[For beginners] How to stream games on PC. Includes various useful links.

Recently, the demand for game streaming has been increasing.
There are more and more players who "broadcast" rather than just watch broadcasts.
Another factor may be that the barrier to game streaming is lower than before, and gaming PCs are now available at low prices.

So this time, we're giving it to you, the person who has finally acquired the gaming PC you've always wanted.
I would like to share with you a beginner's guide on how to stream games on a PC.

What you need to stream games

First, let's introduce the things you absolutely need for game streaming.
I'll start by showing you the bare essentials, and then add anything else you need.

Gaming PC or high-spec PC (with graphics card)

First of all, you need a PC to stream.
Some serious streamers have separate PCs for gaming and streaming, but first you should prepare a PC that is large enough to both play games and stream.
Basically, if you have a mid-range gaming PC, you can stream while playing the latest popular games.
If you have someone knowledgeable and close to you who you can consult with, it's fine to buy online, but if you have someone to talk to at a specialty store,
"I want to stream while playing XX game, but what PC do I need?"
The best thing to do is to ask, so first go to a gaming PC specialty store or store that stocks them.

*A laptop computer will work fine as long as it has high specs, but if you are not broadcasting outside, a desktop PC is the only option.

If you're looking to buy gaming PCs and devices in Akihabara, this is the place!

If you're interested, why not try making your own?

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Game distribution software

Basically, OBS is the only option.

Capture game screens, adjust streaming volume, create subtitles, insert images, etc.
It's packed with features that will allow you to stream with just this one app.
It is compatible with various streaming sites, so unless you have special requirements, you should use OBS.
The larger the user population, the more information there is, so it can be used in a variety of ways.
DownloadOBS official websiteFrom here.

Games you want to play

The equipment you need will vary depending on whether you're playing on a PC or a home console, but first decide what game you want to play.
For titles available on both PC and home consoles, competitive games without cross-play tend to have a larger player base on home consoles.
This is just my personal recommendation, but if you're not concerned about the number of players, I think the PC version is probably better.

When streaming home console games on PC

Today's next-generation consoles have streaming capabilities built into the console itself, but if you want to stream high-quality content, you'll inevitably need to stream on a PC.
It's better for viewers to have a good quality stream screen, audio, and screen design, and it's also safer to use a PC to create the image if you want to attract viewers.
Instead, in order to stream from a home game console, you will need to capture the game screen into OBS (streaming software).
In order to capture the game screen, you will need a capture board.

There are external and built-in types of capture boards, which are introduced in the article below, so please take a look.

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Useful things for game streaming

From here on, I will introduce some useful things to have when streaming games.
There are streams that simply show the game screen, but when it comes to two-way communication, it's more efficient to have a variety of devices.
Once you start getting into the nitty-gritty of things like being able to switch screens with one touch and getting a microphone that delivers clear voice, you'll find yourself in a seemingly endless quagmire.
However, there is also the fun of collecting them, so sometimes you end up spending more time searching for devices than you do streaming...

Headset (gaming headset)

Swamp number one.
A device that combines headphones and a microphone for listening to sound.
If the earphones are marked as "Gaming," they may be tuned differently for voice calls.
The products are developed based on sound characteristics such as the location of the enemy and the sense of realism of the background music.
When you start to get particular about it, you tend to buy a microphone and headphones/earphones separately, but if you are serious about streaming, the bottom line is to buy them separately.
Another option is to get them separately from the start.

↓Example of a gaming headset

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配信用マイク

It has better sound quality than a headset and has various functions that make it an advantageous microphone.
Generally, the microphone quality is higher than that of a headset, which affects the sound quality that is important for streaming and videos.
I think it's a good idea to have one if you want to take your game streaming to the next level.

