The 2TonWaffle Community

After watching the very long (over 3 hours) Google I/O keynote earlier today my overall take-away is that AI is completely entrenched. There was so much information that was solely dedicated to Google's Gemini AI, that it was kind of overbearing. Every aspect of Google services will be receiving Gemini integration in some way or another, you really can't get away from it. From offering enhanced search through Google search itself, to detecting spam calls while on the line with them.

Most of the advanced Gemini features are going to be available to those who are paying for the Gemini+ within your Google Workspace account. This is completely foreseeable as I'm sure all of these computational workflows are extremely expensive. Going through your entire Google account for trip planning and so much more, who would ask for more?

My thoughts are in that Google is going through so much of the internet and websites that, it provides so much information for people that why should you ever have to visit those pesky websites? Let Gemini take that information and present it to you in a pleasing manner. I don't see this as a good thing as someone who is also trying to grow a tiny, independent community. Even YouTube creators are under the microscope of Gemini, extracting relevant content from your videos so that Gemini or even, Google users can get to what they want as quickly and efficiently as machine learning possible.

What are your thoughts on all of this Gemini madness?

So, last night I played around in doing a test stream on Arena. Was the typical process of entering the RTMP URL and stream key into Ecamm and then that's where the difference takes off. My overall experience of the stream was pretty smooth. I hadn't set up the restream functionality of the platform as I wanted to just see how it performs with a stream coming in.

A roadblock that I encountered was that my stream wasn't appearing on the front page, where the few other live streams were. I hadn't encountered anything that would inform me that I would have to do something or have a setting selected. Come to find out after inquiring about this in the Arena Discord server. It's a filter that keeps those who would abuse the platform by streaming inappropriate content. I've seen this in the early days of Trovo and it was not a good time. Arena employs some kind of AI that looks for adult-oriented content that when found, will ban the account.

There is a lot that Scott from Arena described about the platform. In a way, you have to look at Arena in a different manner than just another live-streaming platform. I'll be running some more testing like adding in the restream abilities to see how they work as a service.

Thankfully Apple is working on a gaming emulator. One day we'll be able to play almost all games on the macOS but they are very behind for now. Right now, I'm having more fun playing these indies or even older games than the newer AAA titles coming out.

General Configuration

After getting your Owncast instance installed and running, the next step is to get started with configuration your instance. Make sure that you are logged into your Owncast Admin page by going to https://your-domain-.com/admin

On the option menu that is on the left side, click on the Configuration option. This will open the general instance detail page. Here you will be able to configure your instance name, the server URL, and a short about blurb. You'll also see that there are a lot more options that you can customize.

Owncast Admin-1.png

The Add Tags section is to help categorize your instance within the Owncast directory. There is also the section for adding your social handles that will be displayed just under the video player on your Owncast instance.

Uploading a custom logo is easy as the requirements are 256px by 256px that also has a max size of 2MB. Just below the logo upload section you have the option to hide the viewer count, and disable search engine indexing.

General Configuration-2.png

Owncast has public directory in which you can enable your Owncast instance to be shown within the directory. There is also a toggle to flag your Owncast instance NSFW, if you plan to stream explicit or adult content.

Finishing out the general configuration is the custom page content section. Here, you can enter anything that you want visitors to know about your instance by using the Markdown syntax. This information will live below your Owncast instance video player and can be as long or short as you want it to be.

General Configuration-3.png

Appearance Customization

Owncast has the ability to customize the coloration of the instance interface. Giving you options to change the color of the background, action hover, chat background, and more.

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Continuing the customization with providing your viewers the option in selecting different colors that they can use in order to change the color of their user names. You can also change in how rounded the corners of buttons can be.

For those of you who are familiar with CSS, you can enter custom CSS that will change how your instance looks.

Custom Scripting

Using custom Javascript to add more functionality into your Owncast instance, or to add 3rd party scripts.

Owncast Configuration General Custom Scripting-5.jpeg

Server Configuration

This is the first page you should visit right after installing Owncast. Changing the admin password is very important as the default is quite easy to guess. For the FFmpeg Path, Owncast Port, and RMTP port should be left with the default settings. You can change them but, be sure in that you are comfortable to make those changes.

Owncast Configuration Server Setup Server Config-6.jpeg

Within the advanced settings section, you have the option to enter information for the case of using a CDN for your Owncast instance. You are also able to reset your directory listing if you are experiencing issues. This will submit your instance to re-register into the directory the next time you go live.

Stream Keys

Stream keys are essential in getting your broadcasting software connected to your Owncast instance. You can create multiple keys that can be used. One use case is if you have someone streaming to your Owncast instance, without giving them the main key.

Owncast Configuration Server Setup Server Stream Keys-7.jpeg

S3 Object Storage

If you are experiencing issues while streaming on your Owncast instance, you can setup an external S3 Object Storage that will take your live feed and improve the viewer experience. This is not for archival, recording, or VOD storage.

