Poll: What do you think of facecams on let's plays?
- Thread starter Drathnoxis
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I never really thought much about them. The only real instance when I have is when the cam covers some UI element in the game (like HP/resources/some sort of tracker) and even then it's usually been just minor.
I don't really think I have a preference for whether to have the cam or not. Then again, I don't really watch LPs as much as listen to them - if I'm playing or doing something that doesn't require my full attention, I have a Let's Play of something running in the background. I'd glance at it from time to time but I don't really sit and watch it as if it was a movie - not usually, at least. In that respect, it matters little whether there is a face can or not.
I don't really think I have a preference for whether to have the cam or not. Then again, I don't really watch LPs as much as listen to them - if I'm playing or doing something that doesn't require my full attention, I have a Let's Play of something running in the background. I'd glance at it from time to time but I don't really sit and watch it as if it was a movie - not usually, at least. In that respect, it matters little whether there is a face can or not.
Hate's a strong word... but yeah, I'd say I kinda loathe facecams. No channels I view use them (if they did I'd either stop watching, or at least cover that part of the screen up), as they tend to treat the game as the real star of the show, not their stupid self-conscious facial reactions.
...also, facecams feel very much part of the whole online 'reaction' culture, which is just fucking insipid.
...also, facecams feel very much part of the whole online 'reaction' culture, which is just fucking insipid.
It shows a narcassism i, as of yet, cannot fully empathise with. If i was to decide upon making a let's play instead of something creative, the thought process required to believe that my face overeacting to every little experience like an easily excited child is just what the audience needs...would mean i value myself more than any other contributing material involved. Even talking over a title feels a little arrogant, but at least it isn't as intrusive. I'm sure that many people like to stare at a gamer's gormless face for "lolz" but those people just haven't experienced better entertainment yet. I put it on par with reality TV, maybe even lower...depending on what the useful-insight/annoying-squeal ratio is Oh, a poll...ok, i'll vote...
For some games and some streamers it works.
For others of both it is unnecessary.
Two streamers I watch and enjoy are Markiplier and NerdCubed.
The former relies exclusively on utilising the facecam with every game and incorporates it into his, using an old comedy term, his 'bit'.
He plays up to the camera, engages it and as such it is as much a focus of his routine as the game.
Nerdcubed never uses it, all the humour and work with the game is verbal or through comedically timed editing and in game situations.
Both are making utility of their personality and how they play the game to make it interesting and entertaining to watch, but one uses the cam, one does not.
As such, I'm pretty 'meh' on the inclusion of facecams in such games.
They can add to the video, but with the wrong game or used by the wrong streamer, they can be a detraction from the entertainment.
For others of both it is unnecessary.
Two streamers I watch and enjoy are Markiplier and NerdCubed.
The former relies exclusively on utilising the facecam with every game and incorporates it into his, using an old comedy term, his 'bit'.
He plays up to the camera, engages it and as such it is as much a focus of his routine as the game.
Nerdcubed never uses it, all the humour and work with the game is verbal or through comedically timed editing and in game situations.
Both are making utility of their personality and how they play the game to make it interesting and entertaining to watch, but one uses the cam, one does not.
As such, I'm pretty 'meh' on the inclusion of facecams in such games.
They can add to the video, but with the wrong game or used by the wrong streamer, they can be a detraction from the entertainment.
Not a fan.
I like being able to put a face to the voice, but a constant cam is just silly.
They either end up just woodenly staring at the screen, y'know, like a person using a computer, or they insist on overacting their whacky totally-genuine-guys-no-really reactions.
The first is a pointless waste of screen real estate, the second is annoying.
I like being able to put a face to the voice, but a constant cam is just silly.
They either end up just woodenly staring at the screen, y'know, like a person using a computer, or they insist on overacting their whacky totally-genuine-guys-no-really reactions.
The first is a pointless waste of screen real estate, the second is annoying.
I'm not the biggest fan of let's plays at all, but the Game Grumps made me realise how bad most face cam let's plays are. Almost every facecam let's player and episode is interchangeable because they aren't forced to actually talk about anything or make jokes.
1. Don't care enough to care either way...
2. Live-streaming reaction shots can still be worth watching... like watching Rifftrax Live...
Other than that, unless they're playing a game that I already played, I don't always focus on that particular screen unless the comment section points out a particular shot, for example...
2. Live-streaming reaction shots can still be worth watching... like watching Rifftrax Live...
Other than that, unless they're playing a game that I already played, I don't always focus on that particular screen unless the comment section points out a particular shot, for example...