I think most viewers can be grouped into 3 main categories (please note these are just very broad generalizations)
Category 1 viewers watch streams because they like the game that is being played, and basically treat it like watching sports. They want to watch skilled people doing skillful and impressive things. Maybe they play the game themselves, but not always. They tend to focus on categories rather than channels, and are quick to unfollow if a streamer starts playing something else, even if it's a similar genre.
Category 2 viewers watch streams because of the personality of the streamer and the vibes of the stream, and tend to have parasocial relationship. I won't say much about this category because I honestly don't understand the whole parasocial thing at all, I just know it's a Thing.
Category 3 viewers watch streams because of the streamer's community. They're focused on not just the personality of the streamer, but also the kind of environment they foster and how they interact with the viewers. I'm in this group, I'm on twitch to meet people and make some genuine connections. I've made some great friends in streams, not just with the actual streamer, but the other chatters as well - we hang out off-stream and play games, watch movies, just chat, etc. This group tends to contain a lot of smaller streamers supporting each other (in a bit of a circle-jerk, I admit)
From what I've seen, categories 1 and 2 gravitate towards larger, well-established channels, while category 3 prefer smaller streamers and will be supportive but disappointed if someone they watch becomes "big".
All of this is just my own observations hanging out on twitch and talking with other viewers and streamers, please take with a grain of salt. Also I have no idea how much of this applies to other streaming platforms like YouTube or Kick.
I think this is a pretty good summary overall. I'd like to supplement some things:
Category 1 viewers also contain people who want to vicariously live through someone else and experience their favourite game again for the first time. They tend to stick around only for a specific game, and will move on after the playthrough is over.
Category 2 also contains viewers who watch the streams as a pure entertainment product, more akin to watching a comedian. They're mostly interested in the banter the streamer provides. Many viewers of Northernlion and Jerma fit this description.
I don't personally care to catch live streams and participate, but I do sometimes prefer a streamer's commentary on a game compared to pure gameplay.
There was a streamer's series I used to watch (Attacking Tucans playing Zelda OOT randomizer). Their personality and reactions to the game were fun to watch and added to the experience.
People like taking sides, because it fits into any narrative.
You have Jews vs Muslims, White(not really) vs Brown, Western values vs Middle Eastern.
The progressives love Palestine because they are brown, Muslim and anti West/US and some because anti White.
The Nazis love Palestine because they are anti Jew. (although some Progressives seem pretty antisemitic nowadays too.)
The Conservatives love Israel because they are fighting Muslims and the middle east.
Moderates side more with Israel because the values align more than the theocratic Muslim ones and Israel is a good door into middle eastern affairs. But that requires Americans to think about stuff outside of the US, that's not black and white, so there are not a lot.
The thing is, most of these categories aren't actually that black and white.
Israel has taken in a lot of Arab Jews who fled persecution in their home countries. They are also allied with Arab nations like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and probably more. So the "white" part is not true.
The religions are mostly true, although there are Muslim-majority countries allied with Israel, so its not as clear cut. (Iran is kinda using Palestinians as an attack vector against Israel, and Jordan helped with shooting down Iranian drones)
The west vs middle east part is also a bit weird, since Arab nations are on Israel's side. It's more of a inter-middle-east conflict and the west is supporting Israels side.
I mean, yes. Jordan shot down some of the Iranian drones that were headed for Israel. I think some states are more behind the scenes, because the population doesn't like Jews, but the "monarchs" kinda see the writing on the wall. I mean Israel is a good ally to have in terms of military and economy.
Or Saudi Arabia. They have publicly stated that their AD systems shared information with Israel. Saudi Arabia really isn’t religious enough to care about Israel that much, at least not compared to more important goals that they can reach otherwise. Of course, they do fund various anti Israel groups, but not in any particularly heavy way that can be traced to them
Not all Arab nations are united in their beliefs or how government / religion should be linked.
Saudi for example has absolutely no love for Iran. Saudi maybe a muslim Kingdom ran by Sultans. But Iran is a Theocracy ran by the Clergy and is far more hell bent on spreading their form of religion to even the other Muslim nations. Jordan for example is fairly secularly run Kingdom. Iran despises that too.
As for "Sides". Israel has existing peace treaties and open relations now with several of it's neighbouring muslim nations. Egypt and Israel have been allied for decades now. Egypt maintains a border wall and blockade of Gaza as well. Jordan and Israel have been fairly peaceful now for decades. And Lebanon frequently looks to Israel military support to quell Hezbollah. Up until Oct 7th, Saudi Arabia was also in negotiations with Israel to normalize relations towards a peace deal.
