Do you like watching other people play games?

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

So, the question in this thread is kind of evident, but I'll repeat it anyway:

Do you enjoy watching other people play video games?

I'll be clear, I don't really mean in the context of Let's Plays, but more of just watching other people game. I mean, I don't like it at all - I tend to get annoyed that they're playing when I'd rather be playing as well and enjoying myself, but a friend of mine prefers watching me play games than he does playing them himself.

I have to admit, I think one of the big reasons why I don't like watching is kind of because often I get frustrated at people being bad gamers, and I don't mean in that in a bigoted "oh, I'm a pro, you suck" kind of way. For example, a friend of mine is one of those gamers who thinks themselves fantastic but generally cannot play games all that well. Whenever I watch him play any video game, any problems cannot be his fault. It must the game is buggy, or the controller unresponsive, or the button inputs obtuse. That sort of thing really irritates me as a person, let alone a gamer, especially as he doesn't accept his own fault. Unfortunately, this has sort of jaded me, leaving me all but unable to enjoy watching people play games.

How about you?

 

[Pandalisk]

Depends on the game really but for the most part i prefer two player games if anything.
i get the urge to do some "backseat gaming" as it were when i watch other people. I watch games such as the FF games without trouble though as i have no interest in them

 

[dimensional]

Depends on the game really if they are playing an RPG I generally find watching it to be extremely boring same with point and click games. Action games I can usually watch others play especially if they are good at them as its more entertaining but its not something I seek out.

About the only kind of game I like to watch at high level is fighting games because it helps me understand the game more and what can be achieved (as well as see stuff I would never otherwise be able to because of my lack of skill) also they are short and sweet there is no long storyline or anything, you can drop in and out watching very easily.

Most games I prefer to play than watch and the ones I dont like to play I dont like to watch either.

 

[daveman247]

snip

Well i prefer playing, but watching is fine too ^_^

Usually if i dont have the game (can serve as a kind of demo) or the game allows multiple solutions (like deus ex etc) Interesting to see what soultions others come up with.


Can sometimes be aggrevating watching others play portal though, especially if they can't grasp the concept of portals XD

 

[TrevHead]

It's fun watching superplays of shmups and other high skilled games arcade games and it's pretty much mandatory when learning to play where you can copy or adapt the techniques and strategies the player is using.

One of my faves is this vid from Psyvariar 2, It helps to understand that the point of the game is not to just dodge but to skim bullets to charge that bar at the top, once full you get a short period of invulnerability. So the bar has to be nearly full for each new bullet wave


Lets plays of games like JRPGs are as boring as watching paint dry unless i'm using it as a FAQ, watching other play IRL is fun when they are doing really well or really badly

 

[Scarim Coral]

Yes since I used to watched my brother playing his game all the time as a kid. This was back in the day I was afraid to use the computer.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I don't know any other gamers or people who play games in real life, so I wouldn't know.

I probably wouldn't be too keen on the idea.

 

[Aerosteam]

It depends if I've already completed the game or not. If I know what to do but the other guy doesn't he'll ask me for help. That makes me feel intelligent therefore I feel good about myself.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I actually really do enjoy watching others play. I'm not sure why, but it's just something I've always liked doing and it's not even in a constant helping/coaching way either.

 

[Batou667]

Yes.

Sometimes when I visit my brother he'll be keen to make me try his latest game, but often I refuse and prefer to just watch him play instead. Why? Because if we have limited time, I know I'm not going to get into the game to any real extent, let along gain enough mastery of the controls to be able to enjoy it. At best I'll be able to muddle my way through the tutorial level.

If I watch somebody else playing I can be experiencing the storyline, observing how gameplay works (if not how it feels), pick up some tips on how the weapons function, enemy behaviour, stuff like that.

Tl;dr: it's often more enjoyable to watch a pro master a game than to experience first-hand how lo learn a game.

 

[-Seraph-]

Only competitive games really, anything else I'd rather be playing myself. I don't mind spectating a good RTS or fighting game match, because they are both entertaining and educational.

 

[Nanaki316]

When I was growing up (late childhood/early teens) I used to watch my Mum play the Resident Evil series. She kicked the shit out of everything and I solved all the puzzles for her and told her where to go lol

She used to enjoy watching me play FF7 too. She enjoyed the story but RPG's weren't her thing.

I can't stand watching my eldest daughter play The Sims it's infuriating as I'm an avid simmer myself.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I hate watching games with puzzle elements or micromanaging, because the people I'm watching always do it wrong. My girlfriend drives me insane when playing RPG's because she doesn't really care about the levelling up, she just picks whatever without any plan in mind.

 

[Lieju]

No. Unless the gamer has a lot of skill, and I watch it to appreciate it. Or if the writing is good enough to carry the game but the gameplay is something I'd dislike or really suck at. My friend (who couldn't play the game himself because of a problem with vision) watched me play through Portal 2 and enjoyed it.

Although, as a kid I used to watch a friend of mine who was older play some games, and pester him about it.
Mostly tease (and embarass)him how he played Duke Nukem to see boobs.

 

[viranimus]

Depends on the game for me. For example, rhythm games I get just as entranced watching it as I do playing it, so it really doesnt make a difference.

Also I grew up playing games in the 80s and 90s when a lot of games basically mandated people take turns, so it just comes naturally now being able to watch someone else play.

However, I can get why it would bother some. Its like being a driver for years and then having to sit in the passenger seat. It makes you uncomfortable and edgy. You feel less in control and more pensive about what might happen, plus being on the other side of the vehicle and under that perspective change makes you think the driver is being more dangerous than they actually are. So its sort of like that, only to a lesser but more self centered respect.

 

[krazykidd]

Does watching live streams count? Because if so yes . I watch live streams quite often , be in games i have played or games i have not . I like seeing other people playstyles , tactics , and techniques . I take extra enjoyment in watching competitive games, but i like watching any kind of game .

If that doesn't count , then no , because a lot of people i personally know are pretty bad at games , and the mistakes they make are jaw dropping .

 

[shadyh8er]

I do actually, but only if it's a game I've never played. Like I love watching my friends play Gear of War or Halo since they're leagues better at them than I am. Watching my brother play Tekken is also a treat.

 

[Overusedname]

Depends on the game really but for the most part i prefer two player games if anything.
i get the urge to do some "backseat gaming" as it were when i watch other people.

I tend to find myself doing this. A lot of 'No man ya gotta go get the stuff that does the thing.'

Unless I find out that I am, in fact the noob in the room. I watched an old girlfriend beat the Deku tree dungeon in Ocarina in what felt like 6 minutes. It took me about 35.

That was humbling.

OT: Overall, it depends on the game. If it's something new to me, I like watching a friend whose played it more to give me a feel of the gameplay first. If it's a game I know and love, I'll often want to rip the controller away.

 

[Ljs1121]

I think it's pretty entertaining if it's somebody who's never played before or if I've never played the game myself.

Other than that, I'm not a big fan of it.