What's the Point in Blind Let's Plays?

[MintSM]

I've been seeing an increasing amount of Blind Let's Plays all around Youtube, something I've found kind of confusing; to me, Let's Plays are sort of a form of commentary. For video games, the player has as much involvement in the experience as the developers, so I take Let's Plays as a form of impromptu DVD commentary, providing insight on games, whether it be by examining what they would want the game to be more like or providing a walkthrough for players. Or if you're Markiplier or PewDiePie, by screaming and shit.

But with Blind LPs, it usually gets the person's first impression, but that's not as informative as someone's fully developed tastes. Yes, a first impression is kind of interesting, but it only really sets up a basis on which to come up with tastes from. Essentially, all I get from Blind LPs is the early beta of a full LP, as their general impressions haven't even been formed yet. Not to mention, the problem of seeing someone bumble around a game not knowing how to progress and stuff like that.

Maybe I'm alone on this. Actually, scratch that, I most likely am, because blind LPs are spreading in quite large quantities at this point. What's the appeal of them, is all I'm saying. I'm not going to stop you if you plan on doing them, but I'm curious as to why the idea is so appealing to some people. :/

 

[tippy2k2]

Well I never really understood the point of "Let's Play" period so I guess we'll both have to be confused

The only time I imagine a Blind version would be more fun would be horror games to capture their real reaction (although so many of these seem to have fake reactions anyway that it doesn't really matter) or games where not knowing what is about to murder the shit out of you is part of the fun [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Tippy2k2-s-XCOM-Army-Let-s-Play].

 

[MysticSlayer]

I've seen some videos where people show their first experience at playing a game, and part of the fun is just watching them try to figure out what they need to do. I'm not a huge fan of LPs in general, but I do always enjoy watching someone attempt to figure out a solution, especially since it often leaves me laughing at how bad they look.

 

[Clearwaters]

The appeal is to see someone genuine first reaction to things. The idea of a blind LP will be even more appealing of the game has twists and mystery to the story.
It's the same reason why people like to show their friends movies and such.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I think that part of the fun is living vicariously though the person if it's a game you've never played before. If you've never played the game, and the lets player has also never played the game you basically get to experience second hand what the game is like for a first play-through, without the player screwing it up for you by being too good at the game. Personally I enjoy lets plays because I can't afford to buy every game that I want, so the games that I don't think will hold my interest for very long are games I reserve for watching lets plays of. Watching a blind lets play allows me to imagine how I would have played the game, and whether I would have done anything differently.

Sometimes blind LPs can be really painful through. Seriously, don't watch 2 best friends play Last of Us. Just don't do it.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

The appeal is to see someone genuine first reaction to things. The idea of a blind LP will be even more appealing of the game has twists and mystery to the story.
It's the same reason why people like to show their friends movies and such.

Exactly. I'm sure there's some level of ego-boosting involved too when the player is confused and defeated by something that's obvious to a veteran at the game, but for me the most fun part is watching their first-time reactions to the game's good parts, as seen with Liamsixx and Gnomeshark's blind Mega Man races (yes they actually managed to beat MM2 and 3 blind in about 6 hours). I particularly like it when they provide different voices for unvoiced characters as seen with my current favourite Lucahjin. Another good one I found for good reactions to stuff and jokes was Kikoskia's blind Doom 3 Let's Play; I will never forget his habit of saying 'hello sir' to an enemy he's about to shotgun or his impressions of Dr. Betruger.

 

[TakerFoxx]

In the cases of games known for their twists/horror/wackiness, it's a way to relive that first experience by watching someone else's reactions. Get the right game and the right guy playing it, their freakouts can be a thing of beauty.

 

[sanquin]

I only use LP's for one thing. Finding out what a game is actually like when played, rather than what trailers tell you. Beyond that, I've never really understood the whole concept.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

That way you're on the same page as whoever's playing the game.

 

[krazykidd]

Because it's less scripted i guess. People know make let's plays and have played a game before hand usually has some sort of script. Things they wanted to see and do and say. In a blind let's play however, is more enjoyable ( at least to me) when i haven't played a game, i'm basically learnig with the player and seeing their first reaction to something i am also seein for the first time.

