How does Valorant measure up with Volcano’s vision for an FPS?

Valorant delivers exceptional gameplay for participants, yet its abrupt transition into competitive esports without mature spectating infrastructure presents a puzzling scenario. This becomes particularly intriguing considering that Valorant’s senior game designer previously compelled Valve to integrate comprehensive observer systems into Counter-Strike Global Offensive approximately eight years earlier.

CSGO maintains remarkable viewer accessibility due to its straightforward competitive structure. The core gameplay involves two five-player squads competing to secure 16 round victories first. While the title contains sophisticated tactical elements, CSGO’s widespread appeal stems significantly from its clean competitive framework and advanced toolset that enables professional observers to capture crucial moments seamlessly. For this viewing excellence, audiences owe gratitude to Sal “Volcano” Garozzo.

Valorant matches CSGO in spectator comprehension, yet Riot required nearly four months to deploy observation features that made broadcasts both engaging and operator-friendly. This timeline appears unusual given that the same designer who pioneered CSGO’s X-Ray technology now occupies a leadership position on Valorant’s development team.

Volcano outlined the best tools of observing in CSGO

Real talk: 1.11 has been a technical nightmare.

In 30 minutes, we’ll be rolling back the patch for North America, Brazil, and LATAM (one at a time). We’re also delaying all other regions until we get a fix. We know we’ve said this every patch, but thanks for sticking by. [1/2]

— VALORANT (@PlayVALORANT) October 27, 2020

In a groundbreaking July 21, 2012 blog publication, Volcano detailed the precise requirements for transforming CSGO into a spectator-optimized experience. Foundational elements like team health indicators, equipment displays, and flashbang duration trackers all originated from this seminal document. CSGO’s iconic X-Ray functionality also debuted here, coupled with the capability for observers to rapidly switch between competitors using numeric key assignments. Valve incorporated all of Volcano’s recommendations, which have since evolved into industry benchmarks throughout the first-person shooter category. His proposed solutions now appear self-evident in retrospect.

“Shoutcasters maximize their coverage of available action using provided resources, yet the task remains tremendously challenging. Monitoring the comprehensive map overview works well for tracking round progression, but when engagements intensify, selecting the optimal player perspective becomes exceptionally difficult,” Volcano explained in the original post.

Why didn’t his ideas make it into Valorant after release?

Best recognized for his contributions to CSGO’s Cache map, Volcano dedicated years to level design and systematic game analysis following his own successful competitive career. Currently, he’s been employed at Riot Games for five years, primarily working on Valorant as one of the title’s senior game designers. Although players initially expressed concerns about Valorant’s map layouts, the community has adapted to navigating the confined spaces within its arenas. However, one component remains conspicuously underdeveloped compared to other game aspects: Valorant’s observation capabilities.

They better start to think about it with the new FPS from Riot in works. Heard that it was a copy of CS or something. Would explain why Volcano is working there… https://t.co/GDeqCE0tAD

— neL (@neLendirekt) April 15, 2018

Was Valorant’s release rushed?

During Valorant’s summer 2020 debut, Riot’s beta access initiative attracted millions of viewers to Twitch streams hoping to gain entry. However, as the game’s official launch concluded and its competitive framework was promptly announced and initiated, the title missed several critical functionalities. Heather ‘sapphiRe’ Garozzo, arguably the most seasoned FPS observer ever, highlighted Valorant’s unusual spectating systems through social media commentary addressing these omissions. Additionally, since sapphiRe and Volcano are married partners, Volcano undoubtedly comprehended the significance his tools held for professional broadcast observers.

I’m onto my 11th page of notes and sketches on how to improve the @PlayVALORANT spectator experience ????

— Heather ‘sapphiRe’ Garozzo (@sapphiReGG) August 7, 2020

It’s perplexing that Valorant’s observation teams confronted problems like arbitrarily allocated number keys for competitors when Volcano not only established the spectating methodology guidebook, but is wedded to an individual who has both competed professionally and accumulated what likely amounts to thousands of hours observing and refining the abilities necessary to broadcast esports at elite levels.

No single individual developed Valorant independently, yet Volcano’s participation in its creation combined with the spectating tool absence prompts inquiries regarding the game’s unexpected announcement and distribution. Regrettably, unless Riot chooses to clarify the title’s production timeline and missing observer features, enthusiasts will probably remain with these unresolved concerns.

• Riot announces tournament circuit for Valorant pro teams in 2021

Riot’s esports-oriented game release originally omitted even elementary free-camera modes for spectators. Subsequent enhancements to the viewing experience have boosted the game’s broadcast quality, but these upgrades don’t account for their initial nonexistence. As Valorant’s competitive events populate the schedule, it represents an inquiry deserving resolution.

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