John Howe-Marshall

Interview with Felicia Day, and how she streams tabletop with XSplit

Felicia Day’s body of work is well known throughout the geek-o-sphere! Creating seminal web series – The Guild – watched by millions worldwide; to pioneering tabletop live streams on Twitch, or starring in cult hits such as Supernatural, The Magicians, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

We had a chance to catch up with her, before she kicks off a new series of D&D live streams with an all-star cast of familiar faces. Join us as we dive into the challenges of live streaming tabletop games. She shares her history of using XSplit, as well as some sage advice that may help guide your own eventual D&D stream in the future!

What is it about tabletop that you think translates so well to a live-streamed format?

I think that the live format works best for gaming like D&D just like it works best for comedy improv. The spontaneity of the moments is more believable when you can SEE people making things up! When you edit things into smaller, more polished videos, the audience starts to feel like it was all staged, even if it was made up on the spot. Also, some live moments are hilarious in person (or on live stream) but don’t seem as funny later, when you’re not actually in the crowd.

What challenges have you faced translating a game to a live stream when you can’t have everyone in the same room?

Other than tech issues, which are ALWAYS an issue with live streaming, not having everyone in the same room playing is challenging because there’s a natural chemistry between people. If you can read other peoples’ facial expressions and anticipate someone speaking, you can build on what they’re doing easier for story and jokes. Remotely, you kind of have to find a different kind of rhythm for not talking over each other as well. The good thing is that The Guild has been together since 2007, so we have shortcuts between each other that help overcomes hurdles faster than a new group would.

You’ve been using XSplit for a while now for your streams, why is that?

I first started streaming in the fall of 2014, so a LONG time ago! I did it while I was running a big company called Geek and Sundry. It was a personal outlet where I wanted to get in touch with my internet roots. Because I was so busy, I didn’t have a lot of bandwidth to figure out the tech of it all. In searching for ways to stream simply and easily, XSplit stood out among the options as most turnkey. I’m so glad I did! Five+ years later I’m still going strong!

You’re going to be producing some live D&D streams soon, can you tell us about what and who we can expect?

I am going to be producing 4 D&D streams with The Guild cast on Sundays at 7pm PST on my twitch.tv/feliciaday channel! I’m thrilled to be able to bring the cast together after many years of not making videos! We did a charity stream last month that raised 40k and couldn’t wait to get the gang back together for more! DM Amy Vorhpal is so funny, the streams will be a riot I’m sure! Thank you to XSplit for sponsoring and giving us the ability to do this 4 episode story arc!!!

Finally, what advice would you give to someone looking to start their own D&D stream?

I would urge people to innovate from what other people do if they can. Standing out in a crowded field requires imagination and incredible chemistry between players. But don’t hold back on just streaming for fun if you don’t have a genre-cracking idea right away!

You need to make your content as unique as you are. But sometimes we have to try simpler things before reinventing the wheel. Watch what other people are doing who are successful in the field.

Think about what your own version would be and what different twists you could put on it. And have fun first and foremost! You won’t go the distance without having an organic connection with what you’re creating. If you start streaming D&D because you want fame or money or followers, you’ll burn out and quit fast. Do what you love first, that way you’ll stick with it and learn from everything you do!

The Guild D&D 4 Part Adventure Arc kicks off May 17 at 7:00 P.M PST, and will be running every Sunday until June 7 on twitch.tv/feliciaday. Join Felicia Day and an all-star cast featuring Sandeep Parikh, Amy Okuda, Jeffrey Lewis, Robin Thorson, Vince Caso with Amy Vorpahl as DM.

XSplit Premium is now free for Non-Profit Organizations

Update: We will be closing the submission of applications on July 1, 2020. Please make sure to submit your application before then.

During this extraordinary time, we have seen a huge increase in new users across a number of different industries reach out to us for assistance in getting started with streaming.

One particular trend we have noticed is non-profit organizations being displaced or having to temporarily shutter their doors during this time, many of whom are now looking to transition to streaming as a means of continuing their efforts.

With this in mind, we’re offering free 12-month Premium licenses to all qualifying Non-Profit Organizations. Those who are interested in getting started with streaming should fill out this form, and a member of our team will get back to you.

From the entire XSplit team, we wish everyone the best during this challenging time.

Advice for streamers looking to work with Indie Game Publishers

Join us for an industry roundtable where we ask leading indie publishers -Devolver Digital, Annapurna Interactive, Versus Evil, and Raw Fury games; for their advice for up and coming streamers looking to collaborate with them.

With the introduction of platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and Humble as well as digital distribution on consoles thanks to PSN, the Nintendo eShop, and XBOX store. It has never been easier to dive into titles made by smaller teams, from across the globe, developed independently from larger publishers.

Over the years, there have been some legendary breakout titles. Many of these were guided to release by indie publishers with a specialty in curating and promoting many of these beloved titles through development all the way up to release. Which more often than not includes collaboration with streamers and content creators.