It's also why i prefer improv comedy to normal comedy. Sometimes things done on the fly is a lot funnier than scripted stuff.

 

[Rozalia1]

Well, compare DSP to Chip Cheezum and you'll see why blind LP's are retarded.

In a ChipCheezum you'll see Chip and Ironicus absoloutely flip the game inside out, go through all the unlockables, S rank everything in existance and time their jokes accordingly, also Chip puts more effort into it, I heard he replayed the final boss of Revengance 5 times each time was a no damage run, just to get the musical cues he wanted for the final part.

In DSP you'll see some chucklefuck bumble his way blind through a game he knows nothing about, struggle with off the cuff "humor" and generally make a mess of things.

Don't do a blind LP unless you understand game design, do us all a favour.

Not really fair using DSP as an example, the man is one of the worst players I've seen.
I've seen good blind lets plays, all they require is the player has some semblance of skill and understanding (which DSP doesn't).

 

[DirgeNovak]

I strongly suggest you watch Alex's shows on the LoadingReadyRun Twitch channel (IDDQDerp on Tuesdays 5PM EDT and Let's Nope / Watch and Play on Fridays 10PM EDT). Then you will see the point of blind let's plays. Especially the Friday shows, in which he plays horror and/or really bad games and has priceless reactions to everything.

 

[xaszatm]

Eh, it usually is the joy of experiencing something new is why people like watching blind Let's Plays. That being said, usually a good blind Let's Play has a person with significant skill in whatever game genre they are playing. Therefore, there is less time of him/her screwing up basic concepts and more him/her discovering cool things.

 

[Mirroga]

Maybe I'm alone on this. Actually, scratch that, I most likely am, because blind LPs are spreading in quite large quantities at this point. What's the appeal of them, is all I'm saying. I'm not going to stop you if you plan on doing them, but I'm curious as to why the idea is so appealing to some people. :/

Let me just put you in the scenario as to why Blind Let's Plays are rampant. Do you remember a game where its shock value or its first impression on you is so memorable (can be anger, sadness, any emotion) that you cannot recreate it from any other game?

That's where the blind let's plays come in because you're curious if other people share the same emotion of that "event" or a different one. Or if its almost certain everyone will react the same way, then you watch it so that you can relive that shock moment or first impression from another person. It's basically the same reason why you want people to watch a movie or game that you consider to have changed or affected you.

But those aren't just for those moments. Some people watch them so you can watch a playthrough that won't spoil you of future events or is not guiding you throughout the game which kills off your investment in watching it.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

Why do people enjoy improv comedy? It's all about the personality and unique situations that can be infinitely entertaining.

Then again, I'm not a fan of either in particular. Though a lot of the reasons in the thread so far ring true with me.

 

[gigastar]

Some games are simply best played with no foreknowledge.

Horror games in particular, have less impact to them when you know thats coming.

 

[Dosbilliam]

The appeal is to see someone genuine first reaction to things. The idea of a blind LP will be even more appealing of the game has twists and mystery to the story.

Being someone who wants to become a Let's Player, this is pretty much the only interest I could find in doing BLPs. If I'd done that for, say, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, it would have given me some excellent deadpan for the first infinite-spawn boss fight.

 

[Skatologist]

I watch blind LPs after playing the single player in order to see how others view the experiences of the game so i don't feel weird for thinking certain things or noticing or not not noticing things. Also, usually if isn't a binge run, you can help give advice to the blind LPer so they can find strategies that work for them/understand the story.

 

[Strain42]

For me it depends. A comedy show like Game Grumps or Markiplier where the point is to get humor from their playing, there's certainly an advantage to be had for the person going in blind.

I dunno, for me if I want to watch someone play a game flawlessly just to show off how to do it and how to make the game the best it can be...I'd rather just watch that rather than listen to someone talking over it.

Lets Plays are (usually) comedy shows, and so there is a certain humor that can come from someone experiencing something new for the first time.