The Twitch Phenomenon

[Jester Joe]

"eSport" is not a sport. It's a bunch of kids playing games for money which have nothing to do with skill or ability.

Anyone can learn how to play games, only a few can excel at real sports.

They didn't say it was a sport, you're the one who mentioned eSport.

Also anyone can learn to play a sport, only a few can excel at games.

[jimboa24]

"eSport" is not a sport. It's a bunch of kids playing games for money which have nothing to do with skill or ability.

Anyone can learn how to play games, only a few can excel at real sports.

I disagree. Take a game like Starcraft. It takes serious micromanaging skills, resource management, ability to predict, adapt and plan for enemy attacks to play at a competitive level at it. Yes, anyone can least to play a game, but few people will ever be able to play at championship level; just like how anyone can pick up a baseball bat and swing it, but few will ever be able to hit sweeping home runs like you see in the MLB. There is a real skillset to playing well at videogames; it's just a psychological and intellectual skillset instead of a physical one. eSports are basically the modern equivalent of professional competitive Chess.

I've been playing DotA 2 for over 4 years, and I'm still pretty bad at it, despite having over 1300 hours played. I'm not a pro and I never will be.

[Mistame]

niceeeeeeeeeeee

That middle one looks like a dude. Muscle definition on a woman? /shudder

[Crissi]

They didn't say it was a sport, you're the one who mentioned eSport.

Also anyone can learn to play a sport, only a few can excel at games.

excel at anything really. You can throw a football around with your friends, but very few are gonna get into the NFL. Pretty much same with gamers and getting into game competitions.

[Jester Joe]

excel at anything really. You can throw a football around with your friends, but very few are gonna get into the NFL. Pretty much same with gamers and getting into game competitions.

Exactly. I was just taking their own quote and flipping it on them for a point.

[fleurnoire]

I watch streamers that I find entertaining, not because of the game they happen to be playing.

[Crissi]

Exactly. I was just taking their own quote and flipping it on them for a point.

May have missed that. Going between posting here and writing thesis. derp.

[Dug]

Only streams I watch are tournaments for SSBM. Other than that I can't be bothered to watch someone ramble on over gameplay but I will say that I understand the appeal. Some streamers have very likable personalities and people enjoy that.

[Deleted]

I rarely watch game play videos because I think watching them is so boring. I would rather want to play games myself than watch others doing it. I only check some videos if I want to know more about the game or the video is short.

[Ahovv]

"eSport" is not a sport. It's a bunch of kids playing games for money which have nothing to do with skill or ability.

Anyone can learn how to play games, only a few can excel at real sports.

Can this guy please get a suspension? This post is either a blatant troll attempt or his intelligence is too low to properly function in society.

[Deleted]

Can this guy please get a suspension? This post is either a blatant troll attempt or his intelligence is too low to properly function in society.

Lol, sensitive much

[Lilly32]

I watch for 2 reasons.

1) its helpful for finding new games I otherwise might have never known about.
2) some people are helpful when it comes to teaching people how to play.

I just dont understand why they stream from such shitty houses. Most of their rooms just look like some tiny ghetto apartment. I mean if your house sucks maybe its time to stop streaming for 16 hours a day and get a damn job. Also why are most of the people in chat total morons. All they do is spam lines and lines of the same shit over and over again. I know its funny for everyone to say "RIP" or "REKT" when someone dies but even if the dude is taking a piss break people just spam chat.

[Deleted]

I guess im just old school

[Varanus]

The only thing I watch on Twitch specifically, is the Bob Ross stream. I HATE all that subscriber and donation shoutout bs. I general dislike facecam and hate background music playing(that isnt the game music). Both of which, I have found the vast majority of twitch gamers do regularly.

I do however watch people, and only a select few people, play games on youtube. I watch people play games for 3 reasons. One, is to see if its something I might like to play myself. Two, is to hear the commentary and thoughts of another person, on a game, that I myself have enjoyed playing. And find I find it interesting to see other peoples take on a story, or puzzle solving, or what approaches they generally take to dealing with a situation, that may differ from mine. The third is to experience the story of a game, that I myself have no intention of playing, due to my personal dislike of the gameplay mechanics.

[Gheld]

Adam... adam adam... You do realize you are watching people watch people play video games, and then making commentary on it?

[Deleted]

Adam... adam adam... You do realize you are watching people watch people play video games, and then making commentary on it?

I'm not, I don't watch it. I seen probably a max of 60 seconds. I usually mute, watch enough gameplay to determine if I physically can play, turn off before anything is spoiled. Thread stems from a combination of South Park, my FB and a random conversation about a guy watching Dark Souls II who loved it but didn't want to play it (which I found bizarre)

[Malacrass]

I don't think there is a single reason why streaming is a thing. You can compare it to sports, which is legit, but I think voyeurism is the bigger reason why people follow certain streamers.

And then, of course, the successful streamers all manage to bond with their followers, suggesting a form of special friendship between them. There are a lot of people without friends in this world, and I do think many (not all) try to fill that void by watching streamers. Just the impression i got from reading the often awful Twitch chat.

[Halicia]

I'll watch a Let's Play when I need some info or strategy for a particular game.

I generally only watch streamers when I wanna see what a game actually "looks like" while being played.

[Rudkobing]

Fuck Twitch.

[Gungnir]

DISCLAIMER - I aren't saying there's anything wrong with watching Twitch or gamers

Personally I don't understand the appeal in watching other people play games. I only ever Youtube gameplay footage when deciding to purchase a game or not, however I understand people watch hours worth. I also don't understand why people enjoy listening to random (obnoxious) individuals constantly talking (loud) whilst gaming. It's something I likely will never understand but hey ho that's life, it's obvious there's a market for it. So I am curious what your views are; are you fans or are you like me and left bemused at the appeal

I watch twitch a ton and I also absolutely hate that.
There are people who, believe it or not, are actually incredibly funny with a nice, soothing voice. Not everyone plays LoL on there.