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> Most of the kids watching these streams own a decent computer and can play. Youre making it sound not only as if only kids watch this, but also like playing
by flipp3r 9y ago
> Most of the kids watching these streams own a decent computer and can play.
Youre making it sound not only as if only kids watch this, but also like playing any sport at all is so much different - and then compare it to Reality TV instead of live sports. Actual WTF? Some of the streamers (variety streamers) do play for just entertainment value, but most stick to just one game. A lot of it is also being able to live chat with other people watching and interact with the person streaming.
> This isn't like F1 racing where I'll never be able to afford a racecar, or football where I don't want to exercise.
Why isn't it like that? That's exactly what it is. Do you have any idea how long professional esports players competing in tournaments have to work, to stay at the top level? And do you think they can play at the same level on the average person's hardware? Have a look at Starcraft 2, Counter Strike Source, or Osu!. These are games where top players make 100+ strategic actions per minute, need to have lightning reaction speeds and accuracy, and make bursts of 10 actions per second for full minutes, respectively.
How can it be such a shock to non-gamers that people watch other people play a game, rather than play it themselves? Just imagine it - people watching a game! /s
It's exactly the same as every professional sport that has ever existed.
- waterside81 9y agoThis is where I disagree, and I know I'm in the minority (clearly) by how popular streaming has become. Professional athletes are marvels because they look so much bigger, better and are faster than the average joe. That's their appeal - they're real-life super heroes. LeBron, Jordan, Ronaldo, Ali, Jim Brown - they guys are living, breathing physical specimens who can do what no normal person, no matter how much training, can accomplish. Video gamers, while no doubt skilled and dedicated to their craft, look like regular guys off the street. There's no wonderment. It's why nobody has the world chess champion as a poster on their door (or desktop background, whatever today's equivalent). Poker is popular on TV too, but ask a kid who they want to be when they grow up, Messi or Phil Ivy and I'm pretty sure I know the answer. This stuff is popular and more power to those who succeed, but I think it's unfair to just brush off people's bewilderment at the success of esports by trying to compare some 19 year old "esports athlete" to a proper athlete.
- ghthor 9y agoFaker from LOL Korea is more LeBron James to me than LeBron James, he is phenomenally talented. There are many others like him and many more like me that feel more connected an in awe of esports professionals than their traditional athletic analogues.
- ansible 9y agoYoure making it sound not only as if only kids watch this, but also like playing any sport at all is so much different - and then compare it to Reality TV instead of live sports. Now I've got my next business idea. Attach wireless streaming cameras to all the players in a sportsball game. Each player has a HUD, and can see chat messages in real time. Heck, for something like American Football, you could even have them vote on what play the opposing team is likely to do next. The player can take that under advisement, and maybe compliment a viewer when correct. To make more money, they viewers could bid on the predictions, which might help increase their accuracy. The player and the sport get a percentage of the bids, and the rest forms a prize pool for the most accurate bidders.
- jpgleeson 9y agoThis is probably as close as you're going to get at this moment in time to what you're saying. This was posted here a few months ago, haven't checked back in to see how it's going for them a season later. http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2017/02/the_salt_lake_screaming_eagles_a_football_team_controlled_by_fans_with_smartphones.html http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2017/02/the_...
- Danihan 9y agoActually a great idea, and this sort of "augmented viewing" will almost certainly happen sooner rather than later.
- aluhut 9y agoThere is a difference between watching a E-Sports tournament and some let's play stream. As I understand it, OP talked about the former. As a gamer myself, I can say I feel exactly like him. I find most of it boring. I only scroll through those videos on youtube to see how the actual game looks like since Demos have been dead for a long time now (or you have to pay for them now). Additionally the annoying stuff happening around the video on twitch is repulsive. Especially the chat reminds me of those webchats on crappy 90s-style pages. On the other hand I do watch a tournament or some league play since german free tv started airing it.
- joejev 9y agoI love osu!, but there are no strategic actions, you just click the circles.
- flipp3r 9y agoYeah that part was about Starcraft 2, for Osu! its the 10 actions per second bit. I've played long enough to know I shouldn't be playing it anymore.