↓Example of sound quality change due to different microphones

[Available in Akihabara] A comparison of the best gaming microphones

Headphones / earphones

If you choose a microphone for streaming, you will inevitably need a device to listen to the sound, such as headphones or earphones.
Speakers are fine, but the sound will be picked up by the microphone, so it's best to choose headphones or earphones.
It's best to choose a product that suits your taste in terms of sound characteristics, but if you choose a product that produces a sound that is too hollow or that doesn't suit your ears, it will put a strain on your ears.
There are many stores in Akihabara where you can try out headphones and earphones, so it's a good idea to check them out for yourself.

↓ Headphone and earphone specialty store

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Other useful devices

・Stream Deck
You can switch apps and assign switcher functions with a single button.
It's not a must-have item, but it's useful to have. Once you start using it, you won't be able to get rid of it.

・Distribution camera
Used when broadcasting with your face shown.
These days, streamers themselves are becoming popular, so if you're thinking about showing your face on stream, it's a good idea to prepare a camera with good image quality.

・ LED light
A light used when broadcasting with your face revealed.
It can make your skin look beautiful and improve how you look on camera. Even when shooting your hands, lighting them will make them look better on screen.
It's a good idea to prepare one along with the camera you'll be using for streaming. I heard a ring light is recommended, but I wonder?

How to stream using OBS

From here, we will introduce how to stream using OBS.
The more you focus on the streaming screen, the more difficult it becomes to set up, but this time we will introduce the basic streaming method.

Subscribing to various streaming sites, YouTube and Twitch

■Subscribe to YouTube
You need a Google account to register on YouTube.
Register as a user on Google and create a channel.
After subscribing to the channel, you will be able to start live streaming 24 hours later.
YouTube official website

■Registering on Twitch
You will need an email address to register with Twitch.
I'm also thinking of creating a YouTube channel at the same time, so I think it will be helpful to unify my Gmail accounts in order to make things easier in the future.
You can make more detailed settings than in YouTube's program description section, but for now it's enough to just make a basic registration that will allow you to broadcast.
Twitch official website

How to stream on YouTube

There are two ways to stream on YouTube.
Launch OBS → File in the top left → Streaming
Let's move on.
Change the "Service" there to "YouTube-RTMPS."

There are two options: "Account Connection" and "Use Stream Key." If you only have one YouTube channel, we recommend account connection.
Clicking Connect Account will launch a browser where you can select which account to connect to.
Select and click the account you want to use (the account that has your YouTube channel open).

Once you have linked your account with OBS, the channel to stream to will be registered on OBS.

Then, go to the account you want to stream to using the icon in the top right corner of YouTube.

Click the live streaming start icon to go to the streaming page.

It's a little hard to see, but if you press the encoder streaming button in the upper left, you'll be taken to the streaming settings screen.
To edit the title or program, click the edit button in the upper right corner.
There are some mysterious letters at the bottom, but you don't need to worry about them since we linked OBS and YouTube earlier.

When you press the Start Streaming button on OBS, it will automatically connect and start live streaming.

YouTube Live Streaming Basic Settings

■ Enable DVR
This is what is known as a "miss-it prevention function."
This feature allows viewers who join later to go back and listen to the live broadcast.
If it is turned off, the function will not be available.

■ Live streaming delays
There are various ways to use it, but it allows you to delay the broadcast by a few seconds rather than in perfect real time.
It's hard to use in casual conversation, but it can be effective in preventing sniping in competitive games.

How to Stream on Twitch

Connecting with Twitch is even easier.
Change the streaming service to Twitch from the settings.

Click Connect Account to log in to Twitch directly from OBS.

A verification code will be sent to the email address you used to register your account, so enter that number.

Once the connection is complete, simply press the Start Streaming button to begin streaming.

Twitch also has a high level of integration with OBS, allowing you to set the broadcast title and tags, check chat, and more on the OBS side.
It feels like Twitch is one step ahead when it comes to streaming games.

Stream your favorite game

Game streaming can be difficult until you have all the equipment, but the space and software you need to stream are available for free, so if you carefully consider your options and keep the cost low, you can easily get started.
It may be a little difficult to stream from a home console, but with PC games you can do it without any additional equipment, so if you'd like to make your debut as a streamer, why not give it a try?
You can play games with lots of different people!