How Twitch Streamer thedragonfeeney Has Made a Fun and Fresh Career Out of Playing Super Mario Maker 2

We probably spend too much time watching all of our favorite content creators stream exciting video games on Twitch, and thedragonfeeney is one streamer we simply can't get enough of.

With 90k followers, the Canadian gamer is a pillar of the Super Mario Maker community on Twitch, offering hilarious yet wholesome content that literally anyone can enjoy. And with the addition of viral games like Fall Guys and Among Us to her recent play schedule, even more fans are falling in love with what she has to offer.

We've been fans for a long time, and were delighted when thedragonfeeney agreed to chat with us about how she got into streaming, what being part of the community means to her and even her top advice for aspiring streamers. Keep reading to discover what she had to say.

Sweety High: How did you first get introduced to the world of streaming? 

thedragonfeeney: It was back in January of 2012 and I'd just quit my job, so I had a lot of free time. I was looking at YouTube and I came across Super Mario 64 glitches, watching people beat the game really fast, and that led me to Games Done Quick, a biannual event that raises millions of dollars for great charities every year.

I watched all of GDQ, and then I found out that there was another event the following week. Suddenly I had my plans for what I was doing all next week! I literally stayed up the whole week to watch all of these speedruns. That also led me to a site called SpeedRunsLive, where it's all speedruns, all the time.

I actually didn't know what Twitch was until like two years later, but everyone was really nice, and they were making friends, and I wanted to do that, too, because I also love video games. That's how it all fell into place.

SH: The Super Mario Maker games have been a big part of your growth. What do you think it is about the games that really drew people in to watch?

thedragonfeeney: The Super Mario Maker games are super user-friendly. I'm sure everyone has played a Mario game and had a really cool idea they wished could be in a game. Mario Maker enables you to put your ideas—as bad as they may be—into a level to share with the world. That's what's so cool about the games. Someone makes a level and you can play it, or share it with someone else.

I get to play levels from all over the place, including ones made by my viewers. I think what draws people to my stream is that I may not be the best Mario Maker player, but I'm there to have fun. It's quick, and it's not just the same game over and over. It's a bajillion different levels every single day and it's fresh and exciting. I have a lot of fun with it.

 

SH: The Mario Maker community is pretty tight-knit. What has it been like to be a part of that?

thedragonfeeney: We are very tight-knit. We're all best friends on the internet and in real life. We talk all the time and play different games together. It's a great community to be a part of. There's also very little drama, which I love, because I don't want anything to do with that. It's snug and everybody's friends. It's this magical wonderland, so to speak. It's almost unbelievable how well everybody gets along in the community, guys and girls. That's my favorite thing.

We also get together at events, not just Mario Masters Colosseum but Games Done Quick events, TwitchCon events—anything that we have a part in, the whole gang's gonna be there. I think my favorite moment was this past MMC, we had everybody there and it was just a good time chilling out. MMC's different because it's not an openly public event. It's just the Mario Maker community, and I love the viewers, but it's nice to just hang out with your friends, sometimes.

 

SH: What thoughts were going through your head when you were invited to the Super Mario Maker 2 invitational last year?

thedragonfeeney: It was like a dream come true. A lot of our community plays a lot of levels that are super hard, and we don't really know where Nintendo's line is, but it was like a dream come true being invited to the invitational. I made a lot of new friends there, such as Jirard, The Completionist, who ended up going to MMC. That was great, because he fit into our friend group so well.

And I have the medal from it! I have it right here. It's with me all the time. That's something that I'll never, ever forget. It was exceptional, and so well done, and so much fun.

 

SH: What has it been like to do more variety streaming with games like Fall Guys and Among Us, and how have they impacted your audience? 

thedragonfeeney: Honestly, I think they've helped me grow my stream and my community. I've grown a lot since starting those games up. Fall Guys is a huge hit. It's silly, it's horrible, it's hilarious, and I think that's what really draws the Mario Maker community to it. It's everything that Mario Maker is, but in 3D, without the making part. It's silly fun. The games are also quick—five minutes or less—which keeps people's short attention.

With Among Us, you can just hear us argue all the time. "You're the imposter!" I think that's what people like. As much as we don't like real drama, I think people like to watch the fake drama, especially with everything going on in the world right now. People are getting a little bored, so if we can bring them some fake drama in Among Us, that's great.

Those games have been so much fun, and it's been nice to get a little break from Mario Maker, especially when I've done that every day for like five years. They've been so much fun and I'm really grateful that my community is along for the ride with it.

 

SH: Do you have any tips or advice for streamers figuring out what they want to do?

thedragonfeeney: Play what you want to play. Of course, you're going to hit the hard times—everybody hits them and has their problems. I had problems yesterday, it still happens. But have fun. Stay consistent with your schedule and what you play. Most importantly, it's not all about the money. I think a lot of people these days lose track of what's important with streaming. The socialization and community parts are obviously the most important, above everything else.

If I wasn't about to do this full-time, I'd still want to be streaming no matter what. Even if I couldn't monetize, I'd still want to stream because it's just fun. I get to talk to people. We have laughs together. Just go out there and have fun.

 

SH: Is there anything you really want your fans and viewers to know about you?

thedragonfeeney: Most of my base community is well aware of what's going on, but for new viewers, or people looking to check Twitch out for the first time, I stream twice a day, mornings and nights Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. I'm not the best. I'm just out here having fun.

 

Not ready to transition to Twitch? Click HERE to check out a list of some of our favorite Super Mario Maker streamers to check out on YouTube.