Nintendo "Spending A Lot Of Time" Considering YouTube Livestream Monetisation

Youtube telling other companies how to deal with content creators... man... that's rich!

Nintendo's Creators Program is a good move: It allows gamers to earn money in a legal way. I don't understand where all the hate comes from.

Youtube is my Daily Entertainment for me right now.
I can access what video i want to watch rather than relying on Netflix or any TV Channel.
I can also watch K-1 World GP tournaments, Next Top Model series, etc from Youtube. Not really need watching from TV Channel.

I don't blame anyone on YouTube who has stopped making Nintendo content, sometimes it's not even worth it what you get in return if you put a video through Nintendo's program.

"Oh no! Someone doesn't get paid sitting on his butt, playing a video game! Nintendo is so unfair!"

Gamers are so overly entitled that it's disgusting...

Whilst reading this I can only hear the tune to "Chains of Love" in my head.

I believe this is mainly an issue due to Nintendo being Japanese-centric run. I guess there mustn't be too many Japanese Youtubers / Streamers?

@Anti-Matter And yet it is still only available to the US and Japan, so anyone outside those countries are screwed if they want to upload Nintendo let's plays. It's a terribly implemented system.

First, make a Youtube App for the Switch. Then let Switch users post the videos directly to their youtube channel (similar to PS4). Let it all be automated, videos posted will be tracked by Nintendo for monetisation. Fast and easy.

Just do it.

@Neon_Blues
There's more to it than that but whatever.

I'm not too fussed either way on this matter, I don't watch gaming streams but I guess its a thing...

However, I'm still not convinced that these Let's plays and streams are "free advertising" for Nintendo. Not when Nintendo has their own marketing through their OWN YT channel, TV advertising and general online advertising. I've never seen proof of that despite the majority of gamers stating it as a fact.

@Chandlero Because Nintendo demands a bigger cut of the (ad) revenue, yet the whole work is done by the Streamer/Youtuber. Nintendo's work is done as soon as they have finished the game - that's what you pay for in stores.
They aren't involved, not even in the slightest, in the creation process during the stream/video.

@elkrebso isn't that a bit like me saying that a musician's work is done once they record their music and if I want to make a YouTube video of me listening to their music in a dark room I should keep the ad revenue?

@elkrebso: By watching a Let's Play of a Nintendo game, I see a lot of stuff that Nintendo made. Your argument is just not valid.

@KryptoKrunch there's also huge downside for Nintendo. Imagine if a certain YouTuber started spouting racist terms while playing Mario Kart or Splatoon during a livestream - and Nintendo were making money off it (via ad revenue).

Personally I think Nintendo's approach is about right.

We live in a world where youtubers who do nothing but filming themselves playing videogames are called creators.

It is Nintendo’s brand (or any other brand) that makes these people famous. Pay the cut or meet the backside of Nintendo’s hand. Makes perfect sense.

Wow I can't believe how some people feel about youtubers, there was a way to make money that involved playing video games and they took advantage of it, sorry you hate your life and your dead end job

I don't think it just comes down to money. If someone is doing a let's play of a Nintendo game, and swearing or making racist, sexist, or using other kid unfriendly language, it doesn't fit with Nintendo's airtight brand. Admittedly it's an awkward way of policing this, but is there any other way of only stopping the creators that make stuff that goes against Nintendo's image?

YouTube, maybe fix all your own issues before you try to give advice to others on how to run their company.

@JamesR To stay with your example: isn‘t it exactly as if the company, on which instruments I play music and sell it, wants to get a share of said music‘s revenues?

@Chandlero So you would assume that a greater portion of viewers watches the video solely because of the game, not because of the streamer?
How can you tell how many people maybe watched the video, just because they are subscribed to the streamer?

@BravelyDavid No hate. I just think an industry where the name of a youtuber is more famous than the name of the game designer who made the game the youtuber plays isn't a healthy industry that reward creative work and won't last long.

@elkrebso well I think this comes down to what the "content" is. The musical instrument isn't the content, nor is the TV nor games console nor controller. It would argue that the content here is the game itself. I don't see much in the act of the person playing the game which transforms the game content into something he/she should have copyright on. This is different to someone picking up a guitar and composing new music. (Hell, a musical can't even release a song that's deemed too close to another song either musically or lyrically).

Of course some YouTube videos do transform the content (for example: reviews, educational videos eSports, channels like GameTheory...) and I don't have any problem with them keeping all their ad revenue.

But there are many legal minds who, no doubt, are better versed in these matters.

Nintendo makes the best video games in the world, but they're so incredibly backwards on seemingly everything else.

@Neon_Blues Yeah, you really should learn a bit about the issue before making comments like that.

