Why do people like to watch adults who act like children play video games on Youtube?

[Steve-French]

Don't get me wrong I'm in my late 30's and still like to and will play video games. I'm hot and cold with them, as sometimes I don't have time for them, but I've been playing the shit out of some games with this whole quarantine thing going on.

Anyway... Why are these game streamers a thing? I hate when I go to look up some game-play of a game that I'm thinking of buying and it ends up being a crew of grown men being all obnoxious and acting like they are 11 years old sitting around screeching at their television.

I can see how it could appeal to kids, but 70% of gamers are over 18 years old these days, and these streamers seem to be extremely popular and some make some pretty serious bank. Am I just being an old man that is shaking his fist at the cloud here, or do any of you guys feel the same way?

 

[Kaybee]

I mean, their target audience is mostly kids/teenagers or gamers in their early 20s that basically act like teens so it makes sense.

Not necessarily my cup of tea but yes I see fists being shaken towards the skies here

 

[KaNesDeath]

Am I just being an old man that is shaking his fist at the cloud here, or do any of you guys feel the same way?

Their content is targeted to the tween and early teenage years demographic. That demographic are also the ones consuming it.

Funny part is when these content creators do a fan meetup.

 

[Clippy]

 

[mb23100]

Ive been on a YouTube kick watching old genesis and SNES games so I guess I cant talk.

 

[hillelslovak87]

Like in 2014, my 14 year old cousin loved PewDiePie, and I didn't understand how people could watch someone play it, and not play it themselves instead.

While I hate Ninja, Pew and all those screeching idiots, I could see the use for prospective buyers looking to see a more in depth sample of the game they can't otherwise demo or see in normal reviews. It can help a lot.

Just watching people play the games you want to, like you're at some asshole "friend's" house in grade school because their parents buy them things yours won't. Fook dat.

 

[Wrath of Foamy]

Depends.

I used to like Achievement Hunter when Ray was with them. It was the dynamic, the wit between them.

Never got into anyone solo, but I'd guess that it is the same reason why Jim Carrey became so popular.

Silly humour with hyper-expressionism is just more funny to the young, like a family member pilling silly faces at them.

 

[Lint]

Tbh I don't have time to beat games anymore, I don't want a hard challenge like we all used to when kids. (TMNT for nes, anyone?)
Casual gaming is a go, yet sometimes you just want to have weed/beer, max and relax watching others to the work for you.

In a nutshell, we use to seek challenge when kids, now we seek fun, or at least a cheap thrill. No time for retrying something 100x.
Game designers might be as well focusing on comedy/storytelling, take Borderlands 2 as evidence:


This children acting is pretty annoying, still that's what make you differ over so many people posting their gameplays on Youtube.

PS: The games I've played mostly on Steam lately are: Binding of Isaac Rebirth+, that Toe Jam & Earl remake, 10 second Ninja and Super Meat Boy, first time ever no FPS appears on that list.

 

[HereticBD]

I honestly never got the appeal. I'll watch a clip show if they're genuinely funny people, but I could never just sit and watch people play a game for hours on end. I remember some younger person telling me about this years ago when the "Let's Play" stuff was getting bigger. He said something like "People don't need to play games these days, because you can just watch them now."

Needless to say, it didn't compute to me that people were actually watching others play, rather than just playing the games themselves. I guess the kid was right though, just in terms of the appeal. I still don't get it, but shit, you can't deny the money some of those guys are raking in.

 

[Holic]

The Pewdiepie minecraft series was absolutely hilarious. He goes off in such absurd directions you never know what to expect.

Specifically when he got depressed and built the giant army of pigs.

 

[Hyperglide]

It's mostly a gen gap thing. Twitch is generally for a younger audience. I suppose some of these tweens have lots of free time with weekends and summer breaks and 6 hours of school per day. So they spend some time trying to "git gud" by watching these "pros."

They see guys like Ninja, Shroud, PewDiePie, Tmartn etc. as role models.

There are some other guys suited for more mature audiences like Dr. Disrespect, AngryJoe, AVGN and Summit1G that yell but they are trying to entertain their audience. It would be a dull affair if they were just comatose and stoic in their delivery.

I personally watch some streamers only when they are watching press conferences so I can cringe with them.

