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A Stream Poll (to help us all provide what the community wants.)

Yarco

Yarco

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I have a few questions for people who watch Skullgirl streams (or Youtube videos too, I guess -- but long ones of multiple matches, not specific tutorials or short clips)

Preferred Quality

What is the minimum acceptable video quality before you will turn a stream off? (240p - 1080p.) Do you prefer a low quality stream because you have slow internet or a bandwidth cap, or do you just want the best quality possible?

Webcam

Are you more likely to watch a stream if they have a webcam overlay? Would you rather look at someone's face to see their reaction, or their hands to watch how they use an arcade stick/controller?

Mic

Are you more likely to watch a stream if they have a mic? What are you most looking for in terms of commentary.... insightful knowledge from experienced players, description of what they are doing and why, humor, chat interaction, etc?

Music

Are you more likely to watch a stream with music? Do you prefer just music, or music + talking? What is your preferred genre of music on a stream (rock, rap, dubstep, jazz, etc)

How do you find the streams that you watch?

People posting on forums or websites? Which sites in particular (Skullgirls forums, SRK, Reddit, etc). Or do you find people currently streaming from the Twitch directory? Do you follow any streamers on Twitch and get notified to tune in when they stream?

Skill Level / Persona

Do you prefer to watch beginner, intermediate, or professional streams? Do you only watch the big names that 30 other people are watching, or will you tune into any stream with 1 or 2 viewers?


Other

Please advise any other features in a stream you would like to see, or that would make you want to watch. (Contests / giveaways, playing matches with viewers, etc.)
 
I guess I'll start! I've been on Twitch for quite awhile and I'm somewhat of a critic. Just started playing SkullGirls a few days ago and spent some time tonight checking out streams.

Preferred Quality: Lower than 480P and I generally go to another stream. Ideally, I'd watch the best quality possible but my connection can generally only handle 720P without stuttering and worrying about background traffic.

Webcam: I'm definitely more likely to click on a stream if I see a webcam inset. But if it's poor quality (over saturation, dark, pixelated, etc) or placed poorly it degrades from the stream and I'll think about continuing on. I find the arcade stick view to be more of a novelty than adding to the experience but it is nice to see what someone's using, especially if it's custom.

Mic: Audio from the streamer is a requirement for me. It makes it that much more personable/contextual and less static. I can watch anyone play a game but I'll remember and come back to a personality. I find the content just needs to be entertaining. Humorous, color commentary is always welcome. Verbally assessing reads and explaining counters mid-execution while demonstrating a working knowledge of the game is super fun to watch. Smack talk can be enjoyable with the right persona, mannerisms and/or vocabulary.

Music: My biggest pet peeve is when the caster is blasting music. With what I find valuable in a stream, music should be a background accent. At most 75% of anything else and half of the mic's volume. I'm fairly eclectic and I find the choice of music adds to the stream's personality, so I wouldn't say I have a preference.

How do you find the streams that you watch?: I've never been the type of person that tunes in to scheduled programming; I just get on Twitch and browse whenever the mood strikes me. Currently, I don't follow any SkullGirls streamers.

Skill Level / Persona: I always start with checking out the streams with the most people in them. It's definitely that group think mentality kicking in, "Obviously it's good, all these people like it." I'll go down the list until I find one I like. If I see they're in Training or Arcade, I'll leave almost immediately. I like to try to learn while watching, so I'd say atleast an intermediate or higher echelon of player.

Other: Even though I don't tune in on the regular, I'm a big fan of "specials". Having special events for times/days ups the production value exponentially. It's also an "easy" way to increase audience participation. Day[9] has Funday Mondays which are basically just silly stipulations that make the game whacky and zany. A tournament once a week where you're restricted to something (1v1s using only air grabs) would be cool. Putzing around in matchmaking would probably be fun, too. I also like segments where you learn more about the caster. Hobbies, job, that sort of thing. LethalFrag does a cooking show every Saturday night now. I guess you could say I watch streams to see gamers, not necessarily games.
 
