YouTube Gaming Layout Mockup

In the recent Trial and Error video Paeter did on RE7, he asked for feedback on the arrangement of elements in the video (that's how I understood him anyway   ). Below is a layout of the video elements that I think might be worth trying, which puts the game more front and center, and I think allows your eyes to better see Paeter's reactions w/o losing sight of the game footage.

But what do you think? Vote on if you think the layout below is worth trying

Is that game so boring that even the characters nod off in the middle of it?

mikel.withers wrote:Is that game so boring that even the characters nod off in the middle of it?

LOL no that just happened to the the screencap I took - think she was in mid blink.

Don't forget to vote at the top regarding this possible layout though

Couple questions about it.

1. Do you imagine anything being in the black spaces? Like some thematic overlay or something?

2. What about potential blocking of subtitles? Any thoughts on a solution?

1. Either black or a fade/darkened version of the game screen you use as a thumbnail/what is in the lower right of this mockup.

2. Totally didn't think about subtitles - this is why I am but the student and you are the master . Given that the subs would cover your face in this , this wouldn't work

LOL. I totally read that in Christopher Lloyd's voice.

fxruizx wrote:1. Either black or a fade/darkened version of the game screen you use as a thumbnail/what is in the lower right of this mockup.

2. Totally didn't think about subtitles - this is why I am but the student and you are the master . Given that the subs would cover your face in this , this wouldn't work

LOL! That's not necessarily true! I would just need to shrink my camera and/or the game screen capture so they don't overlap. The basic layout is still a functional option.

Would love to get some votes on this one way or the other, or any other feedback on the subject of my layouts for gaming videos!

Oh, and Francisco you get my "LOL of the morning" achievement/trophy for the Back To The Future meme (Is it a meme? Did I use that word right?). Worth zero points to you, but means a lot to me! Thanks for helping me start my day right!

Paeter wrote:Oh, and Francisco you get my "LOL of the morning" achievement/trophy for the Back To The Future meme (Is it a meme? Did I use that word right?). Worth zero points to you, but means a lot to me! Thanks for helping me start my day right!

Awesome that I helped your yesterday start out right, definitely worth a lot of points to me! Maybe not enough for the bus, but still

(Another meme, but more of a deep cut reference from my love of Scott Pilgrim vs The World)

Here is a rejiggered layout that might be worth exploring and I think makes accommodations for the subtitles

fxruizx wrote:Here is a rejiggered layout that might be worth exploring and I think makes accommodations for the subtitles

I like this layout.

jorowi wrote:

fxruizx wrote:Here is a rejiggered layout that might be worth exploring and I think makes accommodations for the subtitles

I like this layout.

What if the layout were the same, but I wasn't near as close to the camera? Would I still be big enough, or should I make the camera box bigger (and possibly shrink the game box to make room)?

Paeter wrote:What if the layout were the same, but I wasn't near as close to the camera? Would I still be big enough, or should I make the camera box bigger (and possibly shrink the game box to make room)?

Well I think that depends on what your goal for the video is. Personally, as far as your game videos, I am much more interested to see the game footage, while hearing you [Paeter] and your thoughts/commentary while you play. If you think that people watch your vids to see you though, then yes your box should definitely be bigger and I could see it overlapping the game vid to make that happen.

Not saying either way is right/wrong, just something to consider

I would like to see a larger view of the game than what we used in the most recent gaming video. I like to see Peater's face as well, but a thumbnail is probably big enough.
I'm not a fan of overlap though. It looks messy to my eye.
Anyway, I think the re-jigged option could work.

AdamCollings wrote:I would like to see a larger view of the game than what we used in the most recent gaming video. I like to see Peater's face as well, but a thumbnail is probably big enough.
I'm not a fan of overlap though. It looks messy to my eye.
Anyway, I think the re-jigged option could work.

Okay, here's a clarifying question:

Would you guys like a game dominant layout for just "Trial and Error", or for live streams as well?

I can definitely see the value in featuring the game more in Trial and Error videos, like the Resident Evil video. But most of my gaming videos are live stream highlights, which amount to topical videos having little or nothing to do with the game being played. In these cases, would it still be preferable to give the game considerably more space than my camera?

Here's an example of a recent live stream highlight video:

Good clarification.
So I would say videos like Trial and Error, where the game is important, have a bigger view of the game.
Videos like live-stream highlights, where what you're talking about is the important bit, have a bigger live video.

AdamCollings wrote:Good clarification.
So I would say videos like Trial and Error, where the game is important, have a bigger view of the game.
Videos like live-stream highlights, where what you're talking about is the important bit, have a bigger live video.

Yeah, I think that's where I'm leaning right now. This Friday's stream is a bit tricky though. I suspect it will be less conversational, since I will likely be very focused on the games compared to other streams. And yet streams up to this point have tended toward topical/conversation highlight footage. So maybe that will still be the case despite the different intended focus.

I guess since I haven't had any complaints about the layouts up to this point I won't try to change layouts for this Friday. Then after the fact I can plan better for the next stream of this type.

Meanwhile I can use a game dominated layout for future Trial and Error eps and an equal or camera dominated layout for my other streams.

That said, I won't be finalizing the layouts for this Friday's stream until tomorrow (Thursday), so feedback is still welcome regarding my layouts for this friday.

Thanks guys!