AGDQ streams and the like are fun to watch though as those guys are so skilled and knowledgeable, it is like watching Jordan school YMCA players.

 

[Bamboozled]

I don't watch anything on youtube, but I'll watch for like 5-10 minutes of people I enjoy on twitch. I don't get the loyalty thing. Never subbed to anyone, even my friends out of a matter of principle.

Only thing I think is truly degenerate is people who watch spreed run streams. Like, its cool to see someone do something or a section quickly, but the autism required to be hooked by that shit is astounding. I don't know how people watch someone play Dark Souls 400000 times or that Autism Games Done Quickly or w/e

I'll put on more tournament stuff for CSGO in the background and watch key rounds. Otherwise I rather play a game or play/make music.

 

[GhostZ06]

It's mostly a gen gap thing. Twitch is generally for a younger audience. I suppose some of these tweens have lots of free time with weekends and summer breaks and 6 hours of school per day. So they spend some time trying to "git gud" by watching these "pros."

They see guys like Ninja, Shroud, PewDiePie, Tmartn etc. as role models.

There are some other guys suited for more mature audiences like Dr. Disrespect, AngryJoe, AVGN and Summit1G that yell but they are trying to entertain their audience. It would be a dull affair if they were just comatose and stoic in their delivery.

I personally watch some streamers only when they are watching press conferences so I can cringe with them.

AGDQ streams and the like are fun to watch though as those guys are so skilled and knowledgeable, it is like watching Jordan school YMCA players.

this little prick doesnt really need to be near AVGN. i think we can find a better replacement for him

 

[KaNesDeath]

There are some other guys suited for more mature audiences like Dr. Disrespect, AngryJoe, AVGN and Summit1G

He rebranded himself after his divorce to a younger crowd. Who's constantly stoned out of his mind now. At one point he streamed with Jake Paul to try an capture some of Jakes eight year old YouTube audience. While his language is mature its not geared towards a viewer demographic around his age.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

Having two older brothers growing up I watched more than enough of someone else playing video games instead of me to last a lifetime. Like 30 years ago I never got to play, instead I had to sit and watched my one brother beat Mega Man 3 and the other beat Faxandu on our NES. The fact that people will do it voluntarily now is crazy.

 

[Hyperglide]

He rebranded himself after his divorce to a younger crowd. Who's constantly stoned out of his mind now. At one point he streamed with Jake Paul to try an capture some of Jakes eight year old YouTube audience. While his language is mature its not geared towards a viewer demographic around his age.

To be fair I haven't watched him since his Sea of Thieves days.

 

[Based and White Pilled]

I get it, but it doesn't appeal to me. Most of the super successful streamers are really good at the games they play. Some people are really into competitive games and they have a sense of appreciation for watching players who are really good. I would compare it to the fact that I'm part of the tiny fraction of the population who enjoy watching amateur wrestling.

I don't watch streamers, but I do sometimes watch videos from YouTube content creators as a way of looking into games before buying them.

 

[Boxing_paloney]

Tweens always had terrible senses of humor.

There are good streamers though. Jeff Green started again, he's in his 50's, been writing about games forever and half the fun is him being hopelessly confused and making fun of himself. I read him when I was a tween so it could be my terrible sense of humor talking.



Previously Recorded was good too before they stopped.

 

[KaNesDeath]

To be fair I haven't watched him since his Sea of Thieves days.

Began watching his stream myself since the WarZ days. Which was around 2012'sh. Sea of Thieves stage was him basically re-finding himself as a variety streamer. For many variety streamers at that time were stuck in the PUBG/Fortnite BR content loop chasing viewers.

His attitude today is one of self destruction with no direction. Mentally he's no longer into streaming where he must self intoxicate to keep things fresh.

 

[Hyperglide]

Began watching his stream myself since the WarZ days. Which was around 2012'sh. Sea of Thieves stage was him basically re-finding himself as a variety streamer. For many variety streamers at that time were stuck in the PUBG/Fortnite BR content loop chasing viewers.

His attitude today is one of self destruction with no direction. Mentally he's no longer into streaming where he must self intoxicate to keep things fresh.

He always did come across as a bit of a man-child or a frat bro.