Has video game streaming/Lets plays become a cash grab?

[Saucycarpdog]

Discussing with a friend while playing league of legends, we got on the subject of streaming on twitch as well as lets players on youtube. The conversation went back and forth between us whether these have just become ways for people to make easy money much like the scramble of youtubers back in the day to get as many subscribers as possible to get rich like Fred or for app makers to make the next angry birds.

Kinda wanted to see what you guys thought. Is it just cynicism?

 

[Sleepy Sol]

At my most cynical, I would say that yes, it's basically a cash grab at this point.

That said, you can usually sort of pick out the people who just do it for the money, and the ones that legitimately try to entertain and interact with their fans. Or are grateful for their support if they allow donations. It really depends on the streamer/lper, I suppose.

 

[StriderShinryu]

It's just another way to get yourself out there as an entertainer. Sure some do it just for the money but that's hardly unique to streaming. The thing about streaming, though, is that you don't have to pay up front. That alone keeps it from ever really being a cash grab. Some streamers are absolutely worth donating to because of the entertainment/knowledge/etc. that they bring to the table. Some streamers, well, aren't. But you can almost always tell which category they fall into by watching them for all of a handful of minutes. Even then, assuming you do find them extremely entertaining, if you don't want to sub or donate, you don't have to.

So, basically, way to make money? Sure. Cashgrab? Not a chance.. unless you're dumb enough to throw money at any streamer you decide to tune into.

 

[Roxas1359]

Thing is, it's easier to do streams on Twitch than making Let's Plays on YouTube. For Twitch, you just need the capture card, and program to stream really, and the new consoles make it easier to stream. For Let's Plays you need the capture card, but you also have to do the rendering, editing, etc. Really I chalk it up to cynicism I say. Mainly for some people there are those who do put enough time and effort into it that really deserve the money, and then there are people who you can tell who just do it for the money.

The other thing is, people seem to think that you instantly make a lot of money by simply putting a video up or streaming, when that is the stupidest thing ever. It actually takes time and work to actually get to the point in which you can actually make money (a little luck helps too). For YouTube I've seen some people think that 1 view equals 1 dollar, and I just laugh. One view on a YouTube video, or more specifically the ad, is about 1/3 of a single penny, and it fluctuates as well. Now when you get paid, you don't get that whole penny by the end. No 40% is automatically taken out and given to Google. Then the next amount that's taken out is from your Network that you are a part of (Polaris, Fullscreen, Normal Boots, Hidden Block, Machinima, etc.) and that depends on how your contract is set up so they can get anywhere between 10% to 50% of the remaining revenue. The remaining amount is given to you, unless you're doing Nintendo games in which case Nintendo is now taking a part of the remaining amount as well.

I've been doing LPs for about 2 years now, and it always irks me when some think it's instantly easy money. Easy money is a myth, it doesn't exist really, and if it did it won't last as long.

 

[DeadRise17]

This thread came up at a perfect time because there is a guy I know at school who wants to drop out and make money like this. Unfortunately, I am too polite and cowardly to just tell him his smug attitude and nasally voice won't make him all that successful.

 

[TheIceQueen]

Cash grab? Maybe for some, but most streamers and LPers aren't rolling in cash. Many of them just barely get by. Nor is it easy money. If you're not good in some way, people aren't going to watch you, let alone donate to you. If you are good, it's going to take a lot of work and dedication and a little bit of luck to get to the point where it might start paying off.

 

[Smooth Operator]

As much as any entertainment business has, it's a way to make money and most will do it for that money because it is hell of a lot preferable to any mid tier hourly pay job.
However in the entertainment business only very very few will make solid money and one of a million that will hit the jackpot, everyone else will remain in obscurity and never get enough to even pay bills. And among the lowest paying gigs are exactly internet videos, no other entertainment platform has rates that low, even if you take paid promotions they give you jack shit for it.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

What if it is? Does that make the streams somehow less enjoyable? The audience gets free content and the streamer gets to do what they love. I don't see an issue.

 

[DementedSheep]

Honesty? I don't care. If I enjoy something I don't care it the person creating the content is creating it purely for money. There is also nothing wrong with getting paid to do something you enjoy.

It's not like many them actually get hugely successfully anyway so I don't think streaming is a good choice if all your wanting is to cash grab. Anyone who thinks thinks it is need a reality check. You might get popular enough to make a living on. It's really unlikely though.

 

[SKBPinkie]

What if it is? Does that make the streams somehow less enjoyable? The audience gets free content and the streamer gets to do what they love. I don't see an issue.

This.

If people didn't like their stuff, they wouldn't watch it. There's really not much else that needs to be said.