Adding simple improvements to my twitch stream has been on my ever-expanding list of things to do. I started streaming 10 years ago and in that time span, the streaming “META” has evolved vastly. Stepping away from streaming for just a year would make it hard to keep up with the latest trends. Therefore my vacation for three years made me have to start from scratch.
Sometimes stepping away from what you are doing is a good thing though. Taking a break from streaming allowed me to reset and gain a new perspective on the craft. Evaluating where we can make improvements can be difficult. We usually find one way of doing things and find it hard to make adjustments later. Admitting you were wrong is damaging to the Ego, but that is where perspective has helped me.
Struggles
Before adding simple improvements to my twitch stream, I got caught up in the daily grind of streaming. Streaming for long periods can feel productive, but it’s often a detriment to growth. Growth in terms of viewership and in streaming skills. It’s sad that Hustle Culture is so pervasive in even a place like gaming. While I’m not saying you shouldn’t work hard, streaming and gaming shouldn’t be a grind. We do these things because they are enjoyable.
It was a large struggle in my life that made me see when I was once blind. My streaming vacation allowed me to pinpoint problems in my stream.
- Long streams cause fatigue and quality dips as a result.
- I only used 1 of 8 emote slots.
- My chat interaction and gameplay narration skills are subpar.
- Branding and presentation are below standard.
- I should edit Stream VODs and transform them into other content.
Kaizen
I love the Japanese ideology of Kaizen or constant improvement. Having so many improvements to make is overwhelming. However, we climb mountains one step at a time. Over the past month, I was able to add these simple improvements to my twitch stream.
Follower Emotes
Follower Emotes are fun ways that your chat can interact with you on stream. It’s a subtle way that chat can interact with you without spending anything.
My stream needs a branding overhaul sometime, but APEX Legends is a central focus of my stream. As someone on the spectrum, it can be hard for me to be fun and spontaneous. In high school, we used photoshop to do silly things like this. For the first time in years, I laughed and giggled like a child while using photoshop. In gaming, you become the character. It’s a subtle nod into the deep psychology of becoming something else in the game.
SUB Emotes
Subscriber Emotes are a way you can add value to subbing to you even while you don’t have a stream running. Because Apex Legends is at the heart of my steam, I focused on making wattson Emotes. I thought it would be a good opportunity to work on my art and design skills while also pushing toward improving my stream.
Stream Overlay and Presentation
Before my stream had nothing but the webcam, but I’ve added some things here and there to help with my presentation. The overlay and trackers at the bottom help to add to the “professional look”. It was also a chance to once again level up and use my design skills to make the overlay look like APEX’s design language. There are still things I’d like to adjust but overall a good improvement.
Conclusion
Adding Simple Improvements to My Twitch Stream isn’t some sort of magic key that will unlock all my life’s aspirations. Doing a little bit every day is the only true way you can attain what you want. Improving at the game, chat interaction skills, and my content production pipeline is things that will level up over time. But taking the time to think about and act on the deficiencies in your craft can only be a good thing.
Take it easy,
LBMarco ♥🦥