Owncast Configuration Server Setup Server S3 Storage-8.jpeg

Video

Setting up your video configuration is important as without this setup, your viewers would not be able to view your live stream. Depending on your server hardware, you can add as many outputs as your hardware can handle. As is noted in the description "start conservatively" and experiment to see how things work out.

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By clicking on the "Add a new variant" button will open a new modal window in which you will be able to setup this new output. Be sure to set things on the lowest setting for this particular output and move items up if needed.

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Chat Settings

For some Owncast instance owners, they prefer that only the video be shown and though this section will offer them this option. You can have the chat feed appear next to the video player, or turn it off by clicking on the toggle button.

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When viewers first enter your instance, there will be a notification shown within the chat "user has entered" for some, this call out is not preferred and results the viewer leaving your stream. Wanting to only lurk without being seen is important to them, allowing them to make the decision in first making contact. You can also have only established users be allowed to chat with this option. The welcome message is a great option to fill in, as it gives new viewers a quick note in letting them know the rules or to point them to certain areas within your instance.

To keep viewers from taking a name you don't want them to use, enter the name within the field below the current defaults. The great thing about Owncast is the random name generator for viewers. There are some interesting combinations that have been made. You could disable this feature and use a list of usernames that you want to use.

Social

The social configuration section provides some great features for your Owncast instance. Enabling social features help push going live posts out to the fediverse. You can turn this off if you wish to have a more private instance. This leads into the Private toggle, making any new follow request having to go through a approval process.

Owncast Configuration Social-12.jpeg

If you are going to stream explicit or adult content it is probably a good idea in turning this toggle on as it'll mark your stream previews as potentially sensitive.

The username and Now Live message is for your going live posts that will be posted out to the fediverse. For the username it would be ideal in creating one that you will use for a long time. This will be what viewers and visitors will see out on the fediverse. Changing this may confuse and annoy visitors. The Now Live message is what the actual post will be. You could leave it blank to disable, have a consistent message, or describe what this particular stream is about.

When others share your Now Live post on the fediverse, a notification will display within the chat. This will also show new followers and new likes.

Notifications

This section is used for connecting 3rd party services for the case of sharing your notifications from your Owncast instance. If viewers have enabled browser notifications, they will see this notification from within their browser.

Owncast Configuration Notification-13.jpeg

For the Fediverse Social section, clicking on the configure button will direct you back to the previous section.

Discord is a great platform that many people utilize mass communication. By connecting your Owncast instance and your Discord server, you can notify your community members when you go live within a dedicated channel.

There is so many customization options that are available within Owncast and with the custom web hooks, you can bring Owncast notifications out to other 3rd parties.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Indie Basement. Today, we tackle a critical subject that’s been dominating headlines: harassment and discrimination policies within the indie game industry, casting a broader light on the industry as a whole.

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Game Development | Indie Basement | Episode 2

We’ll delve into how these issues impact developers and the urgent changes needed to foster a safer work environment. But our exploration doesn’t stop here. The indie scene faces another formidable adversary: layoffs and studio closures. The instability of creative careers has never been more apparent, with many talents suddenly jobless, often without warning. We will uncover the forces behind these industry shakeups and their profound effect on the community. Grab your headphones, as this episode promises an enlightening discussion for gamers, developers, or anyone passionate about workplace fairness. Let’s kickstart this crucial dialogue. Highlighting the importance of this discussion, a recent article shed light on the International Game Developers Association's 2023 Developer Satisfaction Survey. It reveals significant concerns over equity, diversity, inclusion, layoffs, and the infamous 'crunch culture.' This culture demands developers work exhaustive hours ahead of game launches, compromising health and product quality, and often leading to industry burnout or departure.

Feedback from the survey painted a sobering picture: only 43% of developers felt non-discrimination and equal opportunity policies were effectively enforced. A notable proportion reported a complete absence of equality, diversity, and inclusion programs in their workplaces. Moreover, the survey showed a mixed picture regarding how well these companies handle discrimination, harassment, and inclusivity. Interestingly, a remarkable 43% believe there's adequate enforcement of policies against discrimination while, paradoxically, nearly a third indicated their workplaces lacked any form of equality or diversity programs. Transitioning to layoffs and closures, recent news highlights over 10,500 lost jobs within the industry in 2023 alone.

The closures at renowned studios and the consequent layoffs reflect a troubling trend of short-term decision-making at the executive level, disregarding the long-term health of both the industry and its creators. Finally, we discuss the evolving business models in gaming, notably the shift towards live services, subscriptions, and free-to-play models, away from traditional full-game purchases. This shift represents a critical pivot in how games are monetized and consumed, with significant implications for the future of gaming.

To wrap up, the landscape of the game industry is changing rapidly, impacted by internal policy challenges and external market pressures. As we continue to navigate these turbulent waters, one thing remains clear: the need for systemic change is undeniable. If you’re intrigued by what you’ve heard or have thoughts of your own on these matters, join the conversation at 2tonwaffle.com, where you can also sign up for our weekly newsletter, diving deeper into indie games and beyond. Until next time, enjoy your journey in the indie basement, later taters.

