Max Ketchum
Collegiate Starleague Smash Director
CLASH Tournaments’ Pierce7d has long been one of the most prominent forces in the competitive Super Smash Bros. Brawl community. Pierce has dabbled in every corner of the Brawl world--competition, tournament organization, broadcast commentary, even research and data compilation for various projects like the Smash Lab and the Brawl Back Room. Known for being an eloquent speaker and always willing to share perspective, I thought Pierce would be the ideal candidate for my first Smashboards interview. To find the right balance between brevity and detail, I kept it to seven questions, but each one is answered thoroughly. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.
Pierce alongside other Smash commentators CT CoonTail (top center), juice.Doom (right), and D1 (bottom center)
#1
juice.Doom: Hey Pierce, thanks for taking some time to sit down and answer these questions!
To start--before becoming a commentator, you were an active competitor with solid placings. How do you feel becoming a commentator has affected you as a player, ranging from changes in your actual gameplay to your frequency of entering tournaments?
CT Pierce7d: Being a commentator has always been important to me, but I started focusing on it a lot more after I retired from actively competing. My skills have drastically decreased since I stopped practicing, but that's not because I became a commentator. It's because I lost my drive to be the best, but I still had a love for the game and the scene, and I was so invested that I took all the knowledge I had and simply converted it into being a commentator as my main focus. I have always loved to share knowledge of the game and teach others, so it was a very natural transition.
#2
j.D: When people describe you as a commentator, most remark on your role as an analytical speaker. What do you feel like sets you apart from other casters that would be classified as less analytical? If you had to put a label on the style of casting you do, what would you call it?
CT P: During my time as a player, I spent a LOT of time studying the game, and exploring its data, and interactions. I discovered a lot of things, and I'm honored to be regarded as an expert in the field. The other casters are knowledgeable about the game as well, but most of them don't have the same in-depth knowledge, or relationships with the top players to be able to analyze the game to the same extent I do. Also, having been a relatively high level player myself and being very good at understanding options and why people pick the options they do, I can provide unique insight into the thoughts of the players of the matches, and clarify situations. It's really cool when I get to point out unusual things, and explain them, when they might otherwise remain a mystery to others or go overlooked. If I had to label 'my' style'...I'd call it something like classroom play-by-play, because I know that when I cast the games, I don't just try and tell everyone what's going in an entertaining way, I also try to teach as much as I can with the time I'm privileged to be on the mic.
Pierce and teammate/co-caster CT CoonTail on Team Sp00ky's stream at Apex 2014
#3
j.D: You are often considered one half of a casting duo with your crewmate CT CoonTail. How do you feel about strongly established (not quite exclusive, but close) commentary teams? It's important that both people on the mic have synergy with each other, but designated pairs can be limiting and logistically complicated.
CT P: Haha, funny you call it a crewmate. Crews is something that is historically significant to Smash, so I think it's interesting that you call us crewmates because we share a sponsor. I actually don't hold my fellow CLASH Tournaments teammates in the same regard as my crew, Zodiac Braves, although I think very highly of all the CT members.
Onto the point of the question though, it was a very interesting transition, because when CoonTail was first starting to invest time into the microphone, he told me that I was one of the casters he always looked up to, and when we first started splitting a mic, he said he was nervous about casting with me. I was completely honored by this, and I think memory of that experience always helps me to bring out the best I have whenever I sit down next to him for a session. I don't mind being established as a commentary partner to him at all. He compliments my style very well, is very good at covering my weaknesses, and we are quite comfortable with each other. Experience with another caster is also very important, especially at a large event. I remember back in the day I sat down next to juice.dmbrandon, someone whose company I greatly enjoy, but I missed all his joke cues and it was pretty hysterical, but you could tell that the casting synergy just wasn't there. I think Diem is a fine caster, but it really shows when two people are experienced and comfortable splitting a mic with each other.
