What do you want to be when you grow up? A footballer? An astronaut? A movie star? How about a games caster?
According to a recent survey of children aged between 7 and 14 by Adecco Thailand, games casting is now a very attractive occupation for young people. Some games casters are so popular that they’ve become celebrities.
One of Thailand’s best known games casters is Naiyarat Thanawaigoses (Pang), otherwise known as zbing z. Her popular YouTube channel showcases a variety of different games, as well as other content such as food and travel. With 4.8 million subscribers and counting, she’s clearly doing something right.
S Weekly met up with Pang at the True office where she told us about games casting and her channel.
How does it feel to be so popular among young Thais?
Pang: I’m very glad. I try to make everybody who watches the channel happy - parents and kids. I think I’ve been successful in what I set out to do.
You’re the No. 1 Thai female games caster. What do you think about that?
Pang: I never think about ranking while I’m working. I just like what I do. It allows me to be myself.
Is it true that you’ve received sexist comments?
Pang: Yes. In the past, a lot of people thought that video games weren’t for women. Now, it’s more equal. I admit that I’m not a great gamer, but I create entertaining videos.
Why do you like playing games so much?
Pang: When I was a teenager, I had a lot of pimples. My schoolmates made fun of me for it, which made me feel insecure. I thought that the world was cruel, so I turned to online games as an escape. I became addicted as I made friends online. My online friends have been very good to me. I’ve become more confident.
Recently, you’ve featured a lot of Japanese games on your channel. Why?
Pang: I want to show people games that they don’t know about. The Japanese games are fun and different from what people are used to. I spend a lot of time on Google Translate figuring out the instructions so I can explain to my followers how to play the games.
Can you tell us about your experience co-hosting the online show OS Caster Life last year?
Pang: Before being on the show, I wasn’t good at speaking. OS Caster Life gave me an opportunity to improve that. I’m much better now.
Why did you decide to start doing content on food and travel?
Pang: When I was in Japan with my boyfriend, he suggested that I make a video about sightseeing. I hesitated at first because it wasn’t related to gaming. But I decided to try it. The video got a fantastic response on my channel. So I decided to do more.
What kind of food do you like to feature?
Pang: I look for food that isn’t available in Thailand or that most people aren’t familiar with. I once did a piece about Japanese giant oysters, which got a lot of comments. People seem to enjoy the new content.
Can you make a living as a games caster?
Pang: In the past, I didn’t make a lot of money, but now I have sponsors. And the company I work for, Online Station, helps to sell my merchandise, which is another source of income. I also make money from YouTube. Now, I can support my family through games casting.
What advice do you have for young people who are interested in becoming games casters?
Pang: YouTube lets you be yourself. If you want to start your own channel, just do it. Don’t procrastinate. You won’t succeed if you don’t start.
