What is this all streaming / game watching thing about?

[bydus]

I can't understand why is this so popular, people recording hours of their gameplay an then commenting on it. South park had it spot on and yet I do understand it being for walkthroughs but watching hours long videos of someone else playing battlefield, gta online or minecraft is just a waste of time in my understanding. Why not play the game yourself instead of watching it ? I can't understand whats the thing about it, I wouldn't be able to sit through more than 5 minutes of someone else playing the game, I would much rather watch an episode of some tv show or something like that. I'm not trash talking because we are free to do what we like but I just can't get my head around what's the hype That being said I did watch one or two videos of some youtuber playing just because he was so funny

[leelaa14]

I can't understand why is this so popular, people recording hours of their gameplay an then commenting on it. South park had it spot on and yet I do understand it being for walkthroughs but watching hours long videos of someone else playing battlefield, gta online or minecraft is just a waste of time in my understanding. Why not play the game yourself instead of watching it ? I can't understand whats the thing about it, I wouldn't be able to sit through more than 5 minutes of someone else playing the game, I would much rather watch an episode of some tv show or something like that. I'm not trash talking because we are free to do what we like but I just can't get my head around what's the hype That being said I did watch one or two videos of some youtuber playing just because he was so funny

It's what people like.

Look at big brother, people watch there tele to watch other people living in a house.....

 

[minibois]

Because you can't play it at the moment yourself?
At the moment watching a 1 hour 48 minute long stream, while working on some school stuff (and being on LTT)

It's not all about the game, but also about the guy(s) playing it

[FloRolf]

i like watching professionals or ex-professionals stream CS because you can learn quite a bit and sometimes it's really entertaining and funny!

I also watch pro games like ESL One, Dreamhack and other tournaments. (only CS)

 

For other games i feel the same way you do tbh ^^

[Wauthar]

 That being said I did watch one or two videos of some youtuber playing just because he was so funny

You pretty much answered your question yourself. People tend to stick around for the personality of the one who's playing. If it is a game that interests you, being played by someone you think is funny/interesting/intriguing, you keep watching.

I follow a lot of people that do this and sometimes I find it better than playing the game by myself.

[werto165]

Because more often than not you learn something new, I'm a sucker when it comes to hearthstone streams. You can learn so much about the plays, when the "pros" talk through their plays step by step can be very interesting. However I feel I got to a point in hearthstone where I didn't really learn anything that new. I just usually watch streams for the personality. 

[typographie]

Why not play the game yourself instead of watching it ?

 

It's not always about the game, it's usually about the personality. Just playing the game yourself is a different experience and you do it for different reasons. Watching Jesse Cox play Far Cry 4 is funny and enjoyable entirely on it's own merits.

 

Edit: Additionally, some games are better for this than others. Watching a linear Call of Duty campaign would be more boring [to me] than watching something like XCOM: Enemy Unknown or FTL or something, games where someone else's playthrough is by definition entirely different from my own.

 

But there are practical reasons as well. I'm never going to play Bloodborne myself if it never comes to PC, for example. It can also be a helpful learning tool in the same way a typed walkthrough can be, but better.

[Mitrailleuse]

some people don't have the money to buy the game,so they watch someone play it.

some people want to improve in a specific game,so they watch someone else who is better than them play.

some people are just to lazy to start the game and play,so they just watch others play it.

[ShadowCaptain]

SNIP

 

Because its about watching the person, not the game, sure interesting games are more interesting to watch, but generally its a way to hang out with the content creator, hear their interesting/insightful/comedic commentary, if its streamed then you can have a chat with others and have a good time together, 

 

I often watch gaming stuff on youtube during just idle time, maybe on my lunch hour, or just shove my iPad on when doing work in the house etc but only if I really like the person

 

Also I only watch playthroughs of games I have already completed - so I don't ruin the experience for myself (unless its a review / first impression or random side quest thing)

[Taswell]

I think It's kinda like a goal to try to be as good as the person they are watching. 

 

I watch The Live streams of the Live Dota 2 Tournaments, Not because its riveting but because it gives me new ideas to try out on my own.

[Sauron]

Can't talk for others, but I do for two reasons: I watch starcraft 2 professionals to get better at the game and tournaments like you would the superbowl, and then I watch some playthroughs because the person streaming it does some hilarious commentary (so I don't care much about the game itself but about what the guy says). The second happens rarely.

[MoonKnightSpidey]

Because of the people streaming. We like their personality and humor. Also, being able to watch someone experience a game that you have already played is always fun. Also, to see what to do to progress the game. I personally like streams because we can talk to the people playing and get a nice conversation with a great diverse community.

[bydus]

Thanks for all for explaining :-) 

[Thony]

@bydus because TV was cool until we got chance to interact with content creators instantly (via twitch chat).

The game changed and its also lot more fun to see other peoples reactions.

Try it, find a streamer for your preffered game and watch them.

Some very popular streamers are:

Lirik (college student, plays GTA V, MK X, Arma 3 and more), does Sub-Sunday (plays games requested by viewers.

Sodapoppin (not very smart person, not manly, streams WoW, GTA V, fun to watch), does Sub-Saturday.

PhantomL0rd (Leaguebof Legends and CS:GO streamer)

Syndicate (British guy).

Check them out and see for yourself