Twitch Streamers reacting to narrative-driven games

gitrektali · Jun 28, 2020

Yes, this is a reaction to TLOU 2, and the discourse around it. We all know how divisive this game is, and there are very valid criticisms people can have about this game, and they are definitely entitled to their opinion about it. However, I've been watching Twitch streamers react to this game in some very weird ways.

First off, video games are not a passive form of entertainment like films that you can enjoy with a bunch of people, and even in that case, you wouldn't want someone constantly commenting or reacting to every bit of it with you. Games are interactive by design, and I feel like because of this very nature, the interaction is much more personal and intimate.

I've seen people play the entirety of this game this with hundreds and thousands of people on chat commenting on every major story beat, and with the streamer reading those comments instead of digesting the scenes in front of them.

Angry Joe was playing this game with his 2 friends, and the entire chat. They would pass the controller around and Joe wasn't even in the room at some of the most crucial parts of the game. Then you have all these gamers claiming to have experienced the entire story by just watching the game on Twitch? Come on

If we want to give games the respect they deserve, especially when they're trying to tell stories, how can we do that so many people in the chat telling us how to feel about things?

This is not to say that people can't stream and enjoy a game together, but I think there's a place for everything. Narrative-driven games especially, deserve the intimacy they require to be digested.

EDIT: To everyone still replying and not reading my comment, I didn't mean to tell anyone that they're experience is invalid, it was to point out Streamers, and my frustration with them. Can a MOD close this?

Khanimus · Jun 28, 2020

People can play games in whatever setting they want (or in the case of streamers, whatever makes them money)

EDIT: just to be thorough as he is mentioned in the OP, fuck Angry Joe

FluffyQuack · Jun 28, 2020

You're basically saying "If you're not playing Last of Us 2 from start to finish completely alone, then you can't say you have properly experienced it."

I personally feel that's a limiting viewpoint. People experience games however they want to experience them. There's no right or wrong in this instance.

Yuntu · Jun 28, 2020

Every person engages with entertainment in a different manner. Some people, like you, need to fully focus on it and have their privacy (so to speak) others dont care and still can get value out of the stuff they play.

Deleted member 60772 · Jun 28, 2020

Regardless of setting, if you're not paying attention to a narrative properly, you really shouldn't be passing comment or criticism on that narrative

NewDust · Jun 28, 2020

gitrektali said:
First off, video games are not a passive form of entertainment like films that you can enjoy with a bunch of people, and even in that case, you wouldn't want someone constantly commenting or reacting to every bit of it with you.

You're wrong.

Deleted member 17643 · Jun 28, 2020

I'm playing the whole game through with my brother and often times friends watching. It has added a LOT to the experience. Whenever something crazy happens I get to see their reactions, be it story or combat.

Plinkerton · Jun 28, 2020

I guess its similar to having a TV show on while you're making food or something; its just a more passive way to consume something than sitting down and giving it your full attention.

I don't really have any issue with it as long as that person understands they may have missed things by consuming it that way.

Hektor · Jun 28, 2020

who gives a shit

Ikuu · Jun 28, 2020

Who are you to decide how someone enjoys a game.

Chainshada · Jun 28, 2020

If they're reviewing it I think they should be paying full attention to the story if it plays a part in their score, in the same way I hope film critics don't go have a smoke or something in the middle of a movie, but most of them are entertainers doing their job.

Barrylocke · Jun 28, 2020

To each their own. Personally I do generally prefer to play more narrative games alone the first time, but I'm also a sucker for reactions after the fact.

thomas_cale · Jun 28, 2020

Im gonna play games whatever way I like to, I listen to music while playing games, listen to podcasts etc.

Saying people have to shut themselves in alone to truly enjoy games is pretty idiotic

gitrektali · Jun 28, 2020

I think I could have worded this better, but my original intent was to point out streamers that aren't even paying attention to the game, and are constantly checking the chat. This wasn't intended to tell someone how they experience something isn't true or anything, and now I feel like it wasn't clear in my OP. So can a Mod close this?

Zoidn · Jun 28, 2020

It's the opposite for me. I would likely never play a narrative-driven game myself since story and that stuff just isn't something I can get interested in. Watching a playthrough and seeing people's reaction is far more fun for me.

jaymzi · Jun 28, 2020

Reminds me of all those complaints about people not watching TV shows properly because they are looking at their phones half the time.

In the end, who cares?

Scottoest · Jun 28, 2020

If they enjoyed themselves, does it matter? A critic should give the art being critiqued their undivided attention, but people just playing the creation for entertainment purposes should do whatever they want.

