The Video Game Critic

Does anyone spend time on Twitch? 

Its made main stream press for having Amazon buy it up at $970 million dollars like some dot com startup story.  Apparently Google offered a cool billion, but Twitch went with the Amazon offer instead hoping to keep more autonomy after being acquired.   This means that while Google owns YouTube and its ContentID issues, Amazon will have a competing video game centric video channel in Twitch.  (there were also concerns about antitrust violations if Google bought Twitch). 

With Amazon already a player in the video game world, this is another step for them.   Whatcha think?

[QUOTE=scotland17]Does anyone spend time on Twitch? 

Its made main stream press for having Amazon buy it up at $970 million dollars like some dot com startup story.  Apparently Google offered a cool billion, but Twitch went with the Amazon offer instead hoping to keep more autonomy after being acquired.   This means that while Google owns YouTube and its ContentID issues, Amazon will have a competing video game centric video channel in Twitch.  (there were also concerns about antitrust violations if Google bought Twitch). 

With Amazon already a player in the video game world, this is another step for them.   Whatcha think?[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure these big buyouts really lead to anything better for the consumer (Google seems only to have added a lot of confusion to YouTube), but it could lead to more visibility for gaming and eSports.

I have no desire to watch strangers play video games, and I think the idea of e-sports is kind of ridiculous.

[QUOTE=videogamecritic]I have no desire to watch strangers play video games, and I think the idea of e-sports is kind of ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

Yeah? I only do so when I need help getting through part of a game, but I think eSports can be pretty cool. The way I look at it, it's analogous to a chess competition. It takes time and rigorous training to be good at a game like Starcraft on a competitive level. People usually have to retire in their mid 20s because there's a severe drop off in reaction speed as you reach adulthood.

[QUOTE=videogamecritic]I have no desire to watch strangers play video games, and I think the idea of e-sports is kind of ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

This is also my opinion.

I am also amazed at thhe number of 'lets plays' on youtube, and even more amazed anyone would click on them out of anything but curiosity, and then not click out 20 seconds later.

[QUOTE=videogamecritic]I have no desire to watch strangers play video games, and I think the idea of e-sports is kind of ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

For the most part I agree with you, Dave.  Twitch is not a place I hang out, so I'm trying to understand its appeal.  

Watching a real champion play can be fun...for a bit, like watching King of Kong or a Street Fighter contest.  I saw on the news there were just Yo Yo championships and 'bog snorkelling' contests, so watching champion anything doing their thing is kinda fun...for a bit. Watching a video to learn to get by a boss, to sample an unfamiliar game or system, or for funny scripted commentary like AVGN, but that's watching for a limited time with a purpose in mind. Watching your nephew kick butt with reaction times you that are way in your rear view mirror is also fun, but its because its not a stranger doing it.  Having a party and watching your friends play is the same thing, cause they are not strangers.

For 55 million users to just idle away time watching random mediocre game clips seems odd.  Turns out, that is a pretty common question:
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/08/why_would_anyone_watch_twitch_the_allure_of_the_video_game_streaming_site.html

So, maybe this is a generational thing - mostly for the sub 30 set? Would like to see the gender breakdown too.  There is some gender thing going on from this kotaku article on women at twitch:
http://kotaku.com/5982137/theyre-attractive-theyre-women-and-they-play-games-live-on-the-internet-but-theyre-not-camwhores


Maybe its just like NASCAR, which has avid fans who watch hour after hour, but to non fans it just cars going round and round and round the same circle in the same direction to battle to be champion of going around in circles.

[QUOTE=ptdebate][QUOTE=videogamecritic] It takes time and rigorous training to be good at a game like Starcraft on a competitive level. People usually have to retire in their mid 20s because there's a severe drop off in reaction speed as you reach adulthood.[/QUOTE]

Huh... I guess I never thought of that but it makes sense. I always assumed it was more about how much time a person can devote to playing a video game after there mid twenties. Usually by then, a person has finished school, has a job, possibly starts a family, perhaps there friends aren't in to video games as much anymore, etc.

I also enjoy watching playthroughs of really bad games(I.E. The Sniper 2), especially if they have good commentary.

[QUOTE=Rev][QUOTE=ptdebate][QUOTE=videogamecritic] It takes time and rigorous training to be good at a game like Starcraft on a competitive level. People usually have to retire in their mid 20s because there's a severe drop off in reaction speed as you reach adulthood.[/QUOTE]

Huh... I guess I never thought of that but it makes sense. I always assumed it was more about how much time a person can devote to playing a video game after there mid twenties. Usually by then, a person has finished school, has a job, possibly starts a family, perhaps there friends aren't in to video games as much anymore, etc.[/QUOTE]

Well, I'd imagine that for at least a handful of these folks, competitive gaming *is* their job. The prize pool of The International, for example, is like 3 million dollars IIRC. In other words, pro gaming pays--specifically the strategy and MOBA genres, which truly are international pastimes.