Has streaming (Like Twitch) made gaming worse?

[Bryank75]

I used to watch some twitch many years ago but recently my opinion of twitch and game streaming in general has really changed to a negative outlook.

I feel many just watch games and do t a tally play, take away the wrong impressions or use others opinions instead of playing the game and forming their own. Then many use streaming to spoil games for others and for other negative things....

So where are you on the topic?

What are the positives and what are the negatives and what is the net position?

 

[Zzero]

I agree with John Romero that game stories are like porn stories, so spoilers isn't an issue. As to the rest, meh, some prefer to watch than to play. For a lot of games streaming has been positive for sales. And, ultimately, Streamers are less biased and more honest as advertising than magazines, commercials or "big game jouros".

 

[rofif]

I like yt and twitch and I watch it A LOT.
It feels like socializing. Watching a game, seeing someone react to stuff in the game, chat with the streamers and other chatters.
I especially like smaller, less known streamers who instantly recognize me. It feels like we know each other and that's great.

But as for my personal gaming? Yeah it hurt it a lot. I play way less and when I always had a feel to replay a game, now I would just watch the stream of someone playing it.
Or instead of playing small indie horror game, I will watch someone play it. You know the drill

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

I don't think twitch streaming or YT has made gaming worse, no. I see these as entertainment, and it's up to the viewer whether they choose to engage with that entertainment.

From a positive perspective, I think that Twitch and YT give video games a much larger platform for publicity, with dedicated personalities providing opinions in real time. When/if games with smaller marketing budgets are picked up by these channels, it can really help a game take off. As others have said, in some instances it can provide a sense of community for gamers, and can be enjoyable to watch others play a game.

Negatives are more directly associated with the viewer and the personalities than the concept itself. It's sometimes hard for viewers to recognize that these streamers are entertainers, the money for which comes from sponsorships closely related to the activities of their channels. If someone only forms their opinion after having it fed to them, that says a lot more about the viewer than the streamer.

The negatives go beyond just streaming, and can be attributed to media for gamers in general. There is a lot of grifting going on these days. While it can always be tempting to repost, or cite a twitter (X), Youtube, or twitch personality, we should always consider that these people are not held to the same journalistic integrity to fact check as others. Always take time to fact check, before forming opinions.

 

[peter42O]

I don't watch Twitch but I will watch gameplay walkthroughs on YouTube for games that im 50/50 on to see if it's my type of game but I won't watch the entire game or anything. I will usually watch 20-60 minutes at most and will know if the game is truly for me.

 

[Muddasar]

Agree completely about Twitch. Myy suggestion is keep away from the major or popular Streamers.

Honestly I feel most major Twitch streamers are playing these games for the money and less for the passion.

They are literally channels for advertisement for games.

Don’t want to paint all with the same brush but that’s how I feel.

I stick to the less popular streamers.

 

[TubzGaming]

I only stick to watching people i follow on twitch as they stream games i enjoy watching or are entertaining, I hardly ever browse for new people to watch and the only times i did all i saw was IRL streams and hottubs / "hot" yoga nothing to do with gaming so its a pass for me lol

 

[ethomaz]

Not sure.

Never streamed anything.
And I got bored to hell watching others play… so I avoid it.

I have something to say that is so bold that probably will generate hate so I will not say it

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Not really, it made more games than others popular, but I don't think it has negative impact. I never open twitch, maybe 2-3 times in my entire life to see State of Play I think.

Something that doesn't attract you/me doesn't always need to be a negative.

 

[rofif]

Agree completely about Twitch. Myy suggestion is keep away from the major or popular Streamers.

Honestly I feel most major Twitch streamers are playing these games for the money and less for the passion.

They are literally channels for advertisement for games.

Don’t want to paint all with the same brush but that’s how I feel.

I stick to the less popular streamers.

Are you telling me every porn star and big booba ladies don't play EVERY SINGLE NEW BIG RELEASE because they love games?
Is that the reason they look so bored and miserable ?

 

[ToTTenTranz]

I never understood the appeal of watching other people play a game that I could be playing myself. I guess it's a generational thing.

I mean even in general, I'd get matching other people do stuff that I wouldn't do for safety reasons like parkour or sky diving, but something I could do in an instant at home?
I just don't get it.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

I never understood the appeal of watching other people play a game that I could be playing myself. I guess it's a generational thing.

I mean even in general, I'd get matching other people do stuff that I wouldn't do for safety reasons like parkour or sky diving, but something I could do in an instant at home?
I just don't get it.

Some are funny like AngryJoeShow so if you have too much spare time like in a vacation sometimes it's a good time, especially if the game is too shit to the point it's fun to watch someone playing it.

 

[toucandela]

There are many small streamers on Twitch I trust more than anyone else in games media. Being able to see someone playing the game in real time helps with that.

I watch a lot of games that I can't play because I don't have the hardware and can't justify spending the money on it. So there's that. Plenty of retro games, especially obscure and janky ones, are interesting to see but I wouldn't want to actually play them. Plus some of the streamers are genuinely good fun to watch, sometimes informative.

I'd say it's a net positive but there are some games, heavy on story etc, that probably suffer from people just watching them.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

Better, not worse. Games that are highly watchable are generally better than games that aren't.

 

[Kokoloko]

Im not really a fan of it. Ive watched a few people I like play games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne for laughs.

Good if its for you.
Personally I think the whole twitch, streaming, views have been 1 part of whats ruined gaming in the last decade+

 

[Boswollox]

 

[riesgoyfortuna]

I agree with John Romero that game stories are like porn stories, so spoilers isn't an issue. As to the rest, meh, some prefer to watch than to play. For a lot of games streaming has been positive for sales. And, ultimately, Streamers are less biased and more honest as advertising than magazines, commercials or "big game jouros".

Hahshahhshs streamers are more honest? Good lord