Live Stream: Understanding Path of Exile
I had an awesome time tonight playing DAoC with some friends. I made a Skald, and the other two are a Shaman and Thane. We're playing on Uthgard in the…
My progress in FFXI is coming along nicely, I think. I went from level 8-10 tonight slaughtering rabbits, worms, and orcs. When I eventually reached level 10 I was able…
I'm still catching up on some news as I get settled back into the captain's chair (that's what I call my desk chair). Â Just a few days ago, some of…
You guys know I'm not a fan of streamers or how they have encouraged horrible marketing trends. Hopping on the streamer hype train and riding it hard is a very clear tell…
I’ve been talking with Graev and our K&G Community for a long time about the rise of video game streams. Â A couple of them were harassing me last night because I do tend to rant and “QQ” when it comes to this new found medium for gaming commentary and entertainment. Â It’s big. Â There’s no doubt about it. Â Seriously, people are making a living doing it, all the consoles are building it right into their feature list, and game developers are starting to pay (too) much attention to those who stream their games. Â Let’s break this down.
Streaming vs. Blogging
Yeah, it was inevitable. Â Podcasts, Blogs, Youtube videos, etc., all had their big day. Â Streaming is in the spotlight now and it will be for a long time. Â About a year ago was when the start of the decline began. Â We certainly haven’t let up around here, and never will, but we’re feeling the burn. Â Streaming provides that TV level of visual stimulation. Â I won’t lie — even I prefer watching streams over reading blogs!
I feel like blogs and written commentary typically provide a higher level of quality commentary. Â Streams are entertaining, and blogs are more analytical / academic / theoretical / philosophical/etc. It’s watching a tv vs. reading a magazine or a book.
Streaming is becoming a money maker. Â In all the time we have ever blogged we’ve never once turned a profit. Â We run ads here and receive donations to help us cover costs, but we still lose. Â I can’t even fathom how or why I would want to do this for a living — it’s simply not the feel we’re going for here. Â Streaming on the other hand feels, as a whole, more like a capitalistic endeavor. Â That’s really not a bad thing, but it sets a tone. (more…)
Sorry for the slow few days around here. Â We've actually been *gasp* playing games. The Elder Scrolls Online ESO launched two days ago, and I'm actually having more fun than…
Update: Our 'NEW' Age of Empires Online REVIEW is available here. Age of Empires Online is still offline for a scheduled 36 hour maintenance to receive its massive Summer Update. …
If you're interested in watching me play some DOTA 2, check out our streaming page or our Twitch.tv page. Once I'm done streaming, I'll add the recorded video to this…