YouTube and Twitch are destroying gaming

YouTube is rife with spoilers days before a game is even released to the public. Even if someone is not actively searching for spoilers, there is a good chance that he or she will be spoiled, at least slightly, by a thumbnail, or a title. I have had to unsubscribe from channels because they did not respect the sanctity of a spoiler-free mind.

Even if a game is 20 years old, you should never spoil a game without warning, because someone somewhere could discover and play that game and that pivotal moment could change his or her life for the better. There are games that are old, that I eventually want to play but can't get to, because of the limited time and money that I have. Just because a game is old doesn't give people the license to spoil it for everyone else. Think about something other than your views and subscriber-count for once.

YouTube and Twitch are also promoting spectating instead of participation. Why is videogaming the greatest form of entertainment there is? It's because it's an interactive medium. So why are so many people watching games now instead of playing them? It's conditioning. It's so easy to watch someone else play a game now, whether it's on YouTube or Twitch, that these spectators get fooled into thinking it's almost as good as the real thing - as actually playing the game themselves. How wrong they are.

 Livestreaming is also destroying gaming by infusing capitalism into multiplayer gaming. Why do people pay subscription-fees to play with a certain person? It makes no sense. Remember when playing online multiplayer was free? Sure, you can still meet random players, join groups on forums, and whatever for free, but the fact that people will pay money to play with a person blows my mind and deeply offends me. It is essentially capitalism at its worst. It is kind of like gaming turned into prostitution, which is basically what capitalism is anyway.

Watching gaming on YouTube and Twitch is not necessarily a bad thing. What we need to do is watch with a purpose. If you're a content-creator or livestreamer, think of the viewer more.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

White Japanese Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad (Controller) Review HSS-0137

Image
As a recently new Sega Saturn owner, I knew I had to get the Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad because it was the definitive controller for playing Nights Into Dreams. I decided to purchase the more aesthetically-pleasing Japanese version. Upon first inspection, it is noticeably big - bigger than it should be. Sega was probably going for form over function here, because the round shape does look like a mini-spaceship or UFO, which goes with their theme of space with the Saturn itself, but it is not the most ergonomically comfortable controller out there. For example, when playing six-button fighting-games, it is difficult to hold the controller in the left hand and 'piano' the buttons with the right. The d-pad is a little different from the American Model 1 and Japanese Model 2 controllers'. It feels a little stiffer. Of the three controllers I have tried, it has my least favorite d-pad. On the plus-side, however, it features the best start-button of the three.
Read more

"Retrotek SCART to Component Converter" Review (SCBV1P3)

Image
I do not like spreading negativity out there, but I needed to warn people about this device. I bought this for 80 dollars on ebay; I'm not gonna link from whom, because he or she does not deserve more sales of this awful device. When it works, it works, albeit with flaws. The image produced is sharp, as a component-video signal should be, and the colors are accurate, except that there is a green tint to the entire picture. I've read that one has to open these things up and adjust the 'pots' inside (an electrical term) with a screwdriver. I never really tried doing that or minded the green tint too much, because it's very subtle. What I did mind a lot, was the fact that sometimes, it won't work, and I'll only get audio. This is a big problem. I wouldn't mind the colors being a little off, or there being some 'noise' in the video-signal, but when the success-rate of the thing actually working is 50%, it's a deal-breaker. I paid 80 dolla
Read more

Japanese Model 2 Sega Saturn Controller Review HSS-0101

Image
Recently, I bought a Model 2 American Sega Saturn, but it came with a Model 1 controller. It was pretty good, but I liked the look of the Model 2 Japanese controller, and the d-pad seemed more comfortable. After ordering one on ebay, and opening the package I later received, I was taken aback at how 'creamy' the controller looked. It didn't look like it had changed color, like old NESes, but it didn't look as white as I had imagined. Even the photo above looks whiter than it actually is. The d-pad is better than the Model 1's, but not by too much. The face-buttons feel the same, but the Start-button is a big improvement. The biggest improvement comes in the form of the shoulder-buttons. I don't think the actual internal switches have changed, but now you don't have to press the buttons on the rear of its plastic-shell to get them to actuate. In general, they feel and sound like mouse-buttons. You won't want to use them in action-games, but f
Read more