Youtube Video Trend: Let's Plays.

[DugMachine]

I only got into Let's Plays through The Creatures and actually wish I could cash in myself but so many people do it it's damn near impossible and I don't have a unique enough personality to stand out from the sea of tweens trying to do crappy LP's with their camcorders recording the screen.

And I don't see it lasting for more than another year or two so i'll just sit back and get my daily dose of Uberhaxornova and SSoHPKC

 

[Da Orky Man]

I only ever watch the horror ones, my favourites being Slender and SCP: Containment Breach. Something about relaxing at home with a pint, watching a stranger scream at his monitor as his life slowly bleeds away...

 

[Weaver]

I like them but I generally don't enjoy most of the "big names" in the scene. They seem far too impersonal for my tastes.

I've also stopped recording them myself. There's too much competition in the LP scene so there's no real reason for me to do it.

 

[Aerosteam]

Meh, I just think Let's Plays are just something people do if they're unimaginative.

Edit: Unless they're funny! Like Game Grumps!

 

[Madara XIII]

Meh, I just think Let's Plays are just something people do if they're unimaginative.

Wow dude...just..low blow
Seriously ow..

How is it unimaginative?
I balance LPs along with reviews and parodies and half the time my Lps work as walkthroughs to help my viewers or just entertain.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Meh, I just think Let's Plays are just something people do if they're unimaginative.

Ouch.

OT: I say people can post what they want to post. I myself understand the appeal of posting your own commentary while recording your favorite games but I just haven't committed to doing a full LP since my first attempt ended in failure.

It's fun and if people enjoy the commentary, power to them.

 

[Madara XIII]

I like them but I generally don't enjoy most of the "big names" in the scene. They seem far too impersonal for my tastes.

I've also stopped recording them myself. There's too much competition in the LP scene so there's no real reason for me to do it.

Oooh what's your channel name? I'd be happy to give em a look.

 

[Madara XIII]

I only got into Let's Plays through The Creatures and actually wish I could cash in myself but so many people do it it's damn near impossible and I don't have a unique enough personality to stand out from the sea of tweens trying to do crappy LP's with their camcorders recording the screen.

And I don't see it lasting for more than another year or two so i'll just sit back and get my daily dose of Uberhaxornova and SSoHPKC

Best way to stick out is through quality.
The people you're referring to, are quite annoying to watch an lp from.
Idk how I did it, but just try and find a gimmick or some quirk that works for you.

 

[Phlakes]

It's obvious that some people only got into it because there's an audience (see: ad revenue) for it, and it's a little sad to see that regular people that do it because they care are overshadowed by Youtube "celebrities".

It's like pop music, really.

 

[Weaver]

I like them but I generally don't enjoy most of the "big names" in the scene. They seem far too impersonal for my tastes.

I've also stopped recording them myself. There's too much competition in the LP scene so there's no real reason for me to do it.

Oooh what's your channel name? I'd be happy to give em a look.

Thanks for the interest! It's this: http://www.youtube.com/user/WeaverTube1

Do keep in mind I don't really plan on doing more though
I should probably have done an announcement for my hiatus, that's kind of bad form on my part.

 

[Erana]

Man... Now that I think of it, I've been watching Let's Plays since video LPs first became popular in '07. Which is odd, since I'm not a member of Something Aweful, nor associate with many goons. Still, I like them, and I personally think its really great that people can use this formula as a way to share their enjoyment of their favorite games. And just think of this from a historic perspective; what better primary resource documentation can you have for media than this sort of real-time, immediate documentation?

I owe my username to Lateblt, who first perked my interest in the Quest for Glory series, and Let's Plays have been my best way to experience those games, seeing as I'm actually really terrible at Adventure games. (Screw you, Belegost)
While there are a lot of terrible LPs out there, especially on Youtube in particular, they're really great at gaining a whole new look on games you know, for expanding your understanding of games that you don't have the ability to play yourself or for being a source of endless amusement. I don't really see any reason to insist that they stop. And if all you're seeing these days is people who are just using it to subscription farm, maybe you should try looking harder, because there are so many great LPs out there by people who really love video games, and really give a damn about what they're doing.

 

[Madara XIII]

It's obvious that some people only got into it because there's an audience (see: ad revenue) for it, and it's a little sad to see that regular people that do it because they care are overshadowed by Youtube "celebrities".

It's like pop music, really.

I know that feeling all too well.
I did a quality LP of DMC3 and excelled above most Lps of it.

Only problem was that the shitty lp got the spotlight because, A) She was more famous
B) Everyone was going nuts about a girl playing DMC3

and what infuriated me was that her fans were fucking rabid when I was laughing how every boss kicked her ass.

so yeah I'm somewhat bitter I averaged 2000 views when she averaged 30000

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Anyone that does Slender, Happy Wheels, and Minecraft Let's Plays are on my hate list. The guys making those videos (Toby, that Pewdiepie whats-his-face) are just using these game's new-found popularity to get views. No creativity behind the videos whatsoever. It's bullshit.

Now Game Grumps on the other hand...
These guys are certainly a step in the right direction. And they're funny as hell.

 

[Amaror]

I kinda like Let's Plays. They give me the chance to experience some great games that are exclusives for something. However i do hate facecams. I want to see the bloody game, not some person freaking out about it. And i turn of the video instantly once somebody says the words "So please subscribe...".
Fortunaly the Let's players from my country generally don't do facecam, at least i haven't found a single one. I do watch some in english, like northernlion, j2, or jejmajor, but not more.

 

[Fishyash]

The only good let's plays are ones that are actually put some effort into it (read: not just frapsed video game footage with a face cam).

Reall good ones are Chuggaaconroy, ProtonJon, Chipcheezum, Ironicus, Slowbeef and Diabeetus. There are other really good ones I'm sure of it... but those are the ones I know of best.

So... yeah, let's plays work best as walkthroughs.

Honestly any let's play that isn't a walkthrough is so incredibly hit and miss. Most of the time it's going to suck but I guess if you go for the humorous path (i.e. gamegrumps, even that's hit and miss though) then it becomes less about the game and more about the players, which makes up for the bad content. If you're boring, don't make a blind let's play.

The ones I straight up hate though, are the people who know they suck at a "difficult" game and you're just watching them die and rage over and over again. The only time I ever enjoyed that was when Floe was playing those "I wanna be the X" games (best one was at EVO '12).

 

[Madara XIII]

Anyone that does Slender, Happy Wheels, and Minecraft Let's Plays are on my hate list. The guys making those videos (Toby, that Pewdiepie whats-his-face) are just using these game's new-found popularity to get views. No creativity behind the videos whatsoever. It's bullshit.

Now Game Grumps on the other hand...
These guys are certainly a step in the right direction. And they're funny as hell.

Yeah...I personally feel they'll just overshadow any newcomers into the Let's Play scene now.

Matt and Pat did the same thing, but even now I'm just a bit jaded.
I love their LPs, but for the guys who are still in the hundreds count of LPing have to struggle to stand out.

Not saying that's necessarily a bad thing seeing how it separates quality from quantity, but in all honesty, it's just disheartening at time when you have a Better LP but the famous one gets more views simply because of their identity.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Eh, I don't watch them too often, though when I do, I prefer videos by the likes of ChuggaConroy, ScottishDuck17, and DeceasedCrab, whose videos are at least entertaining...