Right now, game streaming videos are in demand. There has never been a better time to turn your hobby into a side hustle. Many have decided to make it a full-time endeavor. That said, you can’t just put out any old content and expect to make a go of it. Audiences are pickier than ever. To get their attention and the attention of advertisers, you have to do better. Not only does the content have to be great, the production value has to be broadcast ready.
Most gamers are far from broadcast ready. Some of the challenges can be solved by better preparation and presentation. The other part can only be solved by money. You don’t need a massive amount to get started. That said, you might need to search for an installment loan for the seed capital.
You will quickly discover opportunities such as a Western Shamrock loan. This type of loan can be obtained even if your credit is less than perfect. With all loans, study the terms and conditions carefully to be sure you can pay it back in the required time. Your business might not take off as fast as you would like. So allot yourself a sufficient amount of time before your streaming efforts turn a profit. To get there, you will need to acquire the following items if you want to be competitive:
Game Consoles
Part of the cost of gaming is the primary gaming consoles you will be using. You are probably not going to build your game streaming empire on smartphone games. And if you want to stream the latest games that appeal to the broadest possible audience, you will need more than one gaming platform to get the job done.
You should probably have the big three: Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox. If you want to stay relevant, you need to have the latest version of each. You will also need a gaming PC. This is an area where Macs will not do. Gaming PCs are as expensive as a decent Mac. There are graphics cards that by themselves cost more than most modern computers.
That said, you might not be interested in grabbing the broadest possible market. You could serve a Nintendo niche. You might even decide to only specialize in web browser games. This could work. But you have to pinpoint your market and be great at what you do.
A Much Better Camera
The webcam on your laptop is not good enough. You can upgrade to one of the newer and better webcams for 2022. Just be aware that at some level, webcam footage will always look like webcam footage. Even the best webcam does not hold a candle to an actual camera.
The Sonys, Canons, and Panasonics of the world still reign supreme when it comes to streaming cameras. They are relatively small with superior image quality due to having much larger lenses. The $700 to $800 range seems to be the sweet spot. A top-tier webcam will get you started. But it won’t take you all the way to where you ultimately want to go.
Professional Microphone
It is time to put down that Blue Yeti and pick up the more serious offerings for broadcast-quality sound. Generally, you have to spend $200 for a USB mic that has the quality of a $100 XLR professional mic. You only need to invest in a decent preamp/interface once. From that point on, you can begin your professional mic collection with confidence. With a USB mic, you are spending extra money for a built-in preamp every time.
Acoustic treatment for your room is just as important as a good mic. A great mic used poorly in an untreated room will still sound bad. Learn better mic technique and prepare your recording space as if you were intending to make money. If you skip that step, you will also skip the step of making money. The best game-streamers offer productions that are fit for television. You have to compete in production value as well as engaging content. You can’t get that level of production value without throwing money at the problem.
This is a great time to turn your gaming passion into a profitable business. Like any business, you need to invest in the proper equipment to make it fly. For gaming, that includes the latest gaming rigs, better cameras, and professional audio gear.
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