If you’re reading this, that means you’ve been invited to participate in an MGSR event, thank you! This guide will explain what you’ll need to do to be ready to commentate, and the rules and expectations of your commentary. Failure to follow this guidance may result in you not being invited to future MGSR hosted events!

Anyone is welcome to commentate for a run. You don’t need prior experience; you don’t need to be a top runner in the category; you don’t need to be a complete knowledge base for the game. You should have some knowledge about the game and the run, at least enough to be able to hold your own when talking about it.

You also need a microphone that is reasonably clear and doesn’t produce any overly obnoxious sound or distortion. Most microphones these days, even really cheap ones, produce a decent sound, so you likely won’t need to worry about this. If you’re unsure, ask a showrunner or tech team member to check.

For any event, it is the runner(s)’s responsibility to organize the commentators for their run or race. A runner may specifically approach other community members, or they may post a message in that game’s text channel requesting volunteers. If you know a run is coming up that you’d be interested in commentating for, reach out to the runner(s) and ask. The community is always eager for new members to take part in events, so don’t be shy about asking!

You’ll need to be a member of the Metal Gear Speedrunners Discord. You’ll need to ensure that your intended microphone is set up to transmit to it.

You’ll be given the @Backstage role, allowing you access to the #🎧backstage text channel. Ensure you keep an eye on it, especially for any pings with information. If you’re unsure about anything, check the pins in the channel. If you can’t find the answer, this is also the channel to ask questions.

You should aim to be on Discord and make event staff know that you’re present at least 15 minutes before the start of your run. If your run isn’t the first in a marathon or set of races, keep an eye on the event to see if it is running ahead or behind schedule, though you will be pinged in good time as a heads up to be ready. You should join the 🔉Green Room voice channel. Do not enter the 🔉MGSR Channel unless told to do so. Once the previous run has finished and the mics are cold, the host will invite you to join the 🔉MGSR Channel and do some sound checks.

If you are commentating alongside the runner, the runner will be advised to also stream their game footage to Discord so that you can watch it. This reduces the delay between runner and commentator and should keep you both on the same pace.

If you are commentating on a race, the runners will mute and deafen on Discord and don’t provide any commentary. You and other commentators will then watch the race on the Restream Viewer (if you’re commentating alongside a runner who can’t stream to Discord, you should watch this stream as well). This is the output that is then sent to Twitch, so it will include your own voice being played back. This does mean you won’t really be able to listen to the game’s audio, but this isn’t something that has caused issues in the past. Don’t watch the run through Twitch as this will cause a significant delay between the run and your commentary.

The main thing to focus on is to just enjoy it and don’t worry too much about what’s said. Try to keep the conversation focused on the run, and keep it flowing if you can, but there’s no harm being quiet during intense sections, or if the runner asks for quiet for a moment of concentration.

Please keep swearing to a minimum, think PG-13. If it naturally comes up it’s fine, we just don’t want the entire commentary filled with it; remember, you are representing the MGSR community by appearing on the channel. There should be no discussions of politics, race, religion etc, and strictly no obscene or degrading content. Twitch Terms of Service must be followed at all times:

• https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/terms-of-service/
• https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/

You may promote your own channel or projects at appropriate times, but don’t overdo it; constant self-promotion is poor etiquette. Giving a shout out at the end of the run to where you can be found or an event that’s coming up soon is a good way to do so.

Keep the focus on the game, but most importantly, have fun with it. You’re welcome to respond to viewer chat if you want to. You should also give the host a heads up that time is coming up when nearly at the end of the run.

In a race, runners will join the commentary once they’ve completed the run. A lot of games in the Metal Gear series require watching the credits to reach the score screen, so this is a good time to talk about how the run went. If you’re co-commentating on a solo run, use the credit sequence to close out your commentary so that you can end promptly once you’ve viewed the score screen.

When ending, say goodbye or make it clear that you’ve finished your commentary. The host will then say a few words, take the stream to intermission and advise when the mics are cold.

You can stick around for a moment in the Discord channel to finish up, but don’t dawdle for long as the next run will be jumping in to get started. You’re welcome to jump into the 🔉Green Room or other voice channels to talk to others.

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