Beginners 101 – 5 tips to get started as a video game streamer

Video game streaming has exploded in popularity over the past few years with popular streamers entertaining us with the latest game releases on Twitch. Lots of PC gamers are turning to these streaming platforms to start their own streaming channels and grow a following thanks to the fact that its now easier than ever to become a streamer. The question is though, what does it require to start streaming PC games and what specs do you need to a streaming PC? Well, today we aim to answer some of those questions of how to stream on Twitch.

So, lets dive in and take a look at 5 tips to becoming a steamer.

Choose what kind of games you would like to stream

The first thing to do when wanting to start out is to decide what kind of games you would like to stream. This may sound like a bit trivial but it really is a crucial part of getting started as a streamer.

It is important that you enjoy the games that you please because this will come across to viewers that are watching you stream. If you enjoy the game that you are playing then you will be more enthusiastic about that game which will lead to a more uplifting vibe for your stream. 

If you are playing a game that you really don’t enjoy then that just takes the fun out of what you are doing and your viewers will notice this. 

It is critical that you enjoy streaming and that it doesn’t feel like a chore to you. The happier you are, the happier you come across to your viewers and the more they will enjoy your stream.

Make sure your gaming PC is streaming ready

The most important piece of the streaming puzzle is your gaming PC. In order to be able to play the latest games and also stream that to your viewers at a decent resolution you need to make sure that your PC is up to the task.

The 3 most important components when it comes to streaming are your CPU, Graphics Card and RAM. These are what will not only allow you to play your games at a high graphics quality setting but they are also what provide greater performance when streaming your gameplay on Twitch.

For your CPU we recommend that you look at something starting at around the of the Intel i5 9600K or the Ryzen 5 3600X or greater. As a minimum you will want some quality 16GB of RAM such as the AORUS RGB Memory and for your GPU you would want a minimum of a mid range card like the AORUS GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER.

Use the right streaming software for the job

In order to stream your gameplay to your audience on Twitch you need to use software that is specifically designed for streaming. This software is known as broadcasting software and it is what allows you to broadcast your game play in real-time.

There are two popular choices of broadcasting software that allow streamers to get started at no cost, and that is Open Broadcasting Software (OBS) and XSplit. OBS is completely free and gives you a great suite of functionality whilst XSplit offers some basic functionality for free with some powerful streaming features available at a low cost.

These broadcasting applications allow you to fully setup your channel with powerful video and audio features and allow for your content to be easily streamed to Twitch.

Audio quality matters

This is another big one, there is nothing worse than watching a stream only to find that the sound quality of the person talking is terrible. Save a few dollars and invest in a high quality microphone. Your viewers will thank you for it.

You can either get a headset with an inbuilt microphone or a standalone microphone. Either option is fine but make sure the quality of the audio is good.

Your audience wants to be able to hear you nice and clear and not have to deal with crackling audio issues, low speech volumes or other forms of audio distortion.

Getting a headset with inbuild mic like the AORUS H5 is a great cost effective option as it means that you can use the headset for other things besides streaming, allowing you to get greater use out of your purchase.

Think about who your audience will be

Lastly, think about exactly who your audience will be and try and style your gameplay and commentary around that. If you are a younger streamer that will be playing child friendly games then try and keep your stream in line with child friendly content. This will help you keep your current followers and gain new ones. Streaming platforms take a strong position against inappropriate content so it is always a good idea to be on the right side of the rules.

If you are an older gamer with a more mature audience then have a think about what your audience would like to watch. What kind of games are trending? What are other popular streamers putting out content wise? 

Be considerate of your audience, produce content that is targeted at what they like and what is appropriate and you will be able to grow your channel.

Bonus Tip – Ensure you have a good internet connection

Here is a little bonus tip for you. Make sure that you have a stable and fast internet connection. There is no point having everything else sorted out if your internet simply cant handle uploading your live stream to your audience.

It is not just about download speed, you need to ensure that you have a fast enough upload speed as well. The faster the internet connection, the better the streaming experience is for your viewers.

Learn More：

－Beginners 101 – What is a Motherboard

－Beginners 101 – What is a Graphics Card

－Beginners 101 – What is RAM

－Beginners 101 – What is SSD and HDD Storage

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