What do you look for in a KSP stream?

[WololoW]

Hey there KSP Forum Community! I have a serious question for you and would appreciate it if you could take a second or a minute to inform me of your viewpoint.

I am wondering, as my title suggests, what you look for in a KSP stream / streamer?

Are you looking for:

• Witty Commentary / Just game sounds / Other ?
  
• Webcam on Streamer / None / Other ?
  
• Long, encompassing stream / Short, to the point stream / Other ?
  
• Lots of mods (> 30) / Some mods (< 10) / Other ?
  
• Well thought out missions / Random chaotic direction / User submitted missions / Other ?
  
• Anything else you can think of?
  

I am looking to utilize this information for my personal stream over on twitch, but I feel that this is a discussion that the community should have and that would benefit the game, community, and its streamers!

Thanks in advance!

*EDIT* What do you guys feel about a streamer that does not have much [relative] experience in KSP? I have played over 100 hours, but have yet to do anything past the SOI of Kerbin. (Well there was that one solar orbiting probe...!) *EDIT*

Edited July 30, 2014 by WololoW
Added another question/comment

[Javster]

Witty commentary

A webcam isn't essential IMO

If your stream is long, try to keep it interesting

Mods don't matter, but if you have a few, you might as well get loads. Loads of mods or none.

User-submitted stuff esp. chat is good.

Involve your viewers if you can (if there aren't too many)

Don't limit the chat. Don't get power-mad moderators who ruin everyone's fun.

[Seret]

Witty commentary is essential. Keep it short, and make sure you're doing something interesting. Having a plan is good, unless you're really good at improvising amusing chaos. Never seen the point of having a webcam showing the player TBH. It's just some dude sitting at a computer.

[KerbMav]

Witty is good, as long as it comes natural and not labored.

I never object against a more personal introduction (a welcome video or a clear face pic on the main page), but understand that not everyone likes to go public on the internet. (Although I am curious as hell for HOCgaming's face! ) Seeing the streamer the whole time is not necessary, and takes up space on the screen where something interesting/important might go on. (Wonder if I would like reaction shots?)

Modded series are good, but I do not like excessive use of parts mods. Somehow I like the stock look and mod parts rarely fit in well.

But if the streamer also uses things like FAR, KIDS, Kethane, KAS, IR ... there is a higher chance for me actually picking up something new for my game or learn something I did not know yet.

Mix it. Follow a story/mission program, but take time to do things that do not actually fit in - if it is interesting or funny or original.

Do not overact trying to appear cool or a big radio host, and spare me the juvenile dumb talk. You do not have to sound like a senior newscaster, but please ...

("Yo guys, what's up! Today I'm gonna try some serious .... in KSP, trying to shoot some Kerbal bitches straight to Jool!" or something similar, I cannot even emulate it - lets me close the video almost instantly.)

[Russoft]

• Witty Commentary / Just game sounds / Other ? Educated commentary.
  
• Webcam on Streamer / None / Other ? I don't need to see the commentator.
  
• Long, encompassing stream / Short, to the point stream / Other ? If you can't stay interesting, keep it short and to the point.
  
• Lots of mods (> 30) / Some mods (< 10) / Other ? Stock. The more mods, the harder it is for me to appreciate what's happening.
  
• Well thought out missions / Random chaotic direction / User submitted missions / Other ? Don't care, but there needs to be direction.
  
• Anything else you can think of? Keep it funny and/or informative.
  

[Masetto]

Good commentary that anyone can enjoy. Avoid memes or inside jokes or repetitiousness.

Webcam on streamer can be good, but not necessary. It depends.

The length of the stream doesn't really matter. What matters is the quality of the stream when I'm watching.

Cosmetic mods are always nice. Otherwise, keep it vanilla. Quirky parts like "Robotics" are fun, but if you're using modded engines and/or modded wings, etc., I'll instantly lose interest.

Having clear objectives are good, but be willing to go with the flow if there's an interesting sort of distraction.