Pressing Pause on Prejudice

When I first heard about LiveSpace, I immediately recognized some innovative ideas that certainly had the potential to be a huge advantage for content creators seeking new platforms. Many of the features rumored to be in development seemed particularly promising and well-conceived. One such feature was the integration of squad streaming, allowing multiple creators to broadcast together within a single viewer window—a concept we've already seen successfully implemented on platforms like Mixer and currently enjoyed by users on Trovo. Admittedly, while these exciting features appeared to be a bit down the line, I couldn't help but eagerly anticipate the possibilities of what LiveSpace was envisioning.

One of the distinct benefits that a smaller company like LiveSpace potentially offered was the ability to rapidly innovate and roll out new features, possibly outpacing larger, more established players like Twitch. Indeed, over the preceding months, LiveSpace had been consistently pushing updates at an impressive speed. Observing this momentum, it felt exhilarating not just to use the platform but also to chronicle its evolution and burgeoning success.

However, troubling signs began to emerge rather recently. Roughly a month ago, it became noticeable that something was amiss. The tempo of regular updates had slowed, much akin to dark clouds gathering ominously on the horizon, portending a storm. In tandem, community outreach initiatives appeared to have ground to a halt. The co-founder, Todd, maintained his bi-weekly livestreams, which continued to provide a direct line to the community—an essential aspect of any growing service. Nonetheless, these sessions were frequently marred by technical difficulties, a stark reminder that the challenges of operating and scaling a live-streaming platform can become daunting, even for those at the very top.

Another complicating factor for both creators and viewers was the website's near-constant layout revisions. While consistency is often key for user experience—a point I begrudgingly concede in favor of Twitch, known for its infrequent UI changes—their current design, though arguably lacking in user-friendliness and aesthetic appeal, does maintain a certain level of stability that users could rely on. Before the unfortunate shutdown, navigating LiveSpace to find which creators were live from your following list was becoming unnecessarily cumbersome. The issue with persistent notifications was equally vexing; the magenta dot persistently glaring from the bell icon, stubbornly refusing to disappear no matter how many times it was clicked, signaled perhaps a too fervent adherence to the “move fast and break things” mentality that pervades Silicon Valley startups. While such an approach isn't inherently negative, the necessity of establishing a stable and consistent user interface for a prolonged period would likely have been pivotal in encouraging creators—and, by extension, their viewers—to migrate to and stay with LiveSpace.

This reflection isn’t intended to be an excoriation of what LiveSpace was attempting to achieve; on the contrary, I embraced their vision and ardently hoped for their triumph. As someone deeply invested in reporting on LiveSpace’s endeavors to an audience increasingly disillusioned with the dominant platforms, the closure of LiveSpace represented a significant loss for the streaming community. Many of us have, regrettably, witnessed this scenario unfold with various platforms over recent years, and such experiences taint the prospect of investing time and energy into emergent startups. The concerns are valid: Why should a creator dedicate effort to mastering a new platform if there lurks a possibility of its disappearance within a year, leading them back to square one in search of yet another digital refuge? This cyclical ordeal was familiar to those who transitioned from Mixer to Glimesh, only to endure it once more with LiveSpace. Naturally, my remarks here pertain to the more prominent alternatives—the likes of Altair and Brime struggled similarly to garner the requisite backing to take off and ultimately succumbed to early obsolescence.

LiveSpace differentiated itself as more than just another gaming-centric live streaming platform. Their concerted focus on the creative community—artists, musicians, crafters—heralded the promise of carving out an underserved niche within the live-streaming ecosystem. There was a space brimming with potential, a space that major players like Twitch had dabbed in promoting but eventually eschewed due to strategic priorities pivoting towards profitability—an understandable goal, especially given Twitch's lack of profit throughout its existence. With Amazon exerting pressure on Twitch to turn a profit, it seems unlikely that Twitch will gamble on supporting specialized niche programming and creators, preferring instead to double down on safer bets like IRL segments and creator events with production value.

This leaves a palpable sense of disenchantment among many creators who regarded LiveSpace as perhaps their final bastion of hope in their journey across digital platforms. Returning to Twitch is less than ideal for many, as they feel that the platform doesn't prioritize their interests or those of their communities, having been shuttled from one platform to another. For those who find themselves considering ceasing their online presence altogether, I extend my deepest sympathies. Meanwhile, for the resilient creators still searching for alternatives, I suggest exploring decentralized solutions like Peertube or Owncast. These open-source options represent new avenues where creators can retain greater control, hone their craft, and potentially foster unique communities centered around their content.

Whichever path you decide to embark upon, remember that your efforts thus far represent progress, not failure. Your journey through the tumultuous world of content creation is a testament to your dedication, and whatever endpoints or new beginnings lie ahead, your work has undoubtedly made an impact.