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What is the point of watching a gaming stream?
Seelinnikoi
Member RarePosts: 1,360
What really drives people to stop what they are doing and watching a gaming stream, more specifically MMO streaming?
I mean, to learn a few things here and there we got short videos on youtube, but to stop playing your game and watch someone else play is a bit silly...
So why people do it?
If you are a Star Wars fan, why not try the Star Wars The Old Republic?
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Comments
I did battle with ignorance today, and ignorance won.
To exercise power costs effort and demands courage. That is why so many fail to assert rights to which they are perfectly entitled - because a right is a kind of power but they are too lazy or too cowardly to exercise it. The virtues which cloak these faults are called patience and forbearance.
I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been -Wayne Gretzky
I'd love to watch actual players experience actual gameplay for games that are in beta and not available in my language and region for years to come, especially if they speak English and are explaining it.
So yeah I guess that's just silly of me.
I've never found watching other people play video games all that fun. I remember doing it during the arcade era when you had to wait in line to play your favorite game. I used to root for the computer
There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own.
-- Herman Melville
E-sports is totally justifiable. I just have a hard time why someone would watch another person leveling up in WoW for example, whilst you could be playing yourself there.
Not to mention people who PAY money to watch streamers, that is just out of my mind lol.
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I just enjoy watching people play sometimes. If it's an MMO, I'll check out people playing different classes than myself to see what the difference is, hear their points of view on different aspects of the game, possibly learn some things I didn't even know existed, etc.
Sometimes I'm just chillin, possibly too drunk/high to wanna actually play the game, and I'll just watch for a bit out of boredom.
It's funny, but I feel a more "social" connection in an MMO when watching a stream, chatting about it, etc., than when I'm actually playing the game.
You know the participants
You're a fan of that type of gameplay
It's gameplay you're interested in but haven't played yourself
Other announcements or community luminaries that may also be in the broadcast
Possible trainwreck/drama value
I'm not into watching certain sporting events or tournaments even when I like the sport/game, but I can definitely understand the attraction for someone more invested in the game or teams.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
What happens when you log off your characters????.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFQhfhnjYMk
Dark Age of Camelot
First of all what makes you think people stop doing what they are doing to watch gaming streams?
Perhaps people just take alittle time to watch them? same as taking time to play a game, watch a movie, go out with friends, meet family?
Other then that sorry I don't watch them, but I do see the appeal in them, perhaps as some have mentioned for their E-Sports relieve? For some it might be because they want to see more of the gameplay then most trailers expose?
To be honost there could be so many reasons, makes me wonder why you really want to know?
I see this as a let people enjoy and do what ever they like, I would drive myself crazy if I wanted a explanation of why some unknown forum poster might like something I dislike. I do care however what my real life friends or family thinks about certain things. But then again I am the type of person who gets more info about people speaking/writting about what they like then reading things people might dislike.
I watch so I can see uneditted game play. I would never pay to watch, but watching for free can be a good thing. You get to see live or whatever someone playing a game you're into, and hear their opinions of it while playing. Some people also do it cause they are fans of the person doing the video, and they enjoy hearing the person talking about stuff as they play. Some people also do it to maybe learn how to run a class better.
All kinds of reasons people do it. Hell I just named 4 reasons right there. I'm sure I even missed a few too.
The prospect of watching steams or videos that are posted is perhaps the most time efficient thing possible if you're really into all kinds of genres with games. Even if you specialize nowadays, there is no way you will be able to play (much less afford) everything on the table.
With RPGs that have lackluster combat to keep me entertained, I find that it could save me weeks if not months of time by simply watching a video of it with all the grinding taken out. In the end, these people tend to show everything (even things you wouldn't do if they require multiple playthroughs) and in just a few days you get what you would've obtained in a few months, thus saving significant time (unless it has multiplayer features that encourage you to play beyond a single playthrough).
If a game is really good, and I haven't purchased it already, then I may pick it up anyhow. This is especially true if it has stellar gameplay and the developers really nailed it. In doing this I have been able to see close to twenty times the amount of games that I would normally and I feel much less like I have simply wasted my time by the time a single player game is over and I could've been doing something more productive since I will likely not touch it again.
The more complicated and difficult a game is, the more likely I am to play it through myself as there is only so much a playthrough can do to entertain you if the game itself draws its crowd from difficulty and complicated systems. Though I'm kind've in a minority there, I think, when it comes to how complex I enjoy some games to be.
I've spend probably about three weeks alone on Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny as it's a game about daily life in a RPG fantasy setting; you talk to people every day, tame monsters, farm, go out and do combat, buy items, sell, trade, craft... etc. Things that require a lot of patience that your typical gamer nowadays won't have. I think I have about 25,000 conversations on record at the moment (it keeps track) along with all the other stuff available and teh management of relationships, courting someone, and even starting a family once the storyline is complete, your reputations maxed and your house fully built.
I usally watch streams of games in beta, games im interested in finding out more info. I dont pay on any of them. Yeah, Im cheap.
Its the best way to fins out about any game. The ups and downs. Much better than post on these forums!
People have posted valid views to games that are in beta, not available to your country, etc... Sure, all valid.
But what about the people who have a full time job streaming WoW raids or farming Diablo 3?
Why would someone pay other's "jobs" like that by watching someone else play?
I will never understand the point, though I am jealous of people who are streaming and found silly people enough to pay to watch them play and make it a full time leaving option, kudos.
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A thousand different reasons ...
- enjoy e-sport spectating.
- learn how to play (to beat a boss, pvp tactics, ...) ... watching a video is much more efficient than reading a text description
- learn about gameplay of new games
....
Basicly its entertainment and socialising. And oftentimes i like to get some info on a game that i don't own myself or plan to buy.
It's fun when the channel is not to crowded and the player checks the chat. I also avoid the channels of those self-proclaimed "e-VIPs with an attitude" or the yelling, cussing and insulting kid's doing PVP -channels . I also never join the channels of those desperate fishing for compliments "look boys ima gamer gurl comment on me lol" chicks who only stream for the purpose of showing themselves rather than the game (some of them have blue hair)
I met a bunch of very nice people this way, often got invited to play along with them, joined them on skype or befuddled them with some totally off questions
Many streamers enjoy it likewise if you comment on their channel or if you are interested, asking them stuff about their current favorite game.
I watched a live stream yesterday of TERA. I didn't stop playing a game nor was I wasting my time. I'd seen the game before and wanted to see it in action. Plus, if you have questions, you can ask the person playing for a response instead of posting a comment on youtube and hoping the creator answers you before you get trolled.
If you've never played a single player game with buddies on the couch, it's an experience comparable to live streaming. Most of the time, the watchers are there to enjoy seeing another person play a game. It's almost like watching a movie, but when you yell at the screen the screen can respond sometimes. It's not really about learning anything, it's sharing the experience.
I played WoW up until WotLK, played RoM for 2 years and now Rift.
I am F2P player. I support games when I feel they deserve my money and I want the items enough.
I don't troll, and I don't take kindly to trolls.