EPTOn April 26 2015 10:42 ExO_ wrote:
While there are exceptions, I don't think people watch twitch streamers primarily to see gameplay. If I wanted gameplay I would go play the game myself. People are watching twitch these days mostly to be entertained. The streamer is what makes it entertaining. The interaction makes it entertaining. Experiencing the game through the streamers eyes is entertaining. Feeling like a part of a community is entertaining.
I dont think this is entirely bad. Nobody is forcing anyone to watch twitch streams. And while if you are disgusted by internet culture and sub pop ups, don't watch. Why should the game come first? Again, I think most people aren't watching twitch streams purely for gameplay. They're watching for what the streamer adds to the gameplay.
And while you or I might personally not like the direction streams are headed: (webcamed, chat focused, sub notification things) the fact is that it seems to work. And again, I think it works for a reason. Watching joe schmoe play sc2 at GM level and nothing else is just boring to most people. Feeling like a part of Joe Schmoe as he plays, even if its an entirely superficial feeling, is more fun. Being a part of the group, is fun.
The only problem I have is with some of the donation begging. It makes me uneasy. But nobody is forcing anyone to give any money so meh.
While there are exceptions, I don't think people watch twitch streamers primarily to see gameplay. If I wanted gameplay I would go play the game myself. People are watching twitch these days mostly to be entertained. The streamer is what makes it entertaining. The interaction makes it entertaining. Experiencing the game through the streamers eyes is entertaining. Feeling like a part of a community is entertaining.
I dont think this is entirely bad. Nobody is forcing anyone to watch twitch streams. And while if you are disgusted by internet culture and sub pop ups, don't watch. Why should the game come first? Again, I think most people aren't watching twitch streams purely for gameplay. They're watching for what the streamer adds to the gameplay.
And while you or I might personally not like the direction streams are headed: (webcamed, chat focused, sub notification things) the fact is that it seems to work. And again, I think it works for a reason. Watching joe schmoe play sc2 at GM level and nothing else is just boring to most people. Feeling like a part of Joe Schmoe as he plays, even if its an entirely superficial feeling, is more fun. Being a part of the group, is fun.
The only problem I have is with some of the donation begging. It makes me uneasy. But nobody is forcing anyone to give any money so meh.
Yeah, I agree. I watch a lot of streams because the broadcaster makes it fun, not really because of the game. I don't really mind donation/subs popping up on the screen, however, sometimes it does get in the way if it's too frequent but the broadcasters I watch usually just disable these notifications when they get too obnoxious.
I don't really watch that many streams, but people begging for donations is something I have rarely seen (it could be me though). Most streamers actually put a message saying that donations are not needed, ever. People donate because they want to, no one forces them to.
I'd compare this to going to a movie, if the person instead of going to watch a movie decided to spend 20 bucks on the streamer and watch him instead then what's the problem? He's just paying for entertainment either way.
On April 26 2015 08:24 TRaFFiC wrote:
Re "real job" I read a few pages of comments and didn't see anyone mention the education factor. We're talking people in their early 20s spending the most important years of their lives going down a road with very little chance for changing it up/promotion/diversifying. What job can you apply your skills to after you're a popular streamer for several years? Hardly any. It's career suicide. Guy's like Demuslim might be the extremely popular in sc2, but you ask them what they would do if not sc2, and they look at you with a blank face. Even the Naniwas and MVPS have a hard time justifying gaming when with a 6 year degree they could be making more money doing a standard job.
So TLDR it's a huge sacrifice and one which I respect.
Re "real job" I read a few pages of comments and didn't see anyone mention the education factor. We're talking people in their early 20s spending the most important years of their lives going down a road with very little chance for changing it up/promotion/diversifying. What job can you apply your skills to after you're a popular streamer for several years? Hardly any. It's career suicide. Guy's like Demuslim might be the extremely popular in sc2, but you ask them what they would do if not sc2, and they look at you with a blank face. Even the Naniwas and MVPS have a hard time justifying gaming when with a 6 year degree they could be making more money doing a standard job.
So TLDR it's a huge sacrifice and one which I respect.
It is indeed a sacrifice but I don't really think it's as big as you point out. There's nothing stopping them from getting an education and starting a career later in life, a lot of people in there 30s and 40s are getting degrees. You're also missing the fact that twitch is a community and people there are making connections constantly so there's nothing stopping them from getting together and starting some gaming related business since they will have an expertise in entertainment at least. As the article points out - a lot of these streamers are making some big cash so they can also retire very early if they wanted to. Predicting the future is simply impossible.
