Twitch. “Why would you pay to watch someone play a video game?”, I thought. Turns out, many enjoy it and it’s not too far removed from watching any sport.
I still don’t understand why people want to watch people play video games. I can understand YouTube videos where you learn tips/tricks and walkthroughs, but just watching some kid play a video game. Like what?
I thought this was weird until I realized a lot of people grew up watching their older siblings play video games and never playing them. For some games that have a story line, it can be more fun than playing them. You also can turn it on as a background noise while doing something or to make friends to play with. You also can still use it to learn to get better specially as YouTube videos to learn can be better for the time but they may not show everything.
I remember how awesome it was to watch cod advanced warfare. Honestly it’s pretty sick if you’re into sci fi, at least watch the start. Fun fact - it’s also the origin of the press F to pay respects meme.
The issue is simply that people don’t have the same experience or perspective to understand why XYZ exists. Bottled water is near the top. If you’ve never needed it or bought it, then I guess it doesn’t make sense.
But obviously there is a ‘need’ for it. It serves a purpose for some people, in some situations.
Likewise, how watching people play games make sense is what you described. I watched a lot during work, not fully paying attention and able to skip any parts I want.
Same can be said for nearly every example in this thread. Those things make sense for some people, not all people. And often there are enough people to sustain that idea as a business.
It’s also because many of the viewers are kids interested in the game who can’t afford to buy it yet (or the console/PC to play it).
And after having kids, I’ve also seen the baffling phenomenon of kids watching someone with a talky voice play a game THEY ALREADY OWN, INSTEAD OF PLAYING IT THEMSELVES.
A lot of times it’s the streamers that are very entertaining. For some streamers, it’s just their personalities and reactions, but there are many that incorporate good storytelling. Especially for the multiplayer sandbox games that have role-playability like gta5 or red dead redemption. The RP streamers can get quite creative and some come up with stuff that is almost like a mix between a tv show and a dnd game. From a media creation standpoint, it’s quite a feat managing to hold a viewer’s attention for multiple hours even on a single video game YouTube video.
You made me remember watching my brother play games it was actually quite fun because he was a lot better at it than me, I’d just do the driving or travelling part of the game/mission
Shit, now I understand why people watch streamers 😂
This is what I think with sports. I enjoy playing football, basket, baseball, … but seeing others play it has no point at all for me (of course I’m the exception here)
Only if you put it the way, that you realy only watch the sport itself. But in reality, there is way more to it - being a part comunity, chanting with 70k fans on the stadium, sharing the good moments, sharing the bad moments. I am sure that being a sports fan on stadium/by the tv does not trigger the same chemical reaction in your body as watching a stream.
I mean that’s the exact same thing with esports too, what you’ve described is no different from a standard league match (was a former esports journalist)
Twitch. “Why would you pay to watch someone play a video game?”, I thought. Turns out, many enjoy it and it’s not too far removed from watching any sport.
I still don’t understand why people want to watch people play video games. I can understand YouTube videos where you learn tips/tricks and walkthroughs, but just watching some kid play a video game. Like what?
It’s like when a younger sibling waches the elder one play. They like that person and enjoy watching them play/spend time with that person.
It is exactly like watching any other games like FIFA, the Olympics etc.
I thought this was weird until I realized a lot of people grew up watching their older siblings play video games and never playing them. For some games that have a story line, it can be more fun than playing them. You also can turn it on as a background noise while doing something or to make friends to play with. You also can still use it to learn to get better specially as YouTube videos to learn can be better for the time but they may not show everything.
I remember how awesome it was to watch cod advanced warfare. Honestly it’s pretty sick if you’re into sci fi, at least watch the start. Fun fact - it’s also the origin of the press F to pay respects meme.
The issue is simply that people don’t have the same experience or perspective to understand why XYZ exists. Bottled water is near the top. If you’ve never needed it or bought it, then I guess it doesn’t make sense.
But obviously there is a ‘need’ for it. It serves a purpose for some people, in some situations.
Likewise, how watching people play games make sense is what you described. I watched a lot during work, not fully paying attention and able to skip any parts I want.
Same can be said for nearly every example in this thread. Those things make sense for some people, not all people. And often there are enough people to sustain that idea as a business.
It’s also because many of the viewers are kids interested in the game who can’t afford to buy it yet (or the console/PC to play it).
And after having kids, I’ve also seen the baffling phenomenon of kids watching someone with a talky voice play a game THEY ALREADY OWN, INSTEAD OF PLAYING IT THEMSELVES.
A lot of times it’s the streamers that are very entertaining. For some streamers, it’s just their personalities and reactions, but there are many that incorporate good storytelling. Especially for the multiplayer sandbox games that have role-playability like gta5 or red dead redemption. The RP streamers can get quite creative and some come up with stuff that is almost like a mix between a tv show and a dnd game. From a media creation standpoint, it’s quite a feat managing to hold a viewer’s attention for multiple hours even on a single video game YouTube video.
Speaking of story telling, check out Loochy if you like Call of Duty. He’s a solo DMZ player with focus on fun and story telling.
You made me remember watching my brother play games it was actually quite fun because he was a lot better at it than me, I’d just do the driving or travelling part of the game/mission
Shit, now I understand why people watch streamers 😂
Just like how people watch people play sport
Its the same, you lack the skill to be good, you watch someone that is good and enjoy the game/sport
You can still be good (let’s say top 1%) and watch some pro top 0.0001%.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. I gather most viewers are financially starved and play what interests them vicariously through TTV/YT.
This is what I think with sports. I enjoy playing football, basket, baseball, … but seeing others play it has no point at all for me (of course I’m the exception here)
But it’s a good point. It’s the exact same thing
Only if you put it the way, that you realy only watch the sport itself. But in reality, there is way more to it - being a part comunity, chanting with 70k fans on the stadium, sharing the good moments, sharing the bad moments. I am sure that being a sports fan on stadium/by the tv does not trigger the same chemical reaction in your body as watching a stream.
I mean that’s the exact same thing with esports too, what you’ve described is no different from a standard league match (was a former esports journalist)
I only sometimes watch the pros. If you have any competitive hobbies or practice any sport with the intent of getting better you would get it.