Although there are several internet providers that offer a service for conducting on-line broadcasting of a video image, the adage “you get what you pay for” always applies to computer-related activities. Like the hobby of wargames with historic miniatures itself, the results of broadcasting a miniature game are entirely affected by the resources of equipment and time one can put into the venture. With that in mind, this document attempts to illustrate some parameters for conducting a successful broadcast.

Notify Players of Limitations

Insuring the satisfaction of participants is a primary goal, or at least, notifying players of the potential pitfalls before the broadcast, helps solicit their understanding and patience. Software and computers go down, as well as Internet provider servers, and there are other limitations. If players are made aware of these elements ahead of time, less frustration will be experienced. In fact, our wargaming group does not broadcast a miniature game at times and instead conducts a game on-line using Game Mapper software and a chat application to resolve combat and for other conversations.

The concept of broadcasting a game of miniatures needs to be prefaced— and not meaning to discourage— by the fact that what is being broadcast is by nature a very small, detailed hobby. Web broadcasts are simply not meant to be used in such detail; there's no doubt people are going to want to see detailed images, but the smaller the figures and models the harder it is to see what the image is. Larger troops will produce a cleaner, more discernable image to the internet viewer, so from the start your audience should realize that the level of detail is going to be less than being at an actual game. The purpose of a broadcast is to bring clubs from various locations together, or individuals, and not to show off the miniatures or in any way be complimentary to a miniature collection.

The purpose of the broadcast is to show the position units the gaming table such that player-viewers can determine their written instructions to the person that is running the game, or if games are being run simultaneously, that players notify each other of what moves to make. However, a great level of detail can be gained is one person operates the camera at all times for the benefit of viewers and in fact, this is highly recommended.

Chat Window and Available Cameras

Once the opponents can see the location of troops and determine movements and situations on the surface, they can issue orders via a chat window to the person conducting the broadcast and acting as the game judge. It should also be noted that a chat window can be opened for each player, so each player does not know what the other is saying, which provides some realism in communications.

This is one reason that having two cameras is a major benefit, unless a broadcaster wishes to continually move the camera to accommodate player wishes for close-ups and more details of a portion of the table in order to have more information. The judge of course would be conducting computer operations, but still, the broadcast can be done by a single person and small game table.

Another big benefit is a a/v switcher, available at most a/v stores. These switchers are simply a physical switch box of buttons for each source, into which audio/video RCA jacks are plugged in and in some cases the boxes accommodate S-VHS cable and RCA (composite video) jacks. The switches enable a variety of cameras to be used, though not simultaneously, to send their signals to the computer and thus to the world. Of course, internet cameras with their USB or Parallel connectors cannot be used with these video switch boxes, and the boxes are quite affordable especially on Ebay.

Once plugged into this common switcher, different views of the game table are possible with the push of a button and several cameras. The output cable going to the computer (again, either RCA or S-VHS) is connected to the computer’s video card.