YouTube Gaming is now live!

So, YouTube gaming is now live and it’s a pain in the ass to set up I’ve found. Even more than using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) or X-Split (which costs for a decent version). I was really excited for it as a way to easily set up PC streaming easily, and share content from my Steam library instead of just what my Playstation 4 library holds. That was not to be

First you need to set up Encoding, with a “YouTube Live Verified” encoding service such as X-Split Broadcaster/X-Split Gamecaster, El Gato Game Capture HD60 or Wirecast Play. Or if you already have OBS (Open Broadcast Software) installed you can use it but it’s not verified. You can get the full run down on setting up Encoding set up on YouTube’s help/FAQ section.

So I set up OBS, and tried to stream Dragon Age II.  Since there is no start/stop option for this YTG system whenever you  press “start streaming”, your channel goes live. With mine, I apparently streamed about 35 seconds of a black screen and swearing as the game repeatedly crashed to desktop (CTD) every time I clicked “start streaming” in OBS.

The game wouldn’t load until I closed out OBS and closed the tabs with YouTube Live streaming. When it finally did start, the keyboard wasn’t recognized as an input device and I had to exit out anyway.

So my first foray into using YouTube gaming as an alternative to Twitch for PC streaming was a bust. It is not user friendly and seems geared towards those that already have a handle on PC streaming via other means and isn’t really set up to have new streamers be able to figure out the system easily and begin showing content in short order.

There is an FAQ, but it’s written in insider/experienced in PC streaming jargon and is text heavy. Whoever wrote this didn’t consider that not everyone is good with straight text instructions, and failed to include any images for those that may be visual learners. Bad UX and usability consideration right there YouTube Gaming.

For now, I’ll keep poking at PC streaming options, and possibly stick with Raptr or the built in Twitch streaming in EA Origin. There is Steam PC to PC sharing but this is only useful if you want to share content on a local set up in your home with someone who is in another part of the house.

Hopefully YouTube Gaming will update their instructions to more newbie friendly with images in the FAQ and not just jargon laden text instructions that can be confusing to someone unused to the terminology tied into PC Streaming.

Under the cut is the YouTube provided guide in order to Get started with watching your fave games on YouTube Gaming

YouTube Gaming makes it easy to find and watch gaming content from YouTube on your mobile device and your computer.

Add a game

To get started, add a game. When you add a game, you’ll be able to keep track of all the newest videos and livestreams for that game.

  1. Use the search bar to search for a game you’re interested in.
  2. Tap or click on the game art to go to the game page.
  3. Add the game by clicking or tapping the  star icon.

You can find your added games and browse featured games under the GAMES section on the left side of your homepage.

Add a channel

You can also add a channel. You can add a channel using the  star icon while watching a video or from your search results.

You can find your added channels and browse featured channels under the CHANNELS section on the right side of your homepage.

Browse your feed and collection

On your homepage you’ll find a feed of popular videos and livestreams, as well as the latest videos from the games and channels you’ve added.

Published by cypheroftyr

Tanya DePass is the founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago, which is dedicated to better diversification of all aspects of gaming. I Need Diverse Games serves the community by supporting marginalized developers, attendance at the Game Developer Conference by participating in the GDC Scholarship program, helps assist attendance at other industry events, and is seeking partnership with organizations and initiatives. Tanya is a lifelong Chicagoan who loves everything about gaming, #INeedDiverseGames spawn point, and wants to make the industry better and more inclusive for everyone. She’s part of the Rivals of Waterdeep actual play stream on twitch.tv/rivalsofwaterdeep, a partnered Twitch variety broadcaster; and often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics online, at conventions and as a public speaker.. She’s also contributed to publications at Green Ronin, Paizo and Monte Cook Games and is the co-developer for the Fifth Season RPG based on N.K. Jemisin’s three time Hugo award winning Broken Earth trilogy. She’s the creator and Creative Director of Into the Mother Lands, a Twitch supported RPG and Actual Play stream, airing weekly on her channel, twitch.tv/cypheroftyr. Additionally, she is a Senior Annenberg labs Civic Media Fellow at USC. She’s also the creator and Creative Director of Into the Mother Lands, a new sci fi afro-futurist RPG developed with a team of all POC and Black creators; live streamed on her twitch channel, /cypheroftyr. She’s named as one of The Game Awards Future Class 2020, a diverse group of builders, thinkers and dreamers whose voices elevate and diversify our artform. It recognizes individuals around the world who represent the bright, bold and inclusive future for video games. She was also named as one of Gamers of the Year 2020 by Kotaku along with three of her contemporaries. She was also invited to the Xbox MVP program in February 2021. Her work to make the industry more inclusive has been highlighted in Game Changer, Directed by Tina Charles, WNBA star & olympian as well as filmmaker. The short documentary premiered at Tribeca 2021, as part of the Queen Collective; an initiative started by Queen Latifah, supported by Proctor & Gamble in an effort to get more Black women into film making. Game Changer was also featured as part of BETHer’s 2021 Juneteenth Programming on 19 June 2021. Tanya is the programming & diversity coordinator for OrcaCon and GaymerX. She also serves on the Board of Directors for OrcaCon and was named the Chair for Take This in January 2023. She often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics at conventions. Her writing about games and games critique appears in Uncanny Magazine, Polygon, Wiscon Chronicles, Vice Gaming, Paste Games, Mic, and other publications. She’s the editor of Game Devs and Others: Tales from the Margins (2018, CRC Press) and contributed to The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox. (2019, CRC Press) Writer Bio for pubs: Tanya is the Founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago. She’s part of Rivals of Waterdeep, an actual play D&D show on twitch.tv/rivalsofwaterdeep; the programming coordinator for OrcaCon & GaymerX; and often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics at conventions. She’s on the Board of Take This as well as a Stream Ambassador, and was part of the inaugural cohort of The Game Awards Future Class. Her work to make the industry more inclusive has been highlighted in Game Changer, Directed by Tina Charles, WNBA star & olympian as well as filmmaker. The short documentary premiered at Tribeca 2021, as part of the Queen Collective; an initiative started by Queen Latifah, supported by Proctor & Gamble in an effort to get more Black women into film making. Game Changer was also featured as part of BETHer’s 2021 Juneteenth Programming on 19 June 2021.