I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts that I don’t play video games, but I avidly watch other people play games. My focus is on the story of the game or the artwork of the game, and how the gamer plays the game. So, I would watch on YouTube primarily, and then that connected me to Twitch.
Twitch is a live streaming service for gamers to play games and broadcast their game play publicly and as they play. It can also keep record of past broadcasts for you to watch after the original. Out of curiosity, I tuned in as one of the YouTubers I subscribe to posted that he was live streaming via Twitch, and I haven’t stopped since. I am currently writing this post with Twitch playing in the background.
I haven’t watched many broadcasters outside of who I already knew from YouTube, like Ohmwrecker as shown above. But what’s interesting about Twitch is that it gives you the ability to not only follow hosts and channels, but also follow games you like. So if you love watching Rainbow Six Siege, you can follow it via Twitch and be notified when someone starts streaming it.
There are two ways to follow a broadcaster: follow and subscribe. Following is free, and all you receive is an email notification when they go live. A subscribe is a paid monthly subscription that gives special access to emotes for chat, access to subscriber only chats, and also has a portion of that profit shared with the broadcaster. It is great to get special access and all that, but having a portion of your payment to subscribe given to the broadcaster is really cool cause you get to support your favorite creators.
Some streamers also have it setup to donate via Paypal or Twitch Alerts, so then they get more of what you want to give. I’ve used this method so I can more easily control my donation, which they deserve, in my opinion.
It’s pretty likely that your favorite gamers on YouTube are streaming, whether it is on Twitch of YouTube. But Twitch, I think, is better setup for a viewer to enjoy, and you can find other great streamers who aren’t on YouTube. Twitch has also started it’s own convention, so it’s possible to meet the streamers you watch too.
And if you are more of the play the games yourself type, you can broadcast yourself and show off your skills. Maybe potentially become a partner and get money.
What games have you enjoyed watching or playing? Share in the comments below.
I don’t watch a lot of streamers, but then I found out there is a blue Muppet named Bennyfits that streams on Twitch. It is the best.
That sounds amazing!