With that in mind, we set out to speak to a few of the most prolific indie hitmakers. To better understand what they look for when collaborating with streamers. Whether throughout development such as when a game is in early access. Or when they are approached for early copies of games ahead of public release.

So if you are a streamer and are looking to reach out to an indie game publisher, what are some essential tips they can offer when planning that initial outreach?

Publisher: Raw Fury

Known for: Bad North, GoNNER, Atomicrops, Dandara, Night Call
David Martinez: “When working with a streamer or content creator, we’re looking for consistency. Does this channel post content or stream regularly? Do they have a dedicated audience and viewership? It’s not about how large their following is, it’s more about if they’re putting in the time and dedication to building their community. Since we are ultimately trying to reach that community.”

Publisher: Versus Evil

Known for: The Banner Saga series, Pillars of Eternity series, Guild of Dungeoneering
Lance James: “At Versus Evil, we generally look for a good fit for our games above all else. To ensure that the content creator plays content that is familiar to them and their audience. Ideally, this comes in as a natural fit and both the content creator and the game mesh well together. We get a content creator who knows the genre and the audience gets more content that they enjoy and expect.”

Publisher: Devolver Digital

Known for: Hotline Miami, Enter The Gungeon, Broforce, My Friend Pedro, Downwell
Nigel Lowrie: “I’d say what strikes me most is that feeling of being ‘genuine’ is important – however that manifests itself. They feel like it’s them out there, sharing what they love, and not performing to an audience that they are disconnected from.”

Publisher: Anna Purna Interactive

Known for: Sayonara Wild Hearts, The Outer Wilds, Donut County, What Remains of Edith Finch
Jeff Legaspi: ”When folks reach out, we look for a level of interest and authenticity with their request and in follow up conversations. As we appreciate folks that are passionate about creating content with our games. It helps when we get a cold request that isn’t in a template. Especially if they’ve created content for some of our previous games that they link to. Finally, we appreciate folks that take the time to chat with us at conventions. And continue to follow up on the conversation afterward! It never hurts to do that and leave your contact information so we can get back to them later.”

Whether you’re looking into widening your content focus beyond the Twitch Top 20 or looking to formalize your brand into a business. Building positive relations with publishers is an essential step to getting your channel taken seriously. Indie games are a celebration of artistry, creativity and of a DIY culture that mirrors streaming itself. There are game titles that explode in popularity. Many thanks to streamers playing the game that gained minimal coverage by the traditional press. So what are you waiting for?

7 Lesser-Known PC Horror Games to stream this Halloween

Whether you are a diehard survival horror gamer or are just looking for something a little creepy to help set the mood, we have curated a list of 7 games for you to stream this Halloween!

It’s Halloween! A time for Trick or Treaters, pumpkin carving, or dressing up in costume and hitting the town. Or you could just stay in and stream video games. Though what game are you gonna play?

You could go with the classics such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill or Outlast or even jump into Dead By Daylight. We wouldn’t blame you. But for those looking for something a little different, we wanted to suggest a handful of games that have maybe been somewhat overlooked and will help your live stream score extra points for originality this October 31st.

Lost in Vivo

Released towards the end of last year, Lost In Vivo is an indie horror title in the vein of classic survival horror games such as Silent Hill or Fatal Frame. Developed by KIRA and played entirely from a first-person perspective, Lost In Vivo tasks you the player to venture down into the storm drains and sewers in search of your lost corgi. It’s a deliciously simple setup beautifully realized in the game’s opening moments, with a grimy aesthetic reminiscent of classic PlayStation games and a whirring industrial soundtrack that recalls the work of Akira Yamaoka.

As you venture deeper into the sewers and soon into a whole manner of other locales, Lost in Vivo continually twists and turns, disorientating the player into a nightmare dreamscape from which to escape. A stunner from beginning to end, Lost in Vivo is a fantastic throwback to classic horror games, reinterpreting and remixing what makes them work for modern players. Also, it has a Corgi. A CORGI!

Pathologic 2

Developed by Ice-Pick Lodge and published by tinyBuild Pathologic 2 casts you in the role of a doctor, thief, detective, or all-round miscreant in a small town slowly being devoured by a deadly plague.

You the player have 12 days to save the town from a fast-spreading disease and itself, all while staving off illness, hunger, and keeping yourself alive and relatively sane. Pathologic 2 moves away from linear jumpscares instead opting to create a deeply unsettling atmosphere, where characters talk to you in cryptic riddles all while a clock slowly ticks down to you and the town’s demise. At the time of its release, Pathologic 2 received some critical backlash for being too difficult but has since been updated to include all manner of options to tweak the game as you see fit. Pathologic 2 is a great title to stream due to its semi non-linear narrative and its ability to give the player many tough choices which can be a fantastically engaging experience for you and your viewers.

The Missing: J.J Macfield and the Island of Memories

How is this for a hook? The Missing is a 2D puzzle platformer that often requires the player’s character to inflict self-harm as a means of progression through the game. A small game with something to say, The Missing is a slightly different approach to horror, catapulting the player into a ghoulish premise with a multi-layered narrative.