It really is a grey area covered with clouds

@KryptoKrunch Not for Nintendo, we haven't seen proof of higher sales for them correlating with famous YT making a video. Specifically because they do not share their pictures of sales at all or only on very specific terms (not granular enough to check against YT). Also, they did attack youtubers who monetized their games without their approval (so less impact here). But other games, especially small to middle of the road indies have shared their sales and they do have huge correlations with YT fame. Sometimes the entire game is dependent on whether there is enough youtube clout of it or not (and there have been facts about those cases). However, we cannot judge whether it works the same for such a big company as Nintendo and whether it will work in their favour if they just let anyone stream their games.

@Chandlero Should NintendoLife pay Nintendo royalty fees for every screenshot or official artwork they feature of their games?

The issue isn't about ''earning money in a legal way''. Nintendo demands more than the standard, and the result is that people choose to ignore streaming Nintendo content, which is free advertisement for them.

Look, I'm not denying their right to do so, I'm just suggesting they should maybe reconsider their current approach to YouTube monetisation.

Can Nintendo be better about YouTube, yes. Can YouTube be better about YouTube, also yes.

Nintendo just needs to let this be. These Youtuber's aren't "Stealing your content." If anything, it's free advertising. If people see their favorite Youtuber playing a Nintendo game, they won't think Wow, that guy is stealing Nintendo's stuff! they'll think Wow, that game looks really fun! Maybe I should try it out!

I understand the idea that livestreams or Let's Plays of games can broadcast secrets, plot twists and spoilers for all to see, but most Nintendo games focus on gameplay. Watching available videos for their games doesn't supplant the experience of playing the game. If we were talking about visual novels, that's one thing. I've never watched a video of Mario Kart 8 and told myself "wow, that was a great game. I don't need to buy it now."

@Chandlero The hate comes from the fact that the creator puts all the time and effort into making content and Nintendo strips most of the cash and restricts what they're allowed to cover.
If you put time and effort into writing a script, capturing and editing a video, perhaps overlaying graphics etc and Nintendo come and take most of the cash away then yes they have the right to be pissed. It's hours of work for very little reward - essentially a Nintendo tax. At the end of the day it's free advertising for Nintendo and this backwards approach puts many people off covering their games. As someone who works in visual media I totally understand the frustration.

Everyone can moan about what Nintendo have done, but YouTube have ruined YouTube. I know a few people who were making decent ish money, now every video needs to be for 5 year olds, otherwise you lose advertisers, it’s bonkers.

@Octane Maybe you misunderstand something. Streaming is no longer covered in the program, so you can't make money from it, and Nintendo doesn't get any revenues from it either. It isn't a demand. For some reason, Nintendo decided to exclude streaming from the program, and they accepted that they would lose revenues from that.

You can still stream Nintendo games, though, as long as your channel isn't registered with the program.

@ennan If you put time and effort in a script and even alter the gameplay footage, then you don't need Nintendo's permission to earn money from your videos. It is all about the editorial work that changes the sources. The same holds for movie reviews, song covers and so on.

And to be honest: Most Let's play videos don't have a script and no editing involved. Therefore, the Creators program is a nice thing: You can just play and upload without legal problems and earn money.

@NinNin But that means the most loyal Nintendo YouTube can't stream their content, while others can. Not entirely fair IMO.

I agree that this is generally a grey area. One thing that I don't like is the "free advertisement" argument, I think there's a key difference in that Nintendo (or any company in this spot) would control the messaging if this were an advertisement.

So I would call it "free exposure", as it can be either good or terrible for then, since they don't control (and shouldn't!) the content creator's vision. That's why I think they act like this when it comes down to youtubers and streamers.

@Anti-Matter K-1 is great. I might end up competing in K-1 within the next year or two, or some other type of kickboxing.

@Octane Of course, you are allowed to stream as much as you want. You just are not allowed to make money with advertisement. Donations are no problem at all.

EDIT: Sorry, I misunderstood you before, I think. Of course, you are right if the whole channel is in the program. In this case, the streamer needs another channel or has to switch to registering each video to the program.

I wish Nintendo would be a little more lenient on their YouTube supporters, more exposure for Nintendo would surely not be a bad thing, they have all this great publicity because of the Switch being so well received and playing a little nicer with them would help them out even more.

Disgusting. First, quite hypocritical to see YouTube talk about Content Creators as if they're successful in bringing back the companies who abandoned them. Second, Nintendo's attitude towards YouTube gamers is so pathetic I wonder why people still support the Creators Program. A huge cut and takedowns? Ever heard of free publicity? Why don't Sony and Microsoft take a strict stance on YouTube gamers? Because they know it brings free publicity. YouTuber A plays COD on YouTube and gives his opinions on it, viewer B and C get influenced into buying it or not and most importantly are aware of the product's existence. Sometimes Nintendo amazes me both for good and for bad, and this was certainly unpleasant news.