Anyway, sorry in advance for the pile of derisive and insulting replies you're probably going to get.

ivan.k · Jun 28, 2020

gitrektali said:
First off, video games are not a passive form of entertainment like films that you can enjoy with a bunch of people, and even in that case, you wouldn't want someone constantly commenting or reacting to every bit of it with you. Games are interactive by design, and I feel like because of this very nature, the interaction is much more personal and intimate.

Who the hell are you to decide how people should enjoy games

Deleted member 10795 · Jun 28, 2020

gitrektali said:
First off, video games are not a passive form of entertainment like films that you can enjoy with a bunch of people, and even in that case, you wouldn't want someone constantly commenting or reacting to every bit of it with you. Games are interactive by design, and I feel like because of this very nature, the interaction is much more personal and intimate.

"Want your cake and eat it" springs to mind. Games are quite happy to trade on an intensely narrative focus, but you don't want people to focus on experiencing that narrative? I've not played TLoU2, but the first game is a specific example of a game I might have enjoyed more if I'd watched it instead.

I don't really see the problem. Going back to my youth with PS1 games, way before streaming, I can remember a lot of time simply hanging around passing the controller between friends as we'd just sit casually chatting and playing games. Even stuff like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear, which at the time were obviously considered the big narrative/immersion games.

KOfLegend · Jun 28, 2020

Why do people care about youtuber/streamer opinions that much? I've seen this brought up a bunch in the spoiler thread as well. Oh, Pewdiepie didn't like it. Oh, Cohh didn't like it. Oh, this person or that person liked it.

Who gives a shit?

Combichristoffersen · Jun 28, 2020

Sounds like the old fogeys complaining about music streaming services and how those darn kids can't appreciate Dark Side of the Moon or Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or whatever 50-60 year old album if they don't listen to it from start to finish on vinyl.

Really, who cares how others prefer to enjoy games?

Gundam · Jun 28, 2020

no fun allowed

OP the premise of your thread sucks. Just enjoy video games how YOU like to enjoy them.

Streamers aren't streaming the game to no one - If you don't like how a Streamer is playing, don't watch them.

newmoneytrash · Jun 28, 2020

why are people so preoccupied with the idea that the last of us 2 isn't being played the right way

Deleted member 8593 · Jun 28, 2020

My girlfriend watched me play through Nier Automata and Xenoblade Chronicles and she was hooked. I don't think she would have enjoyed playing them herself at all.

gitrektali · Jun 28, 2020

Ikuu said:
Who are you to decide how someone enjoys a game.

Combichristoffersen said:
Sounds like the old fogeys complaining about music streaming services and how those darn kids can't appreciate Dark Side of the Moon or Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or whatever 50-60 year old album if they don't listen to it from start to finish on vinyl.

Really, who cares how others prefer to enjoy games?

ivan.k said:
Who the hell are you to decide how people should enjoy games

thomas_cale said:
Im gonna play games whatever way I like to, I listen to music while playing games, listen to podcasts etc.

Saying people have to shut themselves in alone to truly enjoy games is pretty idiotic

Obviously my intent wasn't worded correctly in the OP, and I didn't mean to invalidate how people experience things. My post came out of frustration from Twitch streamers. I've already written that I want this thread to be closed, since it was stupid.

Mirage · Jun 28, 2020

Streamers aren't all the same with how they act to begin with. And lots of people will sit together to watch games with a big narrative focus be played.

Siresly · Jun 28, 2020

If you're not playing you're getting a passive experience, like watching a movie.
At least for the gameplay sections you won't feel like you're driving the story, are part of it.

Playing a story-focused game with people around, physically or digitally, can remove a lot of the immersion and tension, make it more of a social event.

I definitely prefer maximizing immersion. But people are free to experience game's stories however they want.

Joe Vargas is an asshole who silences, lies about and sics his fans on women who share their experience with his creepy, manipulative behavior.
I wouldn't watch anything with him in it.

Deleted member 2752 · Jun 28, 2020

gitrektali said:
Obviously my intent wasn't worded currently in the OP, and I didn't mean to invalidate how people experience things. My post came out of frustration from Twitch streamers. I've already written that I want this thread to be closed, since it was stupid.

This is how a lot of people play games, not just Twitch streamers. Sitting alone, concentrated from start to finish with headphones on or whatever is just one part of the audience. I'm surprised you seem surprised tbh.

Decarb · Jun 28, 2020

I think youtube lets plays is the maximum extent I'd go to watch someone play narrative driven games. But most people are now streaming it on twitch and then putting that clip on youtube for double profit, so I've stopped caring about them entirely.