Cast in the role of J.J, you the player must explore the island of Memoria in search of your missing best friend. As you proceed through the game you quickly discover that as you sustain injury your character always survives, regardless of being battered, bruised, burned, or missing limbs. Both a deeply personal work that meditates on life, love, and loss and a twisted darkly comic body horror, The Missing is a singular work by White Owls Inc, directed by seminal auteur Swery65.

Man of Medan

Developed by Supermassive Games, Man of Medan is a spiritual successor of sorts to Sony’s 2015 horror adventure Until Dawn.

Pitched as the first of a new series of short stand-alone games known as The Dark Pictures Anthology, Man of Medan at once feels like a throwback to classic adventure and survival horror games, while also utilizing similar choice-based mechanics seen in the likes of Telltale’s The Walking Dead series. Utilizing a continuously branching narrative, a full cast of controllable characters and a rather unique online co-op mode optimized for audience interaction, Man of Medan is a ghost story perfect for a short concentrated burst of terror.

Hunt: Showdown

Set in a fantastical interpretation of the backwaters, bayous, and swamps of Louisiana, Hunt: Showdown is a tactical PVP first-person shooter that utilizes a dynamic environment full of all manner of nightmarish creatures.

Each game supports up to 12 players, who set out to track a monstrous bounty. Choosing to either team up, or go it alone you must stalk and hunt the monster all the while collecting gear and avoiding mobs of smaller creatures, and other players. Developed by Crytek, the makers of the Crysis trilogy, Hunt: Showdown is beautiful, dynamic, and quietly revolutionary in how it aims to mix up the ebb and flow of multiplayer games, creating dynamic and shocking moments for you and your audience.

Moons of Madness

Moons of Madness wonderfully asks the question, “what if Doom except you’re not the Doom Slayer?” Facing off against cosmic horrors, Moons of Madness is a first-person adventure set on Mars. As an ordinary engineer stationed on a remote research outpost, you must do battle against your rapidly deteriorating satiny and all manners of Lovecraft-inspired denizens. By far the newest release on this list, Moons of Madness has already started to generate some buzz, offering a beautifully realized and terrifying world for players to explore, and a fantastical narrative grounded by an interactive explorable station.

Darkwood

After a protracted phase in Early Access, Darkwood was released back in 2017 and has quickly grown a cult following thanks to its eerie and inspired setting, and unique take on survival horror gameplay.

Finally making the jump to consoles earlier this year, there has never been a better time to check out Acid Wizard Studio’s Darkwood. A top-down horror roguelike, you are tasked with choosing to fortify your cabin or venturing out into the night, scavenging and exploring a dark and shifting world. Featuring some wonderfully acerbic dialogue, a cast of colorful characters, and some truly shocking set pieces, Darkwood offers an incredibly unique and new perspective on classic survival horror. Just make sure you are holding a weapon when you hear a knock on your cabin door at night.

These are just a few games we handpicked on sale now but do let us know what spooky games you will be streaming over the Halloween weekend.

4 Hidden Features in XSplit Gamecaster’s Theme Overlay Editor

On the surface, XSplit Gamecaster V4 presents a simple and streamlined user interface to make streaming PC and Console games easier than ever before. In just a few short clicks a user can launch Gamecaster, select a theme and go live in less than a minute.

However the team didn’t stop there, and alongside creating an intuitive game streaming and recording app, also managed to cram in a ridiculously powerful theme overlay editor too. Initially, users that open the theme editor from the studio (by clicking the edit button) will have the ability to update their username, choose from a selection of sounds, add widgets choose which social icons to display and much more.

From the get-go, the theme editor gives the majority of users everything they need to fully personalize their stream to create something that fits their needs. Did you know though, there is a selection of additional options hidden behind the settings cog which can help take your stream to the next level. But before we dive into these secret features, it’s worth giving a little context as to how the theme editor came about.

XSplit Gamecaster’s frankly insanely powerful theme editor was built on the foundations of Strexm, a popular live stream overlay design tool that gained a ton of industry buzz a few years ago before being quickly snapped up by SplitmediaLabs (developers of XSplit) back in 2017.

Since then, Strexm’s co-founders Jon Young and Gareth Reynolds continued to iterate on the editor with our development team, working hard on refining, improving and rebuilding the editor into what it is today, a powerful and fully customizable WYSIWYG editor that removes the need for advanced graphic design applications.

With that history lesson over, let’s dive into some of the cooler and more hidden features in the editor:

Level up with Advanced Mode

Have you ever felt like the Gamecaster Theme Editor is not powerful enough for your needs? Or are you someone that just likes to have complete control over everything? Consider enabling the advanced mode within the editor. This feature is hidden behind the settings cog which can be accessed in the top left corner of the editor. Click it to open and you should see the option to enable advanced mode.

