Archives for March 2023

There comes a time in the life of every video game player when they discover the joy of experiencing a video game alongside others. Sometimes, siblings watch each other defeat a hard level in a game. Other times, gamers will hang out with friends and enjoy a brand-new game together.

By using video game streaming platforms, gamers can experience their favorite video games with their friends and others in the gaming community from home. However, the world of video game streaming can be intimidating to someone new.

What resources do you need to start streaming? Why do people stream video games? What’s the best type of internet for streaming?

Before we go too far, let’s take a step back and cover the basics.

What are video game streaming platforms?

Video game streaming platforms provide a digital space to view and stream content. On these platforms, gamers can interact with each other while playing their favorite games. This allows for real-time competition as well.

Fortunately, it’s simple to join a video game streaming service. Most are free and easy to use. By signing up for free accounts, those wanting to stream games or view other streamers can access almost anything they’re interested in.

Gaming content on these platforms can be enjoyed live and on demand. This allows fans to be part of the action as it happens or catch up when they have free time.

Many streamers are also trying to earn money while doing what they love. And the most successful make a career from playing video games. Income opportunities are typically determined based on ads, your viewers and followers, and the work streamers put into making their content stand out.

Each streaming platform has its rules for monetization, so be careful to read the fine print before deciding where to stream.

Most Popular Streaming Platforms

There are many streaming platforms on which gamers can interact, and some are better than others. The top three contenders today are Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming.

Twitch has been the top streaming option for gamers for years, though its platform has undergone some changes. Video game streaming wasn’t popular when Twitch launched, but streamers have found new and innovative ways to interact with their viewers through its community.

YouTube Gaming has made fresh waves in the streaming community recently. YouTube has been one of the most well-established platforms since the inception of the internet, so adding a section for live streaming was a simple decision. Through YouTube, streamers have a platform to host live events and viewers have access to the most extensive inventory of gaming videos on the internet.

Facebook Gaming is the newest streaming platform for video games. Facebook’s niche is its existing connections at a streamer’s disposal. Most gamers use Facebook to connect with family and friends. By adopting Facebook to allow a streaming platform, Facebook Gaming gives streamers instant access to connections made long ago.

Why is video game streaming important?

A word that is often repeated in gaming is community. Everyone enjoys video games in their unique way, but the community brings players together. Through community engagement, gamers can experience something deeper than playing solo.

A sense of comradery forms when gamers get together to debate, discuss, and dissect their favorite medium of entertainment. These communities build bridges of friendship that last a lifetime.

Streaming platforms are just one of the ways for gamers to participate in the community. Gamers can also interact with one another via online modes, which is one of the most popular genres of video games.

Plus, community platforms like Discord allow gamers to connect with small groups of friends or a large following in real-time.

How to Stream

There are thousands of resources to help you begin streaming and we could never fit them into a single article.

If you’re just looking to watch other streamers and have no plans to stream yourself, simply signing up for a streaming platform allows access to live and existing content. It’s as simple as having great internet and a passion for gaming!

For those who want to try their hand at streaming, the list gets longer. Traditionally, the best way to connect with your community while you stream is to be able to interact with them. A good headset and microphone go a long way to creating great conversation.

For viewers to see a streamer’s content, a streamer either needs to (a) connect their gaming console to the streaming platform, which is possible on most modern consoles, or (b) for players streaming through their PC, they should invest in a capture card. Depending on what you’re looking to do, research what you’ll need online and reach out to others who are already streaming and get their input.

But the most important part of streaming? Your internet connection.

Best Internet for Streaming and Gaming

Video game playing and streaming can only be truly enjoyed with reliable internet.

There is no debate that fiber internet is the best internet for both streaming and gaming. This allows for strong competition and can give you an edge in the streaming community.

Fiber internet, such as the fiber provided by Northcentral Connect, is faster than cable internet. Fiber internet can transmit data for gaming and other applications 20 or even 30 times faster than traditional copper-based cable internet.

This empowers you to manage multiple devices simultaneously so you can stream your game, have a camera rolling, and be a part of your community chat.

