Streaming games requires you to take a couple of steps and gather the appropriate equipment to make the experience smooth and enjoyable for you and your viewers. Before you turn your passion for video games into your full-pledged job, consider following these tips to get you started:

Have A Game Plan In Place All great plans begin with a clear-cut goal in mind. As a first-timer, you must know what games you want to stream. You'll encounter many streamers playing games of various genres, so it's a cutthroat competition to gain subscribers. Hence, picking a particular genre will help narrow competitors by a slight margin. You'll also benefit from playing exciting games and won't force yourself to enjoy something you don't like.

First-person shooting (FPS) games are believed to be pretty popular on streaming platforms. If you like these games or are good at playing them, the next challenge would be how to stand out from the others who play the same games. Some streamers have quirks or unique talents that attract viewers. Meanwhile, others have good marketing skills to get their name known.

You can study established streamers by watching their videos or clips you can download using a video-on-demand tool like Twitch VOD downloader. Observe how they interact with their audience and how these players make their livestreams enjoyable enough for viewers to watch them for hours.

Get A Gaming PC
Streamers invest in top-tier equipment to handle games that are big on disk space and have high frame rates. If you're still using your old laptop or personal computer (PC), it's time to replace these before you start streaming. But there are several instances of popular game streamers who began their career with simple hardware and eventually upgraded to something better.


Gaming PCs come in different prices and styles. It's at your discretion what brand and model you choose. But if you plan to play and stream on one device, it's best to pick a PC that can handle both tasks simultaneously. Choose one that allows the highest video definition possible, like 1080p and up. Most streamers play games on this resolution since it's clearer on live video.

Nonetheless, note that higher resolutions often demand a faster Internet connection. So aside from focusing on your gaming hardware, consider your current bandwidth, too.

Stock Up On Peripherals
Having a good-quality camera is also essential for a game streamer. While some viewers don't always focus on the player's face during a livestream, it's still nice to see an actual person playing a game they like. Using external cameras, like a vlogging camera, over a built-in webcam usually makes for better videos that match the quality of the game on-screen. Just plug in your device and play.

Another item you should invest in is a microphone. Depending on your budget or desk space, you can purchase clip-on lapel mics or standing microphones with a pop filter. Some streamers don't talk much while playing, but if you'd like to interact with your audience, it's recommended that you get a good microphone so viewers can always hear you loud and clear.

Choose A Streaming Engine
Besides the equipment set-up, you can't stream your gameplay if you don't have a program to record your on-screen activity. Streaming engines aren't required, but they're helpful for streamers who want to turn their hobby of playing video games into a money-making career. These apps allow you to customize your output screen, add graphics, and enable green-screen effects to make your streaming channel stand out and more fun to watch.

Interact With Your Viewers
Whether you play a popular title or something more obscure, you will have at least one viewer watching you. They may not leave you messages every minute, but it's nice to acknowledge their presence and thank them, especially when they finally click the Follow or Subscribe button.

Don't hesitate to talk to them to grow your audience and form a better relationship with them. Stream viewers have limited ways to communicate, usually through chat or speech-to-text, but they'll feel appreciated if you interact with them as if they were in the same room. You don't have to speak during the entire duration of your stream. After all, most viewers expect an excellent player to focus well.

Cutscenes and loading screens are perfect times to talk to your audience. These are the best moments to answer their questions, narrate random anecdotes about your life, or chat about anything under the sun.

Playing casual games allows you to interact more with your viewers too. But if you can play and talk simultaneously, grab the opportunity. Your audience will find you more entertaining that way with the current state of web streaming.

Conclusion
Streaming games is an excellent way to earn some money while doing something you enjoy. You can begin your streaming journey with the proper equipment and mindset. There will be bumps along the way, and success may not come to you immediately. But you'll still be doing something not everyone's willing to try. That is a bold move you'll cherish in the future once your audience grows and shows their adoration for you.