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?

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 :)

Originally posted by Quirhid
E-sport events just like any sports. Other than that, I don't much care what's on my secondary screen.

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.

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.

Originally posted by Seelinnikoi

What really drives people to stop what they are doing and watching a gaming stream, more specifically MMO streaming?

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.

Originally posted by Seelinnikoi

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?

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.

Originally posted by Seelinnikoi

Originally posted by Quirhid
E-sport events just like any sports. Other than that, I don't much care what's on my secondary screen.

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.

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.

There seem to be a group of people that watch you because they enjoy your personality.

Most of the people that put me on follow for Twitch would tell me just that. They planned on returning because they liked me. What game I was playing wasn't nearly as important to them. I had 3 regular viewers that did not like or play MMOs ever. They were console people. Another person came because we had programming in common. Two people mentioned that they liked that I was playing classical music instead of radio music.

I think the thing that stands out with casting games vs watching them on youtube has always been the real-time personal interaction found there. Don't you notice that millions of people watch youtube videos and they can't chat with the person making the video, they can't ask them to clarify something during the video or go back or point out something funny. That sort of live interaction without the ability to EDIT makes casting so much more interesting than just watching gameplay videos. Anything on youtube could be edited and live casts can't be, at best they can be delayed in time, that's all. 

There have been a few times that people have thought they stopped casting and were caught doing things. Two at least were masturbating when they thought their cast was off, go try to find that "accident" on a youtube video lol Casting has its own charm because things are not edited before you see them, they are live.

The chatrooms don't hurt either. They are a way to discuss what you are seeing and make jokes about failures or enjoy triumphs together. Youtube people often cut out their death attempts and just show you the winning moment. Hello, PVP videos are rampant with that. I want to see people lose too, even if they are a good player, it brings them to the human level.

If you wonder why people watch people doing live-casting, I would ask you to wonder why people watch youtube videos (other than for reading the comment arguments).

Originally posted by Seelinnikoi

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?

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.