A small word of caution however, this feature is not for the faint of heart. With the advanced editor enabled, absolutely every element on your stream presentation can be fully adjusted. We’re talking fonts, size, colors, positioning and more. Advanced mode essentially unlocks a whole host of additional customization options which comes with its fair share of pros and cons. Pro’s, of course, being that you have complete control of the look of your broadcast, Con’s being… well, you have complete control of everything. This means that the probability of creating a hideous monstrosity frankenstein theme shoots up to ten fold. But hey… you do you, if fluorescent yellow all bold comic sans is how you roll, then more power to you.

Razer Chroma Support for RGB goodness

Love Razer and own Razer hardware? XSplit Gamecaster supports Razer Chroma by syncing the popular hardware manufacturers’ keyboards and peripherals with your customized theme. At first glance, this feature feels completely superfluous, and to some degree it absolutely is. However, on closer examination this neat little feature provides streamers with some additional ambient visual feedback, by triggering a change in color when a stream event occurs. This can be rather handy if you have turned your attention to your gameplay or something else going on, but it also just looks dope as hell too.

Potato mode for your old as dirt PC.

Whether your PC is in serious need of an upgrade, or you just like squeezing out every last drop of performance from your hardware, Potato PC Mode is a handy feature built for you. Essentially removing any animations and flourishes from themes, Potato mode is great for whether you are trying to maximize performance or are looking for a no-fuss presentation. Potato mode can also be useful when troubleshooting issues, allowing you to get a better idea of what could be causing any frame drops in your stream presentation. Also, it’s called Potato mode which is really really dumb and awesome.

Access a library of reference background images

Depending on how you build your stream presentation, this feature will either be really useful or entirely unnecessary, but for this streamer, I was thankful it existed. Hidden away in the options is the ability to use a series of reference images from popular titles to get an idea of how your overlay will look, all without the minor annoyance of having a game running. Navigate and choose from a selection of game screenshots available from titles such as PUBG, Minecraft, League of Legends and more.

I’ll be honest, It’s a very small detail, but can be incredibly useful if you are in the process of tweaking and testing a few elements in your broadcast. Let’s face it, without this feature, you would be forced to either run the game (which seems a little like overkill) or grab your own screenshot, and who honestly has time for that? It’s a handy little feature that won’t be for everyone but demonstrates the attention to detail the team has to help with saving a few precious seconds.

Change colors without leaving the editor

XSplit Gamecaster has more than 300 themes, but did you know many of them are available in multiple color variations? You may have noticed this when scanning for a theme on the marketplace, but for those looking to easily switch between the different color palettes on offer which editing, this feature is essential.

In particular, it can be great for when you’re just trying out some of the new themes available, and want to get an idea of how it will look in neon pink. To be honest, it’s just an appreciated little feature that allows you to get a better idea of the options available without having to close your theme, go back to the theme selection directory and choose another. And hey, who doesn’t enjoy saving a little time?

That about rounds it up for hidden features in the theme overlay editor, though in many ways only begins to scratch the surface on the customization options available. We still have yet to dive into the array of widgets available and what they do, as well as some other cool hacks our community have been discovering by testing out the editor.

As always, while XSplit Gamecaster is in Open Beta, anyone who tries out the app will be granted Free access to it for life, with no watermarks and no restrictions. So if you are curious to try out the theme editor, or some of XSplit Gamecaster’s other awesome features, now is the best time to do so.
We also have a growing Discord community which our product and dev team are a part of, along with a feature upvoting system for if you have any suggestions or improvements that could be made to the editor.

So let us know your thoughts on what we can do better, and drop us a message if you have tried out some of these hidden features for yourself.

Everything you need to know about streaming on Mixer

Ninja, Shroud and now you too!? Thinking of making the jump to Mixer? Well, here is everything you need to know.

This year has been an interesting one for Microsoft’s Mixer (formerly known as Beam). In the last few months alone, the platform has gone through some tremendous transformations, losing both of its co-founders to bringing on two Twitch heavyweights with Ninja (and more recently) Shroud joining its ranks of celebrity streamers.

Whether you are a die-hard bleed purple Twitch fan thinking of jumping ship or just looking to get an idea of what’s on offer, we wanted to prepare a handy guide telling you everything you need to know about this brand new platform, how it compares to the likes of Twitch, and MOST importantly build a case for why you may want to consider making the switch.

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of what makes Mixer different, it’s worth mentioning that both of our streaming apps XSplit Broadcaster and the new and improved XSplit Gamecaster both have native streaming support to Mixer, meaning easy login, authentication along with widgets for chat and alerts being automatically set up. In the case of XSplit Gamecaster, you can also choose from hundreds of beautiful overlays pre-configured for use with Mixer too!

So you now know what it takes to stream to Mixer, but why should you bother? What does Mixer have to deserve your attention, and how can a new Microsoft backed platform compete with the likes of Twitch?

