Commit 2 the Bits: Text

Commit 2 the Bits

Academic Project, Spring 2020

Commit 2 the Bits is a semester long discovery project that explores the intersection of improvisational theater and Twitch live streaming. We helped improvisers to run a smooth improv show on the live streaming platform, Twitch, by delivering a show production toolkit, which will allow them to communicate to the audience with a built-in interaction system and collaborate with other actors remotely. The project became more relevant as the lockdown due to COVID-19 happened midway through the project as people tried to find new ways of enjoying entertainment. We found meaning in the work that we have been doing and it was heart warming to see the joy that we have brought to our audiences.

My contributions

Applied scrum methodologies to keep track of tasks
Organized & participated in playtests (Twitch shows) to validate ideas and prototypes
Developed website content and weekly development blogs
Help with remote transitions

Commit 2 the Bits: Text

Commit 2 the Bits: Welcome

Commit 2 the Bits: Image

screen-shot-2020-09-19-at-2-39-28-pm_ori

Tech Stack

Commit 2 the Bits: Text

We researched different tools and techniques that are used in a regular Improv context through doing Improv, seeing improv shows live (before COVID-19), and watching classic shows like "Whose Line is it Anyway", "ASSSSCAT", etc, and tried to incorporate it into a platform like Twitch. Our design process led us to define unique role definitions through takeaways from traditional improv shows and Twitch streams, and then we came up with a "Show Production Toolkit" that takes text overlay and allows the streamer to switch between games and design presets for the games we play.

Commit 2 the Bits: Video

Commit 2 the bits Trailer

Commit 2 the Bits: Text

We created cutout/overlays that matched the need and scene of every improv game and it helped the audience and the actors enjoy the otherwise laggy, online, and less-interactive improv experience to a great extent by compensating a bit in filling in some of those gaps in imagination! Below is a gallery of how such cutouts are used in our project and in the twitch streams.

Commit 2 the Bits: Work