I do dislike the limitations on the time I get to spend with other casters though. I would probably always choose Brian to cast alongside me for Top 8 of Apex or SKTAR, or a large event like that, but I always love to cast with many of my friends and colleagues from far off places. There was a point where I considered Phil (EE Visu) to be by far the best caster, and I always like to have sets with him, but people don't give him the proper chance to represent himself on the mic, just because he's a bit...spontaneous on Twitter. Also Greg (Sky) is a really good friend of mine, and I love his sense of humor. Back in 2010, we were slated to be the MLG casting team before Nintendo denied the rights for MLG to stream the game. It really saddens me that since then, I haven't had a chance to really split a mic with him, since he's a person I keep in touch with, and we have so many similar interests. You learn so much more and grow so much more as a caster when you get to cast more sets with different people.
#4
j.D: At Apex 2012, your commentary was met with heavily mixed reviews because of the harshly critical style you employed on the mic. Public opinion of you as a caster saw a brief period of uncertainty, but you quickly recovered--even exceeding your previous esteem and solidifying yourself as one of the most favored entertainers in Smash. What would you say you learned from your mistakes that accounts for this powerful resilience?
CT P: Stay well rested and focused. Although there is a subset of people who believe my commentary at Apex 2012 was unique and favorable, I'm still ashamed to have starred in the fiasco. I don't often share this because I don't like that it comes off as an excuse for inexcusable behavior, but I did a LOT of behind the scenes work at Apex 2012, to help make sure everything got done. This was back when I was on the main Apex staff, and not casting as a guest. We were really short on volunteers, and there was a lot to get done, which is why I really respect guys like Alex Strife. Most people don't really know just how much effort it takes to actually set up and run a major event like that.
But I digress. I probably got about 4 hours of sleep for that entire weekend, resulting in me casting a tournament with the brutality and misplaced humor that I would use with my friends. Needless to say, it didn't blow over well, which is one of the reasons why I resigned from Apex Staff and why I wasn't invited to cast top 8 of 2013. After a year and a half of trying to prove myself, and with the help of my sponsor, CLASH Tournaments, Keitaro invited me to cast top 8 of SKTAR 2, which was probably my greatest casting of all time.
A large part of my ability to bounce back comes from my remarkable public image prior to and after that point. I've done expansive work for the community in the past, and have always been a very receptive, welcoming, and helpful community member. This meant that despite my blunder on the microphone, many people were willing to overlook it. Of course, there are still some people that haven't forgiven me, but I totally get that, and in a way, I'm kinda glad about that because it serves as a constant reminder not to take mercy for granted.
Actually, I was intending to quit casting altogether after that incident. I came back because of all my fans and supporters urging me to do so. I don't regret that I did.
Pierce with part of the CLASH Tournaments team (from left to right--top: Pierce, Tyrant, CoonTail, Chibo, Vex Kasrani, bottom: ZeRo, Salem) at SKTAR 2
#5
j.D: From my time knowing you as a friend and from working with you, I am very much aware that you're a studious guy. I also know you're a fan of other games like League of Legends and that you've studied 2D fighters like Street Fighter. What do you feel like you've learned from these games and their communities about casting, playing, and anything else regarding Smash and its community?
CT P: Well, I think I was a very different guy before joining the Smash community. Or rather, it brought out parts of me that I'm glad were unburied. Like all people, I relate something I learn from one field into all other aspects of my life, to help myself learn better. So getting better at Smash was essentially getting better at life, because I took the things I learned in Smash and learned how to relate it into important life situations, to help me understand it easier.
I think League and Street Fighter are both fun and cool games, but I think part of the reason I love them so much is because I enjoy competition and eSports. Studying those scenes helped me to gain an understanding of what directions the community can take to grow a larger and healthier scene. But my favorite games are actually more retro games like Yoshi's Island and DKC II. Although I was never really a highly mechanical player, I enjoy games with high technical ceilings, like Pokemon Puzzle League.
In my spare time leading up to an event, I spend a lot of time studying other casters and orators that I look up to and respect. League of Legends EU LCS caster Riot Deman is my favorite caster and a huge inspiration to me. I also try mimicking the style of Jerry, host of ChessNetwork (he can be found on YouTube and occasionally on Twitch). I also pay more attention to the sportscasters when I watch sports (a rare, but important activity for an eSports caster) or sports shows.