I have no problem with Nintendo employing some sort of curation to make sure that their brand is used in appropriate videos. There has been controversy with personalities being innappropriate on playthroughs and Nintendo protects their brand quite fastidiously.

However, I think demanding so much in monetisation is really a misunderstanding of how this works really. People watch the people they like play games. These personalities earn money from this and the games themselves can see a sales lift from this type of promotion. Why would you, as a content producer, be bothered with doing Nintendo vids if you make less?

Not that I understand all of this - I'm of the old man generation who would rather play the game.

@KirbyTheVampire
Oh, K-1 ?
Good luck.
Btw, why does this sport less famous than other sports ?
I mean, come on....
Underdog sports are always underdog position, burried by too famous and too boring sports such as football / basketball / F-1 racing / etc.

I watch a lot of Nintendo videos from many YouTubers, and have never felt any negative effects or issues with the Creators Program, it's actually transparent to me as I wouldn't even know what it was if some people didn't complain about it so much.

It's not a Nintendo problem, it's a money problem. They just mad cause they can't make money off of Nintendo's contents. I remember when AngryJoe got so piss about Nintendo copyright claim his Nintendo videos that he remove videos of him unboxing a freaking Wii U and playing a session of Mario Kart 8. Like c'mon Nintendo didn't remove those videos, they just didn't let Joe monetize it.

@Chandlero You know how much money I have gotten from Nintendo in the past year with my videos on YouTube?

Literally 1 cent.

I have 33 videos, equaling to around 10,000 views total this year, not a lot, but my estimated revenue according to YouTube is supposed to be around $6 from my Nintendo Videos. But how much did I get back? Literally One cent. I have the receipt to prove it.

The creator program takes a huge cut of your revenue after Google takes a cut. But really I got 1 CENT. Total hours spent making, editing, writing those videos? Around 48 hours. For 1 CENT.

https://imgur.com/a/eSmXq

Remember when Youtube was all about sharing videos?

Nintendo, please stop considering and just do it!
Whether we like it or not, livestreams and Let's plays have a huge influence, probably even more than all the official ads combined.

So Nintendo should really just allow it and actively support livestreamers.

Patreon to the rescue, lol.

@Steven_the_2nd: That is a funny picture. But do you know how much Nintendo gets? Is it a fixed amount of 5$ per year and low percentage of the rest? Or is it a high percentage? It would be interesting to know.

By the way: Send me a link of your videos. If I like them, I will gladly donate you 6$. I always donate since I use an ad blocker and I am willing to pay directly for good work.

Don't really see what the big deal is. It's just a bunch of racist neckbeards anyway. Mario Odyssey will sell itself without Pewdiepie's help. As God himself said when he was on Jimmy Kimmel's show, "I've created a race of idiots".

Someone please put some sense on the higher ups at Nintendo and stop this ridiculous program.

The issue with all these arguments is that people on both sides of the coin have valid statements.

I think this issue would be more clear cut if all Youtubers put a lot of time into their videos and all Youtubers were professional. Yeah, it's never going to happen, but the reason this is all so problematic is because any person can enter Youtube and try to make money, even if their videos are absolutely terrible. And what company would want a terrible Youtuber to advertise or be linked in any way to their games? Not Nintendo at least, I can understand that.

@Neon_Blues It's not anyone's fault you're not charming or witty enough to carry a let's play channel, buddy.
It serves as free advertising and doesn't affect nintendo in the slightest.

Nobody should be allowed to make money on video games they didn't create.

I'd really love to know exactly how much money Nintendo makes on YouTube ad revenue from people signed up for the Creator's Program and how much they think they'd lose by allowing their games to be streamed. Doesn't seem to be an issue with most other companies. In fact, some companies claim to have seen an increase in sales with free publicity from people happily streaming their content online. I love Nintendo, but they're making a huge mistake punishing their fans for enjoying their games publicly.

@Neon_Blues @Neon_Blues

Here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CRvk9FDMv94

Brush up on your knowledge of let's players before making ignorant, whiney, elitist statements.

@Euler with you, ironically, being one of them.

I don't watch them. I would rather play a game myself than be a couch potato! However, I'm sure it makes people happy otherwise they wouldn't be able to support themselves. So whereas I think Youtubers should be allowed to make what ever content they want and be in control of it, they should extend that artist privilege to Nintendo (in fact any game company) and allow them to do with their IP what they want. If they don't want it plastered on YouTube, then fine. Abide with their decision. Quit moaning about it because at the end of the day, Mario Odyssey doesn't need a bloke sat in a stupid chair screaming in to a micro phone spoiling the whole game the day it launches. The YouTuber wants it because it's a good game and they can use it for views. (And as for using patreon to go cap in hand, casts doubt on whether youtube is a sustainable career choice, but again, if folk want to support stuff, it's not against the law.) It's only the same as a dj making a living playing their favourite songs. But I think there is a fee involved for using music.

