Can you tell us who you are and what you stream?
My name is Rapskilian, and I’ve been creating content since early 2008. I come originally from South Africa, but after being ping-ponged around the world, I ended up in Switzerland.
Follow Rapskilian on:
YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, X, Discord
The “What do I stream?” answer is hard. I used to main a few games, but after learning a hard lesson in content burnout, I moved away from doing only one single game. So I guess it’s anything that my friends and I feel like gaming, but I have been addicted to Satisfactory recently.
What inspired you to start live streaming?
My father always told me there was one thing I was always good at, and that was talking. I used to be a Let’s Player—I know, a blast from the past with that term. I learned a lot of skills in being entertaining when there was no instant reaction: how to make a boring part of a game seem fun. I loved replying to comments and having that back-and-forth with a viewer. So when streaming became a thing back then, I remember seeing a video on YouTube about a site called Justin.tv. After signing up and sitting on the idea for a long time, I decided the best thing was to do a stream.
When did you go live for the first time, and what was that experience like?
I played Amnesia. It was fun seeing chatters come in and enjoy themselves. Thinking back to that stream, riddled with audio clipping and also audio desync, still hurts me. It was like nothing else before—making a joke and seeing chat react. It felt like home for me.
How long did it take you to get your first regular viewers?
It did take a while for me to get regulars, but I was lucky and unlucky in a way. I had an average of 30 viewers at times when games like H1Z1 came out. I even had people make fan art. But this is something I feel I need to warn new streamers about: drama can kill a community. Don’t stink up your whole community for one person, no matter how much they interact with you.
What helped you grow your audience in the early days?
Playing not a bigger category game. Games like For Honor, Metal Gear Solid V, and H1Z1 (not BR) allowed viewers to get to know me and then stick around.
Were there any turning points or breakthroughs that helped your stream take off?
I had a few when I only streamed RUST. I met and connected with other bigger creators, but that game's too toxic for me. So I went to Valorant, and there I grew again greatly. After a while, those games can begin to burn you out.
How do you attract new viewers today?
I mostly do the YouTube-to-Twitch concept: create content and then funnel it over to Twitch. I also started streaming to YouTube Shorts at the same time as I do on Twitch, in hopes they make the jump.
How do you keep your community engaged between streams?
Well, creating content in video format. Also, Discord is a vital tool in keeping the community not only talking to you but with each other.
How do you earn money from your stream (subs, donations, sponsorships, etc.)?
I still haven’t been partnered on YouTube, so most of my income comes from Twitch subs. But it's not an important part now.
What was your first source of income from streaming?
Twitch subs and an old sponsor.
Is there any tool outside of Twitch or YouTube that helps you with monetization?
I used to have Patreon, but I had no time to take care of it. So at the moment, no.
What’s your typical streaming schedule and workflow?
Currently, my schedule is not fixed due to my having two jobs to support my family, but usually I stream on Saturdays.
What tools do you use in your streams (like streaming software, bots, etc.)?
I use OBS for streaming and also Streamer.bot to combine my chats from YouTube and Twitch.
What’s your streaming setup like today vs. when you started?
The jump from then to now is huge. When I started, I used a single PC setup. Now I have a two-PC setup, good audio, and the works.
What has been your biggest challenge as a streamer so far?
Dealing with the loss of a community, due to either changing your main game or a lack of consistency.
Have you ever felt like quitting? If so, what kept you going?
After being at this for so long, the thought never came to me. It’s become a part of who I am.
What mistakes did you make early on that others should avoid?
Not taking the moment when I had it. But life is about making mistakes and learning from them. If we delve into our mistakes, we can't look at what's ahead of us.
How do you manage burnout or streaming fatigue?
Being honest with yourself and taking the correct steps to avoid it. Avoid sticking to one game or style of content. I know it's what makes you grow, but look at all the big streamers—they don’t stick to a single type of game. Burnout can be avoided if you teach yourself and your community that we are here for the streamer and not the game. If that makes any sense.
What’s the best decision you’ve made for your stream?
Meeting Colesy and Jamie. They made something that was very lonely into something new and exciting.
What advice would you give someone who’s just starting out?
If you want to do streaming, stop first and build a YouTube channel with long-form content. Then you learn how to be entertaining when no one's there to instantly react to your jokes.
Are there any underrated tools or tips that made a big difference for you?
Don’t burn me at the stake for this, but honestly, I used ChatGPT to help come up with ideas or even keep an eye on upcoming trends. As for tips, if you want to just mess around, then just have fun. But if you want to take this seriously, then look at yourself as both the boss and the employee.
How do you stay creative and keep your content fresh?
Shower yourself with new indie games, rinse yourself off with good friends, and wipe away the boredom with community-based livestreams.
What are your plans for the future?
To not have two jobs and get back into regular content and expand into more genres of videos.
Any creators who inspire you or helped you get to where you are?
Well, back in the day, it was channels like Tobuscus, Red vs. Blue, Hutch, and Markiplier. Now I have to thank my friends who inspire me.
Favorite moments or memories from your streaming journey so far?
Playing through all of the Halo games in one sitting for charity. I did fall asleep in the kitchen standing up, but I got right at it and finished them.
