Tips / Suggestions for Twitch Streamers

[Tex Murphy]

First, if you're a Twitch streamer, thank you for streaming! The JBPP games are super fun and accessible thanks to awesome people like you! Twitch streamers have every right to stream however they want to, but I try to only join Twitch games of JBPP streamers that do the following:

1. I like streamers that visually only show 100% of the game, and that's it...

The streamers I like the best don't clutter their screen with unnecessarily garbage, such as a camera view of themselves (sorry but I don't care what you look like), text and graphics that cover up the game's graphics, and streamer boarders that end up making the game screen smaller. I am sometimes okay with the chat output being displayed, but only if it's very small and doesn't cover anything that's vital to the game.

2. I like streamers that use balanced volume levels for both their voice AND the game...

Some streamers make their voice loud but have the game's volume set so that's it's barely audible, which is a shame since Jackbox Games' music, voice acting, and sound effects are super top notch.

3. I like when the stream is 1080p...

It's 2017, but I realize not everyone's connection can properly do 1080p. But if you can, please do.


Basically, I just want to appreciate the excellent graphics, audio, and production values that the JBPP games provide. If I become a streamer, I will definitely adhere to the above. If you're a Twitch streamer, thank you for streaming! Feel free to take this thread into account or ignore it, but keep in mind that when there's tons of JBPP games on Twitch being streamed simultaneously, I tend to be very selective. :-)

[beard0mega]

Just want to comment on this one as a streamer:

1. I can understand the clutter, I do not like using overlays and I don't like watching streams if they use too many of them. But you're definitely in the minority when it comes to having a cam. Everytime that I don't use a cam there's 9 out of 10 viewers asking "where's the cam?". A lot of viewers like to relate with a streamer, and unless you have an amazing unique voice or personality you aren't going to project yourself like you can with a cam.

2. Volume is a finicky thing about streaming, your volume settings can be perfect for one game but complete garbage for another. A lot of new streamers aren't usually thinking about sound as much as they think about video quality, which brings us to the next point;

3. Video quality. Non-partnered people would love to stream in 1080p...looooove to. But they can't do it. Not because of their internet quality, but because when you aren't partnered, twitch will not give you the required bandwith to allow users to change quality settings of your stream. If 15% of my followers are constantly buffering, especially in games like jackbox, because they have terrible internet and cannot watch 1080p 30-60fps streams and I can't give them the option to lower the quality I am alienating them. It sucks for many small streamers that want amazing quailty, but we have to work with what we are given.

Hope this helps answering some of your questions/concerns. Start streaming as soon as you can, don't even think about it if you have the proper gear now. Keep your investment low at first and you'll enjoy it. :D

[Gerk]

1. Basedsandwich is correct, more people generally prefer a cam versus those who prefer no cam, with a nice mass of people completely neutral/indifferent on the matter. (Though I will move/hide my cam when it blocks key elements on a game-by-game basis.)

2. Still trying to find a good in-game sound balance; any feedback on that would be appreciated.

3. Jackbox runs natively at 1280x720. 720p will suffice, especially with how fickle Twitch is doling out quality options.

[Tex Murphy]

Thank you both for the responses. That really puts things into perspective. For example, I didn't know the Jackbox games were 720p since they look so crystal clear, or that Twitch had different bandwidth tiers that varied by the streamer.

You both sound like great streamers so I hope you add your links to the Broadcasting Links page:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/610180/discussions/0/1484358860953977083/