Livestreaming: The New Gaming Norm?

Video gaming is hot right now. It's fun. It's affordable. It's turning hobbies into careers. According to the annual gamer breakdown by Big Fish Games, 155 million Americans play video games three or more hours every week--and it's not just the kids. The average age of gamers is 35. They are about equally divided between males and females. They aren't just playing video games. They're ad-libbing through the action as they live stream to millions of viewers who regularly tune in to see what's next on their favorite gamer's agenda--with the cream of the crop earning big bucks.

Why Do Some Gamers Succeed And Others Don't?

Gaming is big business. So how do the elite do it? What separates the video game broadcaster streaming favorite races live on YouTube and the viral, sponsored, gamers on streaming sites like Twitch? They know their audience. They do their research. Successful broadcasters know what's popular and why a particular game is hitting the sweet spot with gamers. The games they choose aren't obscure or old. Tired games don't get votes or likes. Their once active communities have gone on to the next big thing: the game and gamer of the moment.

Watch a few of the broadcast elite who have millions of followers. What else do they have in common besides understanding their audience? They have the stamina to keep talking through fast-paced games. They have a "shtick" or on-air personality that's consistent and can play the game with their eyes closed, yet engage their audience with fresh, shareable content that goes viral. And yes, they are competitive, geared toward that 35-year-old demographic--and that demographic often tries their hand emulating their favorite gamers and playing the games they love.

Streaming Sites That Gamers And Their Audiences Love

While it's true that some streaming sites are geared toward adult audiences (like Twitch), social networking sites and video sites like YouTube tend to draw younger crowds trying their hand at livestreaming. They are great places to find online mentoring and research with parental approval. Here's a sampling of some of the more popular sites where you can stream video games, or anything else for that matter.

• Twitch
• Periscope
• YouTube
• Facebook
• Beam

Then there's fun sites that allow video game broadcast voting.

There's no doubt that gaming is slated to be big business as technology creates less lag-time in the streaming process and more ways to provide connectivity through mobile devices and the Internet of Things. Interactive livestreaming will likely increase in complexity and audiences will be waiting in the wings for the next big thing in gaming and for their newest favorite gamer. It's the norm to come that's already here.