Streamer Spotlight: PixelManta
Marcus “PixelManta” Clarke is not just a UK-based LGBTQ+ streamer, he’s also the sole developer working on Overmorrow, a puzzle exploration game with a metanarrative that deletes your save after 30 in-game days. What’s more, PixelManta doesn’t just make indie games, he also highlights them in his after-work streams.
In our latest Streamer Spotlight, sponsored by Sneak, we got to chat with him about game development, streaming, balancing the two, and more!
How did you get into video games/streaming?
I’ve always been into video games, ever since I was a child. My parents thought I was obsessed and of course, tried to limit how much I should play (saying I should watch TV instead?!). It was natural for me to transition into video games a career, so I studied Game Design at University and have been working as a Game Designer ever since. I only started streaming last year, after moving to solo indie development!
What is your favorite thing to stream?
As a now-indie developer, I love to highlight small indie games that may not get as much attention elsewhere. But of course, Nintendo is my bread and butter, and Pokémon especially will always have a place in my heart!
What can people expect from your stream?
Chaos, of course. I’m not one to take anything particularly seriously. I play games on stream, but honestly, it’s a perfect excuse for me to interact with people who come into the chat more than anything. I love talking to viewers, about everything and anything! We go from the lighthearted (which fruit are gay?), all the up to more serious topics such as coming out stories and mental health.
How has your experience as an out LGBTQ+ streamer been?
It’s been incredible to find an audience of people who have relatable stories to myself. And if I can be a relatable person to someone else too, that’s amazing to me. I have a mostly LGBTQ+ audience, and they’re a, quite frankly, amazing, lovely, welcoming and heart-warming bunch of human beings. We all have our own stories, and I think that people have found a place here to be their own nerdy queer selves, and I love it.
What do you do outside of streaming?
I’m a video game designer! I’ve worked in the games industry for almost a decade now, but last year I took a dive into solo indie game development working on my game – Overmorrow! So I do that by day, and stream in the evenings.
Did you start game development or streaming first?
I started game development first! I’ve been a Game Designer in the industry for almost a decade now, having worked on a number of titles, including Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and some Warhammer titles. Last year, I left the company I was at to try my hand at solo indie development and am the creator of the game Overmorrow (which hit its successful Kickstarter goal earlier in the year!). I only started streaming at the end of last year as a way to force myself to play some video games (and not work all the time!) and to help promote my game, too. I didn’t expect to enjoy it much, or to meet so many wonderful people!
What do you enjoy the most about streaming?
I enjoy the community aspect, it’s been really nice to meet so many new people. I also love the interaction I get with people as I play certain games. There are some games I still enjoy to play at my own pace, in my own time, but other games are just so perfect to play on stream, and I love that it often becomes a community effort!
What have you learned about yourself through streaming?
I’ve definitely gained some confidence in public speaking that I didn’t know I had before. I’ve had times in my life of extremely low confidence, and so streaming has shown me that yeah actually, I can do it.
What have you learned from doing both streaming and game development?
I’ve learned how much time I can dedicate to both! It’s a careful balance, but both game development and streaming are what I’m passionate about, and so I make it happen. Sometimes I focus on one more than the other, but how I can improve on both is always on my mind. Since I started streaming, I’ve definitely gained some confidence that has spilled over to my game development interactions too!
What’s your main goal as a streamer for the future?
Honestly, I just want to reach more people. I think a lot of people enjoy the community that has built around my streaming, which I’d love to take credit for, but it’s definitely down to the people that made it happen and continue to be such a positive force within it. But bringing more people into the circle would be a dream, as well as making more people aware of Overmorrow!
What are you looking forward to most this year?
This year, I’m looking forward to Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, I’ve always had such amazing streams when Pokémon is involved, so I have some ideas for that. But I’m also looking forward to releasing more info about my game, and talking with people on stream about what they think – that’s always fun!
To find out more about PixelManta, head on over to their Twitch channel.
About The Author
