The Rise of Good Casting in CS:GO Esports
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) has seen a rise in outstanding play-by-play and commentary talent in recent years. One duo that has become iconic in the game is Anders Blume and Auguste “Semmler” Massonat. However, they are not the only ones contributing to the scene. John “BLU” Mullen has also established himself as a mainstay in the CS:GO casting community.
BLU: The Everyday Commentator of NA ESL Pro League
BLU is the everyday play-by-play commentator for the North American ESL Pro League. He also travels to Europe to work on ESL and ESEA-hosted events. Unlike his European counterparts, who have many casting partners to choose from, BLU has not found a consistent partner in NA. Nevertheless, his success is evident, having worked on the finals of the last two seasons of the ESL Pro League and attending ESL One Cologne 2016 as his first major casting event. In an interview with BLU, we discussed his experiences, the current state of CS:GO casting, and his thoughts on the NA scene.
Solo Casting Challenges and Enjoyment
BLU has taken on solo casting, which comes with its own challenges. He has to find a balance between avoiding dead air and not exhausting his voice. While challenging, BLU finds solo casting enjoyable and looks forward to taking on different events in a short period, as it breaks the monotony.
Casting in the Modern Era
BLU reflects on the changes in casting since he started in CS:GO. He mentions being much busier now compared to a year ago, with a packed schedule of events. Despite the workload, BLU loves what he does and enjoys traveling to different places for work.
The Transition to Casting Counter-Strike
BLU explains that he transitioned to casting Counter-Strike after losing interest in the game he previously casted (Guild Wars). He started playing CS:GO and got involved in the community. Eventually, he received an opportunity to become a CS:GO caster and decided to pursue it.
Oversaturation of Events: A Caster’s Perspective
BLU shares his thoughts on the oversaturation of events. While it adds more events to their schedules, it can have adverse effects on viewership. He believes the decline of skin gambling will help address this issue and lead to more varied event formats.
Memorable Moments and Casting Partners
BLU considers FlipSid3’s historic upset over NiP in the group stage of ESL One Cologne as his most memorable cast. He also mentions enjoying working with Vince “Metuz” Hill and finding chemistry with LeX. However, not having a consistent partner makes casting more challenging, as he needs to adapt to different people at each event.
Balancing Work and CS:GO Playing
BLU admits that he currently doesn’t have much time to play CS:GO due to his busy schedule. He feels limited in retaining mechanical skill because of restricted free time and constant traveling.
Impressive Players and Teams in the Pro League
BLU highlights Timothy “autimatic” Ta’s performance in Cloud9 and Wilton “zews” Prado’s surprising performance for Immortals. He also mentions Enkhtaivan “Machinegun” Lhakgv’s journey from Mongolia to Splyce. Among the teams, Cloud9 has exceeded expectations and become a frontrunner in NA CS:GO.
Qualifying for the Major and NA Team Impact
BLU believes Cloud9 has a chance to qualify for the major, but it will be tough for other NA teams. He highlights the strong competition from teams like NiP, mousesports, EnVyUs, FaZe, and G2.
Advice for Aspiring Casters
BLU advises aspiring casters to keep their schedules open, never say no to a job, and focus on consistency and luck. With dedication and luck, aspiring casters can get bigger opportunities in the CS:GO casting scene.
We thank Jason Mullen for his insights and wish him success in his future endeavors.