Learn to Stream Without Streaming
The game is on. The controller is in your hands. Your face is in the corner of the screen, your gameplay is front and center, and suddenly everyone in the room is watching to see what happens next.
But today, we aren't actually going live.
Instead, we're stepping behind the scenes to learn how gaming content creators build their streams, how they combine multiple sources of video into one screen, and how they keep an audience entertained while they play.
Welcome to Learn to Stream Without Streaming!
Pre-Lesson Preparation
Hello everyone and welcome to my Learn to Stream Without Streaming Activity! Today we are going to combine gaming, technology, communication, and a little bit of performance to create our own simulated gaming streams.
The goal of this activity is NOT to actually stream anything online. Members will not be broadcasting themselves, their gameplay, or their voices to the internet. Instead, we will create a pretend stream that is displayed on a TV or projector inside the room.
This gives members the opportunity to experience some of the skills used by streamers and gaming content creators without needing to create an account, go live, or publish anything online.
For this activity, you will need:
A computer capable of running OBS Studio
OBS Studio installed on the computer
A PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch
A generic HDMI capture card
HDMI cables
A TV or projector that the entire group can see
The computer's built-in webcam
A controller for the gaming system
The appropriate game for the console
An HDMI adapter if your computer requires one
//The exact ports and connections may vary depending on the computer, console, and capture card being used. The basic concept remains the same: the game console sends its video through HDMI into the capture card, and the capture card sends that video into the computer so OBS can display it.
Popular games with a lot of spectator value work especially well for this activity. Examples include Super Smash Bros., EA Sports FC 26, Rocket League, Mario Kart, Fortnite, or other games your members are already familiar with.
Lastly, the format for the Lesson Time written below is as if you were teaching the lesson. Instances of // are used to make side notes for you to adjust the lesson for your specific groups' needs.
Lesson Time
Welcome to the Production Studio
Hello everyone! Today we're going to do something a little different. Most of you have probably watched someone play a video game online. Maybe you've watched a streamer, a YouTuber, or someone playing competitively. But have you ever wondered:
How does their gameplay get onto the computer?
How does their face appear in the corner?
How do they put everything together on one screen?
And perhaps most importantly...
How do they keep talking when thousands of people are watching them play?
Today, we're going to find out. But there is one VERY important rule before we begin:
WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY STREAMING.
Nothing is being broadcast to the internet. Nothing is being uploaded. We are simply using OBS to create a simulated stream that we can display on the TV in our room. Today, you're not just going to be the player. You're going to be the streamer.
How Does a Stream Actually Work?
Before we start playing, let's break down what we're looking at. A typical gaming stream combines several different pieces of information into one screen.
For our activity, we are going to use two main sources:
1. Gameplay
This will come from the PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch through an HDMI capture card.
2. Camera
This will come from the computer's built-in webcam and show the streamer in the corner of the screen.
OBS allows us to take these different sources and combine them into one scene.
Think of OBS like a digital production studio.
The gameplay is one camera.
Your webcam is another camera.
OBS is the place where we decide how those cameras are arranged.
Setting Up OBS
//This section is intended to walk staff through the basic setup before members begin taking turns. It is recommended that staff complete this setup once before the activity begins so that troubleshooting does not take away from member participation.
First, download and install OBS Studio onto the computer.
Once OBS is installed, open the program.
You will see several different sections of the OBS interface. Don't worry if it looks complicated at first. We are only going to use a few of its features.
The most important areas for this activity are:
Scenes
Sources
Audio Mixer
Preview
For this activity, we only need one scene.
Create a new scene and name it something like:
Gaming Stream
Connecting the Capture Card
Now it is time to connect the game console.
First, connect the gaming console to power and make sure it is connected to the TV or monitor that you will use to play the game.
Next, connect an HDMI cable from the gaming console's HDMI output to the HDMI input on the capture card.
Then connect the capture card to the computer using its USB connection.
Your setup should essentially look like this:
Game Console → HDMI → Capture Card → USB → Computer
//Different capture cards may have slightly different labels, ports, or included cables. The important thing is that the console's HDMI signal is being sent into the capture card, and the capture card is connected to the computer.
Turn on the gaming console.
In OBS, locate the Sources section.
Click the + button to add a new source.
Select Video Capture Device.
OBS will ask you to choose a device.
Select the capture card that is connected to the computer.
If everything is connected correctly, the gameplay should appear inside the OBS preview window.
Congratulations!
You have officially brought the game into OBS.
Adding the Streamer's Camera
Now we need our star of the show.
The streamer.
In the Sources section, click the + button again.
Select Video Capture Device.
This time, instead of selecting the capture card, select the computer's built-in webcam.
Your webcam should now appear in the OBS preview.
At first, it may cover the entire gameplay screen.
Don't panic.
This is where OBS starts to become really interesting.
OBS Layers – Who Gets to Be on Top?
OBS works with layers. Think about it like stacking pieces of paper on a desk.If you put one piece of paper on top of another, you can only see the paper on top. OBS works the same way. In the Sources list, the source at the top of the list appears on top of the sources underneath it. This means that if your webcam is underneath the gameplay source, the gameplay may cover your camera. We want the opposite. We want the gameplay to be the main image while the streamer's face sits on top in a small box.
So, make sure the webcam source is above the gameplay/capture card source in the Sources list.
Now select the webcam in the preview window.
You can click and drag the corners of the webcam box to make it smaller.
Move it into one of the corners of the screen.
