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Heyo TeamLiquid,
In the interest of increasing the quality of viewership for those who watch streams (such as my own), I wanted to gauge the popularity/unpopularity of different things that streamers tend to do on their channels. I understand that poll threads are generally discouraged, but I feel like a thread like this would really help streamers get an idea of what people enjoy watching. It's often difficult to see where public opinion lies, as many people tend to disagree and you don't get an accurate snapshot. Let's get straight to it!
NOTE: This thread has been approved by a couple mods thru IRC, so please contact me first if there's an issue.
Credit to Torte de Lini, Jibba, etc for helping me with polls
Poll: What is the main reason you watch streams?Entertainment - It's fun to watch good games and be "in" the life of a progamer (729) 55% Education - I want to learn more about good gameplay (572) 43% Other - post below (15) 1% 1316 total votes Your vote: What is the main reason you watch streams? (Vote): Education - I want to learn more about good gameplay
(Vote): Entertainment - It's fun to watch good games and be "in" the life of a progamer
(Vote): Other - post below
Poll: Which of these is most important to you in a stream?Interaction with the audience through chat + voice (645) 52% Highest level of gameplay, no matter other factors (465) 37% Interaction with fellow progamers through skype/ventrilo (68) 5% High video/audio quality (46) 4% Good music (20) 2% Other (post below) (8) 1% 1252 total votes Your vote: Which of these is most important to you in a stream? (Vote): Highest level of gameplay, no matter other factors
(Vote): Good music
(Vote): High video/audio quality
(Vote): Interaction with the audience through chat + voice
(Vote): Interaction with fellow progamers through skype/ventrilo
(Vote): Other (post below)
Poll: Music?Usually! I like hearing most music, but sometimes I'll mute it (464) 40% Not usually! If it's music I'm really into then sure, but mostly I'll mute (310) 27% Yes! I always am interested in hearing music of the streamers choice as they play (234) 20% Never! I prefer to just play my own music or have no background music (153) 13% 1161 total votes Your vote: Music? (Vote): Yes! I always am interested in hearing music of the streamers choice as they play
(Vote): Usually! I like hearing most music, but sometimes I'll mute it
(Vote): Not usually! If it's music I'm really into then sure, but mostly I'll mute
(Vote): Never! I prefer to just play my own music or have no background music
Poll: Do you enjoy hearing the streamer talk about the game as he plays?Yes! I want to learn more about their insight, and it would make or break a stream (984) 81% Why not? It's cool to hear, but it doesn't make or break a stream for me (212) 17% No! I prefer if the streamer concentrates on his game (19) 2% 1215 total votes Your vote: Do you enjoy hearing the streamer talk about the game as he plays? (Vote): Yes! I want to learn more about their insight, and it would make or break a stream
(Vote): Why not? It's cool to hear, but it doesn't make or break a stream for me
(Vote): No! I prefer if the streamer concentrates on his game
Poll: Would you like to see coaching lessons streamed by those who coach?Occasionally it's cool, but I'd mostly like to see gameplay (495) 44% Yes! I really enjoy learning through the lessons of others (353) 31% No! I'd much rather just watch the streamer play games (274) 24% 1122 total votes Your vote: Would you like to see coaching lessons streamed by those who coach? (Vote): Yes! I really enjoy learning through the lessons of others
(Vote): Occasionally it's cool, but I'd mostly like to see gameplay
(Vote): No! I'd much rather just watch the streamer play games
Poll: Do you mind harsh profanity/racism/insulting on a stream?A bit, it's okay in moderation, but not too often (592) 52% No! I find it hilarious, keep it coming! (361) 32% Yes! I really dislike when the streamer doesn't show respect to others (185) 16% 1138 total votes Your vote: Do you mind harsh profanity/racism/insulting on a stream? (Vote): Yes! I really dislike when the streamer doesn't show respect to others
(Vote): A bit, it's okay in moderation, but not too often
(Vote): No! I find it hilarious, keep it coming!