A lot of people say that developer success is important to the growth of an eSport. While Riot Games' contributions to developing League as an eSport are astronomical, unprecedented, and just straight magical, when I look at the SF community, I don't think it's Capcom who deserves the most credit for the success of the SF or Marvel scene. I think it's the legacy that the community has built for themselves, and we can see now the same thing happening with Melee.
#6
j.D: Lots of talk has been circulating lately about improving Brawl as a competitive game and spectator sport, both for MLG and the rest of the game's tournament life. What steps do you feel like the community should take both for fixing the MLG situation and for improving the tournament scene at large?
CT P: Identify the causes of the problem, and actively work at eliminating them in preparation for Smash 4. The biggest time for a game to grow as an eSport is at its inception, so I would be preparing to shift my attention away from Brawl and onto Smash 4. Melee is a very unique case where an older game in the franchise (or an older game in general) has a second wind, and splashes onto the front page of eSports news in such a way, but I wouldn't expect that to happen with Brawl, or any game. Identify the problem and work on it for Smash 4, and it will be the best thing for the Smash community as a whole.
#7
j.D: In your opinion, what are the "problems" holding the community/game back from further success?
CT P: Media. Transparency. Melee hit a media spike with the EVO drive and documentary, and now it's snowballing. Lots of non-tournament events and movements can help to grow the exposure of the game, but the teamwork and motivation are not there.
j.D: Thanks for the interview, Pierce--that’s all I’ve got for you this time. Any final words for the readers?
CT P: I'd like to take a moment to thank my crewmates for their motivation to my successes, especially Riz, RJ, and ADHD. Another shoutout goes to my fellow caster D1, who was actually my first friend in the Smash community back in 2006. I'd also like to think my sponsor, CLASH Tournaments. Chibo puts in a lot of work for the community. A lot of people have been asking me if I'm going to play Smash 4, and my schedule doesn't seem to be very accommodating, but we shall see.
And thanks to you Max, for doing this interview with me.
j.D: No problem, my pleasure!
CT Pierce7d and his girlfriend
About the interviewee: Daniel "CT Pierce7d" Seraphin is a Super Smash Bros. player and commentator for CLASH Tournaments. Check him out on Twitter @Pierce7d.
About the author: Max "juice.Doom" Krchmar is a Super Smash Bros. player, commentator, and event organizer in the Greater New York Area. Find him on most Saturdays at tournaments, petting his cats at any other time, or on Twitter @juiceDoom.
Image sources: www.facebook.com, www.rmpaul.com
Pierce alongside other Smash commentators CT CoonTail (top center), juice.Doom (right), and D1 (bottom center)
#1
juice.Doom: Hey Pierce, thanks for taking some time to sit down and answer these questions!
To start--before becoming a commentator, you were an active competitor with solid placings. How do you feel becoming a commentator has affected you as a player, ranging from changes in your actual gameplay to your frequency of entering tournaments?
CT Pierce7d: Being a commentator has always been important to me, but I started focusing on it a lot more after I retired from actively competing. My skills have drastically decreased since I stopped practicing, but that's not because I became a commentator. It's because I lost my drive to be the best, but I still had a love for the game and the scene, and I was so invested that I took all the knowledge I had and simply converted it into being a commentator as my main focus. I have always loved to share knowledge of the game and teach others, so it was a very natural transition.
#2
j.D: When people describe you as a commentator, most remark on your role as an analytical speaker. What do you feel like sets you apart from other casters that would be classified as less analytical? If you had to put a label on the style of casting you do, what would you call it?
CT P: During my time as a player, I spent a LOT of time studying the game, and exploring its data, and interactions. I discovered a lot of things, and I'm honored to be regarded as an expert in the field. The other casters are knowledgeable about the game as well, but most of them don't have the same in-depth knowledge, or relationships with the top players to be able to analyze the game to the same extent I do. Also, having been a relatively high level player myself and being very good at understanding options and why people pick the options they do, I can provide unique insight into the thoughts of the players of the matches, and clarify situations. It's really cool when I get to point out unusual things, and explain them, when they might otherwise remain a mystery to others or go overlooked. If I had to label 'my' style'...I'd call it something like classroom play-by-play, because I know that when I cast the games, I don't just try and tell everyone what's going in an entertaining way, I also try to teach as much as I can with the time I'm privileged to be on the mic.