I'm still trying to figure out how to monetize musical talent, specifically Classic Heavy Metal drumming.

The past few years, I've used video games as an escape from the harsh reality that no one gives a toss about instrument playing anymore.

Now it's looking like I should have invested in streaming equipment instead of a Neil Peart monster drumkit.

It's strange. Maybe it's being born in '86 and never having a computer until 2004, but it never occurred to me until pretty recently that people can make their entire living on internet ad revenue. The jealousy is real, ha!

But I'm too far into music and too far removed from the technology loop to turn back now... In which case, check me out! I've got something for everyone, as long as you dig upbeat music on real instruments.

@Anti-Matter I have no idea. I find it way more fun to watch and participate in than any other sport. I think a lot of people assume it's just two guys clobbering each other, but it's pretty much like a chess game. There's so much strategy and skill that goes into it.

The only combat sport that's comparable in popularity to football and stuff is MMA, but the rest isn't nearly as popular as it should be.

@G_M [removed]

Whatever revenue Nintendo lost from people who choose not to play Mario Odyssey (or have never heard of it) because PewDiePie doesn't stream it would be more than made up for by their Creators Program.

@Chandlero hey, the reason people have gotten upset with Nintendo is that they are illegally claiming the videos of thousands of creators by abusing the YouTube video claiming process.

Nintendo does not respect the laws governing fair use, and perpetually breaks them. This has been allowed to happen as the people who's videos they claim have not had the financial resources to take Nintendo on in a legal battle. People often brush this off as they don't want to believe their treasured company would do something wrong.

For further knowledge, search for the Leonard French, an attorney, discussing the Creators Programs contract.

These millennials make me sad sometimes...

@Fairuse I don't think making money from a copyrighted work is fair use.

Really really all you guys and gals have your head up your butt. Nintendo in the fault here they don’t need the money off the youtubers. For those who said to let players get a job, where is your job. If you watch a let player then tell them get a job. Use of copyright work on YouTube why watch YouTube then.

@NinNin why watch YouTube then? Answer that for me

@MattFox are you gen x then? Back in my day... it time to get real people

@JamesR really really then show the parents youtube setting happy now

@NinNin I can understand your confusion on the topic.

Please search for Leonard French, copyright attorney, and the videos he has made explaining how fair use is a legal right that allows people to use a product while making a transformative use of it.

Watching a "let's play" of BotW by Jesse Cox is not the same as watching one by Reggie. Part of the experience is related to the content of the video game, but the major aspect is the reaction and actions of the person using said product.

@Chandlero ur opinion is a good it is not needed at all

For everyone who supports Nintendo side need to grow up

@Fairuse Nintendo doesn't forbid you from streaming or uploading videos, though. If you don't care about advertising revenues, you can upload as many Nintendo-related videos as you want, and you don't need to worry about revenues from your videos. Anyway, that person is just an attorney. He doesn't have the authority to decide that something is legal or illegal. He has to prove that to the courts of law. In my opinion, making money from a copyrighted work isn't fair use.

@NinNin "Basics of Copyright for Content Creators" is the name of the video. It is highly informative and I suggest you watching it.

While you are free to your opinion, it is wrong in this case. Leonard French is indeed "Just an attorney", but his video is him explaining the laws that actually exist in our legal system.

I would greatly appreciate you watching the video to gain a better understanding on this situation.

"Basics of Copyright for Content Creators" is the name of the video. It is highly informative.

@Euler @G_M Let's keep this discussion civil, and watch your language.

@Chandlero But this affects people who do put the time in and that is a problem. Use any footage from a Nintendo game and they will claim it.

I have a very little Youtube Channel, i don't monetarize anything, i did upload one Zelda Video boom Nintendo Copyright claim, now they want monetarize it?!

Hey, sorry, but if i don't they certainly won't, so boom i set Age Restriction, now nobody can monetarize it, i don't care anyway because i don't monetarize anything, but that Nintendo Copyright claim to monetarize it is now fubar.

The next Zelda Video will get Age Restriction from the beginning, perhaps Nintendo then learn else i will include a little slaugther and gore footage to each Zelda Video, so that Youtube itself will Age Restrict too.

And why not instead uploading 1080p60@30mbps i upload stuttering, pixeled and blurred 720p15@5mbps cheaply converted into 1080p60 to show that awesome quality of the Nintendo Switch in future?

We are not talking only about channels that monetarize their videos here, Nintendo does it for everything, no matter if monetarized or not. But channels that don't monetarize anything have the advantage of setting Age Restrictions that will prevent any monetarizing, for the channel owner but also for Nintendo.