Poll: Do you like streamers doing things other than serious 1v1 games?Sometimes, only for streamers I personally like a lot (480) 43% No! I only want to see regular StarCraft games (409) 37% Usually, but I prefer if they stay in the realm of SC2 (131) 12% Yes! I often think it's fun to watch the streamer play UMS/team games/other fun games with friends (94) 8% 1114 total votes Your vote: Do you like streamers doing things other than serious 1v1 games? (Vote): Yes! I often think it's fun to watch the streamer play UMS/team games/other fun games with friends
(Vote): Usually, but I prefer if they stay in the realm of SC2
(Vote): Sometimes, only for streamers I personally like a lot
(Vote): No! I only want to see regular StarCraft games
Poll: What sort of games are most interesting?Ladder (698) 66% Tournament games (203) 19% Practice with teammates (144) 14% Other (12) 1% 1057 total votes Your vote: What sort of games are most interesting? (Vote): Practice with teammates
(Vote): Ladder
(Vote): Tournament games
(Vote): Other
If there are other things you have input on for streams, feel free to PM me with poll ideas. I know I certainly appreciate your input, and hope other streamers take this into consideration as well.
edit: I'd also appreciate if you post comments in this thread as well - I'm really interested in your feedback, plus that would let this thread stay more active and collect more data! ^_^
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Cool idea! The biggest thing for me is just whether the streamer talks. I understand its hard to talk and play, but thats what will have me watching someone else video game. I enjoy streams from both an educational and observatonal (mindlessly watching) perspective and will generally only watch streams where they talk. The reason I think Steven Bonell got so popular (in addition to him being hilariously offensive) was just that he NEVER stopped talking as of 3 months after he started streaming. I think Sheth has gotten massively popular because he mixes up humor/light trash-talking with almost always commenting on why he's doing what he's doing.
edit: oh yeah! One of the really cool things Steve does is stream tournament games and I think that gets a lot of viewers as well cause you can watch his screen and have the commentators going at the same time it's really cool.
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I think that some of your options are kinda bad, like *Highest level of gameplay, no matter other factors*. On the other options other factors are available, and that kind of leading questions make these polls even more inaccurate than they originally are :/
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On May 01 2011 03:57 twstdletz wrote:
Cool idea! The biggest thing for me is just whether the streamer talks. I understand its hard to talk and play, but thats what will have me watching someone else video game. I enjoy streams from both an educational and observatonal (mindlessly watching) perspective and will generally only watch streams where they talk. The reason I think Steven Bonell got so popular (in addition to him being hilariously offensive) was just that he NEVER stopped talking as of 3 months after he started streaming. I think Sheth has gotten massively popular because he mixes up humor/light trash-talking with almost always commenting on why he's doing what he's doing.
Yeah, I've recently heard a lot of positive feedback on Sheth's stream as well - thanks for your input 
On May 01 2011 03:57 tablet wrote:
I think that some of your options are kinda bad, like *Highest level of gameplay, no matter other factors*. On the other options other factors are available, and that kind of leading questions make these polls even more inaccurate than they originally are :/
What's wrong with that option? I'm not quite sure what you're saying, but I do want to make these polls portray the opinion of viewers as much as possible.
For example, IdrA pretty much never talks on his stream AFAIK, and he's immensely popular - most likely capturing the viewer crowd of those who only want to see high level gameplay.
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On May 01 2011 03:57 twstdletz wrote:
Cool idea! The biggest thing for me is just whether the streamer talks. I understand its hard to talk and play, but thats what will have me watching someone else video game. I enjoy streams from both an educational and observatonal (mindlessly watching) perspective and will generally only watch streams where they talk. The reason I think Steven Bonell got so popular (in addition to him being hilariously offensive) was just that he NEVER stopped talking as of 3 months after he started streaming. I think Sheth has gotten massively popular because he mixes up humor/light trash-talking with almost always commenting on why he's doing what he's doing.
Definitely a valid point, but look at IdrA. 2 hours of nonstop games, with no chat, and he routinely draws 10k viewers. The highest level of gameplay possible draws people in more than anything, in my opinion.
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I like sheth's stream cuz he talks while he plays, but if machine or idra's stream is on. i'll switch over to them. Fan/friend loyalty and also higher, but not by much, skill level.
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Another thing i love is when pro players stream cup games adds a little more excitement to the game.
