Why we watch, a response to BBC Newsnights "What is Twitch?" feature - YouTube

Twitch.tv is a website where people can go to watch other people play videogames. This

content takes various forms. The first and most popular are tournaments broadcasts where

extremely skilled professional gamers compete in sports-like tournaments for cash prizes.

These vary in size from home-grown events played purely online to huge spectacles such

as The International 4 which sold out the Key Arena in Seattle and offered over $10

million in prize money. Another kind of content is commentated gameplay, where a streamer

will narrate his experience as he plays a game on screen. The style of narration varies

from humour-driven commentary to play-by-play, educational or simply stream of conciousness

remarks on topics unrelated to the game itself. Twitch is also used to host talk shows and

interview formats centered around the games industry and even specific videogame titles

themselves.\par Why would anyone want to watch another person

play a videogame? There are several reasons why live gaming

content is popular. Firstly, competitive gaming tournaments have a similar appeal to sports

events, where large crowds of people gather to watch a competition. Competitive videogames

are closest to televised poker or chess competitions, which rely primarily on wit and strategy rather

than atheletic prowess to succeed. They are often fast paced and visually appealing games

with a great deal of play variety and most popular spectator games have user bases in

the millions. This principle applies to all sorts of hobbies and sports Just as you'd have a friendly game of football with your friends, you'd

also watch the World Cup. Competitive video games work in the same way, fans appreciate

watching the highest level of play with a lot of prizemoney at stake. Because television

does not generally broadcast these events and fans of competitive gaming come from all

over the world, streaming video is the best way to watch this kind of content if you can't

go to the event in person. Twitch is the most popular place to watch that kind of event Secondly, even if a game is not competitive,

it can still be played in a unique way. Games are an interactive medium and to some degree

every person will play them in a different way. Gaming is a hobby like any other and

the desire to share your hobby with others is made much easier by the fact that you can

broadcast it to the world free of charge. Those who enjoy the hobby also enjoy watching

others participate in it, particularly if they do something differently. Many games

are built around this idea of creative freedom. In titles such as Minecraft, you can construct

almost anything your mind can stretch to, provided you have the patience and talent.

Watching a player express himself through a game such as this can be very entertaining.

Thirdly, watching a personality play a game

and commentate their experience is often enjoyable because that personality is engaging. He may

have exceptional knowledge of the game that he can share, he may have a good sense of

humour, he may just be an interesting person to listen to or have a soothing voice. The

game is often not what attracts the audience, it's the person playing it. Imagine watching

a famous sportsman practice and being able to hear his thoughts as he does it. Does that

sound like interesting viewing? Many streamers are doing just that and are minor celebrities

in their own right. Lastly, Twitch provides interactivity through

built-in chatrooms, which makes the viewing experience social and interactive. It is possible to

talk to the streamer and perhaps receive a response, as well as interact with the other

viewers. It's like being in a crowd at a stadium, there's a social aspect to it, it enhances

the experience. It's fun to watch with other people. Why do you go to the movies with friends

and family? For the same reason, it's a social activity. The interactive nature of Twitch

is unique and provides a different experience to prerecorded television programs. Instead

of just yelling at the TV, on Twitch the TV yells back.

Gaming is not a niche or weird hobby. Even 30 years ago, the Nintendo Entertainment System sold over

60 million units. The Nintendo DS, released in 2004 has sold over 150 million units. Gaming

is not the sole domain of anti-social nerds, it is mainstream. Almost everybody plays or

has played games and like any other hobby, some people are more engaged in it than others.

The market for videogame content has always been there, but it's only recently that sites

like Twitch and Youtube have allowed it to flourish. Television has not catered to gaming,

despite it being one of the most dominant forms of media on the planet. As a result,

gamers look elsewhere and created their own form of TV. Many of us have always wanted

to watch content about our favourite hobby and now with Youtube and Twitch we can do just that.

Long story short. Games are interactive, fun and everybody plays them differently. That

caused people to demand and create their own content around videogames. The spirit of competition

is in all of us and videogames allow us to express that. With potentially infinite airtime

and channels, Twitch has a great deal of choice. It is a service the exemplifies our on-demand

culture and desire for choice in our entertainment. Many people have chosen to watch video games.