Have you ever noticed that streamers tend to be really good at the games they play? And have you ever wondered how they get so good at these games? In this article we will touch on how streamers get so good at gaming and whether or not you need to be good at a game in order to be a good streamer.
How are Streamers so Good at the Games They Play?
Streamers tend to be really good at the games they play because they spend so much time playing these games. Full-time streamers for example will spend dozens of hours every week playing a certain game and so it is more than likely that they will be better at that game than the casual gamer who just plays for fun.
Now imagine if you spent 8+ hours a day gaming; don’t you think that you would be a much better gamer? If you got paid to play hours everyday I can almost guarantee that your gaming skills would improve drastically.
Besides spending so much time gaming, many streamers also stick to one genre of games, for example FPS or Fighting. This makes it easier for them to bounce around to different games and still be relatively decent at a game because they aren’t starting from nothing.
Also, many people who are really good at the game they play tend to have larger followings on live streaming platforms and so you may notice them more. For example, remember Ninja’s Twitch channel when Fortnite was at its peak?
Ninja was the best Fortnite player, on possibly the most popular game ever, and would average well over 100k people on his Fortnite streams daily. It was one of the craziest things I have ever seen.
But just because a lot of streamers tend to be good at the games they play, is being good at a game required to grow as a streamer?
Do Streamers Have to be Good at the Games They Play?
Streamers do not have to be good at the games they play in order to be successful. It is far more important to be entertaining and to connect with your viewers than it is to be good at a certain game. Many big time streamers are not good at the games they play, but they are entertaining and so they are able to be successful.
Streamers such as TimTheTatman or Dr. Disrespect for example are not the best gamers. Not even close. But these streamers are super entertaining and fun to watch and so people stick around for that.
Now I don’t think you can be completely terrible at a game you consistently play either. I think you do have to be somewhat decent, but you don’t have to be some high skilled, high level player in order to attract people to your stream.
But I will say that if you are not very entertaining, then yes, you will want to be a beast at the game you play. If you are not very good at your game, and you are not very entertaining, then why are people going to want to watch your streams?
Being really good at a game and winning a few tournaments is also a great way to get your name out there as an up and coming streamer. Although being good at a game is not a requirement, it certainly does not hurt if you are trying to grow.
Being good at a game can often attract people who want to see your gameplay. But I think it is easier to connect with your audience than it is to dominate at a game. Also, if you can get people to stick around for you the streamer, you will have a support system no matter what you decide to stream.
Sadly, when you are super talented at a certain game, people will only stick around to watch you play that certain game because they don’t feel a connection to you the streamer. That’s just the way it is. So try to have a balance of both and you’ll be fine!
Why is Game Streaming so Popular?
Game streaming has become so popular in recent years because people enjoy watching streamers play video games while talking to the streamer and other people viewing the stream. It is like a live virtual hang out for those in the stream.
I know it sounds weird right? Who would want to watch someone play video games? Well, don’t knock it until you try it. I used to think the same thing, but now I love the live streaming platforms like Twitch and Youtube.
I enjoy watching these live streams because for one, there are so many super entertaining streamers out there and two, some of these streamers are super good at the games they play and so it helps me to learn and see what is effective.
Again, like I mentioned at the top, having people who are live and interact with is super cool. Watching streamers is pretty fun, but what about being a streamers yourself.
Is Being a Streamer Fun?
Streaming is definitely a fun thing to do. Not only do you get to meet a ton of people, you also get to do things like play video games and customize your stream. If you are into video editing or graphic design then there is so much for you to do as a live streamer.
Earlier this year I dedicated myself more to streaming and it has been a lot of fun. I have met a lot of cool people and it has given me an excuse to game more.
I have also enjoyed editing my stream with new overlays, new alerts, new lighting, better cameras, etc. etc. Right now I have a pretty decent setup up that includes everything from an El Gato Stream Deck to a GoXLR.
Honestly, some of the changes and upgrades you make off the stream are just as fun as streaming itself. I am kind of a nerd and so investing in all these things is kind of cool to me. I have really enjoyed streaming this year.
Not to mention the fact that I have met some pretty cool people this year in my streams.
I think that if you go into streaming with the mindset that you just want to stream for fun, and that whatever happens happens, then you will enjoy streaming a lot more. I think streamers who go into it wanting to be the next big thing are often let down and quit because they fail to reach their lofty goals.
Enjoy yourself. Focus on making great content no matter who is watching and if you are consistent, you will definitely grow. And even if you don’t, if you are just having fun streaming, then that is the most important thing.
Streaming should be fun and so if you are struggling to enjoy streaming then you are doing something wrong.
As always, if you have any questions or just want to hang with me, stop by my Twitch channel here and say what’s up!
For even more streaming tips and how-to content check out my Youtube channel here. And if you want to check out my streams then stop by my Twitch channel here.
In the end, streamers tend to be good at the games they play because of how often they play. But the good news is that you do not have to be the best at a game, as long as you are entertaining then people will stick around your streams.
Eric streams 3 days a week on Twitch and uploads weekly to Youtube under the moniker, StreamersPlaybook. He loves gaming, PCs, and anything else related to tech. He’s the founder of the website StreamersPlaybook and loves helping people answer their streaming, gaming, and PC questions.
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