Is Gaming Spoiler/Backseat Gaming Bad For Your Stream?

I already posted this in other Facebook pages and other forum/blog sites. As a follower/subscriber I've been watching streamers on Twitch for years as well as on YouTube Gaming, Microsoft Mixer, and Facebook Gameroom as I notice the majority streamers have their chat rules about "NO SPOILERS/BACKSEAT GAMING.....NO TIPS & GUIDES OR HINTS UNLESS I ASK FOR HELP". The burning question is: Is spoiling/backseat gaming bad for your stream? I will spoil only if there's a good reason, period. Other than that, I'll be remain quiet and enjoy your gameplay.

​I also noticed there are some streamers who are VERY exaggerated about these rules such as streamer will ban/kickout the viewer once the spoil message is visible for first time. For those sensitive streamer, I urge you not to get strategy guide, no demo or beta test game as it may contain spoiler alert just like if you wanna watch upcoming movie or TV show, don't watch previews or trailers. Or don't Google and watch on YouTube for tips so you stay blinded. Also the game itself especially MMORPG/RPG genre has tips & guides/hints anyway so what's the difference between the game tells you tips and viewers tell you tips? Also for instance, the newly game Destiny 2. Since its release date and start live streaming for first time, I guarantee most of viewers like you including me get a taste by watching this game storyline but never play it and never purchase this game yet. If I don't like spoilers then why am I watching Destiny 2 storyline that I never play yet? I will not watch it if that's the case. In fact I watched the whole game and fully aware of this game before I even play it. Same as if you don't like spoilers, don't watch the gameplay that you never try on your own. You can still watch it just like how you watch new TV show.

In an ideal world the streamer would just ignore comments they don't like and play the game as they see fit and people would give their comments as they want. The problem is that many streamers do not really involve the audience and the more natural way for a viewer to be involved is to comment on what they see. Streamers....yes you as a streamer need to understand that what is really happening is that you are playing WITH an audience and you should be tolerant of that fact. If a viewer's comments are derailing or spoiling the streamer's run of a game the streamer can just ignore chat completely (not desirable), ban the viewer (again not desirable) or perhaps there should be a feature where a "backseater's" chat messages are delayed long enough that what they say would be least impact on the streamer's play. On the other hand, if a streamer really wants to enjoy a game without spoilers then they really need to play it alone, as backseat gaming has always existed and always will. I fully understand if your live stream is either part time or full time job and earn money, or if you’re successful streamer and have reputation, you still need to play alone. Once you sign up on Twitch or other gaming stream platform and play live, you're always at risk of meeting up spoilers at all no matter what.

Backseat gaming could even happen during off-stream such as playing games at a friend's house or talked it length among friends or acquaintances. One time my friend spoiled me while I was playing with Nintendo 64 back in days so same thing as I broadcast myself with audience.

Here's my recommendations to have spoiler/backseat gaming-free with your live stream:
- Play any non-storyline related game in front of audience especially playing online with someone (ie. Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Marvel vs Capcom, etc...). I'm pretty sure there's a very low chance of spoiling from your viewers.

-Try to play alone, I mean by yourself only for games with storyline related (ie. BloodBorne, Resident Evil, Wolfenstein series, Super Mario series, etc...). When I play this such games, I don't personally stream right away instead I need to see for myself first. Once I'm at least 100% complete with everything ie. storyline, secrets, easter eggs, then I stream in front of audience that way I already know before someone else tells me. Or I uploaded on YouTube (not live gaming) when i played for first time to have audience at least.

-Always think outside the box before creating chat rules. My biggest question for you is why are you playing in front of audience if you don't like spoiling/backseat gaming?


Disclaimer: I'm here to share my personal view and my opinion and opinion matters about this article and I'm welcome to hear your voice. We, everybody here, has freedom of speech to say whatever we want but that freedom doesn’t mean we can either cross the line or abuse our power. I'm posting this just to give you all a heads up and to make sure nobody here is being destructive. If you don’t like something, please be constructive.
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