Just my $0.02

[regex]

I really only follow a few KSP and DF Youtubers, so not sure if this applies to streaming... Anyway:

I like a good, running commentary with no webcam (hate the webcam trend), medium-length streams/videos (half an hour or so) with fairly well-planned-out and imaginative missions covering a wide-range of topics (seriously, no one cares about your latest mission to the Mun or Minmus unless it's really creative). As far as mods, any, really. I've enjoyed 5thHorseman's mainly stock parts with info mods series just as much as Manley's Interstellar Quest.

[Heagar]

Are you asking for real?

• Commentary: Of course, without it would be boring.
  
• Webcam: Is not nessecary at all. It may be popular in the youtoube scene, but it distracts more and covert an important space of the UI.
  
• Stream: Long, not short. BTW: You can't have a stream at all witch you "cut" like a video.
  
• Mods: Are depending on your playstyle. Don't let anybody exert an influence with that. Your viewers watching you because of that, am i right?
  
• MIssons: You should have an idea with what to deal with. Because you have to build that craft in the time of the stream. A mission to e.g. duna take a long time (real, not "in game time") to accomplish! Even more, if you go for jool or eleeo.
  
• Design: Let your viewers have some influence on your design (there maybe some really good ideas), if possible per TS or Skype. If the mission fails, you can even blame your viewers (witch you will never do, of course).
  
• Misson actions: (e.g. insertion-/trans X insertion-/course correction-/descend-/ascend-burn) Again, you viewers may can decide, what to do (if there is enough time for it).
  
• 
  

[WololoW]

Thanks for the good answers guys, I will be utilizing as much of it as I can, and I suggest other streamers do the same!

Keep the answers / discussion flowing in!

[Cdr_Zeta]

HI,

As a streamer I think the webcam is nice as long as it isnt obtrusive. I dont particularly care for borders, cat pics and avi gifs, and other non-ksp related stuff, but I do like the border idea and mascot again it shouldnt be obtrusive.

Different types of music in the background depending on the mood of the streamer; should be the streamer's choice jmo...I like the bots on twitch I need to check them out some are kinda cute I guess; some are annoying too I guess I dunno.

If I were serious all the time streamin a game I would be boring; there is always room for wit and millin around; sometimes things can get obnoxious on my stream if somethin goes wrong I tend to loose it lol so I am tryin to keep it clean; I can see no reason why some people are having you click ok to watch an objectionable KSP stream; how can KSP be objectionable; maybe when the game crashes or a streamer's computer dies like mine does when twitch shuts one down due to a script; literally; there's some wit in there too as long as you can get yer computer back up and running !

I dont like to talk about personal stuff and keep it as much KSP as possible. As for mods or vanilla...whatever I like to see mods cause they are what really make the game in my opinion.

Cmdr Zeta

[WololoW]

What do you guys feel about a streamer that does not have much [relative] experience in KSP? I have played over 100 hours, but have yet to do anything past the SOI of Kerbin. (Well there was that one solar orbiting probe...!)

[Dortmunder]

KSP is a game I can't seem to watch for long. There's just a lot of nothing going on most of the time

I used to stream it every once in a while, and I'm not a talkative person.

A couple things I can't stand from any stream is too much stuff on the screen(large web cam, adverts, people with massive microphones in front of their faces as well... why?), experienced people that are clearly dumbing themselves down to look more "noob" at a game. Used to see this a lot in Dark Souls streams, people claiming first playthrough even though it's clearly not

[SkyRender]

Mostly I look for skill. Streamers that play badly for laughs aren't too hard to find (and they have to compete with the king of KSP comedy, Danny2462), ones who screw up fairly often are pretty common, but the ones who really do know what they're doing are the ones who catch my attention. Particularly if they keep their cool even when things don't go quite as planned and still pull out ahead.

[Cdr_Zeta]

HI,

I wanted to add to the post about streamin 'other' KSP things like mech warriors for example; maybe we need to take time out and stream stuff we wouldnt normally do; I watched a fellow have to KSP mech warriors duke it out; it was kinda funny and informative as well; things like tryin to land on a building; people have great imginations and KSP has no shortage in this area ! I have yet to make a Firespitter biplane and helo...ugh !

Cmdr Zeta