Give me that sweet sweet FTL

Right out of the gate, one of Mixer’s most touted features is that it gives their users the ability to stream in super-low latency, which essentially means less delay between you “the streamer” doing something, and the time it takes for your viewer to see it happen. Dubbed FTL or the Faster Than Light streaming protocol, this feature aims to offer users sub-second delay as opposed to RTMP’s more standard delay which can be anything upwards of 5 seconds. But what does this mean for you?

Well, ideally it means less stream lag for your audience, meaning a practically instantaneous back and forth between you and your viewer, which can help create a more authentic rapport with your audience and build stronger connections with your community. Well, that’s the promise anyway. As with most of these types of features, your mileage may vary due to a number of different factors such as unstable connections or fluctuating internet speeds which can in (the worst case), offer a less than ideal presentation (we’re talking dropped frames and stuttery video). So make sure to test a little and see if you can find that sweet spot. The good news is Mixer’s Low Latency FTL protocol is fully supported within XSplit making it easy enough to get started with this rather unique feature.

A whole new way to interact with your audience

Another area Mixer touts is the gamified nature and level of interactivity on offer to audience members. Now admittedly this is not wholly unique to Mixer with Twitch closing the gap somewhat through its bevy of extensions. However, it is fair to say that Mixer does execute things with a little more panache, offering some neat visual feedback for both streamers and viewers through its XP and sparks system. Just like an RPG you can earn XP and level up to unlock new features, or even influence the gameplay on stream through Mixplay. it’s pretty unique and creates quite a sticky user experience which when utilized properly could very likely lead to better viewer retention. That’s the promise anyway.

A chance to stand out?

Now take this one with a huge pinch of salt, but one of the most common reasons for why you should consider streaming to Mixer is the ability to stand out from the crowd. With Mixer being one of the younger platforms, its audience and pool of creators have yet to grow to the megaton levels of Twitch or YouTube, supposedly meaning that as a new streamer you have a better opportunity to gain viewers similar to the early gold-rush days of Twitch.

This essentially gives you an advantage, going up against a far less competitive community giving a shot of being the big fish in the still relatively small (but rapidly growing) pond. Which, I dunno…while there have certainly been some success stories on Mixer, with a few folks streaming professionally, it is still very much a hustle. So maybe not make this your sole reason for jumping across. Props to Mixer though for proactively showcasing up and coming streamers on their homepage, and having some well thought out community guidelines.

Co-Streaming for everyone

So look, Twitch has Squad Streaming, but right now it’s still only limited to members of its partner program. However, Mixer lets you try this feature out for free without the need for partnership status. Co-Streaming essentially allows for you and up to three friends to simultaneously stream to a single channel. This can be especially great for team-based multiplayer games such as PUBG, Minecraft or Apex Legends creating a streamlined presentation where the viewer can easily hop between each player. Even more, mind-blowing, you can even co-stream with your friends from an Xbox One, eliminating the need for any sort of 3rd party app entirely. But, you didn’t hear that from me. Please use XSplit.

Get Hype in the HypeZone

Dumb name, awesome feature. Mixer’s HypeZone is like a never-ending highlight reel except happening live. Thanks to some rather cool integrations between Mixer and various game developers, Mixer’s Hypezone cycles between final moments of matches in a variety of games such as PUBG, Fortnite, and Apex Legends. Essentially giving you all the meat of those final chicken dinner moments without the slow-paced build-up. This can be a great platform for more skilled streamers to showcase their wins and can be a pretty addictive viewing experience for those watching. It’s a neat if relatively niche feature that won’t be for everyone but is very cool nevertheless.

You really really like Xbox.

Mixer is owned by Microsoft, creators of Xbox. If you really really like Xbox, Mixer has had a knack so far of rewarding that loyalty. Whether it’s the native Mixer integration on console or the array of official Microsoft game-related community streams, Mixer really is the best choice if you are a fan of the platform and its growing ecosystem. Even better Mixer streamers can earn money through Xbox Gamepass if a viewer signs up through their channel, offering additional opportunities to earn revenue which brings us on to…

Easier ways to start earning

Unlike Twitch, which has some fairly lofty restrictions to become an affiliate and the coveted Twitch Partner, Mixer offers a variety of options to create engagement and start earning money. Mixer’s use of donation systems and currencies (such as sparks embers and subscribers) provides it’s streamers with more monetization options some of which very similar to Twitch albeit, with a much lower barrier of entry.

Is Mixer for you?

Ultimately whether you decide to stream to Twitch, Mixer, Facebook or DLive, there is no fast pass to becoming the next Ninja or Shroud. However, the folks over at Mixer have definitely put together an appealing package. With features geared towards offering streamers minimal lag while offering audience interaction and unique player participation perks such as co-streaming, Mixer is definitely worth checking out.

For now though, in terms of raw users and viewership Twitch is still king, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on Mixer. Plus by offering a range of additional perks like no platform exclusivity, xbox integration and of course the vague possibility of viewer success due to not being the biggest. You could do a lot worse.

