I Contributed to a Book! #JustStreamerThings
Hi, it’s been a minute–checks calendar–OK, it’s been a month, sorry. Also, it’s been a month, so I’ll cut myself some slack.
I keep meaning to write something and then the words slip away, I end up making a snack and comfort-watching another episode of Murder, She Wrote in my sweatpants and comfy sweater.
Still, a cool thing happened, and I’ve had a few “thread thoughts” on social media I wanted to copy over to this blog since it’s still a platform I more or less have control over. However, I just noticed today that WordPress added more “AI” features to the interface, so… ugh.
I’m not a prolific writer, but I still don’t need a program writing for me. No thanks.
Cool things: I am listed as a contributor to a book! Thinking things: I had some thoughts on streaming and being a “content creator”.
Cinematic Worldbuilding: A TTRPG Approach to Storytelling
A while back, Nicholas Larue reached out, wanting to chat for a book he was putting together. And after asking my usual, “Are you sure you wanted to talk to me?” we had a good conversation. Turns out, he had a lot of good conversations with other folks in the TTRPG space, many of whom I’m chuffed to be included alongside!
Cinematic Worldbuilding: A TTRPG Approach to Storytelling
Everybody has a story in them. Some people lack the language and the tools to tell that story effectively. As an avid tabletop role-playing game player, I’m amazed at people’s ability to tell stories on the spot. Both the players and the game masters are creating worlds in their minds and playing out the events, using improv, in real-time.
Being an author and screenwriter, I know how difficult it is to create consistent and well-constructed characters, themes, and conflicts. I believe that storytellers looking to level up in the classroom, their hobby, or career could learn a lot from games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and others.
This book seeks to give people the tools and language to create and master their worlds and characters, using TTRPG mechanics and rulesets as foundational elements. This book will contain insights and interviews from some of today’s most respected game masters, players, actual play actors, and we’ll also hear from some of the people behind the scenes responsible for creating these games, and how they view worldbuilding and storytelling for their audiences.
I’m still making my way through the book, but like I said, it’s a really cool thing. I’ve never been a contributor to an educational book before. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up as a citation someday! 🙂
Demos and Steam Next Fest
I was having some hashtag-big-feelings about the recent onslaught of demos that pop up whenever there’s a new Steam Next Fest. It’s overwhelming, it’s unending. Your inbox overflows with pitches from public relations folks to smaller developers to individual developers, all hoping you’ll consider checking out their game.
Aside from maybe hiring someone, I have no idea how the larger streamers manage all these requests. Even after winnowing them down to games I’m actually interested in, I still have a (growing) spreadsheet of over 50 demos. And since I generally think about micro-blogging before actual blogging, it sort of all went up on Bluesky first.
Processing some “I’ve let myself down, I’ve let others down,” feels while chatting with a streamer peer about the fact that there’s just too many demos right now. I can’t possibly play them all, and every “following up” email feels like an accusation.
Even though I know I don’t have the time!
I stream maybe 8 hours a week, that’s it. All these demos coming out, especially ones that have multiple hours of content? There’s no just way. And even though it’s not my “job” I feel bad.
I want to help get eyes on games, I like streaming and recording gameplay, but it’s so much right now.
It feels good when a solo dev or small team reach out to let me know about their demo. It’s nice when they drop a “thanks for playing” later on. I like seeing the views on the video go up over time (though w/YouTube, reach still sucks most of the time).
Having to pass on emails tho? It’s ROUGH.
And I know the only person making me feel this way is me. People who do PR outreach may be keeping a “wow, didn’t even respond” list, but I can’t do anything about that.
Because even a “thanks for reaching out!” email back feels like a promise to stream the game, which just may not be possible.
So, BIG feels right now as the spreadsheet is at 50+ games & demos that I actually want to try to look at soon. Having no idea how many will be available past Next Fest. But even giving each game 25 min minimum on stream (which is more like 30-45 min), it feels insurmountable.
So that’s fun.
