Nexus Content Creator Spotlight: Koifish
Nexus is a platform where content creators can build their own game store. This enables creators to sell games and earn support by turning a content stream into an income stream, enabling creators to focus more on what they do best: creating!
This week, we’re featuring Koifish! Koifish’s Nexus features the historically-themed games he streams as well as his official merch. So we interviewed him about his Nexus kollektion!
When did you first start making content, Koifish?
I started the Koifish channel at the start of 2017, but I had quite a few channels before this one. Had a channel with my close friend where we did modded Minecraft content, trying to become the new Yogscast. Didn’t really work out, but we had great fun, and the experience I gained from editing those videos most likely helped me with my first Koifish content.
What was your tipping point to go from creating content on the side to making it your main focus? Or what was your first “omg, I can do this for real” moment?
I had my first proper big surge in subscribers and views with one of my videos around Christmas 2018, and I remember just refreshing SocialBlade and seeing the subs just go up and up and up. That’s when I knew that I could probably make something off this channel. But it wasn’t until a bit later when I got fired from my job as a postman that I decided to go full time, started my company and things have just gone up from there! And good timing on it as well, because I was really starting to dislike having strict and set work hours. I work a lot better setting my own hours.
What are the top three tools you use and couldn’t live without when it comes to making and/or sharing your content?
Well obviously, my computer. Without it, I would be unable to record, edit, or upload any of my videos. Along with it, I’d say all the software I use, like Sony Vegas and OBS. Having the proper equipment to work with makes the workload way more manageable, and I think that eliminating lag, load times, crashing software and unreliable hardware makes the process of making content a lot more bearable, even on days when your motivation is a bit lacking.
When my channel was starting out, I got a huge boost from Reddit, especially the Mount & Blade subreddit. Going from 0 to your first 1,000 subscribers can be quite daunting, but being able to quickly find an audience for my content helped a lot.
Lastly, high-speed internet. When I started out I was still living at home with my parents, and uploads could take up to 4–6 hours, maybe longer depending on file size. These days uploads take less than 30 seconds, most of the time close to instant. When I started out, I used to put the video I wanted to upload on a USB stick, run over to my friend's house (who had high-speed internet), and by the time I got home, the video would have been uploaded, saving me about 4–5 hours. As much as I appreciated the exercise, I’m glad I don’t have to do that these days.
What’s your favorite piece of content you’ve created so far?
That’s a really hard question. I’ve done quite a lot of varied content. I don’t think I can pick an absolute favorite. I do find myself re-watching a lot of my shitposts I’ve made, especially the older ones. My favorite out of those is absolutely The Average Mount and Blade Sea Raider Experience.
But out of my newer content, I’d have to say Real Pirate Hours — Empire Total War.
There’s just something about yanky, older games with scuffed graphics that really get me in the mood to make videos.
Who’s another creator you really admire?
I look up to a lot of creators. IsorrowProductions is one of them. I was a huge fan of him even before he shared one of my videos, and he’s helped me out with advice and answered my stupid questions about stuff like merch or sponsorships. But the creator I admire the most is Simo. Not only does he make amazing shitposts and great streaming content, he’s also helped to motivate me to both keep making content and improve it.
How did you pick your username?
I used to play a LOT of World of Warcraft back in high school, and my character was called Koiron. No idea why, just one of those names you just make up because it sounds cool. My guild raid leader thought my name was too long, so she shortened it to Koi. Then one day when we were sitting in a voice call, a new person from the guild joins and goes “Koi, like KOI FISH?” and from then on the name stuck, and I used it as my new gamertag/internet alias. So it was an obvious choice when I started my channel.
Have you ever done a rebrand? Any tips for those that feel like they need to rebrand?
My channel was actually meant to be called “Ginger Unicorn” when I started, but a friend thankfully talked me out of it and made me go with Koifish. But my best tip for an actual rebrand would be to not start from scratch. Instead of completely changing, try to “overhaul” your current brand. Change your logo, adjust the name slightly. Keep doing what you’re doing, just cooler.
What would you say your biggest achievement has been since you started creating content?
Actually making a living from it. The fact that I have made something more or less entirely on my own, from scratch. That really speaks to me. Sure, I have to be a slave to the algorithm and what the viewers want to see or not, but it’s still really cool that I’m able to employ myself and make a decent enough living doing so. That and reaching 100k subscribers. With all these multi-million sub channels around these days, I think people forget how impressive it is to have a following of 100k+ people. Heck, even 10k people is impressive! Just imagine your videos or live streams as if you were playing music at an arena.
