Hello everyone and welcome back to another Gamerman Weekly. Let’s get right into it by talking about the gaming culture of Twitch Charity Streamers.

So, in 2011 Twitch.tv was created as a spin-off from the general streaming service Justin.tv. Twitch’s main service was for gamers to stream their gameplay live to audience members. Sort of like Youtube gamers, but without the recording-to-watching delay. Since the website launched, it now has 100 million users and 1.7 million broadcasters. Its growth rate has been staggering. It is now the world’s leading streaming service in terms of numbers. Some of you may ask, how is this service helpful to anyone. Well, I’ll tell you.

During the holiday season we all see the different campaigns headed by charity organizations to raise money for their various programs. Some of us donate money, some of us are college students with multi-thousand dollar debts. It’s around a 50/50 chance if a donation raiser on the street reaches their desired quota. This is the reality of the charity world in holiday time.

On Twitch this also happens, but the dynamics are different and have some advantages. For starters, Twitch charity streams happen throughout the whole year. Yes, the majority of them are during the holiday season, but some streamers like Waffles29, who streams monthly, raise money for charity whenever they stream.

Another difference that Charity Twitch Streamers have is that they are providing a service. So, on Twitch, there is the option of subscribing to broadcasters and their channel. This allows people to chat with them during the stream, watch exclusive content, and you get updates on when your streamer is going live. That last benefit is my favorite because it can be difficult to know when that is. This subscribing system requires the viewer to pay a subsequent amount of money. Some of it goes to Twitch, but most goes to the broadcaster. So with that subscription money, and the streamer can collect any ambiguous amount, the streamer can use that money however they want.

Charity Twitch Streamer also have another advantage up their sleeve, and it’s probably their golden reason. Twitch streamers go online from the comfort of their home, or studio, or anywhere that is inside, and has the capability of supporting a gaming PC. With this reality, Charity Twitch Streamers can be collecting donations far longer than your average collector on the street corner. This allows Charity Twitch Streamers to comb the viewer verse for donations for as long as they can stay awake, no chance of frostbite or heat exhaustion here.

From the raising of money on Twitch, there is another advantage, and it is specifically to the benefit of gaming culture. Raising money for charity is an altruistic and noble cause. Everyone can agree that people who do so are kind and generous and overall good people. When gamers do it, and in large quantities, we get noticed. Our culture is given a soft limelight for just a moment. That change in people’s perspectives can last a long time, and can lead to kinder reception from the mainstream of the gaming culture. Or maybe that’s too much to hope for. But I don’t think so.

Thanks again for reading guys.

-- G