Pierce and teammate/co-caster CT CoonTail on Team Sp00ky's stream at Apex 2014
#3
j.D: You are often considered one half of a casting duo with your crewmate CT CoonTail. How do you feel about strongly established (not quite exclusive, but close) commentary teams? It's important that both people on the mic have synergy with each other, but designated pairs can be limiting and logistically complicated.
CT P: Haha, funny you call it a crewmate. Crews is something that is historically significant to Smash, so I think it's interesting that you call us crewmates because we share a sponsor. I actually don't hold my fellow CLASH Tournaments teammates in the same regard as my crew, Zodiac Braves, although I think very highly of all the CT members.
Onto the point of the question though, it was a very interesting transition, because when CoonTail was first starting to invest time into the microphone, he told me that I was one of the casters he always looked up to, and when we first started splitting a mic, he said he was nervous about casting with me. I was completely honored by this, and I think memory of that experience always helps me to bring out the best I have whenever I sit down next to him for a session. I don't mind being established as a commentary partner to him at all. He compliments my style very well, is very good at covering my weaknesses, and we are quite comfortable with each other. Experience with another caster is also very important, especially at a large event. I remember back in the day I sat down next to juice.dmbrandon, someone whose company I greatly enjoy, but I missed all his joke cues and it was pretty hysterical, but you could tell that the casting synergy just wasn't there. I think Diem is a fine caster, but it really shows when two people are experienced and comfortable splitting a mic with each other.
I do dislike the limitations on the time I get to spend with other casters though. I would probably always choose Brian to cast alongside me for Top 8 of Apex or SKTAR, or a large event like that, but I always love to cast with many of my friends and colleagues from far off places. There was a point where I considered Phil (EE Visu) to be by far the best caster, and I always like to have sets with him, but people don't give him the proper chance to represent himself on the mic, just because he's a bit...spontaneous on Twitter. Also Greg (Sky) is a really good friend of mine, and I love his sense of humor. Back in 2010, we were slated to be the MLG casting team before Nintendo denied the rights for MLG to stream the game. It really saddens me that since then, I haven't had a chance to really split a mic with him, since he's a person I keep in touch with, and we have so many similar interests. You learn so much more and grow so much more as a caster when you get to cast more sets with different people.
#4
j.D: At Apex 2012, your commentary was met with heavily mixed reviews because of the harshly critical style you employed on the mic. Public opinion of you as a caster saw a brief period of uncertainty, but you quickly recovered--even exceeding your previous esteem and solidifying yourself as one of the most favored entertainers in Smash. What would you say you learned from your mistakes that accounts for this powerful resilience?
CT P: Stay well rested and focused. Although there is a subset of people who believe my commentary at Apex 2012 was unique and favorable, I'm still ashamed to have starred in the fiasco. I don't often share this because I don't like that it comes off as an excuse for inexcusable behavior, but I did a LOT of behind the scenes work at Apex 2012, to help make sure everything got done. This was back when I was on the main Apex staff, and not casting as a guest. We were really short on volunteers, and there was a lot to get done, which is why I really respect guys like Alex Strife. Most people don't really know just how much effort it takes to actually set up and run a major event like that.
But I digress. I probably got about 4 hours of sleep for that entire weekend, resulting in me casting a tournament with the brutality and misplaced humor that I would use with my friends. Needless to say, it didn't blow over well, which is one of the reasons why I resigned from Apex Staff and why I wasn't invited to cast top 8 of 2013. After a year and a half of trying to prove myself, and with the help of my sponsor, CLASH Tournaments, Keitaro invited me to cast top 8 of SKTAR 2, which was probably my greatest casting of all time.
A large part of my ability to bounce back comes from my remarkable public image prior to and after that point. I've done expansive work for the community in the past, and have always been a very receptive, welcoming, and helpful community member. This meant that despite my blunder on the microphone, many people were willing to overlook it. Of course, there are still some people that haven't forgiven me, but I totally get that, and in a way, I'm kinda glad about that because it serves as a constant reminder not to take mercy for granted.
Actually, I was intending to quit casting altogether after that incident. I came back because of all my fans and supporters urging me to do so. I don't regret that I did.
