Improving a gaming channel

[KoekieGedrog]

Hello everybody,

I have a gaming channel and getting views is bloody hard. I looked at the Audience Retention for the last 30 days and my Average View Duration was sitting at 12%, which kinda stings a little.

The problem, I guess, is that it's a gaming channel and every second person on YouTube has a gaming channel these days. So, my question to you guys: What would you like to see differently in a gaming channel? What would make it worth your time to sit down and actually watch the whole video?

I think that this isn't just important to me, but to any gaming YouTuber who feels like rage quitting... Haha, I said rage quitting.

Thanks in advance and for the great forums

 

[FPSsufferpoo1]

Hello everybody,

I have a gaming channel and getting views is bloody hard. I looked at the Audience Retention for the last 30 days and my Average View Duration was sitting at 12%, which kinda stings a little.

The problem, I guess, is that it's a gaming channel and every second person on YouTube has a gaming channel these days. So, my question to you guys: What would you like to see differently in a gaming channel? What would make it worth your time to sit down and actually watch the whole video?

I think that this isn't just important to me, but to any gaming YouTuber who feels like rage quitting... Haha, I said rage quitting.

Thanks in advance and for the great forums

I've also got a gaming channel and I know how you feel. I'm going to start being different to other gaming channels because as you said there are thousands of gaming channels out there. I'm going to do this by using a webcam, have a banner up the top and use color correction, if you can be different and look professional then you should hopefully grow.

 

[Lilikoi Juice]

You won't get a high retention rate doing LP's. LP's are often long (yours are mostly 10 minutes+) and while you are a small channel, it is hard to grow and/or keep viewers interested in the video.
LP's, I feel, are the hardest gaming channel types to grow because there are just so many people out there doing the same thing. Even if you have great quality content and that "special" personality it's hard to bring people to be interested in you, enough to subscribe. I was subbed to this channel who I felt had great potential. His content was top notch and his personality shined through the video but his subscriber count was low for a long, long time.

Clip the video up, if retention rate means a lot to you.

Also, I watched two of your videos and you don't commentate much. You make remarks here and there but I feel there needs to be more.

 

[A Chubby Fellow]

I feel ya buddy!
Personally when I watch other videos I like it when they have their own "Style" of doing Let's plays.
For example, one group I watch plays games but hardly talks about the game itself. They might talk about whats going on the game from time to time but 75% of their conversation is just about life.
But they are always in a fantastic mood. They aren't monotone or anything. They are just a few guys having a good time and talk about various things. They have around 75k viewers last I saw.
Another group strictly focus' on the game and nothing else. They know the game in and out. They play mostly for fun and actually provide useful info.
Then you have the ones doing whatever they want and just having a blast not caring if they are awesome at a game or just suck. That's always fun.

I know you asked what we'd like to see differently, and I'm sure you'll get some neat answers, but it might also help if you know what type of person you are when you make your videos.
Are you funny? Abuse that.
Are you awesome at a game? Show off.
Take your best quality and abuse the hell out of it.
Enjoy yourself, and people will come watch.
At least, that's what I believe.

 

[LuiC]

Hello everybody,

I have a gaming channel and getting views is bloody hard. I looked at the Audience Retention for the last 30 days and my Average View Duration was sitting at 12%, which kinda stings a little.

The problem, I guess, is that it's a gaming channel and every second person on YouTube has a gaming channel these days. So, my question to you guys: What would you like to see differently in a gaming channel? What would make it worth your time to sit down and actually watch the whole video?

I think that this isn't just important to me, but to any gaming YouTuber who feels like rage quitting... Haha, I said rage quitting.

Thanks in advance and for the great forums

Be yourself.
Your own personality is what matters the most and that should appear in your commentary.
Also, don't force it too, keep it natural

 

[SynthReBorn]

Well, some things that you could improve on are:

-Commentary volume: While I can generally make out what you're saying, I have to listen very closely and at full volume. It also seems like some of the dialogue is mumbled too, everyone does it but the impression that I'm getting is that you aren't comfortable/relaxed while doing these. Gotta let those nerves go if that's the case. Be natural, be yourself.

-Video length: As a channel in the lower area of subscribers/audience retention you should probably make your videos shorter/keep them short. Around the 10 minute mark is generally a good place(I know some of your videos are within this time). Unless your subscribers voice that they want longer videos from you, just go by the acceptable norm as the average person needs to get hooked within the first couple minutes of the video to potentially keep going. Making video unnecessarily long, will only hurt you as the creator.

As for what I personally look for in a channel. The most important thing is personality. Making your viewers/potential viewers feel welcome from the start is always good. From there I try to see if there's anything that creator is saying that can establish a sort of personal connection to me(this doesn't have to happen necessarily in every case, but I'll stick around longer if I feel like we're friends-ish/or am listening to a friend if you know what I'm saying). The difference maker isn't necessarily the content(gameplay)itself, but how much of the creator can inject themselves into the content. You can dress up a channel as much as you want(and it's important for sure)but, you'd be surprised how more you can do/less you'd think you have to do if you make the experience much more personable.

 

[KoekieGedrog]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the responses. And sorry for taking so darn long to respond to this myself.

Also, I watched two of your videos and you don't commentate much. You make remarks here and there but I feel there needs to be more.

I had a look at my videos and I see what you mean. I guess it's nerves setting in, but I'll work on it. Feels a bit strange sitting in a room talking to an audience which isn't physically there.

Well, some things that you could improve on are:

-Commentary volume: While I can generally make out what you're saying, I have to listen very closely and at full volume. It also seems like some of the dialogue is mumbled too, everyone does it but the impression that I'm getting is that you aren't comfortable/relaxed while doing these. Gotta let those nerves go if that's the case. Be natural, be yourself.

-Video length: As a channel in the lower area of subscribers/audience retention you should probably make your videos shorter/keep them short. Around the 10 minute mark is generally a good place(I know some of your videos are within this time). Unless your subscribers voice that they want longer videos from you, just go by the acceptable norm as the average person needs to get hooked within the first couple minutes of the video to potentially keep going. Making video unnecessarily long, will only hurt you as the creator.

One of my flaws is that I tend to mumble, even more so when nervous. So that is something that I'm trying to overcome. And I'm always struggling to get the volume right >_<.

I try to keep my videos within 10 minutes, but when I look at the timer, oops... Where have the time gone. I feel that I should make even shorter videos as I do notice that viewers only watch for a few minutes and then leave.

I will still dabble with LPs, but mostly sticking to Minecraft and then anything that I can jam with friends and turn into a frenzy of sorts. Playing with friends makes it a lot more fun and interesting. Other than that I think I'll do First Impressions of indie games, and I'll look into what else I can do to keep things interesting.

Once again, thanks for all the responses.