YouTube celebrities and eSports

[Circa]

I used to watch other people game online. Then I decided not to be a faggot and watch sports instead.

Come on man..

 

[MNIrishman]

Yes. For the reason I said above.

Why do people watch the Master's on TV? Because there are barriers to them playing in it... and it's people playing the game at it's highest level... and etc. etc. etc.

But all things being equal with no barrier to participation, given the option of playing a round of golf on a given course... or watching some amateur dude play the course talk about how he's playing and then discussing the amateur dude playing a round of golf with other people who opted to watch him play golf rather than playing themselves... I do not understand how anyone thinks the latter is a superior/more enjoyable option.

And that's what I don't get. This movement has MASS APPEAL. There are thousands upon thousands of people who would rather watch a guy they don't know who isn't a superior talent play through a game than play it themselves with their friends. Seems ridiculous.

I don't know if there are any numbers to back this up, but it seems anecdotally that the most popular channels tend to be those hosted by excellent players.

I haven't played Age of Empires in months, but when I was really into it, I'd sometimes chill out by catching a match between pros livestreamed on Twitch. I don't think I'd watch someone on the internet play anything but strategy games, but at least in Age, I was always impressed by the things I'd never thought to do---which seemed to occur almost every time I tuned in despite playing the game myself. Also, RTS matches can be really intense, with your level of play generally correlating to your "actions per minute," or rate of hammering keys on the keyboard. Sometimes it's fun to play and sometimes you just don't feel like doing the hammering yourself.

Some years ago, shortly after Doom 3 had been released, I went to E3 and spent half an hour watching a pro gamer play in a promotion. He was taking on anyone who would play him, with deathmatches played to 10 kills. If you killed him once and lost, you won a fifty dollar goody basket. If you actually won, it was worth a $1500 prize package. In that time, I saw that pro die once and never come close to losing. That was something to behold.

 

[wizards8507]

I've never played football in my life but love watching it. Does my fandom make sense to you?

I assume you'd say "yes" if you had the talent and BK called you up to offer a scholarship to come play tailback.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[wizards8507]

Some years ago, shortly after Doom 3 had been released, I went to E3 and spent half an hour watching a pro gamer play in a promotion. He was taking on anyone who would play him, with deathmatches played to 10 kills. If you killed him once and lost, you won a fifty dollar goody basket. If you actually won, it was worth a $1500 prize package. In that time, I saw that pro die once and never come close to losing. That was something to behold.

That sounds like watching LeBron James beat high school kids in HORSE.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[dublinirish]

i had a buddy who was 2nd ranked Tekken player in Ireland during his college days. If you played him he would beat you flawlessly every time. Like your character would barely land on the ground with the juggle combos he could do lol.

 

[MNIrishman]

I assume you'd say "yes" if you had the talent and BK called you up to offer a scholarship to come play tailback.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

Surprisingly, I don't think I would. I really have no desire to play football. Never have.

 

[Rack Em]

I used to watch other people game online. Then I decided not to be a faggot and watch sports instead.

Last week was a big week for you!

#proudofyou

 

[ACamp1900]

I used to watch other people game online. Then I decided not to be a faggot and watch sports instead.

Clearly that decision is taking time for you to implement....

 

[CurtisCandy]

I don't doubt the supply side of the market, it's the demand side that puzzles me. If people wanted to pay me thousands of dollars to talk about ND football on a webcam, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I just don't know why anyone would want to (yeah, I know nobody does, but you get my point).

It's funny you mention that, because I've seriously considered starting a channel devoted to ND in general, and ND football, in specific. If I were to do another YT channel, it would definitely be commentary on ND football, hopefully from an informative, but VERY light-hearted and comedic angle... I was even thinking of live streaming during the games to have real time interactions.

Like IrishInMn mentioned, I have a YouTube channel, and we're closing in on 30,000 subscribers. The channel was originally just gaming - mostly Call of Duty - but has morphed into all types of comedy stuff, as well as gaming.

I'm WAY too old to be involved in such things (I'm 53) but I really enjoy it! I was a stand-up comic for many years, but now I can perform for an audience without the hassle and drudgery of being away from my family.

My audience is largely the 15-25 age group, but I have a substantial number of older viewers. The kids who are part of our community are fun and funny. When something happens in a video that is too current for my addled brain, the kids will come into the comments section and bring me up to speed.

The saddest part is, I do the channel with my son, and I've lost track of all the stories kids have written to me about how they wish they had a dad in their lives. Some of it is really heart-breaking.

As far as money, at my level, it's not much. I actually lose money doing YouTube, as I also do Research/SEO writing online, and if I spent my YouTube hours writing instead, I'd make much more cash. However, writing is drudgery and YouTubing is fun.

As for why the kids tune in to watch us game or talk to chatbots or something, when they could do it themselves is simply because (hopefully) they're getting some laughs. Watching others play games online is not mutually exclusive to playing them oneself. Many of our subscribers are avid gamers, and they give me advice on the games I play on the channel.

