What Is Streaming?
The childhood fantasy of playing in the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the World Series…most people of any age can relate. Either they’ve had the fantasy themselves or they’re very aware of it. As a kid I dreamed of ice hockey glory, but, like the vast majority of people whose passion lies in sports, I had no real hope of it becoming a reality. The path to entry was long and arduous, filled with barriers of physical, geographical, and logistical natures. I played a bit in high-school, but then it came to an end.
So what about the kids whose interests lied elsewhere…like video gaming? There was no “end-game” if you will. No dream to be had beyond beating a game. Parents called it a waste of time…but how can spending time on your passion REALLY be a waste? The desire to move gaming from it’s early roots into a mature industry lay dormant in the minds of many children. Most moved on as they grew older, went to college, and started careers as accountants, technicians, medical professionals, or whatever, but thanks to advances in technology and the efforts of people like Justin Kan (founder of twitch.tv) and the founders of YouTube, a new reality emerged.
“Streaming,” as it is commonly called, refers to streaming video games over the internet for the purpose of viewing by an audience. Twitch.tv was built around this. The younger generations totally get the appeal of if, but I’ll spell it out for the older generations: Imagine if you will that you loved football as a kid. You played on your middle school team. You understand the game. The reality though is that you were never going to make the NFL. Your passion still lies in the game, even though you are nowhere near one of the best…but you can WATCH the best on Sundays and you can still enjoy the gameplay because you understand it and you’ve been there. Make Sense?
This is the appeal of streaming. I can watch someone play Call of Duty that is WAY better than me. I can appreciate their skill level, find joy in their accomplishments, and cheer for them the whole way. Like with traditional sports, the air time for streamers tends to be fairly regular, so I can look forward to watching at certain times on certain days, and if I miss it, I can watch the recording.
Streaming video games for spectator content grew in conjunction with the development of e-sports, or competitive gaming leagues. These have been the two biggest leaps in the viability of gaming as a career.
But wait…GAMING…A CAREER?
This is where it all ties in. Gaming is now a viable option as a career. If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, take a look at Tyler “Ninja” Blevins who earned $17 Million in 2019, or PewDiePie who earned $15 Million that same year, all from playing video games. The money can come from league play and competitions as well as other sources. One example is the first ever Fortnite World Cup with its payout of $3 Million to first place. However, much of the pro-gamers (or streamers’) income comes from the community that they build through interaction during play while streaming.
Streamers on Twitch can qualify to charge subscriptions to their channel in different tiers ($5, $10, and $25, roughly). The community is built through chatting during gameplay, getting to know the streamer, and experiencing the heartbreaks and accomplishments of the streamer through the gaming journey. The community feels a connection with the streamer and genuinely wants to support them. As the channel grows in popularity, the more subs there are, and the bigger the financial support for the gamer. Once a streamer becomes popular enough, ads are played during downtime on the channel and the streamer gets ad revenue based on the number of eyeballs on the screen. Combine these sources of revenue and you’re a Pro-Gamer!
The term Pro-Gamer isn’t necessarily the one most often used. That’s why we call them Streamers. Many successful gamers/streamers aren’t necessarily the best at any one game. Most of them are okay, or maybe a little better than okay. The point of differentiation lies in their connection to their own audience. A YouTuber friend of mine (with over 3M subs) once said, “Just post. Do it now. It doesn’t matter what you’re using to create your content, just post. If you’re consistent, your audience will find you, and they’ll stay.” He was telling me to build my audience, which is what I’ve found to be the proven formula to success with streaming of any content, and the best way to bring value.
To summarize: Streaming is the best way to become a Pro-Gamer and make a living with your passion for video games. Even if you don’t make a living with it, streaming can be an excellent side hustle. I mean, you’re gaming anyway right? Might as well share your story with some cool people that will appreciate you.