E-Celebrities - Why I Watch YouTubers and Streamers

I watch YouTube videos, a lot of YouTube videos. And not because I love to support YouTube streamers (AdBlock is the first plugin I install after reformatting) but because I’m captivated by Let’s Plays. Often I prefer to watch somebody on YouTube play a game than play it myself. As soon as Google notifies me that Robbaz, Cr1t1kal, or Videogamedunkey have uploaded I’m on the site staring at “301+” while the video momentarily buffers.  My past self would see my behavior as perplexing and idiotic. In my youth I loathed going to a friends house to watch him play Metal Gear Solid while I looked on jealously from the couch. But now I willingly forfeit the controller to watch.

And I’m not alone. On August 25, 2014 Amazon paid nearly $1 billion for Twitch, one of the fastest growing streaming services—and a career choice for ex (or aspiring) adult entertainers. While YouTube’s Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg has 30 million subscribers—and makes about $4 million a year from his gameplay videos, according to an interview by the Wall Street Journal. The long anticipated notion that ESPN or another mainstream network—ignoring G4—would create a channel for video-games is unneeded, a product of the same speculative imagination that dreams of the hoverboard or space elevator. No one needs a network when fans of MMORPGs can go to MMOs.com’s YouTube channel and watch Omer adjust breast sliders. People are turning out in hordes to watch other people play video games. Why?

Why are we happily sitting on the couch watching other people handle the controller? As Rich McCormick at The Verge explains, audiences find three benefits to watching streamers: “buying advice, a community built around a streamer’s personality, or the chance to observe professional grade skill.” McCormick was referring to the Twitch community but the observation applies equally to YouTube.

I watch Frankie because his unparalleled skill at DayZ is awe-inspiring; and his videos are edited excellently to make a channel that epitomize polish. Robbaz and Cr1TiKaL have jovial personalities that make their videos irresistible. Robbaz’s child-like enthusiasm for games kindles a zeal for the industry I thought I had lost long ago. While Cr1TiKaL's masochistic need to play third-rate games leads to hysterical playthroughs. Worth A Buy gives unabashed reviews that cut to the core of gameplay, inspiring the ire of buyer's remorse to my delight. Late at night when I’m contemplating what to watch before sleeping, I don’t turn to Netflix or HBO Now, I load up YouTube on my tablet.

While McCormick seems to have the perfect venn-diagram I have to add one further explanation; I watch streamers because I don’t have time. I don’t have time to play all of the games that I used to or want to. When I played World of Warcraft I spent weeks, maybe months, to hit level 40 and unlock my mount—one of those rare moments in gaming like figuring out how to install Ragnarok Online for a  private server in 2003. Gaming takes time and time is something I don’t have anymore. I do play games—the Perfect World variety—but I don’t have a chance to invest in every game that catches my interest.

Games like DayZ are black holes compressing every waking moment with the prospect of fun. I’ve reinstalled that game on innumerable occasions. I’ve even traded Eve Online isk for a chance to try the Arma 2 mod of Dayz. But running across Chernarus to find a Mosin is a spent weekend. I would much rather watch Frankie play, cutting out the jogging simulator to show me the highlights. It’s analogous to sports on ESPN. I can’t watch a baseball game. But if the highlights are on at a bar I can tolerate them. If Frankie is going to play the highlights of Dayz or Subnautica I’m going to watch. And thanks to the growing indie scene, with games like Rust and Project Zomboid, there are too many games I want to try and not enough time to play them all. So I turn to the experience of others to immerse myself in rendered worlds.

There is one notion for the attraction of streaming I have to refute. There are many who assert that people aren’t as good at games these days, leading them to watch streamers instead. “Back in my day we spent months jumping jet-skis in the Battletoads Wind Tunnel. You kids have it easy!” The wisdom of the ancients is easy to assert and an indication of senility. Since we’re not as good as streamers we pretend to live their experiences by watching their videos. Like when you handed the controller to your older sister because you couldn’t negotiate the rhythm of the vanishing blocks in Mega Man II’s Heat Man stage. Except you didn’t demand the controller back.

But gaming is not a niche cultural activity; not anymore. Ogre, from Revenge of the Nerds, isn’t yelling “NERD” at the kid with The New 3Ds. The 2015 Super Bowl commercial lineup exemplifies the widespread acceptance of video games. Kate Upton’s cleavage begged inebriated football fans to install the incredibly popular Game of War on their device. While Liam Neeson finally swore off parenting in exchange for revenge in Clash of Clans. Big gaming is big business. Even my aunt turns on the Wii U to decide which Yoga position will pool blood in her brain.

The market for gaming is everybody. It’s pervaded every level of society and spawned remunerative titans. When a video game is designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator—everyone—the overall skill level appears to have dropped. When Game of War made $600 million in 2014 and spent $40 million on marketing Kate Upton’s breasts its evident advertisers would get your dog to play games if they could. More people are playing games on their mobile devices or installing a Korean MMORPG like Dragon Nest.

So then the pompous gamer asserts that everyone is a “filthy casual,” and they watch streams to try and fit in. Unlikely. Even if 99% of all people who play games are bad—that may well be true—why would that causally link to a desire to watch streamers? I’m more inclined to believe that being awful at games is likely to make you not want to have anything to do with them—watching them included. And the idea that people watch streamers to try and fit in seems ludicrous. While not far fetched I don’t believe gaming holds that type of cultural influence, or ever will.

Streaming isn’t going anywhere. It’s still in its infancy and I have no idea what new service will be created to foster to its development. And the audience willing to forfeit television shows for videogame commentary is growing. As I continue to find new YouTubers who mirror my fascination for gaming I’m encouraged by the community. Regardless of the reason, I will be watching YouTube gamers for a long time to come.