As far as starting an ND commentary channel, it would be a lot of fun, and it's something I may do if I can find the time. Just taking a lot of the things we all discuss here and running with them could be a blast.

 

[IrishLax]

It's funny you mention that, because I've seriously considered starting a channel devoted to ND in general, and ND football, in specific. If I were to do another YT channel, it would definitely be commentary on ND football, hopefully from an informative, but VERY light-hearted and comedic angle... I was even thinking of live streaming during the games to have real time interactions.

Like IrishInMn mentioned, I have a YouTube channel, and we're closing in on 30,000 subscribers. The channel was originally just gaming - mostly Call of Duty - but has morphed into all types of comedy stuff, as well as gaming.

I'm WAY too old to be involved in such things (I'm 53) but I really enjoy it! I was a stand-up comic for many years, but now I can perform for an audience without the hassle and drudgery of being away from my family.

My audience is largely the 15-25 age group, but I have a substantial number of older viewers. The kids who are part of our community are fun and funny. When something happens in a video that is too current for my addled brain, the kids will come into the comments section and bring me up to speed.

The saddest part is, I do the channel with my son, and I've lost track of all the stories kids have written to me about how they wish they had a dad in their lives. Some of it is really heart-breaking.

As far as money, at my level, it's not much. I actually lose money doing YouTube, as I also do Research/SEO writing online, and if I spent my YouTube hours writing instead, I'd make much more cash. However, writing is drudgery and YouTubing is fun.

As for why the kids tune in to watch us game or talk to chatbots or something, when they could do it themselves is simply because (hopefully) they're getting some laughs. Watching others play games online is not mutually exclusive to playing them oneself. Many of our subscribers are avid gamers, and they give me advice on the games I play on the channel.

As far as starting an ND commentary channel, it would be a lot of fun, and it's something I may do if I can find the time. Just taking a lot of the things we all discuss here and running with them could be a blast.

That's some cool shit dude. Keep it up.

 

[Irish Insanity]

It's funny you mention that, because I've seriously considered starting a channel devoted to ND in general, and ND football, in specific. If I were to do another YT channel, it would definitely be commentary on ND football, hopefully from an informative, but VERY light-hearted and comedic angle... I was even thinking of live streaming during the games to have real time interactions.

Like IrishInMn mentioned, I have a YouTube channel, and we're closing in on 30,000 subscribers. The channel was originally just gaming - mostly Call of Duty - but has morphed into all types of comedy stuff, as well as gaming.

I'm WAY too old to be involved in such things (I'm 53) but I really enjoy it! I was a stand-up comic for many years, but now I can perform for an audience without the hassle and drudgery of being away from my family.

My audience is largely the 15-25 age group, but I have a substantial number of older viewers. The kids who are part of our community are fun and funny. When something happens in a video that is too current for my addled brain, the kids will come into the comments section and bring me up to speed.

The saddest part is, I do the channel with my son, and I've lost track of all the stories kids have written to me about how they wish they had a dad in their lives. Some of it is really heart-breaking.

As far as money, at my level, it's not much. I actually lose money doing YouTube, as I also do Research/SEO writing online, and if I spent my YouTube hours writing instead, I'd make much more cash. However, writing is drudgery and YouTubing is fun.

As for why the kids tune in to watch us game or talk to chatbots or something, when they could do it themselves is simply because (hopefully) they're getting some laughs. Watching others play games online is not mutually exclusive to playing them oneself. Many of our subscribers are avid gamers, and they give me advice on the games I play on the channel.

As far as starting an ND commentary channel, it would be a lot of fun, and it's something I may do if I can find the time. Just taking a lot of the things we all discuss here and running with them could be a blast.

Will you be bringing other IE members on as special guests or co-hosts? Koon should get the first nod.

 

[CurtisCandy]

Will you be bringing other IE members on as special guests or co-hosts? Koon should get the first nod.

If I actually did go through with it - and this conversation really has me thinking about it - I would definitely be looking to bring in IE members for spots.

I'm thinking Koon could be my guest on the "Hottest Bodies in College Football" segment... It might help my channel break a record for shortest time between inception and YouTube shutdown.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm seeing a recurring segment called, "Banned!"

 

[Irish Insanity]

If I actually did go through with it - and this conversation really has me thinking about it - I would definitely be looking to bring in IE members for spots.

I actually don't think it would be a bad idea.

 

[dshans]

Can I play? Can I play? Can I? Can I? I wanna. I wanna! Pick me, pick me!!!


Oh, wait. I don't gots da skilz.

Unless you want a resident wise ass.

 

[CurtisCandy]

Can I play? Can I play? Can I? Can I? I wanna. I wanna! Pick me, pick me!!!


Oh, wait. I don't gots da skilz.

Unless you want a resident wise ass.

Indeed I do!