In-Game Events and Gatherings

Mad Ani official stream thread

Created: 17th January 2013.
Initial purpose: Use an alt to provide LIVE intel to previous corpies / alliance buddies / Fleet Commanders.
Current status: Covering the war in Delve, which progressed into Fountain region. Capturing 99% of the fights.

Stats & Facts:

• The only 24/7 EVE stream.
• 1.9 million views.
• 4000 Twitch followers (no idea how many view it without a Twitch account, or haven't pressed the follow button).
• 67 people outside of the game, viewed my stream and upgraded their EVE trial accounts to full subscriptions.
• 80+ people told me that they are resubbing back into the game. There will be a lot more without mentioning it.
• Totally noob and veteran friendly, everyone is entertained with big fights, things explained.
• The stream records everything, I edit it when there have been decent fights captured.
• Has at least 7 people of the oppostite sex watching this / chatting
• Celebs that visit just to listen to the music/watch the actions - CCP Bro, Rise, Manifest, Mintchip, Fozzie, Phor, TraderJohn, Imperian, DBRB, Wrik Hoover + more.

So the concept was born, never streamed or even thought about it before. I had seen CCP's alliance tournament hosted a long time ago, so I guess subconsciously that stayed in my mind. Admittedly I've only watched 2 Alliance Tournaments, but CCP really picked up the streaming approach with Fanfest in May 2013. There was a subscription button and quite a few contributed towards that. CCP do the tournaments, I cover everything else in between.

I never looked at another stream until maybe 2 months after I created mine. I then noticed they had Paypal an Buddy trial links. So I thought OK, I could get in on that, fund the effort put into this, get a little something back.

ISK donations

The donations of ISK have been spent on plexing my 2 accounts. Since hitting quite a few milestones with the stream (over 1 million views, 2254 concurrent visitors watching, getting Twitch partnership), I ran a large prize raffle (live on stream). I then created a 3rd account live on stream, 2 new camera alts training with the new plex option of dual training, plus the cerebral boosters for faster training. This has made streaming a LOT easier. More intel from more camera alts. All paid with the ISK donations. It also covers losses of ships/clones if I am actually caught (this happens lol).

Real cash

Since 17th January up until 11th June. I made absolutely no cash off this stream. It was never my purpose! The articles written about my stream (see my official thread), show that I've done all of this purely for the entertainment value. Ask my regulars in the channels. People turn their computers on, religiously going to my stream before even logging into the game, leaving my stream on for the music, families telling me their children dance along to the kitten

18th June (5 months after starting this) I finally got Twitch Partnership. What does this mean? It means you all finally get to choose different resolutions to view the stream in. I was always streaming 1080p, but a few people with rubbish bandwidth cap in USA and Australia mostly, you were not able to stay logged in for long. This was a catch 22 situation, I needed more viewers logged in, to offer them the lower resolutions!

How this stream has grown

The stream has been on the increase since the early days, it always has been on an upward climb. The more publicity with people sharing my stream link (spam!), the regulars are noticing a lot more people hanging around.

I am completely a neutral party and have always been, that is my character. When I see a target, I don't hate them for being red in the game, I just see a target and time to have some fun...remembering it's a computer game. Politics in and out of the game has never been an interest of mine.

The neutral approach seems to have generated a rather friendly community. Hostiles are actually talking to each other and having fun. Noobs are complimenting the amount of knowledge from the veterans & the stream itself. The regulars really do a good job at answering the questions.

Q&A

• What happens to the stream when the war is over?

There are always groups fighting in EVE. There are 1000's of solar systems, an average of approximately 45K+ pilots logged in. Before this war, I was streaming the demise of other alliances, as they were being pushed out of their regions.

If there is a lull in New Eden, then it's time to put on some events. I ran a massive raffle live on stream just recently. Fun frigate races / Thunderdomes (last pilot standing) / Drunken roams / Teach the noobs how to play the game (e ALL needed this when we first started).

Basically there is always something to watch in the game.

• The future of the stream?

I'm one of the most open people you'll come across and I talk to all my viewers, asking their opinions on things. So the future of this, how can it continue? I am currently between jobs right now and have been for a few months. I worked for IBM in East Germany, Barclays Bank, Graphic Studio, Financial Services, even the job center are saying they find it puzzling that I don't have a job yet. There simply isn't much out there.

We're looking at how I can do this full time on behalf of CCP and the community. Should I ask CCP for any help? I can't get Twitch subscription status (applications closed), or just try and go off donations? In Twitch chat type !vote ccp !vote sub !vote paypal

I feel it as an obligation to continue doing this due to the ISK donated, the recent cash donations and for the people who simply stay logged on to watch this.

