11/28/2017 – By Tanner Banks, Nick Mead, better known by his handle on Twitch and YouTube as EatMyDiction keeps his hundreds of thousands of followers in stitches between his angry tirades and drunken escapades. He took the time out of his schedule to come and talk to us at Slickster Magazine to talk about his experiences and thoughts streaming and in the gaming world.
Slickster Mag – What first got you into producing videos on YouTube?
EatMyDiction – I had just graduated film school and aside from working odd jobs on sets as a grip I was essentially unemployed. So I buried myself into gaming and creating videos as an outlet now that I didn’t have school every day to explore that side of me.
How has the transition into Twitch been?
I honestly never really noticed any transition. Shortly after my YouTube channel started gaining steam I was introduced to livestreaming by a friend (this was before Twitch existed). So by the time Twitch arrived I had already cut my teeth a little with the platform and then balanced it with creating videos.
What do you believe is the major factor/factors that lead to the success of Twitch?
Twitch is a tv show that talks back to you. I feel like that was always going to be it’s strength in the media space and still believe that.
How do you see yourself improving as time goes on?
Well, I could definitely start streaming longer hours. I tend to get bored easily and shut down the stream to go do other things. It’s nothing against my audience at all just one of those things. I should probably do jumping jacks every hour or something haha.
What are some of your favorite games to stream?
Duck Game, Rainbow Six: Siege, and any open world game with a decent story.
What’s a game you’re most looking forward to playing?
Right now it’s Hunt: Showdown from Crytek. It looks like Battlegrounds meets Evolve meets Resident Evil 7.
Thoughts on the Battlefront II controversy?
I decided not to stream the game, or even play it once I did my research into their microtransaction practices. It seemed predatory and showed very little faith in the quality of their game.
What do you believe needs to change about the current landscape of gaming?
Definitely the loud trolls whining about female streamers who show cleavage. It’s a non-issue, and no they aren’t stealing viewers, we have hard data to prove that. Whether it’s just wearing whatever is comfortable or using sexuality to entice people to watch, you do you. I’ll just be over hear grooming my beard for my viewers like usual.
What was the inspiration for Fucked up Fridays?
My love for alcohol and games. It’s the laziest show idea in the history of anything, I honestly don’t know why everyone knows what it is and gives me so much credit, we literally just drink and play stupid games. Renee and I have talked about a plan to up the production value a bit and create a template of different segments to use but we’re lazy and forgetful. But now we’ll have it in print so the coal will burn under our asses I suppose.
You’re a huge film buff, and occasionally talk about the craft of film making on stream. If you were a director, what would you like to make?
If I could remember half the stuff I learned in film school I’d probably want to make a neo-noir as my first feature. I even had half a script written with that in mind but it got lost on an old hard drive before THE CLOUD existed. I’m old.
What was the best part about TwitchCon, and conventions in general?
Hands down it’s always been getting to spend time with friends I only ever interact with online, and meeting fans. I rarely ever play video games at those things.
What other steamers would you like to roast next year if they did it again?
Not to toot my own horn but I’d love to get roasted, it was so much fun. I feel like DrDisrespect will probably be on the chopping block soon.
How do you see Twitch affecting game developers?
I mean it already has, to a great degree. Whether it be them reaching out to us for coverage, streaming their development process, adding artwork of us in game, or even Twitch integration. Hard to tell what will be next.
How do you as a content creator impact the gaming world in your own words?
Thanks again to EatMyDiction for coming by and talking with us. Be sure to check him out on YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter.
