Current Events > I don't understand Twitch, i'll never understand Twitch.

(+) Yeah! (+)

I find streaming stupid honestly.

"Oh let's watch someone else play a game".. Whatever floats your boat.

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

I find streaming stupid honestly.

"Oh let's watch someone else play a game".. Whatever floats your boat.

Yeah im just gonna chalk it up to a generation gap, and thats fine, im just officially part of the middle generation now. Even though there are people older than me that are into this, manchildren do exist so this doesnt necessarily surprise me.

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TC: "why do people do this thing?"
CE: *lists various reasons*
TC: "yeah but why do people do it?"
CE: (

it's obvious he's being intentionally obtuse, i dont know why you guys have entertained it for this long

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Manchildren do indeed exist. Like the one in this topic having a live meltdown over people liking something he doesn't.

A normal, socially adept person would just go "I don't understand it, I suppose it's just not for me" and move on but you're kicking and screaming over people liking it. I'd advise seeing a therapist

Giant_Aspirin posted...

TC: "why do people do this thing?"
CE: *lists various reasons*
TC: "yeah but why do people do it?"
CE: (

This particular topic is also made biweekly here lol. TC is good at framing his posts to get max responses though.

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Oh ive read the reasons provided, and the appeal that has been explained is something that doesnt register with me so im just gonna chalk it up to being too old to get it. Id rather actually play the video games than watch other people play them.

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EffectAndCause posted...

Oh ive read the reasons provided, and the appeal that has been explained is something that doesnt register with me so im just gonna chalk it up to being too old to get it. Id rather actually play the video games than watch other people play them.

*pats you on the head*

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EffectAndCause posted...

Oh ive read the reasons provided, and the appeal that has been explained is something that doesnt register with me so im just gonna chalk it up to being too old to get it. Id rather actually play the video games than watch other people play them.

You're not "too old" to get it. Most people on the platform are older than you. You've been told that like five different times. You're just insecure and slow

Which is not a very good combination. Pretty concerning, in fact

Watching streams just seems like an even bigger waste of time than playing games or watching shows. That's what I don't get >_>

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Well it's not really my cup of tea either, but it's been explained why other people like it and you are choosing to remain obtuse

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EffectAndCause posted...

But why would someone want to spend hours of their day watching other people play a video game instead of playing it themselves?

Say you want to get better at a competitive game. Watching a pro play will help you learn something.

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It's cheaper to watch someone else play games and some games are worth watching but not playing.

One_Day_Remains posted...

You're not "too old" to get it. Most people on the platform are older than you.

Yes I know, and ive said that im aware that manchildren who didnt develop properly do exist.

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Ilishe posted...

Say you want to get better at a competitive game. Watching a pro play will help you learn something.

This is understandable and justifiable, but this is just a small percentage of what people are doing on Twitch and only applies to a few genres.

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Well, it's a good thing you have self-awareness.

Ilishe posted...

Say you want to get better at a competitive game. Watching a pro play will help you learn something.

You know, this is another good point too though it definitely opens a can of worms and you'll probably get a response form someone to the effect of, "but I don't learn from watching other people play".

I mentioned earlier that I watch Overwatch pros play and I definitely learned a lot of things from them, even if it is something as simple as swinging around the side buildings of Lijiang Tower, Night Markets as Hammond, or places to hook onto with Widowmaker.

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cjs28 posted...

Watching streams just seems like an even bigger waste of time than playing games or watching shows. That's what I don't get >_>

I guess this younger generation just consumes media differently than we do.

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EffectAndCause posted...

Exactly, who the fuck would rather watch someone play ANY game than play it themself?

Because you watch for their reactions. Or like Conflict said you don't watch a story based game and instead watch a speed run.

It doesn't sound like Twitch confuses you, more like you don't understand reaction culture.

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Yeah scanning the topic there's already plenty good answers but yes, there's a number of perfectly reasonable good answers (I mean other than I watch whatever I want and don't think about it, which is also perfectly valid).