Thank you to the people supporting this product and or service!

This is only partly true, but your stream gave me a little push to start playing EVE. The seed was already there to begin with, I just needed a little push.
Twitch.tv is a nice and easy way to promote a game and I believe that only good can come out of CCP backing you, for both parties involved.

Good luck in whatever you do.

I don't really see a way for CCP to sponsor you without causing controversy. You claim to be neutral, and I believe you, but we have no way of knowing for sure. An official CCP stamp on the stream would probably make more people trust you with intel about upcoming fights, and you could end up selling it or using it for personal gain for all we know.
The only solution I see would be if CCP hired you to do full time streaming. Then you'd be bound by their rules and wouldn't be allowed to gain anything from it. But that leaves the question of stream content.. When there are no ongoing battles you are just streaming 2 station undocks along with lots of copyrighted music. I don't think CCP would want to be associated with that for legal reasons.

I think your best bet is donations and twitch subscriptions. I know a few streamers who have subscriptions enabled on their channels, and they've said that it's not something you apply for. When you have enough average concurrent viewers they will offer it to you. I don't mean this as an insult, but if you can't get enough viewers then your content simply isn't good enough.
Though if you do end up with subscriptions I will gladly pay the $5 a month for the content you offer :)

This stream is a great insight into the happenings of null sec combat. Not only does he provide amazing music but he also explains the fights and combat mechanics for newer players who do not understand them.

I don't see where any harm would come in trying to set up an interview with CCP in hopes of some official backing. You're providing publicity to the game and your name is becoming more and more recognizable.

Do you get any sort of confirmation when someone accepts one of the 21 day trials you offer? Data like that, and an average number of people watching your stream every day, should help if you speak to CCP.

I dont think you shouldnt climb the CCP tree TOO hard.

Im sure they appriciate what you are doing for the game, giving it "free press" thru Twitch frontpage.
In the past only FANFEST would bump EVE Online on Twitch Page one, but lately it pretty much resides as
a permanent feature thanks to both your stream and ofcourse the EVE Players themselves thru the war.

The CCP route;

What sets YOU apart from a random EVE player is that you show real initative and willing to improve your service.
Im sure CCP is looking at how to use Twitch more activly to gain publicity, and considering you are the most visible
EVE "twitcher" Im sure youre on their radar.

For now do what you are doing.

People like give aways. You get donations from "rich" players, and you can channel some of that isk back to
keep the attention of more players (which in turn gets you more potential donators etc).
Being interactive like you are is what sets you apart. Ofcourse you shouldnt get to the point where viewers
expects and demands give aways.
Take Kungen or Kripperian for example. They know their game, commentate and doesnt get trolled easily.
They are nicely in tune with their audience and as such have a loyal viewerbase, regardless of the game
they play. Kungen does give aways once in a while, but not very often. So its not a requirement to make
a name, but certainly wont hurt.

CCP COULD consider using you as a "raffle" channel for give aways, having a CCP GM/Dev join you on skype/TS
(or whatever) to run these things. Or if they want to use their own CCP Twitch channel, use you as a presenter etc.

OR you could spend some time (or get someone to do it for you) pre fitting xxxx frigs, cruisers etc and have a massive
free for all brawl somewhere in space where you broadcast the event, giving a prize to "Last Man Standing".

Many options

bump!

I don't really post a lot on this forum mainly because i have a lot of problems in life getting what words i have in my head down in writing..always have.. but after reading that post i feel that i am obligated to put a response..

At work. at home. were ever i am i listen to your stream..I think what you are doing and have done for Eve and CCP in general is beyond the words outstanding. and defiantly hits the title of Legendary !

I believe that EVE is more than just a game. its something that i cant even put into words. and its because of the people the reason why the game has become what it is today...

mad is 1 of those people..just like myself..and for the people and in my own words...we the people hear by require ......that mad be made a member of CCP..

Why??

Because he deserves it...and you all know it....simple as that realy..

To mad
Thank you for your time and your music...your CPU and your Electricity bill :P For as long as you stream..and broadcast tunes across the net..i will always be listening..iv posted your links on face book..and in other game forums that i once played before i found myself on eve...

I am not your biggest fan....im sure their is a bigger nerd out their somewhere. but ill tell you this...I'm defiantly up their somewhere..

From 1 player to another.............i solute you! o7 thx Mad Ani...

His songs are really amazing. It works both ways for us. I play his songs, people find him on YouTube ♥

You should def. go for the CCP route. Subbed again after watching your stream some. Thanks!