I'm trying to organize a virtual game night for my extended family who are getting together for the holidays in Alabama. Unfortunately, I couldn't get time off, but they want me to host again like I did last year with Family Feud and Jeopardy. This time, I'm thinking of using my PC and OBS to stream everything via Discord since my sibling will be there to cast it to the TV. Most family members will be over 40, so I'm hoping to keep things simple and easy to use, without relying too much on phones. Any tips on how to set this up effectively would be appreciated!
4 Answers
Honestly, Discord is the best way to go for streaming casual games. We used it a lot during the pandemic for Jackbox games. Latency can be an issue with some mini-games, but it’s overall a fun experience, especially sharing laughs together! Just create a server, add everyone to a voice channel, and screen share.
You're on the right track! Keeping it simple is key. Just screen share your game and let someone put it on the TV. Test everything out with your sibling beforehand to get the audio and lag sorted. Also, have a backup plan just in case your setup has issues—like a simple call where you talk them through the game rules!
Joining a Discord voice call and sharing your screen is definitely the easiest option! Just get everyone into a voice channel, and you should be set.
That sounds simple enough! I’m just hoping for a little more than that, maybe some fun software tips.
You should definitely check out the Jackbox Party Packs! They let everyone use their phones or tablets as controllers, and some games can host up to 20 people. Players just enter a code to join the game lobby on their devices. It’s super engaging and fun, especially games like Tee-Fury. Make sure to screen share your game through Discord so everyone can see!
I did like Jackbox! But I’m worried about my family, most are over 40 and might struggle with the phone part.
A dry run sounds smart! I’ll definitely plan for that.