Ever since H. G. Wells published The Time Machine in 1895, science fiction has been one of the most popular entertainment genres. During that time, the father of science fiction wrote numerous classics, which were later translated into films and television shows. Over the last century, sci-fi has remained at the forefront of mainstream culture, whatever the most commonly-used medium of the time has been. From books to plays, and then films to television shows, the sheer wealth of sci-fi content is astounding. Now, with technology moving forward and live streaming becoming an increasingly popular platform, should streamers and influencers use sci-fi as a way to attract more viewers?
Live Streamers and Influencers Use Themes to Attract More Viewers
In 2020, there are more than 7.4 million streamers on Twitch alone, highlighting just how competitive the industry has become. The harrowing fact for a vast proportion of these people is that nobody is watching them. According to The Verge, there are some gamers who spend years broadcasting to thin air. New Twitch viewers are usually led to pages which already have a large number of followers, and it is increasingly hard for less established streamers to get recognized. Indeed, many users of the platform have noted that playing to an empty room can be a rather demoralizing experience.
Frequent streaming on Twitch or YouTube Live, combined with the regular release of YouTube content and social media marketing, all contribute to getting more views on a live stream. But if you’re simply doing the same or a similar thing to most of the other streamers out there, you could be facing a Sisyphean struggle to get recognized.
One way to find viewers suggested by Celeb Mix is to become an alternative gamer, and play games that others may not be taking part in. This basically means to find a theme and stick with it, rather than constantly shifting between genres. Streamers use themes to make their stream more recognizable. It can also help put them in touch with the right audience for their content thanks to keyword searches. Sci-fi fans, for instance, may search for sci-fi streams in an effort to find something which will suit their tastes.
What Are the Most Important Sci-fi Streams Out There?
Despite sci-fi being an ever-present genre over the last hundred years, some would argue that streaming has brought about a golden age for the niche. This has been thanks to the sheer availability of sci-fi-related content on streaming services like Netflix, with standout titles including Stranger Things and Lost in Space.
It has been argued, as well, that the sci-fi genre has become broader and now encompasses a greater number of themes. For instance, the zombie apocalypse sub-genre which has been successful in recent times thanks to the Walking Dead is now considered sci-fi rather than horror. This is because the premise of a virus which has spread across the globe is a scientific concept.
With this being the so-called golden age of sci-fi, some streamers have decided to use the theme as a way to attract followers. It is a good niche to choose for anyone starting out, as there are so many different subgenres of sci-fi to select as a way to stand out from the crowd. Moreover, the genre has yet to become saturated on Twitch. There aren’t that many people using sci-fi themes, meaning that anyone who manages to dedicate themselves to an original channel in this genre could find success.
One of the biggest sci-fi streamers on Twitch is SciFICHiCK16. The gamer and cosplayer has 3.6K followers and partakes in games like Mass Effect and Subnautica. Other notable sci-fi streamers are SciFIBradley, who has 523 followers, and SciFiSwan, who has 218 followers. These streamers use well-known sci-fi games as a way to draw viewers in, and they also incorporate sci-fi aesthetics such as space and planets as a way to make themselves instantly recognizable to people in search of sci-fi content.
A quick search on the platform reveals that there really aren’t that many sci-fi streamers out there at the moment who are gaining mass amounts of viewers. This means that there is a real opportunity for a sci-fi fanatic to start a channel. It would be wise to investigate why the other sci-fi streamers haven’t been overly successful, and work on ways to improve on this.
Prominent Industries Also Take on Themes
Budding streamers may be reading this and wondering why it is so important to have a theme. Why can’t they just create content based on a variety of things that interest them? The problem with this is it is harder to find viewers who are looking for a particular thing. By niching down to a theme and sticking with it, it makes it a lot easier for the right people to find the channel they are looking for. This technique has been used successfully in a number of different industries.
The bingo sector, for instance, uses themes to help players find the games they are looking for. The online bingo and slots at Wink Bingo have diverse themes to suit different tastes. The Open All Hours game has a pub and bar vibe, while the Picture Perfect game will appeal to the social media crowd. Netflix and other streaming entertainment services are divided up into different genres as well. Viewers can easily browse through the various categories to find the subject matter that interests them.
In the world of fashion, designers have found that using themes can help them stand out from the competition. With the rise of retro over the last few years, the likes of Rokit have excelled by sticking with a retro theme and using this to attract customers.
Incorporating a single theme in an effort to zero in on the right target audience is a tactic which is used to great success in a number of industries. There certainly seems to be a gap in the market for sci-fi streamers on Twitch, and this is something that could be exploited right now. This is because sci-fi is becoming increasingly popular with modern audiences.
