Watching video games

[SPCTRE]

By the way, watching the significant other play Mass Effect is a blast. I usually play mostly Paragon, savoring all the dialogue parts, so watching her bad-assing her way through the game, impatiently hitting Renegade interrupts so she can back into the next action sequence, is pretty amazing.

 

[martok2112]

By the way, watching the significant other play Mass Effect is a blast. I usually play mostly Paragon, savoring all the dialogue parts, so watching her bad-assing her way through the game, impatiently hitting Renegade interrupts so she can back into the next action sequence, is pretty amazing.

Pray she never turns those tendencies toward you in real-life....or am I too late in that admonition?

 

[DigificWriter]

So, is this a real form of entertainment? You're not playing.. you are watching someone else play. Maybe they are playing a game that you are okay at, but this person is better, and you are seeing what they are doing in areas you were never able to get to. Or they are playing an older game that you've never heard of.

So, do you enjoy watching someone else play. Is it as fun, or even more fun, than playing it?

The answer to all of your queries is an unequivocal 'YES! YES! YES!'

I was always doing this as a kid, and it never got boring.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I don't know that I've ever watched a full game be played but I've definitely watched some good stretches. I'm not much for the funny types but all the rest (revisiting an old game, experiencing some old game I never had a chance to play, seeing someone better than me roast through some levels - as my skills have never matched my interest and so on).

My little nephew who plays a frankly unhealthy amount of X-Box 360 was watching a Let's Play of The Last of Us just like a TV show. It was kind of funny, he was tuning in every day for a small stretch just as if it was an episode of The Walking Dead or whatever. A lot more compelling content than a lot of shows I had to admit.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I don't watch playthroughs of newer video games, but I enjoy watching the Angry Video Game Nerd and James and Mike Play because it's fun watching two people around my age playing the same games I grew up playing complaining about the same things I would complain about and getting mad at the same parts I would get mad at. There's a nostalgia factor involved.

Now, sometimes I will watch playthroughs of older arcade games I have no access to, like the original RoboCop game.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^ My favorite was when AVGN played TMNT and realized to get across the gap you have to walk and not jump because I remember that distinctly from the old days.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

^ My favorite was when AVGN played TMNT and realized to get across the gap you have to walk and not jump because I remember that distinctly from the old days.

Yeah that's one that I can remember getting pissed off about when I was younger, but the one that always cracks me up is the Top Gun landing sequence. I'm tempted to buy the game just to see if I can finally land that damn plane 30 years later

 

[B.J.]

In the early '90s, I used to watch some of my other housemates play games either on the computer or the PS. Usually it was some game I didn't have the time or patience to play, like Civilization (I prefer to play simpler non-strategy type games).

I do remember one time when id first dropped the DOOM demo (we downloaded it via FTP), we all gathered around the one computer that was beefy enough AND had a decent soundcard and watched one guy play it. There was one early level where you hit a button, and suddenly the lights went out and a room full of imps opened up from behind and attacked you. ALL of us in the room screamed "AAAH!" at that point because it was something totally new and unexpected at the time!

Nowadays, I'll watch the occasional play-through on YouTube just to see if a game is something I actually would like playing myself before buying it. Or to make sure it's not inappropriate for my kids! I do the same thing by watching TableTop for board games, since it's nearly impossible to tell what some game are like from the box.

 

[Avon]

i ususally watch people that do games i like to play, but its mainly for their commentary and/or sense of humour.

neither are big channels, but i'd say emptybox (racing sims and games) and w92baj (minecraft, one of the mindcrackers) are probably my favorites.

 

[intrinsical]

For some strange reason, twitch takes forever to load on my computer. So I've never gotten into the habit of watching gameplays.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The only LPs I've ever really enjoyed are LPs of challenging hacks of Mario 64. Seeing people deal with ridiculously unfair levels in games like Mario 74 Extreme is fun.

Also Super Metroid speed runs can be fun to watch, or speed runs of any game with combat that is exploitable in ways that the average player wouldn't consider. That's another reason Mario 64 is great for LPs, because like Super Metroid there's so much you can do that you never learn because the game doesn't make you.

 

[Destructor]

I find it pretty torturous watching a game and not being able to play, but I admit when I was really into Dawn of War I watched quite a bit of 'professional' matches. If there was a TV channel that broadcast gaming I'd definitely add it to my favourites.

Me and my friends use the 'Xbox Record That' function a LOT and it's fun going through everyone's highlight reel.