Things to Consider Before Starting a Gaming Channel
Browsing through all the gamers on Twitch or YouTube can make you a little envious. Why do they get to spend all their time playing games and you don’t? Well, it’s a brave new world, one where playing Mario Kart can even be a job description.
But it’s a highly oversaturated market. You will be one of millions of players who just chose to turn on their webcam while they were playing with their friends and thought it might be fun to join the likes of Ninja and PewDiePie and all the other gamers you watched growing up.
Before you grab that headset and get started, read on for our list of things you should consider before diving into the gaming industry. There is more to it than just playing and seeing what happens. If you actually want eyes on you, you will have to think a little more about it.
What is your brand?
And then there is your brand to think of. Why should anyone watch you?
Twitch and YouTube are dripping with gamers playing to millions of fans. Why should any of those fans watch you instead? Is your wit going to be your selling point, like PewDiePie? Or the trash-talking Dr Disrespect? Or is it your “genuine” nature like we once thought of CallMeCarson? Or your outlandish style, like Belle Delphine? Or do you have a team of friends you can build a great rapport with, like Pokimane, Valkyrae and the rest of The OfflineTV house?
Think about what games you are considering. You will have to play them a lot and often, so they better be something you have a passion for. Do you like exploring? Take a look at open-world games? Or do you like strategy or working in a team? You might prefer something in the battle royale genre. Recently there has been an explosion of slot machine and gambling related streamers on platforms such as Twitch. Big viewerships and even sponsorships have driven high numbers to the streams, so have a look at review sites like OnlineCasinos to get bonuses on your deposits if you wanted to dive in and explore this route for yourself.
There is the option of dotting all over the place, playing many different games. You can even review new games, but audiences prefer consistency, and switching up games will have some people uninterested.
Or rather, an algorithm prefers consistency. If you are going to be seen you’re going to have to adhere to the almighty algorithm, which, as any gamer will tell you, is easier said than done. Once you have your brand, you will need to know how to market yourself. Gaming is almost exclusively an online industry, and you will need to learn the difference between online marketing and traditional media marketing. As much as you might think it’s about keeping a healthy social media account, and you’ve got that nailed, it’s also about data and ratings on Google and a million other boring things.
You can follow guides online or go the extra mile by taking a course in it. A lot of subscription-based classes offer digital marketing as a course.
Do you have the right gear?
The main setback for most gamers is hardware. If you and your Xbox have been through thick and thin your entire life, your Xbox might experience sibling rivalry as you come home with a gaming computer.
Sure, you can broadcast your gameplay with a Twitch and using Twitch bots you can maximize the audience, but PlayStation has a habit of sometimes blocking streaming entirely, with companies like Persona 5’s Atlas including in-game functions that stop their titles being streamed.
If you don’t want to have to understand what the WASD keys actually do, you can use a controller by plugging that into your computer. Get a hold of a headset with a microphone and a webcam set on you to make sure your personality sparkles through.
Those are the basics. There are other considerations including high-resolution monitors, stereo speakers, a computer chair, a backlit keyboard etc. But you should make sure your computer has a gaming CPU to keep it performing at its best, quietly, while you play.
As you can probably guess, all of that will add up. Becoming a professional gamer will need investment. You can do it all at once or attempt to pay as you grow. Hopefully, if you’re already into gaming, a lot of this you’ll already have.
Don’t forget your own health
Unlike gaming, you can’t just swallow a particular potion and instantly become an Adonis that doctors will present as an example of perfect health. Plus, unfortunately carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t the only thing that can affect you.
A few hours of practice a day can mean sitting in one position for hours. Have you seen Emma? The model of office workers of the future? She got that way by spending hours at a desk. Sound familiar?
You won’t want her hunched back, varicose veins, swollen limbs, and rotund stomach from spending all day in your gaming chair – or the health problems that come with sitting for an extended period like lower back pain, obesity, cancer, dementia, and heart disease.
There are ways to avoid Emma’s lifestyle, thankfully. Make sure to keep a proper posture when sitting and exercise regularly. Hold yourself to the same standard you would expect an employer to and give yourself regular breaks. You can walk around your room and simply stretch to avoid some pain.
And there may have been a joke about carpal tunnel syndrome above, but it can be a pain. You can do regular stretches every time you have a free hand to keep it from cramping up all the time. Stretch and flex your hand often by making a fist and then releasing it and stretching your fingers straight out. Repeat this 5-10 times.
Not to mention a diet consisting entirely of energy drinks isn’t the best idea. Gamers may peddle the stuff, but you’d be better off with a steady stream of water. Wouldn’t the sugar crashes, the energy slumps and the resulting caffeine withdrawal hinder your performance rather than help? Plus, after 7-12 days of regularly drinking it, you’ll become accustomed and won’t feel the effects as well. And doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose?