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The MOST important things to me:
- That the streamer talks! I don't care if it's a pro or a scrub, I want to hear commentary and thought process.
- That the streamer only plays 1v1 ladder games. If I see team games, I immediately close the stream no matter if it's a popular community person or someone else. I hate team games, they're boring, they lack any kind of intensity, they're just not fun to watch. I also don't like custom 1v1s and usually leave those streams, too. I just really like 1v1 ladder, it's the most exciting for me. I get bored actually playing team games, too, so maybe that's it - I just love playing and watching 1v1.
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On May 01 2011 04:04 Kyles92 wrote:
Another thing i love is when pro players stream cup games adds a little more excitement to the game.
Oh, thanks - new poll being added
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On May 01 2011 04:05 densha wrote:
The MOST important things to me:
- That the streamer talks! I don't care if it's a pro or a scrub, I want to hear commentary and thought process.
- That the streamer only plays 1v1 ladder games. If I see team games, I immediately close the stream no matter if it's a popular community person or someone else. I hate team games, they're boring, they lack any kind of intensity, they're just not fun to watch. I also don't like custom 1v1s and usually leave those streams, too. I just really like 1v1 ladder, it's the most exciting for me. I get bored actually playing team games, too, so maybe that's it - I just love playing and watching 1v1.
What's the difference between ladder and practice games with teammates? I find you usually get much more interesting games with teammates.
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I really like streams where the player tells the audience why he makes some of his decisions, either during or after the game. Then you can get into the mind of someone better than you, and expand your own game play.
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nice polls. i hope they help
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Nice thread
Personally I watch streams for 2 reasons
- to learn.. for me this means watching high skilled protoss players and trying to see the difference between me and them ( whitera, huk, tyler, incontrol, minigun and so on)
- for fun.. watching terran or zerg players who are entertaining to watch ( destiny, idra, jinro etc..)
For me the most important thing is to be able to learn from the player so i am searching for the highest level of play possible.. the second most important thing for me is the player commenting on most of the stuff he is doing and why he is doing it ...this is the most helpful thing ever for someone who is trying to level up his play by watching livestream ( like white-ra, tyler, huk sometimes, incontrol ).. If there is music this means the streamer isn't talking so i prefer listening to my own.. I prefer not watch coaching and i don't mind profanity/racism/insulting cause im mostly ignoring it and focusing on the relevant information.. And no I don't like streamers playing custom games, 2v2's etc etc.. But I like to see pracc sessions or clan in-house games like EG ones with Incontrol ( they were providing a lot of useful insights )
yes and forgot to add - quality..
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uihm, the option about racism, I dont know really. Find that it's not something that you joke about. And I personally dont wanna hear it myself. Dont know about the general so. But otherwise just interracting and having good games is really awesome. Or just good games really.
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United Kingdom14464 Posts
On the Poll: Which of these is most important to you in a stream? I haven't answered because interaction AND quality of game is important, bar that, I answered them all, because this thread is cool and useful to all streamers.
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Very interesting that Ladder seems to be the game type of choice.
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Nice poll, thanks for making it.
My favorite Progamer stream is White-ra's one. In my opinion he's got everything right. I love to watch him play ladder games while speaking to the audience and explaining his play. I believe that "Practice with teammates" may be the most interesting to watch, but overall, Ladder offers quite an entertaining experience.
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List of things I find important with 1 being the most important one.
1. Interaction with the viewers: I am about 10 times as likely to keep watching a stream where the pro talks while playing compared to just playing music.
2. Ladder/tournament play or other serious 1v1 games: If I turn on a stream and see the streamer play 4v4 or some random custom game I instantly switch to another stream.
3. Quality, most importantly that the stream does not lag.
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I often will turn streams off because of bad music. I have no interest in watching a stream muted, because I hate watching without game sounds.
Profanities and racism dont bother me at all. I dont mind the streamer saying harsh thinks about their opponents on stream, but I dont care for them actually typing bm things to their opponents.
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Other - Cella eating hamburgers and singing beautifully.
But then again I don't watch that many streams with all the tournaments going on.
Maybe pros talking while playing like I've seen InC, Idra and Tyler do a few times, that's very educative and makes it something different than for example tournament games.
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EPT
