Lady Arcaders

Tell me about yourself! Who are you and what kinds of gaming do you enjoy?
I'm Valeria, my friends often call me Vale or Asteria! And I'm just a gaming artist going around finding people to hang out with. I play a lot of, but not limited to platformers, RPGs, puzzle games, and rhythm games.

How did you get into gaming?
One of my earliest memories is watching my mom play Tetris, and I think I was 4 when I started playing Sonic 2 on my own; I was basically doomed from the start.

How did you get into speedrunning? What was the first game you attempted to speedrun?
I had followed big events like GDQ's for a while, but it wasn't until I spent some time with Huds601's community when I started to really consider turning the Sonic games I knew into speed games. I then chose Sonic 1 Forever to learn the ways, since I wasn't the most familiar with it but it was on the simple side.

What game(s) are you currently playing?
I've been playing through all of the Klonoa series on stream, I just started Lunatea Viel for the first time! I've also been dabbling in some things like Zenless Zone Zero and Mecha Break, but otherwise focusing on my Sonic 3 AIR speedrun.

What is your favourite game strategy?
Go fast! And explore everything. These don't go hand in hand.

What are the gaming achievements you are most proud of?
I'm pretty happy with having routed an effective route for Tails Adventure 100%. but more generally I was quite proud of passing my first 12 in Stepmania!

What are the most challenging aspects of gaming for you?
I think in this era of PC gaming I struggle a lot with finding good controller schemes I can play with. With speedrunning specifically, it's consistency.

Do you have any gaming goals you are working on/would like to work on?
My ongoing speedrun goal has been to learn Expert mode in Shadow the Hedgehog, but it keeps getting pushed back by other runs! More generally I have a few series I want to finally tackle, for example I might dedicate September to trying Souls games.

What is the most underrated game you have played?
I'd say Kovox Pitch, a rhythm game that might be the one game I've never had anyone recognize when I bring it up. It's difficult but I really enjoy it, and it's free!

What is your favourite gaming memory?
The way I felt after experiencing Deltarune Chapter 2 really sticks with me. Somehow despite being technically a demo, it was one of the best gaming experiences I ever had. Hearing from others while they experienced it at the same time probably helped that.

Any tips for staying positive while gaming?
Laugh at your mistakes and don't be afraid to die, and if the mechanics and controls are genuinely frustrating you, you don't need to keep playing. Also save frequently.
What is the most memorable interaction you have had with someone in gaming?
There was one FFXIV rp hangout I attended that got interrupted by a mass server disconnect, and everyone else except me and one other person got disconnected first. So it was just my elezen and this lalafell sitting there together bracing for when we would be kicked off.

I saw that you are an artist and host art streams (in addition to speedrunning)! Tell me more about how you got into art and what kind of art you enjoy!
You could argue I've been an artist my whole life, taking after my mom who actually went to college for art. I focused in on pencil drawings for the longest time but never really found a stride until last year when I got a tablet to start doing digital drawings. I also use to dabble in sprite art, which I've gotten back into a bit lately!

How did you first become involved with Lady Arcaders?
This is a community I really fell into in a lot of ways, having initially joined the public server just for updates and not realizing I actually did the invite request until I was added to the private server suddenly! Then I got in on an open call for commentators for one of Rena's Unhinged Rants, went "oh I'd like to do more of this," and my involvement just escalated from there.

What are your gaming handles and socials, if you would like to share them?
I try to maintain myself as ValeriaAsteria wherever I am, which is just Twitch, Youtube, Soundcloud, Steam, and Bluesky which I barely use.

Follow ValeriaAsteria online!
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/ValeriaAsteria
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/valeriaasteria.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valeriaasteria

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you want to start a streaming career or at least one where you upload on YouTube. If so, then you’re in the right place. While building a gaming career is an exciting journey, there are a lot of aspects you’ll need to consider while making your dreams come true. In this blog post, we'll delve into five things you’ll need to think about that can set the stage for your success. From picking the right niche to establishing lasting connections and ensuring the longevity of your streaming career, we've got you covered.

Picking Your Niche: Balancing Passion and Popularity

Selecting the right niche—or not—is among the most important steps you can take to succeed. Choosing the appropriate games for your channel will establish the foundation and tone for future growth. The answer to the question, "Do I have to choose a niche?" is no. However, there are advantages and disadvantages based on your decision. On the plus side, choosing a game you are passionate about can increase your likeability and, in essence, make your content more interesting. But that game may be oversaturated; in that case, you'll need to come up with an even more original approach or make it better than what you see online.

If your goal is to become a variety streamer, consider the mental strain you'll have when playing many games a week. Not all games will be enjoyable, so it's not always the best idea to play everything. Plus, even the games you love may just become "content" when you don't want them to be. Yet, variety offers you the chance to always enjoy the same old thing. Finding the right balance is vital, regardless of the path you take.

Buying Your Gaming Equipment

If you already have great equipment, great! But if you’re someone who is saving money for the best gaming equipment to get started, you don’t need it. Start with the basics: a microphone, a webcam, lighting, and a capture card. The last thing you want to do is drop hundreds of dollars on gear when you just might find out that streaming isn’t for you. So start with a balance of quality and affordability. Just be thoughtful about it all. Do your research, consider your audience's expectations, and remember that quality doesn't always translate to the most expensive gear.

Building Relationships Beyond the Screen

Here’s the thing that introverts (myself included) won’t like. Streaming isn't just about the games or content; it's about the people. Building relationships is also necessary for a successful streaming career. With relationships, you have a loyal community and the potential for collaboration and growth. As you grow and you find people who you can work with, you might just find that the amount of work you’re doing on your own can be shared with people who want to edit, develop a podcast, run your social media, and more. When you’re networking, think about networking vertically as well as horizontally. Find those high-powered people (vertically), but know that you can grow with your peers too (horizontally).

Choosing Between YouTube or Twitch

Choosing between YouTube and Twitch may seem like a hard choice. But maybe you don’t have to choose one over the other. Some people stream on Twitch, download those videos, and upload them to YouTube. Others stay on YouTube since it offers streaming and traditional uploads for evergreen content. Opting for YouTube comes with a vast audience, discoverability through search, and the potential for long-term video visibility. Twitch offers real-time interaction with viewers, a dedicated gaming community, and rapid growth through raids and collaborations.

If you have the time, using both can broaden your reach and provide flexibility in how you deliver your content. Leverage YouTube for evergreen content and Twitch for live, interactive sessions. With the gaming landscape changing every day, using both platforms could strategically be a key to unlocking new opportunities.

Setting Boundaries Between Working and Streaming

Let's be serious here; most of us will work full-time while streaming. Very few of us are going to successfully transition as popular streamers who self-sustain our lives. Even if you do, taxes and healthcare (if you're in the United States) are going to take a toll on your wallet. Because of that, the reality of maintaining a day job while pursuing your passion can be scary. Working will give you financial stability and the ability to invest in quality equipment. At the same time, how can you get the energy to stream and work when you're tired? Think about scheduling it around the times you're free and mentally able to put in the work. There's nothing wrong with balancing your gaming around work, but it has to be sustainable; otherwise, you'll crash and burn. Also, thinking about it now will help you in the long term because you will have longevity too.

Conclusion

Starting a streaming career requires a lot of consideration when you think about your niche, equipment, relationships, platform choice, and the balance between work and streaming effectively. As you navigate all of this, keep in mind that success doesn't happen overnight. When you hop online, learn to stay dedicated to your goals, adapt to changes as needed, and, most importantly, enjoy your process. Good luck on your streaming adventure!