Yarco said:
I have a few questions for people who watch Skullgirl streams (or Youtube videos too, I guess -- but long ones of multiple matches, not specific tutorials or short clips)

Preferred Quality

What is the minimum acceptable video quality before you will turn a stream off? (240p - 1080p.) Do you prefer a low quality stream because you have slow internet or a bandwidth cap, or do you just want the best quality possible?

Webcam

Are you more likely to watch a stream if they have a webcam overlay? Would you rather look at someone's face to see their reaction, or their hands to watch how they use an arcade stick/controller?

Mic

Are you more likely to watch a stream if they have a mic? What are you most looking for in terms of commentary.... insightful knowledge from experienced players, description of what they are doing and why, humor, chat interaction, etc?

Music

Are you more likely to watch a stream with music? Do you prefer just music, or music + talking? What is your preferred genre of music on a stream (rock, rap, dubstep, jazz, etc)

How do you find the streams that you watch?

People posting on forums or websites? Which sites in particular (Skullgirls forums, SRK, Reddit, etc). Or do you find people currently streaming from the Twitch directory? Do you follow any streamers on Twitch and get notified to tune in when they stream?

Skill Level / Persona

Do you prefer to watch beginner, intermediate, or professional streams? Do you only watch the big names that 30 other people are watching, or will you tune into any stream with 1 or 2 viewers?


Other

Please advise any other features in a stream you would like to see, or that would make you want to watch. (Contests / giveaways, playing matches with viewers, etc.)



Preferred Quality: Any, i'm not picky about quality. Since the higher qualities usually lag anyways

Webcam: Yes, its better with one

Mic: Mic is required IMO.

Music: Fine as long as it's not loud

How do you find streams: Usually just from the IRC chat or the forums here, or I'll browse skullgirls on twitch

Skill Level/Persona: I'll watch anyone really, as long as they are talking, and are playing against other players.

Other: Talking to viewers in chat/Answering their questions and requests helps
 
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The things I worry about:

Quality: 240p pls(really, it helps me a ton)

Skill Level: I eventually find those people streaming as they play the game for the first time, or are very bad at the game. When I watch a stream for a fighting game I'm looking for high level play, even someone on training doing awesome stuff will keep me interested. I won't watch you if you're new the game and the fgc(sorry).

Commentary: yes, preferably interacting with the chat (mic necessary)

I usually look for streams via twitch so I tend to watch hopscawtch whenever he's streaming(and mcpeanuts now?)

I also like when they have cams but that wont make stop or start watching a stream, I'm really only picky when it comes to the skill level of the person playing.
 
Preferred Quality: 540 minimum is preferred.

Webcam: I personally don't care for this one. I don't see any reason to see a face. It just blocks my view. If a webcam is there I find a simple square is actually better than the cams that cut the background with one of those green screens, since the static border is less distracting from what I actually wish to watch.

Mic: Very important. What's said on the mic is generally what makes me look for particular users. Either be funny and/or knowledgeable about the game/community. Talking constantly isn't a requirement. Responding to people in chat between matches is beneficial. I've watched streams in training mode just because the streamer shared knowledge and answered questions in chat.

Music: If a stream happens to have music I like, it's beneficial. Since I get bored of my own music. If it has bad music, I'll go elsewhere. If there's no music I'll listen to my own. As far as streaming is concerned, I prefer music without lyrics as I'd rather only hear speech from the streamers mic. I prefer not to hear the in game music. It's not bad music. I've just heard it way too much.

How do you find the streams that you watch?: I just check out every active stream on twitch and pick my favourite. There aren't many active at any given time for Skullgirls.

Skill Level / Persona: Prefer the skill level to be better than my own so I can learn from it, or at least equal.
 
Preferred Quality
Not really a big deal as long as I can tell what's going on.

Webcam
I watch streams to see people play videogames. If the actual content is good I could ignore a facecam that isn't overly intrusive. Never seen a handcam before but that could be pretty cool.

Mic
I'm fine either way. Not having voice commentary doesn't make a stream boring, and at the same time quality banter/insightful commentary can be a lot of fun.

