"Oh look at me! I'm a grill playing Warcraft! LOL how does this work, guys?"
Low cut shirts, caked-on makeup, full of giggles while the web-cam is bigger than the game window.
What the heck did I just describe? Am I describing myself? The other women that stream?
Video game streaming is blowing up right now. Both men and women stream their games and their faces on webcams while hundreds of viewers critique their skill and their personality in a chat room.
I started streaming last December. I put on the makeup. I pressed play in World of Warcraft, and I raided while talking to my friends over the internet. Immediately, my ex flipped a bird. "They're looking into your bedroom while you're playing video games!"
I started streaming last December. I put on the makeup. I pressed play in World of Warcraft, and I raided while talking to my friends over the internet. Immediately, my ex flipped a bird. "They're looking into your bedroom while you're playing video games!"
Yeah, they are looking into my bedroom while I play video games.
Does it matter, though?
Does it matter that I enjoy wearing makeup and feeling pretty while I game? That I enjoy laughing with my viewers?
This is something I've been struggling with ever since I started streaming. I want to be recognized for my expertise at playing a game I view as challenging. I've had my 10,000 hours in World of Warcraft and then some. I've played from multiple perspectives, both casually and competitively. I've gone from playing the least female-dominated class to arguably the largest female-dominated class in the game, experiencing all of the reactions that go along with being a tank and being a healer.
This is something I've been struggling with ever since I started streaming. I want to be recognized for my expertise at playing a game I view as challenging. I've had my 10,000 hours in World of Warcraft and then some. I've played from multiple perspectives, both casually and competitively. I've gone from playing the least female-dominated class to arguably the largest female-dominated class in the game, experiencing all of the reactions that go along with being a tank and being a healer.
At the same time, I want to be personable. Accessible. Engaging. I love interacting with my viewers and sharing a passion for the game I've had so many fond memories in while playing.
I'm a woman in the streaming world. Does that make me different? A commodity? Honestly I have no idea. Guys and girls who stream get more views than me.
At first I didn't take donations. I thought people who took donations were cheap, and the perceived value of gaming was little to nothing. It wasn't until a few friends I had made insisted they help me out that I made a paypal account, and I was surprised that people were willing to assist me with keeping myself online.
The woman I was talking about at the beginning of this post: I don't care if she's giggling or what she's wearing. Streaming is entertainment. She's entertaining.
What strikes me is that men and women alike put an immense amount of work into their gaming skill and expertise. Unfortunately, much of their work is not returned to them in the form of follows, donations, or interactions unlike entertaining streamers that can live off of the compensation they get from donors.
A huge part of the reason I believe these streamers aren't seeing a return is because they simply aren't captivating enough to retain a steady viewer base.
Long story short, I need to find that medium of being skillful and entertaining.
We'll see what my channel will look like in the next few months. I'm planning on having a concert on it once my sound channels are set up. I think music and gaming have an immense amount of synergy that will work well in my streaming environment. ;) Time will tell!
What are your thoughts on "gamer girls", specifically in terms of streaming? When you see a woman streaming, do you click the channel because they're playing your favorite game or do you choose to watch it because the streamer is female?
Gamers in the MA area: if you'd like to be ON my stream let me know! Twitch is all about socializing and what better way to do it than in person in front of a live audience?
A huge part of the reason I believe these streamers aren't seeing a return is because they simply aren't captivating enough to retain a steady viewer base.
Long story short, I need to find that medium of being skillful and entertaining.
We'll see what my channel will look like in the next few months. I'm planning on having a concert on it once my sound channels are set up. I think music and gaming have an immense amount of synergy that will work well in my streaming environment. ;) Time will tell!
What are your thoughts on "gamer girls", specifically in terms of streaming? When you see a woman streaming, do you click the channel because they're playing your favorite game or do you choose to watch it because the streamer is female?
Gamers in the MA area: if you'd like to be ON my stream let me know! Twitch is all about socializing and what better way to do it than in person in front of a live audience?