One, some of the streamers are pretty skilled (some are actually professionals) and people want to watch not just the game they could be playing but the game being played at the highest level of skill. It's just like watching sports.

Second, this is for very cinematic, story driven games, it's kinda like watching a movie with other people. The streamer isn't just playing, they're also interacting with the audience, there's chat interaction, it's a social thing you wouldn't get if you were just playing the game by yourself.

Third, people might be curious about a game or whatever, they're just bored and they don't know what to play and they want to watch someone play games. It's like playing games with other people. Specially if it's a streamer they like who can make the experience of watching the game being played fun.

Etc.

Btw at any given thread I'm one of the oldest Gfaqs users left so yeah, it's not a generation gap.

Jiggy101011 posted...

more like you don't understand reaction culture.

You are absolutely right. The fact that ive never heard the term reaction culture until this post confirms it.

Its alright, whatever makes kids happy I guess, as long as they aint doing a mass shooting.

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I don't understand why people like TC act stupid on purpose on an old message board. It's just a generation gap thing, I guess.

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The reasons people use Twitch have been explained, or stated I should say. I dont understand the appeal and never will but thats what happens in life eventually with new things that come along as you get older.

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jborgan posted...

I don't understand why people like TC act stupid on purpose on an old message board.

it gets him attention
it riles people up

its kinda sad how easy it is to rile people up on the internet. just act like the most obtuse person alive and you'll have people throwing chairs in a matter of minutes. see: this topic

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EffectAndCause posted...

The reasons people use Twitch have been explained, or stated I should say. I dont understand the appeal and never will but thats what happens in life eventually with new things that come along as you get older.

You dont understand the concept of entertainment?

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Twitch streamers are so sensitive.

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BeantownHero posted...

You dont understand the concept of entertainment?

I understand enjoying the entertainment myself, not watching someone else enjoy the entertainment.

But now I know theres this new thing called reaction culture that I dont understand so its okay.

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EffectAndCause posted...

But now I know theres this new thing called reaction culture that I dont understand so its okay.

You never got someone to watch a movie for the first time, and watch their reaction to certain parts?

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EffectAndCause posted...

I understand enjoying the entertainment myself, not watching someone else enjoy the entertainment.

But now I know theres this new thing called reaction culture that I dont understand so its okay.

You've never been entertained watching someone do something that entertained them?

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TC must be dumbfounded by the Food Network and HGTV

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EffectAndCause posted...

Id rather actually play the video games than watch other people play them.

Would you though? Would you rather play through Sonic 06 rather than watch other people suffer through it?

I have never understood this argument because (as said many, many times in this topic), people watch mainly for the person, not the game. The person is an entertainer first and foremost, a video game player second, minus the cases of a pro player of that particular game. That's how the top twitch streamers get consistent viewership no matter what game they play.

Also they might not be able to play that game, like multiplayer games. I watched a stream/youtube video series of Dokapon Kingdom. I don't have friends who will play a 30+ hour RPG/boardgame with me, I don't even know if I'd have the patience to make it to the end, but I watched someone else and their friends play. That's not an experience I can replicate at home because everyone is different, my friends are not those friends, so it's basically like a whole new game. Everyone's playthrough of that game is completely different.

Outside of multiplayer games, solo story games still have moments where I'd like to see peoples reactions. Yes I've played the game, but how is that different from showing a friend a movie that you've already seen and watching it again with them? You like to see them getting happy over hype stuff in the story, mad at certain parts, maybe get emotional at sad parts, it's like watching it again through fresh eyes.

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BeantownHero posted...

TC must be dumbfounded by the Food Network and HGTV

How about ESPN?

"Why watch sports when you can play it yourself? Idgi"

BeantownHero posted...

TC must be dumbfounded by the Food Network and HGTV

I havent seen enough of them to form an opinion but youre probably correct.

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markconigliaro posted...

Would you though? Would you rather play through Sonic 06 rather than watch other people suffer through it?

