Don't Watch Me Play

[DarthMol]

In a world of streaming on Twitch and Let's Plays on Youtube one could would be forgiven for thinking that everyone wants others to watch them play a game. Yet there are times when many of us would prefer to be left alone in our gaming world.

I came across this interesting post on RPS where the author writes about how being watched breaks the immersion and hinders the experience of gaming. Here's an excerpt:

The presence of another means I pay more attention to how a fight looks, how dialogue reads, how pretty the scenery is. I look at what’s right in front of me rather than some pay-off further down the road. I don’t think, for instance, that I would have spent quite so much time scouring Fallout 4’s wasteland for specific items of junk with which to craft minor armour upgrades had someone else been observing me. I would have headed for the most spectacular scenery, sought out the biggest fights, thought about what was there rather than what I didn’t have yet.

But I resent that it’s not my game anymore. It’s become someone else’s spectator sport, and worse, it gives them a window into my private world. This is true of even those closest to me; my partner does not play games at all so does not understand why I would spend so much time to them. When she watches, she sees the silliness, the wanton violence, the empty tap-tap of buttons that we have all long ago taken in our stride, for better or worse. She sees me as I am. How much I enjoy these things. It’s embarrassing.

So I alt-tab or turn off the screen when someone enters the room. Walk away, keep it mine. Seconds after they’ve gone, I’m right back there, as though the interruption had never happened, my thoughts thoroughly taken up again by wherever I was, whatever I was doing. No matter how embarrassed or scrutinised I felt, I can always go back.

I remember when I was younger I'd often watch a friend play a game or they'd watch me play; and my sister would watch me play something (especially Mafia) and it was a fun shared experience. But these days I tend to agree with the author here in some ways. Being watched makes me more aware of the gamey-ness and the things that don't make sense unless you're a gamer.

[VirtualForce]

I agree, I am conscious of them watching me, breaks the immersion for me. I tend to forget about the world around me, having someone around me or behind me bugs me.

One exception though, my son loves to sit on my lap or on a chair next to me, he likes watching me play so I make a thing of if, showing him around, he loves games where we can explore. I also choose games where there isnt much fighting or rather choose to avoid the fight. Esp like games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.

[Weasley]

I also think it depends on the game.

[Mclyle_]

I dont mind people watching, as long as they dont try to tell me how to play. I play how I always play. Hahaha my brother sits and works while I'm playing sometimes and he always complains about how much I am moving because he cant follow what I'm doing and I always tell him "you know you dont HAVE TO watch" and carry on with my life. That said, I avoid playing solo games while friends in the room because it feels a bit selfish and not as much fun around company

[StaggerLee]

In a world of streaming on Twitch and Let's Plays on Youtube one could would be forgiven for thinking that everyone wants others to watch them play a game. Yet there are times when many of us would prefer to be left alone in our gaming world.

I came across this interesting post on RPS where the author writes about how being watched breaks the immersion and hinders the experience of gaming. Here's an excerpt:



I remember when I was younger I'd often watch a friend play a game or they'd watch me play; and my sister would watch me play something (especially Mafia) and it was a fun shared experience. But these days I tend to agree with the author here in some ways. Being watched makes me more aware of the gamey-ness and the things that don't make sense unless you're a gamer.

Oh man that quote puts it perfectly! I feel exactly the same. I hate it if people watch me play. I feel awkward. I feel as though there is some expectation to show them something entertaining just as the article describes. Gaming is my own experience, especially in single-player games. I love that I can do things at my own pace or obsess over stupid things that I enjoy without worrying what someone else is seeing or expecting. This is the same reason I primarily enjoy single-player games.

[matt]

I'm not sure what the appeal is of streaming your games to be honest, I just play to enjoy a game, why would I want to broadcast it?

[Mclyle_]

I'm not sure what the appeal is of streaming your games to be honest, I just play to enjoy a game, why would I want to broadcast it?

Right?! I swear some people create their own problems! I get the case where its at home and someone starts watching but streaming your games is your choice.

[Tom]

I think people that want to stream will stream... Its not for everyone...

To a large extent it does depend on the game... Something like Hearthstone is great for streamers and viewers alike... But a survival "horror" game i can agree would lose a lot of its punch with an audience...

[VirtualForce]

Streaming...I dont watch streams as such, but more gameplay vids and then I am very particular to whom I watch. Frankie for instance and neebs and the gang, half the fun are the comments and stuff they do.