Walk-through or Laugh-through?

[Rheinmetall]

When you happen to watch a game-play video on YouTube do you prefer it to be a serious walk-through of the game, a guide for the game, or a more easy going blind Let's Play type of video where the player is goofing around and doesn't have a clue how the game should be played? I guess most of us will watch everything depending on our mood, and what we are looking for at a certain moment, but as a general rule do you enjoy watching a typical walk-through, or comedy stuff?

 

[cookyt]

If I'm watching it for its own sake, I expect the person playing to add something to the experience to make it more enjoyable. I couldn't watch a straight walk-through without getting bored quickly. That said, when I do watch straight a walk-through, it's usually to see a small section for which I can't figure out what to do.

 

[DoPo]

I hate video walkthroughs. OK, most of them, unless the game actually needs one (really tricky to find stuff and similar) it's just a waste of time usually, as I need only essentially a few seconds or a written paragraph or a sentence.

That is goes double for other video tutorials and, like, a thousand fold for video tutorials about FUCKING SOFTWARE.

Ahem, anyway, if I do watch a gameplay video, it'd be a let's play to either see what a game is about or the story and such or to just have a good time with something lighthearted and funny.

 

[Sir Christopher McFarlane]

I usually watch HCBailly. He makes Let's Plays that explore the game mechanics of JRPGs to diminish grinding to a very minimal level. Usually I don't go for people who crack jokes at the game instead. It needs to be informative to me.

 

[skywolfblue]

I need a bit of comedy to make watching other people play worthwhile. It's best when the comedy goes along with the flow of the game, and used where appropriate instead of all the time.

 

[porous_shield]

It depends on the purpose I'm watching the let's play for. If I'm completely stumped in a game, sometimes I resort to a video walkthrough, but I'm only watching for a couple of seconds and then back to the game again so I could care less if there was funny commentary; screwing around in the video makes it harder to find what I have to do. Even then, if the person playing is treating the game like serious business than I usually turn the audio off because I find those types of people to be insufferable and even go so far as try an find another walkthrough if I get stuck again.

On the other hand, if the person playing is amicable and funny I might continue watching or look at their other videos.
I've watched a few entire Let's Plays of games (a Neverwinter Nights expansion by Total Biscuit, Dead Space by someone I forget the name of, and Persona 4 by Vinny/Jeff of Giantbomb) and what they have in common is that the people playing put some thought in making each video watchable and the people playing are amicable at least in my opinion. Also, trying to be funny all the time and making a joke of everything is a sure way to kill my enjoyment.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

The kind of LPs I enjoy are ones that are serious playthroughs (not walkthroughs), but with a laid-back/light hearted attitude. I find them the most fun to watch. So I'm not too sure whether that would be considered walkthrough or "laughthrough", as you state.

I'm not sure if it's allowed here, to mention YouTube channels or not, but the LPers I commonly watch are: veriax, GophersVids, ReformistTM (probably my favourite) and a little bit of Toegoff. I'm sure at least someone is familiar with one or more of them. It's just very nice, relaxing yet serious/impassioned gameplay with enjoyable commentary.

 

[Windcaler]

I find that you go to different comentators for different things and sometimes you just want to experience the game without interuption. If I want to laugh at the absurdity of a game Ill watch a comentator that has a heavy comedic background. If i want to get serious and learn strategy or listen to plans made in a stategy game ill go for a very serious commentator. For some games, I just want to see the gameplay and Ill look for something with no commentary. It really depends on the game and my mood

 

[loc978]

Usually a laugh-through... but there are some games I just never intend to play, but still want to experience the story. I think of those as a shut-the-fuck-up-through. Quiet LPers are my friend.

As for using them as a guide/walkthrough... never. I only resort to guides after being stumped for hours, and the ones I use are always text.

 

[Smooth Operator]

If I need a guide or want the story then you better shut your pie hole, but if I'm just looking for some background noise to pass the time then there might as well be commentary.

 

[lacktheknack]

I prefer a grin-through.

