This week’s community spotlight features a multi-faceted commentator whose work is well known in Rivals and across several Platform Fighter communities. Wisely has been a staple in the Rivals community for years, bringing professionalism in commentary style and presentation while building his portfolio as a versatile content creator. We recently reached out to Wisely to learn more about him his history in Esports.
How did you first hear about Rivals and get into the scene as a competitor?
Wisely: I learned about Rivals after the early beta announcement; I remember hearing about it through Smash Reddit and talking about it with my friends. I tried out a bunch of characters, but because I play duo and puppet characters I LOVED the broken Forsburn where you could control the clone the entire time. I never got to entering tournaments or anything at that point though.
A few years later I lived in Philly for a bit and couldn’t enter local Smash events for a while. I started playing Rivals a lot more again and saw there was a big online event getting some notice so I signed up. I ended up beating SFAT and PewPewU back-to-back, and that kinda kicked the entire thing off for me. Without the super OP clone Forsburn I was playing Zetter at this point, and picked up Ori as a co-main down the line.
How long have you been doing commentary? How did you get started and what eventually attracted you to hone your craft for Rivals?
Wisely: I got into Melee and PM through the original Smash Documentary and was immediately drawn to the storytelling and humanity of it all. I heard Prog on the mic and I wanted to tell those stories too. Before esports, I’d already done a lot of public speaking through debate and forensics in high school, so I felt really comfortable with that aspect of it, and jumped in headfirst at my locals for those games.
When I started diving into Rivals, it felt really natural to start doing commentary there too. I love being able to show people why it’s such an exciting game, whether that’s in the gameplay, the storylines, or the people involved. Rivals really deserves that kind of spotlight and I want to help out however I can.
What has been your favorite event to commentate and why?
Wisely: Commentating Genesis 7 was an experience I’ll never forget. Not only was it the RCS Finals, but Genesis is an event I’d been watching for years. G3 was the first national I ever traveled for. Being a part of it in that way really felt like I had made it for commentary.
I have a soft spot in my heart for SnS (and now Riptide) too! The atmosphere of that event is incredible, and I’m so excited that Riptide is the first in-person event coming back. I’ll see you all there!
What players do you enjoy commentating the most? What about their gameplay makes them stand out to you?
Wisely: I’m biased here, but I love watching people do things with my main Ori that I’ve never even thought of. Kusi, Jesier, and while I’ve never been able to commentate a set of hers I’ll still go back and watch Sister Eden’s combo videos all the time. Any time I see something totally new, that’s Rivals at it’s most exciting for me.
Beyond that, there’s nothing quite like commentating a tense back and forth set between some of the best players in the world. Sit me in front of a top 8 with crazy adaptations, new strategies, and incredible movement and I’ll be happy.
What were some of the biggest challenges as a commentator when transitioning to an entirely online world for more than a year?
Wisely: Online commentary gave me some opportunities I never would’ve had otherwise, but it’s just not the same as in-person casting. Hearing the crowd yelling and playing off the venue energy can’t be replicated online. Ironically online lag hits the commentators too, it’s definitely harder to not talk over each other a bit while doing discord casting.
How much time do you spend researching recent results and player stats before big events?
Wisely: I usually spend a couple of hours before RCS events looking through previous results and looking at big upsets. If it’s an in-person event that locks earlier, I really like being able to look through predicted bracket runs, seeing where potential upsets might happen, and even talking with players about what they’ve been focusing on lately in their gameplay. Being able to talk about smaller gameplay changes (matchup strategies, new tech, practice partners, etc) they’re trying to implement helps tell the stories just as much as large bracket trends.
Wisely and Brosa at CEO Dreamland
You work in several different Esports scenes while creating content beyond your commentary. What about the world of Esports motivates you to be active on such a grand scale?
Wisely: Like I said earlier, I love being able to help showcase and promote communities, especially ones that might not get that kind of support otherwise. If I enjoy a game and I’m active in its esports scene, there’s a good chance I’ll make content for it. “Here’s why I think this thing is so cool” is really at the heart of a lot of what I do.
Beyond commentary, I stream on Twitch and make videos for YouTube, typically focused on my experience in different esports scenes or showcasing the personalities in those games. I’ve been super busy starting a new job this month, but those should both be coming back in the next week or two now that I’m settling in!
As a multi-platform creator, what sort of content do you enjoy doing the most? Why?
Wisely: I really enjoy taking a fun idea and running with it for a YouTube video. Usually, those are created from my streams, but the entire point from the beginning is to get my thoughts onto YouTube. I tend to view the stream as part of the creative process, and the uploaded video as the final creation.
I’ve been planning a bunch of challenges and alternate game mode videos to hit the ground running once I’m back again. I’m hoping to be able to introduce our personality and flair to a new audience!
What are your interests outside of the Rivals/Platform Fighter community?
Wisely: Outside of esports and gaming, my hobbies are music and rock climbing! I play a handful of instruments, and I’m planning to get right back to going to concerts once it’s safe again. I hadn’t been able to climb at my gym for most of the pandemic, so I’m getting back into that too and having a great time.
Is there anything you would like to say to the Rivals community reading this feature?
Wisely: Shameless plug, but I just started a new job as the Gaming and Livestream Specialist for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. I’ll be working with influencers, players, industry folks, events, etc to raise money for charity. While most of that is outside of our platform fighter community, I’m always down to connect and I’d love to partner with Rivals streamers and events in the future!
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