's awful, so be it. Upload it to Youtube (not because it's great, but because then you can fish for criticisms), keep going, and soon you'll find your rhythm in no time. As long as you realize you're not going to be perfect, and that perfection will take dedication and practice, you can achieve anything. So go for it!

I agree

I'd also like to add the idea that critique is your friend. You get better when people tell you what you're doing wrong.

 

[BiggyShackleton]

Learn to play the old XCOM games and then come back and do an Escapist special with named soldiers. Hilarity will ensue as everyone gets shot to shit within 3 missions. Aside from that RPG's are always a good choice, especially less open world stuff such as the Bioware games, Neverwinter Nights for example could be a good choice.

 

[Gmans uncle]

I'd say Half-Life 2.
Amazing game, lots to say about it, has a nature to it where you can think of plenty of witty commentary and fun little things to entertain your audience, good starting point.
(But I guess my username might show I have a slight bias...)

 

[GoAwayVifs]

Don't ask the internet what games to let's play. Pick a game that you like, a game that you are good at. Pick a game that you think not enough people know about. Or conversely pick a game that you hate. Either way it should be a game that invokes strong feelings in you.

Second, don't play blind. Very, very few good blind LPs exist. Most blind LPs end up being unwatchable tripe. Also don't do live commentary. It usually ends up up being really boring and/or really bad. Do post commentary. It will end up much better as there will be no ums or ahs, or other crap. Post commentary will also help keep you on topic because nobody cares about what is happening in your life, they want to know about that video game. To be clear I'm not saying that you should script your videos either. That usually comes out very wooden. Just watch through your edited video once and get a general idea of what you want to say, then record your audio saying it. And for fucks sake don't talk over cutscenes.

You also have to decide if you want to be more informative or funny. If you want to be informative then solo commentary would be better. Humourous commentary is very hit or miss and tends to work a bit better in a group of 2-4 people who have great chemistry. It is also possible to hit a nice middle ground by having one commentator that is highly knowledgeable about the game, you in this case, and a co-commentator who knows nothing about the game.

So hopefully that'll help you figure out some things. I'll probably post some more stuff tomorrow when I'm less tired.

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

I have only one piece of advice, don't go into it blind unless you have someone with you who is ridiculously competent at the game you are playing to help you when it is needed, but make sure they know to let you make a few mistakes before jumping in to help. Even the best LPer's can get painful to watch if they have no idea what is going on. There were some episodes of Slowbeef's Metroid Prime LP's that were just unwatchable.