After the falling income for Twitch streamers recently caused quite a heated discussion, in this article we take a look at a much more relaxed, but no less exciting, side of the streaming platform.
Because even if the word »Twitch« makes you think of screaming youngsters and half-naked hot tub streamers, there are really exciting channels to discover there. Now that we’ve already introduced you to the virtual streamer in a $ 30,000 suit, we’re devoting ourselves to another tech nerd today.
From gamer to technology freak
Stefan Li who is on Twitch for his channel TheSushiDragon is definitely no ordinary streamer. While others are satisfied with a PC, a webcam and a microphone, Americans need it for their online broadcasts right away dozens of cameras, screens, computers – and now even a complete warehouse. But more on that later.
“Sushi” has been streaming on Twitch since 2015, initially as a typical Overwatch player who spent hours flaunting his skills in multiplayer battles. He wasn’t particularly successful with it. But his few spectators especially celebrated his funny cheers after every match he won. These were therefore more and more abusive – until at some point the police stood at the door because his victory dances had disturbed the neighbors too much.
So a new solution had to be found: Stefan turned his storage room into a soundproof film studio. First he used the green screen installed there to film himself dancing and to incorporate these recordings into funny videos, which he could then play back after each victory.
But that wasn’t enough for him. After each live broadcast, the streamer spent more hours looking for funny clips and creating crazy effects that he used to produce more and more elaborate films – until he came up with the brilliant idea in 2018 that helped him to his current success on Twitch.
Fear and Loathing auf Twitch
The streamer gave up gambling completely and from then on concentrated fully on his entertaining dance performances – but now completely live. No more pre-produced clips. With the help of YouTube tutorials and internet forums, he developed his own software solution so that he can incorporate hundreds of different effects live into his stream during his dance.
In addition, he has programmed several remote controls and attached them to his body, with which he can change camera perspectives, import sounds and trigger special effects.
What he regularly presents in his one-man shows is not only technically demanding, but also really unique and at best can be compared to a psychedelic feverish dream. When we saw him for the first time, what was shown triggered a mixture of confusion, amusement, curiosity and fascination in us. But it’s best to see for yourself what a typical dance routine looks like:
Link to YouTube content
In case you asked yourself while watching the video, why some of its viewers are »100% CPU«-Post an emote in the chat: Due to the many simultaneous effects, the streamer’s computer was repeatedly pushed to its limits and has therefore crashed more often in the past. As the number of viewers grew, so did the donations and subscribers, so that several high-end PCs connected to each other can now ensure that everything runs smoothly.
In the meantime, the streamer even had his own TV show on the Venn cable station, where he did exactly the same thing as in his streams: Presenting a mixture of dance, comedy and surreal interviews with other streamers:
Link to YouTube content
From the storage room to the warehouse
But the streamer didn’t just invest its income in new hardware. At the end of 2020, he moved from expensive California to the province of the US state of Montana, where he can rent a huge warehouse for the same price in his old apartment.
The technology expert knows how to use the newly gained space: Not only is there a large green screen area where he can continue to demonstrate his popular dance moves. He also regularly builds new tech gadgets.
Among other things, he converted a Segway scooter into a fully automatic camera robot that follows him wherever he goes. However, one or the other accident happened. And even when he’s with his electric go-kart whizzes through the corridors of his warehouse, cool camera perspectives and special effects should not be missing.
What’s next? TheSushiDragon is currently working on setting up a large production studio for streamers there. The whole warehouse will be wired, equipped with cameras and all kinds of technical features so that in the future several Twitch stars, but also newcomers, can stream together or in parallel.
From the storage room to your own warehouse – the story reminds you a little of the streamer HAchubby, who simply opened her own supermarket with her Twitch money after she had to give up her old cashier job.
