Chapter 1

Welcome to the World of Twitch

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discovering what streaming is

Finding out what Twitch is

Creating a Twitch account

Following and subscribing to Twitch channels

You ever look around and think, How did I get here? I know - that's a fairly deep question to kick off a For Dummies book, but I've been doing this a lot lately. Technology, on the whole, is pretty awe-inspiring in how it evolves over such a short amount of time. When you find your niche, it's also amazing to see how advancements that were considered out of reach, if not impossible, are now plug-and-play or a quick click of an OK button away.

Maybe that's how you're feeling right now about this copy of Twitch For Dummies. How did I get here? Maybe you've heard of Twitch before, and you quickly dismissed it because you're not a gamer. Or maybe you are very familiar with Twitch, and you're thinking, "Yes, It's my time." On the surface, Twitch may appear to be a gamer's haven reserved for mouse-and-keyboard warriors with lightning-quick reflexes. Look a little deeper, beyond the Call of Duty and League of Legends channels, and you will find streamers who have made some impression in society by raising money for charity, teaching audiences how to cook carnitas, recording podcasts on science, politics, or pop culture, and even helping others in their creative or personal development endeavors. (See Figure 1-1.)

Whatever the reason, you're here. You are ready to get your game, your passion, or message out to the world. So I'm going to help you set yourself up on the platform that takes content creation to another level.

FIGURE 1-1: Twitch is known for gaming, but it also features creatives of all backgrounds sharing their passions on an interactive platform.

One way to decide what kind of stream you want to host is to take a look at other streamers and see how they present their content. You can keep it simple, make a wish list of tricked-out effects, or go full tilt into streams that easily rival ESPN in the way of production value. There's no "one way" to stream, but finding inspiration from other streamers is a great way to develop your own stream.

Creating a Twitch Account

There are two schools of thought when it comes to creating a Twitch channel: I need the latest and greatest studio gear, the fastest supercomputer on the market, and a full-on production set and crew in order to create a stream of broadcast industry quality that will make people flock to my channel! school of thought. You also have the Huh . I've got a Broadcast Gameplay option on my console and a pretty decent headset. Why don't I give it a go? school of thought. Both are equally valid approaches to streaming, sure, but there are a lot of other disciplines and strategies in between. The real questions are how far do you want to go, and will it be worth it - both financially and emotionally - to go that far?

These are the tough questions of Twitch but allow me a moment to dispel a few misconceptions about streaming right off the bat: Streaming does not demand that you convert your basement into a broadcasting studio. You do not need a set, lighting equipment, or multiple cameras to stream. You do not have to invest thousands upon thousands of dollars to share your gameplay. (I mean, you could, but why not crawl before running a sprint against Sha'Carri Richardson?)

Streaming on Twitch is not rocket science. In fact, here's a quick rundown of how to launch a Twitch channel:

1. Set up an account on Twitch with a preferred email account and phone number.
2. Find on your gaming console where you can broadcast your game.
3. Select something to play.
4. Start streaming on Twitch.

If you're thinking, Now, hold on a minute - if streaming is that simple, then why is this book so chonky? Well, yes, I did gloss over a few details here, but streaming on Twitch is that simple. The details of putting together your own Twitch channel start in Chapter 3 and wrap up in Chapter 9; the rest of this book walks you through all the geek-speak you need to begin assembling your audience and keeping them engaged. You find out how to build and improve your stream and what to do with all this content you're generating. Peppered throughout this love letter to my favorite social platform are recommendations from other streamers because this book isn't just about me. There are some wicked talented people on Twitch. I am most fortunate that some of them took time to talk to me about their journeys.

We've got a lot to do, so let's get cracking.

Press X to begin: The basics

So, with the quick approach I described earlier, you can have a Twitch account activated and running within moments, but that's all you'd have: an empty space with the most basic of contact info and no details to speak of. Right now, you're thinking, Okay, but when do I start streaming? I'm going to have you pump the brakes there, Squirrelly Dan. Let's start from the beginning and then spend some quality time filling in the blanks and understanding this platform.

Here's how you get started:

1. Go to http://twitch.tv and select from the top-right side of your browser window the Sign Up option to open the form shown in Figure 1-2.

   You can still watch Twitch streams without being signed up with the platform. However, if you want to take advantage of the Chat features, you need an account.

2. Come up with a username for yourself on Twitch.

   This is how you will appear in Chat. Your username can be a nickname you go by, a play on words, or your own name. There are a lot of different ways you can approach the username. Just make sure you're not violating any terms of service (TOS) in creating it.

   When establishing a username for yourself, avoid picking something overly generic. Usernames like "Fortnitelover01" and "LeagueLegends2245" aren't going to stand out in a crowd and will lead to a branding change if your channel grows into something bigger. Additionally, if you are constantly changing your handle, it can become problematic for people to find you - and, yes, trust you - on Twitch. For more on this, see the sidebar "Branding 101: Your username" later in this chapter.

3. Create a password.

4. Enter your birthday.

   Again, this is based on an honor system, but the birthday requirement is there to verify your age and ensure it's within the TOS established by Twitch. For more on Twitch's TOS, visit https://twitch.tv/p/legal/terms-of-service/.

5. Enter a valid mobile phone number or email.

   You must provide both email and phone number in order to verify you are not creating an anonymous account. This was introduced to help stop Hate Raids (which I cover in Chapter 14).

6. After reviewing the TOS and privacy policy and completing the verification steps, click Submit to finish the application.

You now have a place on Twitch, but the current state of your account is a lot like the state of a newly launched Twitter account, where the profile picture and bio are blank, and the username is your Twitter handle. When you come across Twitter accounts like that, you can't avoid a hint of skepticism as to how genuine they are.

So begins the work of completing your Twitch account. If you forge ahead without tending to these details, you will find growth lacking, ease of use a little elusive, and overall performance a challenge. Maybe these details feel tedious, but completing them will grant you a deeper understanding of the platform. The sooner you sort them out, the better first impression you'll make.

FIGURE 1-2: Setting up a Twitch channel takes only a few minutes and is free.

"New Twitch, who dis?": Completing the Profile

When you're signed into Twitch with a newly minted account, you have a blank slate where you begin assembling a persona for yourself. The Profile is where you introduce yourself to the public, often through a brief bio and maybe a few visual touches like a photo or a banner image.

Think of the Profile as the interior decoration of your house. When people walk into your home, they understand quickly what kind of personality you have. That's what you're going to build right now:

1. Go to your Twitch account on http://twitch.tv, select from the top-right side of your browser window the Account Status drop-down menu, and click Settings (located near the bottom of the drop-down menu) to enter your Twitch account's Profile.

   Your Account Status is always visible on the Twitch website. It tells you what is happening on your channel and shares your activities with friends. You can also go Invisible or enable a Dark Mode scheme for the Twitch website. At present, the icon looks like the default, which is...