ost people would agree that playing games is preferable to watching other people play them. After all, the whole point of them is the interactivity. But since the dawn of this so-called "YouTube era," a new niche of gaming video content has emerged that has thousands of gamers regularly tuning in to their web browsers.
Now I'm talking about a very specific type of video, here. These aren't perfectly executed speed runs, informed walkthroughs or even reviews. I classify them as being full or near-full playthroughs filmed with the player or players commentating in real-time as they progress. What is the appeal of watching other people do the playing?The end product is usually episodic and falls somewhere between improvised walkthrough and player commentary.
If you've ever browsed YouTube for content relating to games, it's highly likely that you've encountered videos with the "Let's Play . . ." name. Of course not every director would use that label, but it's one of the easiest way to identify this type of video.
There are a lot of them out there, too. Just searching for "Let's Play" on YouTube reveals just under one million results, and that's only the videos that choose to use that moniker.
So what is the appeal of watching other people do the playing? In my observations, there are a few clear reasons.
The personalities behind gaming videos at large have a lot to do with their continued attraction to gamers. In recent years the games industry has seen an increasingly blurring boundary between critic and entertainer with the most charismatic, creative and funny presenters achieving success and cult followings. Even professional press sites are now placing a heavy emphasis on producing audio and video content rather than just the traditional written news, previews and reviews — shifting the roles of their staff a lot closer to that of television and radio presenters. As a result, such individuals have achieved internet-celebrity status, and have accrued cult fan bases.
In the "Let's Play"-type productions, such personalities are essential considering most of the time the videos are displaying only real-time gameplay and player narration. Noah Antwiler of The Spoony Experiment, who produced the "Let's Play SWAT 4" and "Let's Play Phantasmagoria" series, is just one such individual, providing his token brand of snarky humor and pop culture criticism as he plays.
Have you ever sat with another and solved a fundamentally single-player challenge together?The "Let's Play . . ." name evokes an inclusive experience, and on a basic level there is often a communal experience at work with these videos. Have you ever sat with a friend, sibling or significant other and solved a fundamentally single-player challenge together? Most likely it would have been in a game requiring puzzling or strategy, with one person holding the controller but listening to advice from the other. For me, these videos bring to mind that experience, reminding me of the times when my brother and I would try to solve a classic LucasArts adventure game together.
Although the audience of these videos doesn't have the same direct communication with the people controlling the game, viewer input is quite often taken into consideration. Jeff Gerstmann and Vinny Caravella of Giantbomb.com's "Endurance Run" often act upon information passed on through user comments, picking up hints and tips for their current game Persona 4 from user comments. While this isn't the same as having someone sitting with you while playing a game, there is definitely a faint connection there.
So, it would seem that we aren't just watching other people play; we are becoming invested in this emerging niche in games videos. I don't expect people to abandon playing games in favor of watching such productions, but as an accompaniment to our favorite pastime, they can be pretty amusing diversions.
