Why do people watch Game Streams?

[Hazerd]

I like speed runs, so i download a few now, and i dont mind watching stuff done by the speed demos archive, because usually they do stuff for charity.

But i dont understand why you would want to watch people play Minecraft, or Call of Duty, etc etc... it just seems so boring and usually people who watch this crap or setup a channel to stream themselves are looking to be glorified as some gaming idol. I really am sick of "Internet Celebrities".

Need more time to think on this.

[BoneSnapDeez]

They're mostly terrible.

Though they can be helpful as visual aids if you get stuck in a certain game.

[Blu]

Isn't it a weird concept? The fact that many of these channels/streams have fans that willfully donate money is perplexing. I mean I'd love to be getting paid for streaming me play video games, but what purpose does this serve? To me I don't see the distinction of a video/versus a live stream, unless it's a tournament or something--in which case I could always, you know, watch a replay video of it?

[ExedExes]

They're mostly terrible.

Though they can be helpful as visual aids if you get stuck in a certain game.

This is why they exist and why I'll never have an issue with them, out of all the frustrating things a game can throw at you, this was the biggest lifesaver for me.

EDIT: This thread was about LIVE game streams, not gaming videos in general. I made a huge mistake. Disregard my post, since I cannot delete it at this point.

[8bit]

Twitch TV is a very cool concept when there are live events or gaming for charity. But as far as regular joe schmos playing by themselves and taking donations is quite odd to me as well. I guess its just an outlet for lonely gamers...

Sadly I can relate to be a lonely gamer sometimes because my wife isn't a gamer, she works nights, and a lot of my best friends are not that into games. But instead of watching others play games and just listening to them chat, I prefer to play multiplayer games online or spend time here on Racketboy. Those are my preferred outlets when I want to find friends to share my gaming passion with.

To each his own though!

[Mucx]

Do you guys remember when, you would play a game with a bunch of friends in your bedroom? Some playing along with you, others mocking you... or maybe even helping you along the way depending on the game?

Twitch takes that same concept, the gamer and his friends, places it online and magnifies that social concept. Many of the better broadcasters find solace and good friends with other broadcasters streaming on the site and people tune in to watch.

It really is an interesting phenomenon in the gaming world. One that is building and growing at a rapid pace. It both baffles and excites me.

(Full disclosure: I am a designer at Twitch )

[8bit]

(Full disclosure: I am a designer at Twitch )

Ha! That is awesome! How long have you worked there? and do you love it?

[alienjesus]

it just seems so boring and usually people who watch this crap or setup a channel to stream themselves are looking to be glorified as some gaming idol.

Thanks, I guess?

I'm a regular watcher of game streams on twitch, and I have my own channel which I used to use pretty regularly, although I haven't had much time to do so lately. I can tell you that both the people I watch and myself aren't trying to be glorified as gaming idols - I just want to watch (or play) a game (and learn new stuff about games I didn't know much about, or more about games I did, or see how people react to one of my favourites when they've never tried it before), chat with some friends and maybe make some progress on my backlog whilst I'm at it.

Really, to me it's just like combining gaming videos on Youtube with a chat function like Mibbit, only it's online friends who are playing. All of the streams I watch tend to be broadcast by my friends on The Backloggery (including the official Backloggery stream itself, which is a great way to foster a community on a site with less open conversations) and most of the people who tend to watch are friends from the site too. I certainly don't look to be an internet gaming celebrity - my peak viewers was about 23, and my average viewing number is probably about 5 or 6. When you get a big popular stream it loses the appeal for me - the chat moves too fast to read, and the broadcaster has too many people to talk to to make you feel involved.

It seems like most people here are down on it, or don't get it, but whatever. To me it's just a great way to socialise around games.

[TheGrimAngel]

I will only watch if te commentary the player(s) give while playing is entertaining. Like Game Grumps or Yogscast

[fastbilly1]

Typically I only watch them to get a feel for a game. If I am investigating a new game, it helps to load up a gameplay video and watch a bit. Watching Livestreams is something I do not and will not do. Nothing against the people who watch them, they are just not for me.