I don't like that theory. Democrats are on the spectrum of left and right. But if you are antidemocratic you are a whole different thing. And that way the communists and Nazis are the same. Its not really a horseshoe, just a separate bubble of extremists.
Edit: Democrats as in people who believe in democracy, not the party members.
Explain why many non zionists jews support Palestine. Also arab countries leaders are US puppets that's why they support Israel but the entire populations are against Israel colonization
Why people believe Us is evil? Because there is a ton of example of US illegal wars and helping overthrowing democratically elected leaders. Non zionist jews could be neutral if they didn't believe in Palestinian struggles
Just in brief, ignoring some history and so on, Gaza has been under Israeli occupation for a while now, controlling essentially everything that goes in and out, including people. Hamas gained power there, and legit, the Israeli government has given resources to Hamas to keep them going, supposedly as an excuse to keep their thumb on the Palestinian population.
A lot of people supported the creation of a Jewish state coming out of WWII and the holocaust, but currently, and especially because of just how hard the Israeli military is going now, it's becoming impossible to not see how much the Israeli government just wants to take control of all the land and wipe out the Palestinian people.
Of course, there's more going on, and some people might disagree with my simplification, but I think this is as good of a simple explanation of at least my understanding trying to follow what's been going on in the region since the early aughts.
I don’t like any of those things but I LOVE watching Twitch. The ability to have your chats read, watch something you like eg gaming and have someone ramble on about whatever is a fun experience for me.
I like some sports, but can't stand game streamers. Athletes train for years to become the best in their sport/position/etc, streamers are usually mediocre at the games at best. I rather just play the game myself. Much more of a personality cult around streamers, and I have no interest in.
But well, people are different. If some people enjoy it, go ahead just explaining from another point of view why I don't like it
The most popular streamers aren't popular because they are good at games, it's because they are entertaining. The game might be used to draw people in, but it's not really about the game itself.
I would say watching sports is about the game. No one is watching NFL because Madden was casting it (I know he's gone, but I don't know any famous sports casters/commentators).
The most popular streamers aren't popular because they are good at games, it's because they are entertaining.
Exactly, that is my point. I just don't think they are entertaining though, which is fine. There are lot of tv shows and movies I don't like either.
Not sure what you mean with commentators. But even if I don't particularly enjoy a certain sport, I can see if someone is talented at it and appreciate their effort they put into it. But most likely I still won't watch much of it. There is so much content, I see no point in seeing anything I don't enjoy.
You’ve perhaps compared the wrong niche though. Game streamers are the Harlem Globetrotters; you’re not there to watch excellent gaming, but entertaining gaming.
Whereas esports are the equivalent to competitive sports.
That said; I too struggle to care about watching either. Even my old boss Limmy, no care for watching him stream.
Occasionally I'll watch a playthrough of a game I'm interested in something about (the plot or aesthetic), but don't think I'd enjoy playing.
Mostly, though, I watch like the Drawfee stream where they do improv comedy and draw audience suggestions. I'd almost rather watch a vod of a game I'm curious about, but comedy streams with audience participation benefit from seeing them live.
I think a lot of streamers are basically amateur comedians doing bits with something like a videogame to give them material. mst3k-like.
Others will play a game early or right away and be able to review as you watch. They'll say like the controls feel sloppy or the theme is grating and you'll experience that with them. Not a big deal for most people, but for highly anticipated games people are excited about, it helps give a sense of whether a game is worth playing for them in a slightly different way than a written or recorded review.
Watching people play a dnd game live gives you the energy in the chat while watching, which can make more exciting or interesting the play (do people in chat who know dnd think what's happening was a good idea? is everyone freaking out at a roll? is there a person who explains things in there which helps you understand for your own game?) It also protects you from getting spoiled when something dramatic happens.
There are people who play music or paint or work on a skill on stream, and that comes with a touch of the fun of watching a live performance. There's some extra excitement when you see stuff in real time and they could fuck up or they could do something amazing.
For the most part, they probably are. It’s just the top ~5% that are actually making decent money from it.
Though, I’ve noticed that already having money and comfort is the starting point for some streamers. Because they have the luxury of being able to do whatever they want without consequence.
I don't personally, but I've read that the appeal is that sometimes you want to play a game, and sometimes you want to watch television, and sometimes you don't want to do either but vaguely want an experience that's halfway between the two (i.e. watching someone else play a game).
Out of the loop
Active