The beauty of streaming is the ability to create your own content and choose where to put it, and thanks to XSplit it really is simple to set up and start streaming to Mixer just to try it out. In the case of XSplit Gamecaster, it’s as simple as logging in with your Mixer account, choosing a theme and hitting stream.

So what about you? Are you thinking of streaming to Mixer? Have you tried already? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment below or join our discord where you can tell me why I’m wrong in real-time! It will be great!

Getting the most out of Gamecaster’s In-Game Stream Control

XSplit Gamecaster V4 has been out for nearly a couple of weeks now and represents some huge steps forwards for XSplit’s in-house streaming technology. In particular, one of the big touted features has been XSplit Gamecaster V4’s in-game stream control, a revolutionary new feature that aims to give users the ability to control every facet of their stream without having to leave and ALT+TAB out of their game. For those who are still on the fence though with this new and improved feature, we wanted to show you why is it so special, and how it can it help elevate and improve your stream production:

Streamlined Scene Switching in-game

While it’s true that some form of an in-game HUD has been present in earlier versions of XSplit Gamecaster, and even XSplit Broadcaster’s 3.8 release. Gamecaster V4’s update levels up the experience with the introduction of scene switching from within your game. While some more experienced users have grown accustomed to purely using hotkeys and remembering which scene to switch to from pure memory alone, XSplit Gamecaster V4’s in-game HUD offers a clean interface that gives you a visual representation of what is in each scene as well as also displaying the custom name for them. This can be especially useful when needing to quickly hop between a few different views i.e. cutting between an in-game feed to a BRB screen, without having to minimize or take your attention away from the gameplay. This can be super effective when needing to cut between scenes a few seconds before the next round of a game starts.

Easily Monitor Stream Performance

Another essential feature of Gamecaster V4’s in-game HUD is the ability to easily monitor the performance of both your stream, the game and your PC in general. This type of quick info can be handy to help troubleshoot if your audience complains of the dreaded “Stream Lag”. In particular, some of the more demanding games out there, especially the ones still in early access can be inefficient with how they utilize your PC’s CPU, maxing out your cores and degrading your overall stream quality. Gamecaster V4’s Stream performance monitor will help you get a quick heads up on what is going on. meaning you can quickly alter graphics settings without having to cut your stream short as well as monitor dropped frames or choppy stream quality.

All the important Stream Info

Often overlooked, but essential to maximizing your viewership is making sure all the essential stream info is present and correct. Have you ever got 30 minutes in a stream only to realize you don’t have the correct game tagged? What about having a completely incorrect stream title? These types of mishaps can happen all the time and can easily be overlooked when setting everything up to go live. However, Gamecaster V4 puts all of that information front and center which can be very helpful as you go live.

Starting and stopping your live stream and recording from in-game

Presentation is everything, and the last thing you want to do is go live and then have to boot up a game, adjust the settings and then wait for the barrage of developer logos to finish. Most pro streamers start their stream while in the lobby, which (let’s face it) can be a minor inconvenience when you are trying to run a game in exclusive full-screen mode from a single display. XSplit Gamecaster can help with this though, by letting you start your stream and update all of the relevant info before going live. This can help streamline your pre-live checklist, essentially meaning you just have to boot up XSplit Gamecaster and then set-up the rest from in-game. Oh yeah, (and BTW) you can also start and stop your recording too, which can be a lifesaver for quickly testing your broadcast or just wanting to record a quick moment even if you are not going live.

Track all of your stream events and chat from in-game

When your 6 hours deep into an immersive open-world RPG it can be easy to lose track of what is going on in your stream. There is nothing worse than realizing a couple of folks visited your stream only to “peace out” because there was no response to your chat message. Gamecaster’s stream events and chat widgets will help stop that from happening. Once these essential widgets are pinned, you can easily monitor everything from in-game, and even better easily post replies and messages into your chat. Stream events also help to track any donations and viewer activity, so if you get a new follower, subscriber or someone starting to host your stream you will be the first to know about it.

Take quick and handy screenshots in a second

Whether its an NPC ragdolling through the floor, a beautiful in-game sunset or just for the hell of it, screenshotting those moments can be important to you. Up until now you have probably been reliant on a 3rd party application, Steam’s screenshot capture or *shudders* the print screen key (Editor: Do people even still use this?). Anyway, XSplit Gamecaster V4, lets you do it easily from in-game from the same UI which is a nice handy bonus when you want to screenshot something without thinking about it.

Adjusting audio settings and muting your microphone

Avoid the nightmare scenario of accidentally streaming a hot mic by easily muting and unmuting without leaving your game. Seriously, how many streamers careers could this feature have saved by just letting you do this from in-game. Seriously though, XSplit Gamecaster’s in-game stream controls lets you more easily tweak and adjust the all-important microphone settings which can be great if you are coming in too soft or loud.

The power of pinned widgets

Often overlooked but should never be underestimated, XSplit Gamecaster’s widget pinning can be super useful for keeping tabs of everything in-game. Pin specific widgets so they are visible even with the In-Game Stream Control closed, this means you can pin and monitor your chat, in-game without making it visible to your audience.

