You may have noticed that the HeyYouVideoGame podcast and website has been silent for the past year. There’s a number of reasons why the podcast stopped and the posts here ceased, but the main reason is that we started streaming on Twitch. That’s right, HeyYouVideoGame has its own Twitch channel and we go live about twice a week.
Streaming on Twitch has been an eye opening experience, pushed us to be more creative, and has taken more time than I imagined since we started. With that said – it’s been a lot of fun streaming and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Have you thought about starting to stream? Maybe you’ve been considering it, but haven’t jumped in because you’re not sure it’s worth it. Will anyone show up? Will it be fun? Is streaming just a fad? You might have countless hesitations and questions, but in the end, I would say GO FOR IT.
Now with one year of experience of streaming under my belt, I wanted to give you three reasons why you should start streaming today!
Streaming is a Great Way to Make Gaming Friends
One of the most surprising aspects of streaming is the amount of people you meet. Once you start playing a game you’ll have people come out of the woodwork that enjoy the same video game, and some of them will want to play with you. While you don’t need to accept every offer, you’ll eventually make friends with viewers who play the same games as you.
I’ve found a number of people who I game with on (and off) stream that I truly enjoy. They’re kind, funny, and love the same stuff I do. If you’re looking for a gaming community, consider starting a stream!
Streaming Inspires Creativity
While I initially expected streaming to be all about gaming and only gaming, I was very wrong. Great streams are ran by creative individuals who bring in their personality, their creativity, and their talents into the mix. Prior to streams I’m brainstorming jokes, coming up with unique stream ideas, and crafting graphics and overlays for the stream.
If you’re a creative person, streaming would be a great fit for you!
Getting Started Isn’t as Hard as You Think
It can be overwhelming at the start, because you’re thinking of all the equipment and programs you’ll need to get started. In reality, you need a computer (or console) to game on, a quality microphone, and strong internet. Download OBS (free) to stream to Twitch. Watch a quick video on how to capture your gaming through OBS and broadcast to Twitch.
It seems confusing, but it really isn’t. You could be up and live in less than an hour if you started right now.
In Conclusion, you should start streaming
Anyways, if you’re looking for more help on how to stream I would suggest checking out Streamer Growth School. It’s a website dedicated to tips, tricks, and advice on how to grow a stream. There’s videos, articles, blogs, and even podcast episodes helping people get started with streaming and building a thriving community. One of the more recent articles is on how to gain viewers on Twitch. Give it a read!