I was recently lucky enough to attend the HONOR MCVS International Series finals on April 15th at the ESL Studio, Paris (you may have noticed from all the content on the site). This was a trip that opened my eyes to the complexities of esports broadcasting and the talented people behind it.
From the simple logistics of gathering the competitors together, to the technical challenges of showing the best action from multiple sources in order to fully convey the fast-paced action, it was awe-inspiring to watch the production come together. Here is a quick behind the scenes at what went into making this event possible.
Behind the scenes
I arrived the day before the HONOR MCVS International Series finals and headed directly to the ESL Studio Paris. This early arrival offered a look at the venue in its natural state, prior to the Modern Combat Versus stage being erected. And, honestly, it was a tad bland.
Within hours, however, the experienced ESL team brought the whole arena to life. First a selection of signs went up, but it was only as the huge monitors and studio lighting flickered to life that the Stage completely changed. Instantly the black room felt like it had been created for MCVS, a transformation that stunned me.
My excitement was only further heightened as the ESL team showed us more of the space that would be used for the production. First there was the warm up area and Players’ Lounge. This was going to be where the teams would be able to practice and prepare (along with delicious food for them to enjoy).
Perfect production
Next, I got a quick look at the Production Studio and Backstage area where the technical aspects of the stream were to be handled. These areas looked less glamorous, but screamed efficiency and professionalism. Here the goal was to keep the action moving smoothly. Ensuring teams to emerge to the stage at the right time, keeping things running smoothly, and controlling what viewers at home would be watching at any given moment.
The last of these tasks was helped by the version of Modern Combat Versus that the teams would be playing in the finals. This build included features from the next update, specifically spectator mode. This allowed the production team a dynamic new way to track the action – and it is a feature you can enjoy soon.
After this I visited the VIP Lounge, the final stop of my tour. Here we would get to interview the teams, and it looked amazing. Huge MCVS hangings decorated the walls in this area, providing an ideal backdrop for the scheduled team interviews. Best of all, this was all framed by two way glass which allowed us the chance to look in on the Studio area where the two casters would be calling the action. And yes, the moment I got a chance I was in a caster’s chair.
Rivalries flare
Leaving the ESL Studio, everyone was confident that by the first rehearsal, it was going to look incredible. So, it was back to the Gameloft Offices to meet the teams for the first time. And with players from six countries in attendance, the buzz of excitement was audible.
After a quick tour of the office, everyone headed to the kitchen for food and a party. The enthusiasm if the teams was incredible. Some teams immediately started to show off their competitive nature, gravitating to the table tennis and Foosball. Team R.E.D. were particularly active here – ignoring the pizza longer than most to show off their skills.
Others were more excited to meet the MCVS team face-to-face – in particular Karen the game’s Community Manager. There were lots of questions from teams active in the Modern Combat Discord channel. EMP Clan in-particular leapt at the opportunity to share their thoughts, having come up through the MC5 forums they were eager to grow MCVS.
The mood was fantastic, but everyone knew that the next day things would get serious.
Show time
The day of the event really saw the nerves ramp up. It was a thrill to watch each team prepare for action. While the banter between players was still friendly, there was a different atmosphere around everything as individual members readied themselves for the long day of competition ahead.
Similarly, Gameloft’s Community Manager, Matt Gardner, was now completely focused. With the task of hosting the show he was mapping out his day and preparing for every eventuality. And, while he did this, the ESL and MCVS teams insured that every technical element was ironed out.
From this point it felt as if time hit fast-forward as rehearsals began. Matt was practicing his intros, Casters ran through names and shout-outs, and the production team tested… well, everything else. It was fascinating to watch as everyone worked as one to bring the production together.
Seeing the ESL team at work was particularly eye opening. This was to be their first time streaming MCVS as a competitive title and their understanding of the game was incredible. The casters were especially adept. Each of them understood the characters, maps, and tactics - allowing them to provide fascinating color commentary.
I was also surprised by one other element of the rehearsals - how the teams were coached. Players were walked through the time they would be allowed before their rounds to change the settings on their device. While I know the importance of calibration at this level, understanding the time limitation here was fascinating as players made these changes in real-time on the event's Honor View10 smartphones.
The finals
Then, at 6PM local time, the action kicked-off. And I thought things were fast before. But, despite the pace of the show, both the ESL and MCVS staff were seamlessly directing the action. Managing the teams and the tech made for a truly fascinating juggling act - and it all took place at a speed that was tough to follow
Read more about the finals here.
But watching it I think the results speak for themselves. While there were a few road bumps, the matches were slick, engaging, and looked incredible. Really, if you haven’t seen this yet, then jump in and watch the final round here. You are in for a treat. With the commentary, an entirely new dimension of MCVS is opened – particularly when watching these highly skilled teams in action.
The International Series was made possible by the HONOR View10.
If you think you could challenge to be the next MCVS International Series Champion, you can grab it now on iOS, Android, and Windows to begin your training. You can also join the Modern Combat Versus community to stay up-to-date with all the game news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
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