Sometimes I have to gripe through it before acceptance. I did record a few demos off-stream to go on YouTube, but for the most part I’m going to have to admit that it’s too much for me to cover everything. Even giving a demo 25 minutes is a lot on my part-time schedule. I’m happy to help get eyes on things, but reminding myself it’s something I choose vs. something I’m being paid for helps a lot.
Creator and Partner Programs
Oh wow, more of me having thoughts and feelings about content creator stuff. This time it’s about Creator Programs, sometimes also called Partner Programs. Generally it’s a publicity program on the part of a game or company where they engage streamers and influencers with news and access to help spread the word.
In a nutshell, they get free PR and we get… to work for free. Something that is a little too prevalent in the streamer/influencer freelance space.
As such, I admit that I am not always “100% committed” to constantly playing the game and/or keeping up with sometimes incessant Discord pings. And generally, the programs don’t have a participation requirement like x% of your streamed or recorded games have to involve them, so like many people out there, I’m in tons of Discord that I’m not the most active person in.
Well, one reached out.
Got a “checking in on your participation” message from a game’s creator program. Wrote a measured response back, but it has me thinking how hard it is to be not only part-time, but also variety. So I’m a casual player in any longtime game at best.
Which probably isn’t enough for a creator program.
I definitely have thoughts about creator programs, reciprocity, tying your #CONTENT™ to a specific game, etc. but mostly said that if they’re looking for someone super into that specific game who dedicates a majority of their content to it? Then that’s not me.
It kinda sucks, but I’m ok with that.
I’m already in too many personal Discords, let alone creator programs, and the odd temporary ones for events. There’s no way my “participation” can be super active in each and every one. It’s not possible to do that and… have a life: work, stream, take care of self, etc.
And again… it’s not paid.
There are good conversations to be had around these programs, but for the most part, you don’t get paid opportunities. You mostly get access (early looks, product showcases, sneak peeks) that you are expected to be able to fold into your #CONTENT™ like spinning straw into gold.
But that’s all.
Not to be all, “if they ain’t paying your bills, pay them no mind,” about it, but, uh… yeah.
It’s nice to be in a Discord with other streamers who are into the same game as you, but when you stream variety, there’s no way that one game can sustain streams forever.
So… I’ll just be ok with that.
I was pretty measured and fair in my response back to them, though I did press them to answer what they believe creators should be getting out of the program beyond the occasional early news. I doubt I’ll hear back.
Creator and Partner programs are a sort of prevalent, but not necessary, evil in the streaming and influencer space. If you’re a large creator, you can easily parlay it into sponsored and paid opportunities. But if you, like me, are pretty much a nobody as the number see it, you end up feeling like you have to do a lot of work for very little reward.
And your involvement isn’t valued in the same way it might if it were an actual working relationship. I might complain about my day job, but at least I’m getting paid for that. Someone asking me, “Hey, why aren’t you doing more of that thing that we don’t pay you for?” should be pretty darn bold, but instead it’s seen as the norm.
It’s fair to ask what we do get, and generally that would qualify as “paid in product” like a key to a game, or in-game currency or items. Or it might be an invitation to an affiliate sales program–something that should be the bane of every influencer’s existence. It’s sort of a standard practice, not a great one, but standard.
I’ve started seeing the term “organic” applied to campaigns now, which is a fancy way of saying “we have no intent on paying you” vs. “we’re unable to pay you”. The idea is that someone showcasing a product on their own is better than being paid to do so. Except, the product is only on my radar because of the outreach, so semantically it sort of falls apart, but… that’s a gripe for another time.
When is the Equinox!?
February is almost over, we are in the middle of more Winter Weather Advisories, so there’s snow in the air and freezing temperatures on the way. I really can’t wait for Spring. I’ve seen way too much of my apartment the past few months.
I won’t make a promise to update more often, but I will remember that this blog exists. I left Twitter, I left TikTok, I barely use Facebook and Instagram, I mostly post to Bluesky and keep up with friends on Discord. And lately Discord has been acting up, so they might be the next to go.
So long as Signal doesn’t vanish, I might be ok. I guess YouTube and Twitch too, since I can’t stream games to this blog… yet. 😉