It's informative, to-the-point and doesn't waste my time, but maintains a good sense of humor. Mangaminx's LP of Amnesia is a good example, it's a blind playthrough, but she not too often stumped, she's actually trying to get through without making a big deal out of everything or breaking the game, and her reactions to everything are hilarious.

 

[FreakofNatur]

If it's going to be entertainment, I'll watch a pop game like FTL or dungeons or Guns of Icarus(which content is seriously lacking on the youtubes)

If it's going to be personalities... I've grown past that already. Most of the time it's too tedious to sit through 20 minutes of self-expression. Sometimes the banter is really enjoyable if it's multiplayer, but for a single person.... I'd rather go through a highlights reel. Much more punch with no downtime.

LP videos are often low quality content. The only LP that I really enjoyed is one of jurassic park trespasser let's plays/walkthough by Research Indicates, very humbly/poorly titled after the sub titles of the game. It has very little views and is hard to find, so i'll link it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oepl6lL6kK0

I enjoy comedy coverage only if it's more than one person. When people enjoy themselves, it's simply more authentic and better comedy in general: You don't really have to force jokes and still can let the game speak for itself without speaking through the cutscenes....

 

[CyanideSandwich]

Rarely I'll watch a serious Total Biscuit video describing what the game is about if I intend on buying it, especially if it's an indie game.

But laughs are much more common. The Roosterteeth guys are my favourites for Let's Plays. I can't count how many hours I've wasted well-spent in stitches watching their stuff.

 

[Ratties]

You know I can't really stand it when people are just goofing around when it comes to this kind of stuff. Know I hate it even more when they don't label the video correctly. I am expecting a good walkthrough, instead I get some 19 year old jack off who thinks hes funny.

 

[Drakmorg]

I watch Let's Plays by Chip and Ironicus [http://chipandironicus.com/] (And associates). I enjoy it because they don't think that it's possible to be either only informative or only funny. They manage to succeed at being both.

However, for other people who play video games and post videos of them on the Internet, I typically prefer funny. The only time I'd ever watch a video walk-through is if I get stuck on a portion of a game and need to see exactly what I have to do. Otherwise I'll just read a text walk-through if I really need one.

 

[Alfador_VII]

If I'm looking for help with a section in a game and can't find a good text description on gamefaqs, then I want a serious video walkthrough, preferably without commentary, showing exactly what to do and where.

On the other hand, If I'm wanting some entertainment, I sometimes watch a funny Let's Play, especially of games I've already played.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I like more funny videos. Cry Plays are REALLY good. The production value of all his videos are sky high.

Otherwise PlayerPOV has some HILARIOUS LoL videos.


This is still the funniest video on Youtube.

"BUT VOLIBEAR, NOT EVEN PAYING ANY ATTENTION AT ALL! VOLIBEAR, WHAT THE FUCK?!"


First recorded instance of Lee Sin mid. Oh dear.


"2013 SUUUUUUUUUCKS!"

 

[barbzilla]

For the most part I only use walkthroughs during moments of frustration at not being able to figure something out, so I would have to say I would much prefer watching Laugh-Throughs as you put it.

When I do decide to use a walkthrough, I don't like videos. I much prefer a text based walkthrough. I don't even like pictures in my walkthroughs, as they tend to give away more information than they intend to.

 

[Daft Time]

When you happen to watch a game-play video on YouTube do you prefer it to be a serious walk-through of the game, a guide for the game, or a more easy going blind Let's Play type of video where the player is goofing around and doesn't have a clue how the game should be played? I guess most of us will watch everything depending on our mood, and what we are looking for at a certain moment, but as a general rule do you enjoy watching a typical walk-through, or comedy stuff?

There are only two reasons I'll ever watch a video 'walk-through' of a game; either I want a laugh (I rarely watch Let's Plays for this) or I want to see the game played. If it's the first, make me laugh! If it's the second, don't say a fucking word. Nothing you'll say will give me greater insight to the game that simply the footage of it being played.

It's worth noting if I need a guide for the game, I don't ever want to watch a video. A written guide is much better way for giving the solutions to problems than a video is. It frustrates me immensely when a guide, rather than describing the answer to the problem, just gives me a video. So. Much. Rage.