Are you streaming with one display or two?

XSplit Gamecaster’s In-Game stream control is super handy for those streaming from a single monitor or gaming laptop. Though don’t sleep on the feature if you have two displays. A lot of these features can complement your existing setup by presenting vital information in a clean and compact way. Even if you have two screens, Gamecaster’s in-game HUD lets you save on having additional browser windows open, reducing system resources to focus on your game and stream output.

Try out Gamecaster, and help us make it even better!

So there you have it, XSplit Gamecaster V4’s In-Game Stream Control features can be a powerful addition to anyone’s setup, and even better we are just getting started. Gamecaster is in open beta which means more enhancements and features are set to be added in the future. So what are you waiting for? Jump in and give XSplit Gamecaster V4 a shot while it’s still in beta and get it free for life.

Do you have any ideas for features we can add to XSplit Gamecaster V4’s In-Game Stream Control? Hop onto our official Discord server and join the conversation with our community and team of developers! You can even suggest a feature via our ideas page, which will be voted on by other users. Our product team and developers are always looking for any feedback to improve Gamecaster, so be sure to let us know if you have any!

Be sure to look out for more handy guides for XSplit Gamecaster in the coming weeks, as well as our other applications XSplit Broadcaster, XSplit VCam and XSplit Express Video Editor.

XSplit Powers this Year’s Rev Major

Did you know that XSplit’s development takes place in Manila, Philippines? Since establishing SplitmediaLabs back in 2009 (ten years ago!), we have proudly been a part of the growing gaming and esports scene of the Philippines. It’s been an absolute pleasure to watch the scene evolve and grow over the years, with prize pools and international viewership going from strength to strength.

REV Major, taking place this weekend, is no exception. With over 800 participants already registered to compete this weekend, REV Major is set to be a landmark event for the Philippines belonging in the same conversation as ESL One Manila and Manila Majors / Masters.

Prepare to experience the HYPE once again as the Philippines’ premiere fighting game event returns.

See you this Sept 28-29, 2019 in The Tent Solaire Resorts & Casino for REV Major 2019.#REVMajor2019 #DoItAgain pic.twitter.com/OrbtCPFED4
— REV MAJOR PH (@revmajorph) September 24, 2019

We’re excited to see REV Major this year, with some of the world’s biggest Tekken 7 players flying into Metro Manila to duke it out with our country’s best. Naturally, the XSplit team had to be involved, so we are helping the folks over at Playbook (who organize the event) with production duties, so the live stream is powered by XSplit.

Our production stream monsters will be making sure everything runs smoothly from Solaire casino, with a few other team members there watching the proceedings! Even our Korean Community Manager, Kevin “Burnout Fighter” Kim will be competing. Adding to the festivities is SplitmediaLabs’ staff member Steef Reverente who will be holding a Retro Game Arena station at the event, featuring a bunch of classic fighting games from the 90’s and early 2000’s.

So make sure to tune into the stream this weekend for some FGC hype and to see who takes the pot. You can also follow XSplit on Twitter, and Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to pull off this kind of production.

Speaking of which, interested in broadcasting your own fighting game event? Our Brand Ambassador Chris Slight, took some time back at EVO earlier this year to chat with some of the FGC’s best broadcasters for the best tips, and how to strategize when the inevitable blow-up happens. Check it here:

Keep up-to-date with REV Major this weekend

Rev Major September 28-29, 2019
Location: Solaire Resort & Casino
Live Streams: Twitch (1, 2), Facebook

How to Repost your Stream Clips on Instagram

As a content creator or live streamer, you no doubt already have an Instagram account, along with Twitter and Facebook. While it is likely true that you are already posting in a bid to get noticed among the never-ending feeds of content, are you posting the right type of content?

While it is a good practice to tell your audience when you are going live, did you know that according to a recent study by Mention, Video posts receive 38% more engagement than image posts? There is a reason more, and more creators are leveraging video on Instagram as part of their strategy to drive viewers back to their channel.

To get ahead of the competition, here are a few clever hacks you can use to help you make the most of your Instagram, even when you are not streaming. It’s all about cleverly recycling your content, and posting it meaningfully to grow your channel. Here are a few simple hacks to help you make the most of your content, and easily repost clips on to Instagram.

Finding the right type of content

If you are going to go to the trouble of reposting your stream clips to Instagram, it’s vital to ensure that what you are posting is engaging. First and foremost, targeting is everything. One good example could be putting together a short thirty-second moment, of something funny that happened on stream. For gamers, maybe you are playing a survival horror, and something jumped out at you, causing you to react. A moment like this can be instantly enjoyable to new viewers, giving them a taste of both the type of games you play and your personality. For non-gaming content such as a webinar or vlogging, clipping together a segment that is both short and succinct, can prove to be alluring to viewers, wanting to go back and watch your archive, video or subscribe to be notified the next time you go live.

