The Game of Performing Play

TLDR

Live streaming has become pervasive in digital game culture, yet little is known about how streamers enter the practice, gain skills, and operate as content producers. The study aims to qualitatively examine an online forum dedicated to streaming. The authors observe conversations between veteran and newcomer streamers to understand how they integrate technological, social, and gameplay skills into an appealing performance of play. The study finds that developing a unique gamer attitude and persona permeates all aspects of a streamer's performance, and that platform design features such as community moderation and stream metrics can support equitable participation.

Abstract

Live streaming has become pervasive in digital game culture. Previous work has focused largely on technological considerations in streaming platforms. However, little is known about how streamers enter the practice, gain skills, and operate as content producers. We present a qualitative study of an online forum dedicated to streaming. By observing the conversations between veterans and newcomers to the practice, we develop an understanding of how streamers must tie together technological, social, and gameplay-based skills to craft an appealing performance of play. We find that a key skill in streaming is the development of a unique attitude and persona as a gamer, which permeates into every element of a streamer's performance. As individual identity becomes important in streaming practice, design considerations for platform features such as community moderation and stream metrics may help improve equitable participation in this increasingly important aspect of game culture.