Kaswa101 · Jun 28, 2020

Thread backfire

Let people enjoy (or not enjoy) games however they want. Damn lol

blalala · Jun 28, 2020

KOfLegend said:
Why do people care about youtuber/streamer opinions that much? I've seen this brought up a bunch in the spoiler thread as well. Oh, Pewdiepie didn't like it. Oh, Cohh didn't like it. Oh, this person or that person liked it.

Who gives a shit?

A lot of people, actually. They're called influencers for a reason. People look to their favorite content creator for buying decisions based on previous likes and dislikes.

Magio · Jun 28, 2020

In Angry Joe's case he made it very clear before the game even released that he wasn't gonna give it a fair shot. I think he only streamed his playthrough to capitalize on the "hate" around the game.

But while he and some other streamers might not have given a chance to the game by going through it in way sub-optimal conditions (state of mind, attention paid to chat, ...) I don't think we can generalize. I watched portions of the Girlfriend Reviews streams, and I can confidently that they both probably enjoyed it better that way than if they'd gone through it alone. Yes the impact narratives have on someone are a personal matter, but just because it's personal doesn't mean that someone else's input can't help put things in perspective.

Kill3r7 · Jun 28, 2020

Combichristoffersen said:
Sounds like the old fogeys complaining about music streaming services and how those darn kids can't appreciate Dark Side of the Moon or Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or whatever 50-60 year old album if they don't listen to it from start to finish on vinyl.

Really, who cares how others prefer to enjoy games?

Streamers by and large appear to have a negative opinion of the TLOU2's story which bothers some people, frankly not sure why, but I guess they are influencers. So questioning how one engages with the game becomes a way to undermine/invalidate their opinion. The game sold over 4 million copies over 3 days. I am not sure how much more validation one needs to show that the game was a success and their personal experience with the game was worthwhile.

Combichristoffersen · Jun 28, 2020

Kill3r7 said:
Streamers by and large appear to have a negative opinion of the TLOU2's story which bothers some people, frankly not sure why, but I guess they are influencers. So questioning how one engages with the game becomes a way to undermine/invalidate their opinion. The game sold over 4 million copies over 3 days. I am not sure how much more validation one needs to show that the game was a success and their personal experience with the game was worthwhile.

The game is not fully validated until the Pope himself beatifies it :p

KOfLegend · Jun 28, 2020

blalala said:
A lot of people, actually. They're called influencers for a reason. People look to their favorite content creator for buying decisions based on previous likes and dislikes.

Yes, but I'm specifically talking about the people who aren't looking to them for purchasing decisions. People who already bought and played the game.

Kenzodielocke · Jun 28, 2020

Kill3r7 said:
Streamers by and large appear to have a negative opinion of the TLOU2's story which bothers some people, frankly not sure why, but I guess they are influencers. So questioning how one engages with the game becomes a way to undermine/invalidate their opinion. The game sold over 4 million copies over 3 days. I am not sure how much more validation one needs to show that the game was a success and their personal experience with the game was worthwhile.

I for one have been watching this streamer. He has played like 12, and he loves the game.

In the time of these 12h, they got at least 10 donations with messages of how shit the story is and how they should not like it because x. I dont blame the streamers but twitch's toxic community. It sucks, but like at the end of the day, whatever.

Edit: same thing happened with girlfriendreviews.

ekka4shiki · Jun 28, 2020

I feel like this "should be played alone" suggestion only applies to serious games like TLOU2, so not all narrative-driven games. I mean, say change the game to Kingdom Hearts or something, then playing with friends/chat is suddenly the better experience.

Kill3r7 · Jun 28, 2020

Kenzodielocke said:
I for one have been watching this streamer. He has played like 12, and he loves the game.

In the time of these 12h, they got at least 10 donations with messages of how shit the story is and how they should not like it because x. I dont blame the streamers but twitch's toxic community. It sucks, but like at the end of the day, whatever.

Edit: same thing happened with girlfriendreviews.

Wholeheartedly agree. I think there is a fair argument to be made that streamers are playing to their audience/community.

Serious Sam · Jun 28, 2020

Man, single player story driven games just can't catch a break, can they? Over the decades we had endless reasons why they are "dying", and now in 2020 it's because streamers don't like them? So tired of this bullshit.

softtack · Jun 28, 2020

Hektor said:
who gives a shit

.

Nanashrew · Jun 28, 2020

gitrektali said:
First off, video games are not a passive form of entertainment like films that you can enjoy with a bunch of people, and even in that case, you wouldn't want someone constantly commenting or reacting to every bit of it with you.

Getting some Yamauchi like vibes from this sentence.

JayC3 · Jun 28, 2020

Locked per OP request.

Twitch Streamers reacting to narrative-driven games

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