Poll: Do you watch "Let's Play" type videos?

[Wolfram23]

So like the title says, do you like to watch YouTube (or other) videos going through a game?

If you do, why? Do you use it like a review, or because you can't/don't want to buy the game?

And if not, why?

Personally I do not, because if I like a game I'd rather just buy it and experience it myself. However, I'm debating starting to record gameplay and posting it after a bit of editing for whatever the next game I buy is.

EDIT: Wow this thread took off. Tons of votes!
So, looks like a LOT of people watch Let's Play videos, so I have another question! When you watch them, wouldn't you rather be playing a game yourself? So, is it that you don't have one worth playing at the moment or you just find them more entertaining at times?

 

[Phlakes]

Yes, all the time. I'm currently following five of them.

And for anyone else that does, I don't want to sound like I'm advertising but you should check out this place [http://www.gameanyone.com].

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Why the hell would I watch someone else playing the game? That's boring, I'd rather, you know, have fun playing the game myself.

 

[lacktheknack]

Ooooh! A place to plug my <link=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.258867-Lets-Play-The-Elder-Scrolls-II-Daggerfall-Round-Four>LP!

Which is funny, because it's not video driven...

OT: Only horror games with hysterical commentators, for obvious reasons.

 

[Double A]

I really like the ones that Shamus Young and co. have done.

 

[lacktheknack]

Why the hell would I watch someone else playing the game? That's boring, I'd rather, you know, have fun playing the game myself.

Three reasons:
One: You can't afford/find it. See: The Dark Eye.
Two: It's too scary. See: Amnesia.
Three: It's a freeform game that needs a tutorial. See: Minecraft.

 

[Radeonx]

Yes. I find them entertaining.
I used to watch Starcraft matches (Still do) from people such as HDStarcraft and HuskyStarcraft, but I found that since I've gotten much better at the game, they aren't very helpful anymore. Still entertaining, though.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Why the hell would I watch someone else playing the game? That's boring, I'd rather, you know, have fun playing the game myself.

Three reasons:
One: You can't afford/find it. See: The Dark Eye.
Two: It's too scary. See: Amnesia.
Three: It's a freeform game that needs a tutorial. See: Minecraft.

But surely watching someone play a game you can't get would just make you want it more? I know I would.
You do have a point with the Minecraft tutorial though.

 

[LaughingAtlas]

If I can't play a game for lack of the console or something, (I will never buy a Wii) Let's plays are a fine alternative. For a game like Silent Hill, I could wander around in bewilderment as to where I'm meant to go, dwindling away healthkits, ammo, and patience, or I could watch someone else figure it out faster than I would (Noooo sense of direction) or fast-forward the video. The player's commentary can be pretty funny too, particularly when using a dead enemy in a ventriloquist act PETA might take issue with.

 

[Mr. Omega]

If they have funny commentary, then I watch them, and I just skip any LPs they do of games I am playing or planned to play. If it was something I played before or just never plan to play, and they have funny commentary, then I watch it.

 

[mikev7.0]

Yes! I use them in place of reviews because they actually tell me more than someone who's opinion is going to be at least a bit different from mine as they are a different person with different experiences. I am especially wary of the jaded perspective of someone who just plays video games as a profession. (I will NOT refer to them as journalists, they're just.....not.)

So I use these instead! I also watched the "Review Supplements" here and so far so safe but I have found so much material here that is just gross or insulting that I hesitate to click on anything other than the forums or Extra Credits and even extra credits, as good as it is, does not seem to be above swearing and inuendo. Sad really.

 

[lacktheknack]

Why the hell would I watch someone else playing the game? That's boring, I'd rather, you know, have fun playing the game myself.

Three reasons:
One: You can't afford/find it. See: The Dark Eye.
Two: It's too scary. See: Amnesia.
Three: It's a freeform game that needs a tutorial. See: Minecraft.

But surely watching someone play a game you can't get would just make you want it more? I know I would.
You do have a point with the Minecraft tutorial though.

In the case of The Dark Eye (which I watched), it was an awesome game that was meant to be played through once, so now I feel less of a need to find it (although I'd love to have it for the same reason a coin collector wants that rare penny).

I was really scared to play even the demo of Amnesia, so I watched Mangaminx's LP because A. I can stay as far back from the screen as I like, and B. Mangaminx is absolutely hilarious when she's terrified.

Watch 16:00 to 18:00 of this for proof of that (plus a bonus Minecraft LP!).

<youtube=uT7SyhxdkUQ>

Also, an LP can give you a non-interactive sampler by someone who likes the game to convince you to try it, thus it could be counted as a sort of review. We've got two of this type on this very site, Dwarf Fortress (by Internet Kraken) and Daggerfall (by me... plug plug plug).

 

[VaudevillianVeteran]

I watch them from time to time. Sometimes I watch them for nostalgic reasons and other times because the game is bloody impossible to find. Quite addicting when you find a well-made one.

 

[Revenge Revisited]

All the time! Let's Plays aren't because you can't afford the game they're for the funny commentary!

 

[Bobic]

If they're funny enough they are worth watching. E.g. This one http://spoonyexperiment.com/category/lets-play/phantasmagoria/

Oh, I also watch a lot of retsupurae, if that counts. It's a group of people that talk over other people's let's plays and mock them.


Mean spirited I know, but kinda funny on occasion.

 

[Impluse_101]

Yes, and I'm watching one right now. Well its not really, but it kinda is.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

They wouldn't be fun without the commentary. The three I watch are funny has hell. agentjr, helloween4545, and kikoskia, all on youtube. The way kikoskia talks to the game is the best

 

[Eponet]

Yes, generally because the person commentating it is humourous; and generally the ones I watch are ones that I wouldn't have bought anyway

 

[bassdrum]

Every once in a while (generally if I'm on the fence about actually buying a game, or if it's the sort of game for which multiple play styles are possible, i.e. Fallout, to see if there's a better approach than my own).

Other than that, it's pretty fun to watch total wusses play horror games. There are some fantastic videos of people totally losing it while playing games like Left 4 Dead or Dead Space that are pretty fantastic.

Case in point:

 

[Ultress]

I tend to watch ones for games I know I never play like the Ripper or for enjoyable commentary like the Persona 4 endurance run.