Music
I consider myself pretty open minded when it comes to music appreciation but a streamer blaring dubstep or metal and completely drowning out the game audio would probably ruin a stream for me. Some quiet background jazz/lounge would be ideal but I'm into all kinds of genres so as long as it's not overly intrusive it's good.

How do you find the streams that you watch?
I ask myself the same thing every day.

Skill Level / Persona
I probably enjoy watching high level players more since there's more to pick up and the chat is usually pretty active. Streams are a community experience, they're always more fun when you're watching and interacting with others. That said, I'd probably enjoy a low level stream just as much if it had a similar atmosphere.

Other
Playing with people from the chat is always a plus. Community experience etc. Not a must though.
 
Preferred Quality

Higher than 240P unless the streamer is really enjoyable.

Webcam

I prefer not to have it. I'm here for the gameplay and not for your face. It's more of a distraction than anything.

Mic

A mic is preferred but if the streamer can still interact with the chat without having a mic by writing a message in the chat, then I don't mind.

Music

Different music than the game audio is a nice addition. I'm not a fan of really heavy dubstep, hip hop, or country (I haven't hear the latter yet). Hopscawtch has Nightbot on his streams which lets people request songs and automatically plays them, which is nice to let the viewers have control over the music.

How do you find the streams that you watch?

I follow Nekro_Surge on twitter, who promotes various live streams through his tweets. Through his tweets, I found some really good streams like:

- Hopscawtch
- Painsley
- Dekillsage
- Duckator
- of course, Nekro's own stream.

Skullheart has also promoted streams as well including Mcpeanuts stream.

Skill Level / Persona

I just got into watching Skullgirls live streams and the community itself so I only know a few names (see above). I don't know if they are "bigger name" players (other than Duckator) but their skill level is high up there. I haven't watched any beginner or intermediate streams to know how good they are.

Other

Interaction is key for me to watch anyone's stream. If you interact with the chat and don't ignore your newer audience, then I'll watch your stream.
 
Preferred Quality

423p is the maximum I allow. We have shit Internet quality in Canada so streams like HitBox Arcade's that is 720p only, I just can't watch. I value smooth framerate over high resolution, because that's the best way to watch a fighting game stream. Salty Cupcakes really got it with 288p & 60 fps.

Webcam

I'd keep handcams for tutorial videos. Facecams, while not necessary, are a plus. I like to put a face on a name. The stream feels less soulless. I like to watch players' reaction.

Mic

A mic is required though. This is what makes or breaks a stream. A streamer has to have something to say, otherwise I'll just tune out. I usually look for insightful commentary and chat interaction.

Music

Music is not required but it can add to the ambiance. Anything instrumental and not loud is cool. I usually listen to hardcore and metal and I wouldn't even put that on my stream.

How do you find the streams that you watch?

By lurking on Skullheart and Twitch.

Skill Level / Persona

Any skill level is acceptable, be it beginners learning or good players showing off their skills. A 100-people crowd stream may be too impersonal for me though. A 5-30 people crowd stream is more my type, as it has a chiller atmosphere and less trolls.
 
Preferred Quality
240p or 360p either one is fine.

Webcam
No I don't care.

Mic
Yes having a mic and being able to read the chat is key.

Music
I don't care. Either is fine.

How do you find the streams that you watch?
Twitter, SH, Twitch page.

Skill Level / Persona
Please be good please, I only care to watch people that understand the engine.


Other
N/A
 
Preferred Quality: 360p is what I prefer, but as long as the framerate is smooth I'll watch

Webcam: Don't care.

Mic: Yes! Interacting with the chat is important.

Music: I personally prefer to listen to the stuff on rainwave.cc, but anything is fine as long as its not super loud.

How do you find streams: Twitter

Skill Level/Persona: If the player is good it helps, but as long as he or she is making a legitimate effort to get good(if he or she isn't already) and is interacting with the chat it doesn't matter to me.

Other: If someone has a question or is struggling don't be a **** about it. Help that player improve and grow your scene.
 
I wonder whether people would prefer a stream with higher resolution and 30 fps or lower resolution and 60 fps. Basically resolution vs framerate.
 
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