Virtual Influencers: Are They the Future of Social Media?
The internet has changed the gaming landscape considerably. During the early days, people barely got fame and fortune from being good at a title. At most, they became local cult figures people talk about periodically. Social media has made it possible for gambling and gaming influencers to stream their activities when they play at sites like VulkanVegas online to people from almost every country in the world. Today’s piece looks into the wild world of streamers and influencers.
Vicarious Gambling
A large chunk of millennials and Zoomers first learned about the joys of casino gaming through Hollywood movies or family members. The classic scene of a suave, well-dressed character walking into one of the famous Vegas casinos with a beautiful model in his arms is a popular trope in TV and movies. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick have made it easier than ever for people to watch “professionals” play their favorite games. There’s a growing trend of casino gamblers and gamers streaming their gameplay on these platforms to thousands of people globally.
The demand for casino streamers is higher than it has ever been because people want to watch the best at their craft indulge in online casino games. The concept of sitting at home and streaming someone else play live casino Vulkan Vegas games was unthinkable a few years ago, but it’s now the norm and is projected to increase in the coming years. Influencers have a role to play, that’s why studios and platforms go out of their way to serve and work with them. People get attached to these streamers and take their word at face value.
Video Game Influencers
Video gamers took social media by storm in the early 2010s. When online video technology became advanced enough for people to freely share videos, some enterprising people began showing screen recordings of them playing their favorite titles. Soon, the demand for this type of content grew, and many of the players became on-screen characters and micro-celebrities in their ecosystems. JustinTV (Twitch) was one of the first services to prove that people could livestream for long periods without investing thousands into setups and equipment. Streamers began streaming wherever they could, and the rest is history.
Many influencers built large followings during the first few years but failed to monetize their talents because it wasn’t easy to make money from streaming at the time. The need for monetization led to Twitch, Kick, and YouTube becoming the platforms of choice for many video game influencers. The demand continues to grow as the entertainment space reaches new levels. The video gaming industry is the largest and most profitable entertainment industry, it draws in more money than the music and movie industries. It might be hard to accept and imagine at first, but it’s the truth.
The Power of Influencers
Video entertainment companies cannot overlook the power of streamers and influencers. Fortnite is one of the most famous examples of a game becoming more popular due to streamers. The team behind Fortnite identified influencers as a key part of their marketing campaign and it worked beyond imagination. This title was the most talked about in the ecosystem for a few years in the 2010s.
Small studios and online casino companies also work with influencers to advertise their games. In some cases, it goes beyond advertising; these streamers may teach viewers how to play online slots or maximize their potential when playing cards on the web. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to the power of streamers because a bad review from a famous individual can derail a title and undo years of hard work. Time will tell whether these folks are a net positive on the ecosystem.
Keep these in mind when watching streamers:
- Reputation. Some players are known for being great entertainment, while others are less animated when they play. You want to watch streamers with reputations that align with what you believe. You do not want to watch someone that’s all about how much they can make from their viewers.
- Style of Play. Some of the biggest streamers have the reputation of not being great gamers. While some online casino gamers aren’t necessarily better than the average player. If this is important to you, choose someone with a high enough ranking in the game they play.
- Language. English is overwhelmingly favored by many top gaming influencers, but not everyone can enjoy an English language stream. As a non-native English speaker, you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find when you give players in your native language a chance. There are talented players globally, but not everyone speaks English.
The Future of Video Entertainment
Online gaming influencers are here to stay, there’s nothing that can be done about that anymore. What the general public can do is ensure we support genuine people who love what they do and won’t sell out their fanbase for a quick buck. Who is your favorite streamer and why do you love them?