Pierce with part of the CLASH Tournaments team (from left to right--top: Pierce, Tyrant, CoonTail, Chibo, Vex Kasrani, bottom: ZeRo, Salem) at SKTAR 2
#5
j.D: From my time knowing you as a friend and from working with you, I am very much aware that you're a studious guy. I also know you're a fan of other games like League of Legends and that you've studied 2D fighters like Street Fighter. What do you feel like you've learned from these games and their communities about casting, playing, and anything else regarding Smash and its community?
CT P: Well, I think I was a very different guy before joining the Smash community. Or rather, it brought out parts of me that I'm glad were unburied. Like all people, I relate something I learn from one field into all other aspects of my life, to help myself learn better. So getting better at Smash was essentially getting better at life, because I took the things I learned in Smash and learned how to relate it into important life situations, to help me understand it easier.
I think League and Street Fighter are both fun and cool games, but I think part of the reason I love them so much is because I enjoy competition and eSports. Studying those scenes helped me to gain an understanding of what directions the community can take to grow a larger and healthier scene. But my favorite games are actually more retro games like Yoshi's Island and DKC II. Although I was never really a highly mechanical player, I enjoy games with high technical ceilings, like Pokemon Puzzle League.
In my spare time leading up to an event, I spend a lot of time studying other casters and orators that I look up to and respect. League of Legends EU LCS caster Riot Deman is my favorite caster and a huge inspiration to me. I also try mimicking the style of Jerry, host of ChessNetwork (he can be found on YouTube and occasionally on Twitch). I also pay more attention to the sportscasters when I watch sports (a rare, but important activity for an eSports caster) or sports shows.
A lot of people say that developer success is important to the growth of an eSport. While Riot Games' contributions to developing League as an eSport are astronomical, unprecedented, and just straight magical, when I look at the SF community, I don't think it's Capcom who deserves the most credit for the success of the SF or Marvel scene. I think it's the legacy that the community has built for themselves, and we can see now the same thing happening with Melee.
#6
j.D: Lots of talk has been circulating lately about improving Brawl as a competitive game and spectator sport, both for MLG and the rest of the game's tournament life. What steps do you feel like the community should take both for fixing the MLG situation and for improving the tournament scene at large?
CT P: Identify the causes of the problem, and actively work at eliminating them in preparation for Smash 4. The biggest time for a game to grow as an eSport is at its inception, so I would be preparing to shift my attention away from Brawl and onto Smash 4. Melee is a very unique case where an older game in the franchise (or an older game in general) has a second wind, and splashes onto the front page of eSports news in such a way, but I wouldn't expect that to happen with Brawl, or any game. Identify the problem and work on it for Smash 4, and it will be the best thing for the Smash community as a whole.
#7
j.D: In your opinion, what are the "problems" holding the community/game back from further success?
CT P: Media. Transparency. Melee hit a media spike with the EVO drive and documentary, and now it's snowballing. Lots of non-tournament events and movements can help to grow the exposure of the game, but the teamwork and motivation are not there.
j.D: Thanks for the interview, Pierce--that’s all I’ve got for you this time. Any final words for the readers?
CT P: I'd like to take a moment to thank my crewmates for their motivation to my successes, especially Riz, RJ, and ADHD. Another shoutout goes to my fellow caster D1, who was actually my first friend in the Smash community back in 2006. I'd also like to think my sponsor, CLASH Tournaments. Chibo puts in a lot of work for the community. A lot of people have been asking me if I'm going to play Smash 4, and my schedule doesn't seem to be very accommodating, but we shall see.
And thanks to you Max, for doing this interview with me.
j.D: No problem, my pleasure!
CT Pierce7d and his girlfriend
About the interviewee: Daniel "CT Pierce7d" Seraphin is a Super Smash Bros. player and commentator for CLASH Tournaments. Check him out on Twitter @Pierce7d.
About the author: Max "juice.Doom" Krchmar is a Super Smash Bros. player, commentator, and event organizer in the Greater New York Area. Find him on most Saturdays at tournaments, petting his cats at any other time, or on Twitter @juiceDoom.
Image sources: www.facebook.com, www.rmpaul.com