I have never understood this argument because (as said many, many times in this topic), people watch mainly for the person, not the game. The person is an entertainer first and foremost, a video game player second, minus the cases of a pro player of that particular game. That's how the top twitch streamers get consistent viewership no matter what game they play.

Also they might not be able to play that game, like multiplayer games. I watched a stream/youtube video series of Dokapon Kingdom. I don't have friends who will play a 30+ hour RPG/boardgame with me, I don't even know if I'd have the patience to make it to the end, but I watched someone else and their friends play. That's not an experience I can replicate at home because everyone is different, my friends are not those friends, so it's basically like a whole new game. Everyone's playthrough of that game is completely different.

Outside of multiplayer games, solo story games still have moments where I'd like to see peoples reactions. Yes I've played the game, but how is that different from showing a friend a movie that you've already seen and watching it again with them? You like to see them getting happy over hype stuff in the story, mad at certain parts, maybe get emotional at sad parts, it's like watching it again through fresh eyes.

Well just have to agree to disagree, since none of that sounds appealing to me at all.

I can understand a 3 minute Youtube clip of someone reviewing a game or something, but to spend hours of my life watching someone spend hours of their life playing the video game that I could be playing right now, thats a reaction culture thing that I dont understand and hey, our parents dont understand US playing video games so it all comes full circle eventually.

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sLaCkEr408___RJ posted...

How about ESPN?

"Why watch sports when you can play it yourself? Idgi"

I cant be in the NFL or NBA, but I can go play Madden or 2K right now instead of watching someone else do it.

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Kajagogo posted...

You never got someone to watch a movie for the first time, and watch their reaction to certain parts?

Im also watching the movie with them in this situation so were both doing the activity together. Im not staring at them for 90 minutes as THEY watch the movie.

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I'll watch someone do speed runs or something like that, never just "hanging out". Even then, I'd prefer to just watch YouTube videos of them.

What I don't get is people spending money on streamers, just so they say their name on stream? Lol, are you really that lonely and desperate for some type of human connection?

Also, people starting to say "poggies" irl is just about the stupidest fucking thing I've ever seen. Even people typing :emote: on forums or whatever makes me roll my eyes so hard.

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EffectAndCause posted...

I cant be in the NFL or NBA, but I can go play Madden or 2K right now instead of watching someone else do it.

Why play fake sports when you can watch real athletes

sLaCkEr408___RJ posted...

Why play fake sports when you can watch real athletes

Because sports video games are fun for me to play directly. I wouldnt want to watch someone else play them.

And I also enjoy watching real professional athletes because I cant be in the NBA.

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Twitch is popular because we are in the early stages of a loneliness epidemic. Look up the studies online. People are more lonely now than ever before. Twitch, reaction videos, ASMR, etc. They help ease that isolated feeling.

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Yeah I definitely see the connection between Twitch and this loneliness epidemic.

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TC is a boomer who doesn't even try to understand things he doesn't get. He just wants to poopoo it and tell people how dumb he thinks they are for liking it


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https://youtu.be/aJX4ytfqw6k

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markconigliaro posted...

Would you rather play through Sonic 06 rather than watch other people suffer through it?

I'd rather pay to watch someone else play it than to play it myself for free. God that game is awful lol

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The reasons people use Twitch have been posted, I dont understand the appeal at all but hey, its better that these kids are dong that than doing drugs or going on a shooting spree. Im just old school and prefer actually playing the video games rather than spending hours watching someone else do it.

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EffectAndCause posted...

Because sports video games are fun for me to play directly. I wouldnt want to watch someone else play them.

And I also enjoy watching real professional athletes because I cant be in the NBA.

So it sounds like you understand the concept of entertainment. Do you play dumb on purpose?

sLaCkEr408___RJ posted...

So it sounds like you understand the concept of entertainment. Do you play dumb on purpose?

Me being entertained is different than watching others be entertained. Thats weird.

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