Okay, let's see here...
How do I join a channel with the IRC plugin?
First create the account, then sign on. After you have signed on, you can use File->Join A Chat on the buddy list to join a channel. In any window, either a conversation or a chat, in which your IRC user is the sender, you can also use /join to connect to a new channel.
I assume that you enter irc.gamesnet.net when you create the account. When you use the join a chat function, type in #gamingsteve.
If that doesn't work, ask Danzik. I think he uses Gaim. I don't.