You should now have something that looks similar to a real gaming stream:
Gameplay = Main Screen
Webcam = Small Camera in the Corner
//This is a great moment to pause and physically demonstrate the layer system. Move the webcam above and below the gameplay source and let members see how the two sources cover each other.
Putting the Stream on the Big Screen
At this point, OBS should be showing us the finished simulated stream on the computer.
But we want everyone in the room to be able to see it.
Make sure the TV or projector is connected to the computer and recognized as an additional display.
In OBS, left-click on the monitor/preview display.
Select:
Open Preview Projector
OBS should then give you the option to select which display you want to use.
Select the TV or projector that the rest of the room can see.
The OBS preview should now appear on the big screen.
And that's it!
We have created our very own simulated gaming stream.
Again, remember:
WE ARE NOT STREAMING.
The TV is simply acting as our audience-facing screen inside the room.
The Streamer Challenge
Now comes the fun part.
We're going to see who can actually be a streamer.
One member will sit down with the controller and become the Streamer.
Their job isn't just to play the game.
Their job is to entertain the room while playing.
This means they should try to talk, react, explain what they're doing, and keep the imaginary audience interested.
You can give members a few examples before they begin.
Streamer Commentary Examples
Narrate what you're doing:
“I'm going for the goal here. If I miss this, I'm going to have some serious explaining to do.”
React to what happens:
“WHAT WAS THAT?!”
“No way!”
“I cannot believe that just happened!”
Talk to your imaginary audience:
“Okay, everybody watching at home, what do you think I should do here?”
“Chat, I need some help!”
“If you're watching this right now, you already know this is about to go badly.”
Explain your strategy:
“I'm going to stay back and wait for them to make the first move.”
“I've been saving this move for the entire match.”
Create excitement:
“This could be it!”
“WE'RE GOING FOR IT!”
“THREE... TWO... ONE...”
//Encourage members to develop their own personality. Some participants may naturally be energetic while others may be more calm, funny, analytical, or sarcastic. There is no single "correct" streamer personality.
Streamer Rotation
Every member should have an opportunity to take a turn as the streamer.
Depending on the game, you can rotate players based on either time or lives/rounds.
For example:
Time-Based Rotation
Each streamer gets 3-5 minutes before switching.
OR
Game-Based Rotation
Each streamer gets one life, round, match, or game before switching. Choose whichever system works best for the game you are playing. After each turn, switch to a new streamer and give someone else the opportunity to take the spotlight. If your group is large, you can have members waiting to play prepare their own commentary ideas or think about what kind of streamer personality they would like to try.
The Audience Has a Job Too
//The members who aren't playing should still have something to do. Encourage them to pay attention to the streamer rather than treating the activity like regular free-play gaming.
While someone is streaming, the rest of the group becomes the audience.
Their job is to watch, react, and support the streamer.
You can even challenge them to identify what makes someone entertaining to watch.
After each turn, ask:
What did they do that kept you interested?
What was the funniest thing they said?
Did they explain what they were doing?
Did they react when something unexpected happened?
What could they try differently next time?
This helps members understand that streaming is not just about playing a game well.
It's also about communication.
Bonus Challenge – Try Not to Laugh
If your group is up for an extra challenge, let's make things a little more difficult.
The audience now has one additional rule:
Try not to laugh.
The streamer can continue playing normally, but they should try to make the audience laugh through their commentary, reactions, dramatic announcements, funny voices, or ridiculous streamer persona.
Audience members who laugh can either:
Sit down if you laugh
OR
Give the streamer a point every time they make someone laugh
OR
Simply play for fun and see how long everyone can keep a straight face.
//Keep this challenge lighthearted. The goal is not to embarrass anyone. Encourage members to be silly without making another participant the target of the joke.
For an added challenge, have the streamer intentionally try to get the audience to break character without interrupting their gameplay.
What Did We Actually Learn?
//This is a great point to pause and connect the activity back to STEAM. Members may initially think they spent the entire activity playing video games, but they actually worked with video production, technology, communication, and digital media.
Today we used a video game as our starting point, but the technology behind the activity can be used for much more.
OBS can combine:
Cameras
Gameplay
Microphones
Images
Text
Graphics
Multiple video sources
And more.
The same basic idea can be used to create gaming content, presentations, podcasts, interviews, digital shows, tutorials, and other forms of media.
The technology is only part of the equation.
The other part is the person sitting in front of the camera.
Clean-Up – Shut Down the Studio
Okay everyone, we've officially finished our broadcast that wasn't actually a broadcast!
Now it is time to shut down the studio.
Please make sure:
The gaming console is properly turned off.
The controller is returned.
The capture card is disconnected carefully.
HDMI cables are returned to their proper locations.
The computer is closed or returned to its normal setup.
The TV or projector is disconnected if necessary.
The activity area is clean and ready for the next group.
Remember, technology equipment should always be handled carefully. Cables should be unplugged by the connectors rather than pulled by the wire.
Reflection – Behind the Screen
//For the reflection, encourage members to think beyond whether they won or lost their game. The goal is to get them thinking about communication, performance, technology, and what makes digital content interesting.
Ask the group:
What was harder: playing the game or talking while playing?
What did the best streamers do differently?
Was it difficult to think of things to say while concentrating on the game?
What kind of streamer personality did you enjoy watching the most?
What did you learn about how OBS works?
How does OBS allow multiple video sources to appear on the same screen?
Why does the order of the Sources list matter?
If you were creating your own gaming show, what would you add to your stream?
And finally...
Would you actually want to be a streamer? Why or why not?
Attach up to 5 files which will be available for other members to download.