Explain Twitch/live-streaming culture to me

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hello, I am an old person.

What is the appeal of watching someone else play a videogame, often only talking to thank someone for giving them money?

I don't like to watch my friends play videogames when I'm over at their house, and there, I can at least raid their kitchen and play with their dog.

But the non-olds seem to love it.

So what's the appeal? (And don't just say "cute girls," because there are a lot of successful streamers who aren't.)

 

[Leatherhead]

I do occasionally watch the Games Done Quick stream. The appeal of watching someone else play a videogame is akin to watching someone else play sports (good or bad, it's a spectacle) , or sometimes even akin to watching Bob Ross paint a happy little tree (the "zen" feeling of seeing something be created in front of you can be quite relaxing). Incidentally, there is a Bob Ross stream on Twitch.

However, you seem to be asking about the parasocial relationships, which are a psychological phenomenon first discussed in the 1950's, coinciding with the rise of all media in general. Basically, those people who were way into Elvis? This is the modern day interpretation of that.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The Bob Ross analogy is a good one. I'm old enough to have spent many a sick day watching PBS (the most fun TV that was allowed when I was home sick) and vibing with Bob Ross, who's very good for when you genuinely do have a fever or flu and are buried under a pile of blankets on the couch.

I can certainly understand watching someone play a video game in that context, thanks..

 

[Morrus]

Hello, I am an old person.

What is the appeal of watching someone else play a videogame, often only talking to thank someone for giving them money?

I don't like to watch my friends play videogames when I'm over at their house, and there, I can at least raid their kitchen and play with their dog.

But the non-olds seem to love it.

So what's the appeal? (And don't just say "cute girls," because there are a lot of successful streamers who aren't.)

I might ask what the appeal of watching a baseball game is or of listening to death metal. Different people like different things. I don’t think it’s any more complicated than that.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I might ask what the appeal of watching a baseball game is or of listening to death metal. Different people like different things. I don’t think it’s any more complicated than that.

I think it's must be a little different, since, as I said, almost no one enjoys watching their friend play videogames in person, while millions (billions?) of people enjoy watching live sports.

It's clearly related, though.

 

[Mannahnin]

When I watch streamers it's usually Magic: The Gathering, and they'll generally narrate their plays and strategic choices. Sometimes they'll discuss lines of play with chat and chat will make suggestions. There can be some back and forth discussion, as well as side conversations with other chatters while the streamer is playing. So in addition to the enjoyment of just watching the game, there's a component of learning and developing one's knowledge of the game, the current set or format being played, of edge cases in the rules and occasionally unusual strategies or creative plays.

The ones who do it a lot also often enliven it further by joking with the chat, answering questions, and by playing and discussing interesting music while they stream.

 

[Xamnam]

I think it's must be a little different, since, as I said, almost no one enjoys watching their friend play videogames in person, while millions (billions?) of people enjoy watching live sports.

If you don't, you don't, but I'm a small, social group based discord where people regularly stream what they're playing, and people hang out in voice chat, watch, and talk about it. Likewise, I had a friend come over just last week so that he could play my copy of Breath of the Wild, and I spent the majority of the time watching him go through it. I also know a lot of people who have fond childhood memories of sitting with their siblings and being included in the experience despite there only being one controller to go around. Maybe I've just managed to find similar weirdos, but it doesn't feel like that rare of an activity.

 

[MarkB]

I've watched a lot of Let's Play videos, mostly on Youtube rather than Twitch, because I don't like to tie myself to a schedule. But most of those that I watch are people who are personable and who talk a lot about the game as they're playing - often bringing a lot of character and role-play to the experience, or alternatively sharing their joy in a series they're very familiar with. I don't think I've ever watched a series where they just get down to it and don't talk to their audience, at least not one I've stuck with for more than five minutes.

 

[Mad_Jack]

I've never bothered to watch a livestream, but I've occasionally checked out Youtube vids of folks playing games. Usually, I'm either watching a playthrough of a part of a game I'm also playing in order to see how to do something or find some hard-to-find item, or I'm watching someone do a speed run or because the player is really, really good and I can be entertained by their skill.

 

[Morrus]

I think it's must be a little different, since, as I said, almost no one enjoys watching their friend play videogames in person, while millions (billions?) of people enjoy watching live sports.

It's clearly related, though.

I don't think I'd like watching my friend throw a basketball at a hoop for 2 hours either, in person or no.