To learn more about how Northcentral Connect’s advanced, high-speed fiber internet can power up your gaming and streaming service, follow our social pages and become a part of the video game streaming community!

Winter is upon us—and with it are cold temperatures, heavy snowfalls and ice, and dry, chafing air.

While parts of the country are lovely in winter, there’s no escaping the fact that colder temperatures and bleak weather can take their toll.

Wintry weather also brings higher energy expenses. Home heating units often pump out warm air constantly just to keep the house comfortable—and at great costs, too.

Thankfully, today’s technology can help make winter more bearable. And utilizing Northcentral Connect’s high-speed fiber internet not only connects you to the most reliable network available but also helps keep your home warm and snug.

Together with “smart technology,” it all adds to saving money this winter and beyond!

Below we highlight some of our favorite tech to help you get through the coldest months more comfortably. These unique items will make you and your loved ones feel cozier all winter, from Bluetooth devices to smart thermostats and even smart clothing.

Smart Thermostats

One of the best upgrades you can make to your home this winter (or any season) is to install a smart thermostat that monitors and controls your heating and air conditioning.

Smart thermostats can sense temperature changes in different rooms and can be easily programmed to get warmer or cooler at various times of the day.

Smart thermostats can connect to your home’s internet network, and through Bluetooth, to your smartphone and other devices for easy control.

Even more conveniently, many smart thermostats are controllable through voice-activated technology like Alexa or the Apple Home Kit (using Siri). And according to the federal government’s Energy Star program, which researches and provides consumers with reliable information on energy-efficient products and services, smart thermostats can save homeowners up to 30% on their energy bills.

Several solid options exist, including the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. We’re particularly impressed with Google’s device because, over time, it learns your temperature preferences in each room and at different times of the day.

Using a Smart Thermostat can more effectively heat your home than conventional thermostats—and because of its “smart” features and controls, it saves energy costs, too!

Smart Space Heaters

If you’ve reduced your energy bills by lowering your home’s temperatures a tad, but find that you or others in your household still feel cold, consider adding a smart space heater to those chillier rooms. Smart space heaters are ideal when one or two people prefer the temps just a bit warmer than everyone else or when the temperatures drop drastically.

The Atomi Smart Ceramic Tower Space Heater is among the best options available. The Atomi can heat up to 750 square feet, perfect for small rooms.

Its safety features are also top-notch, including notifying your smartphone if the heater tips over. Then, you can easily shut it off from your phone. It’s base sits evenly on multiple flooring types reducing the likelihood of tipping over at all.

You can also connect the Atomi Smart Space Heater to Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free voice control through your home network.

Smart Clothing (Jackets and Shirts)

We recommend smart clothing for personal warmth, especially a jacket and shirt.

Smart clothing safely and steadily heats your body in different zones that you can control. And you can even quickly recharge them when you’re on the road with your car’s charging ports.

We recommend the DEWBU Heated Jacket because of its multiple heating zones. It also comes with a convenient 12V Battery Pack that can keep it powered longer on the go.

Also, check out smart shirts from Venture Heat, which make different styles for women and men.

Bluetooth-enabled, you can control Venture Heat’s smart shirts ten-temperature settings with your smartphone, helping to fine-tune the perfect temperature to keep you feeling comfortably toasty on even the most frigid days!

Smart Hats

Growing up, you may remember hearing that you can lose nearly half your body heat just through the top of your head.

While science has proven that that was not exactly accurate, you can still lose around 10% of your body heat off your head alone. So grandma was right—you should keep your head covered in colder weather!

And believe it or not, there are actually smart hats available for you to get the most coverage for your noggin!

We love the iLive Beanie (not only because it’s quite fashionable in a cute, wintry way) but because its Bluetooth-enabled speakers connect directly to your smartphone, doubling as a music-listening and hands-free calling device, too!

The internet and smart technology can’t stop Mother Nature’s annual blast of wintry weather. By utilizing these smart devices and a reliable fiber internet connection like Northcentral Connect’s, we bet you’ll cope better than you ever have before!

To learn more about how smart technology and high-speed fiber internet can work together to improve your quality of life and save money, follow Northcentral Connect’s social pages!