Outside of simply posting to Instagram, stories can also be a great way to drive viewers to your channels, as they provide a more immediate and engaging way for you to showcase your content to viewers. Selecting a few choice clips, and posting them as a story can be a great way to inform audiences of the type of content you are making.

Picking the right tools for the job

Selecting the right tools for the job is everything, and when it comes to creating highlights of key moments from our stream there are a few ways you can do it. If you are streaming with OBS one of the best practices you can do is to start writing down time stamps, using a pen and paper while you are streaming. This way, you can easily make a note when something cool happens on stream, and then go back to it. If you have viewers, and stream on Twitch, you can also ask viewers to clip the moment, for you, so you have a healthy amount of content to review.

Alternatively, if you use XSplit Broadcaster or XSplit Gamecaster, you can assign a hotkey to insert cue points into your broadcast. Cue points can be a handy way to identify critical moments during post-production.

Speaking of post-production, and selecting the right tools, it’s worth downloading a video editor so you can easily import your recordings and clip them. There are a few different choices out there, most notably Adobe Premiere, which is an industry-standard for professional non-linear editing software. Alternatively, you can also check out XSplit Express Video Editor, a free and quick solution for editing clips in seconds.

Once you have selected your software and captured your recordings, its time to start editing, a good rule of thumb when reviewing your footage to post to socials is to try and find two or three key moments, and then experiment with regards to the duration and of course, the caption.

Picking the right tools for the job is everything, so make sure you choose an editor that allows for easy clipping and exporting.

A quick guide to aspect ratios

When dealing with multiple platforms, and mixed media, complications can arise along the way, especially when it comes to aspect ratios of your content. If you are uploading gameplay footage, there is a good chance that it is captured in 16:9, meaning that when you upload it to Instagram, you will have to either sacrifice screen real estate (by uploading the clip with borders) or zooming in on a portion of the clip. Keep this in mind when uploading your content. A good rule of thumb would be to always show the clip in its original aspect ratio unless there is something specific you want to zoom in and focus the viewers’ attention to.

Creating a PC to Mobile Workflow

When saving your clips, and trying to upload to Instagram from a desktop, you may find the experience limiting. This is because Instagram does not offer a proper way to upload content from your PC easily. While there are workarounds in the form of a few third-party apps, its generally recommended to instead upload your clip to Instagram via a phone or tablet.

The reason for this is simple; native mobile Instagram apps are far superior, offering the full suite of filters, badges, and captions. So how can you quickly transfer your finished clip from PC to your mobile device? While using a 3rd party messenger service can be convenient such as What’s App, or Facebook Messenger. Quite often, the clip will be highly compressed, sacrificing quality in favor of file size.

A more convenient alternative would be to upload your clips to a cloud storage solution such as Google Drive, or Dropbox. Both offer space for free, with their mobile apps downloaded, it can be a convenient way to organize and upload clips from your phone easily.

When posting, timing is everything

So you have your finished clip, and you are ready to repost it to Instagram! Before doing so, consider that timing is everything. According to Sprout’s recent 2019 study of the best times to post on Instagram, daily on weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) between 10 am – 3 pm generally nets the best positive results.

This pocket of high engagement can prove to be a great testbed for trying out different clips to measure what has the best results. So consider initially testing 2-3 clips across the week, and utilizing hashtags. Choosing hashtags is important for ensuring your content is targeted towards the right audience, for a list of some popular hashtags take a look at this handy study from earlier this year by Oberlo. Incidentally, the most popular hashtag on Instagram is #love!

Building an audience is a long-term goal

The purpose of reposting your stream clips to Instagram is really about maximizing your channels, your brand, while also having an opportunity to recycle footage already shot. Despite these tips, though, it would be unrealistic to assume that you can build an audience overnight. Like live streaming and content creation in general, consistency is key, and by regularly uploading your content to other channels off of Twitch or YouTube, you stand the best possible chance of attracting new viewers and raising your profile. So if you are already streaming or uploading YouTube videos, why not give it a try?

TL;DR List of Tips and Tricks

Add cue points to your live streams to find the best moments to highlight
download an editor to easily cut together your clips, start with some initial 30-second segments.
When you have exported your clip, use Google Drive or Dropbox to easily access and post to Instagram from your mobile or tablet device.
Timing is everything, weekdays between 10 am – 3 pm generally gives the best results.
Building an audience takes time, post consistently, and don’t give up! Experiment and find out what works for you.

March Madness: Save 50% on all XSplit Licenses!*

March has been an awesome month for the XSplit team having just wrapped up PAX East, SXSW and our awesome community meet-ups! To celebrate the end of the month and #marchmadness we’re giving everyone a 50% discount on all XSplit licenses (yes, EVEN LIFETIME) meaning that you can get an XSplit License for life for $99. Interested? use the code “marchmadness” at checkout!

This offer is available until 9am Pacific, April 3 2017. *Please note that those purchasing a recurring 3 Month License, the offer only applies to the first 3 months. Got it?

?XSplit?for?life?$99