You guys notice how the video game community on YouTube has been taken over by $$$?

[CavaliersFTW]

Ever since YouTube monetized the video game community (PewdiePie, Markiplier, and now a plethora of others) have now taken off all with the same gimmicks. Everything looks standardized now. A camera window of their face in the upper corner of the screen. Quirky editing, with production quality royalty free music in the background, and an expectation that the uploader will scream and overreact to things happening in the video game and/or expose themselves to other fun challenges in real life now totally unrelated to video games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COy6qxWZRUI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsgIRPlko4U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97YPlb72zS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0wmuN52B3s

How did this happen? Do you think some of the innocence has been taken from YouTube now that "partner" companies signed with these people and took over these users choices of what they should come out with, and how often? It looks like these users strictly post videos in such a way that nets them and their companies the most profit. Not seeing a lot of individualism anymore. Video game videos are all the same it's just a matter of choose your host now.

[GIF REACTION]

Your channel is okay but just wait til I release some new videos

[UK2K]

Ok so as much as I play video games (which is a lot), I never got that deep into the gaming world.

Break it down for me barney style what the premise of the post is.

[Rake2204]

YouTube video game commentators have always been an interesting phenomenon to me. Specifically, I'm fascinated by the folks who can sit and watch other people play NBA 2K. I understand watching crazy clips and unbelievable dunks or moves, but just watching a guy play through numerous random games with nothing of real note happening aside from him talking about the game is surprising to me in terms of its profitability. It all appears very strange to an outsider, monetization or not.

That said, do you monetize any of your videos, Cavs? Or have you ever tried? I would assume not since it's mostly footage stemming from others but I was curious. Do guys like the Highlight Factory or Dawkins make profit?

[CavaliersFTW]

Ok so as much as I play video games (which is a lot), I never got that deep into the gaming world.

Break it down for me barney style what the premise of the post is.
I'm just rambling there's no real point. I'm not into video games either. But I've been on YouTube for a while, I notice there are niche communities on YouTube. Monetization heavily affected the video game community in particular on YouTube because it's a niche that seems to generate a bizarrely large amount of traffic. Users that started out with simple playthroughs and such a few years ago have all turned into the same quirky format. Just an observation.

[Rake2204]

Who the hell wants to watch people playing video games just to see their reaction or watch them play games that you can do yourself? I get it maybe to see how you can get passed a certain stage or achieve a certain mission or find some kind of secret or solve a puzzle.Same exact question I asked myself time and again. However, apparently there's thousands upon thousands who do so. There's notable gamers out there who make serious money off of just.... playing and talking. Nothing particularly exceptional about what they're doing - they're just... playing and talking. Good for them in terms of finding a way to cash in, but still a strange phenomenon to me, in terms of mass appeal.

[falc39]

Some money is better than no money.

It's not just gaming, but all people in social media videos tend to act loud, eccentric, etc. It's a classic way of getting attention.

[BurningHammer]

Just watch Game Center CX with SA's subs.

[CavaliersFTW]

Who the hell wants to watch people playing video games just to see their reaction or watch them play games that you can do yourself? I get looking for one if maybe to see how you can get passed a certain stage or achieve a certain mission or find some kind of secret or solve a puzzle.
Well that's kind of how video game videos started several years back. Then money got into the equation, now there's like 100 channels that are all several hundred thousand to several 10's of million subscribers in size strictly dedicated to themselves playing video games without actually accomplishing anything specific as you mentioned. The focus has turned more to them acting zaney. It's a weird phenomena, as someone pointed out but it's a huge draw on YouTube. I don't get it either.

[Alamо]

Same exact question I asked myself time and again. However, apparently there's thousands upon thousands who do so. There's notable gamers out there who make serious money off of just.... playing and talking. Nothing particularly exceptional about what they're doing - they're just... playing and talking. Good for them in terms of finding a way to cash in, but still a strange phenomenon to me, in terms of mass appeal.


thousands? More like millions. Doesn't pewdiepie lead youtube in subs?

[Heavincent]

The target audience for pew die pie is mostly little kids (between the ages of 9-14 or so). They like to watch him play M games that their parents won't buy them and shit. They're also entertained by his juvenile sense of humor.

[RidonKs]

http://www.************.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1398802810722.jpeg

[Rake2204]

thousands? More like millions. Doesn't pewdiepie lead youtube in subs?Yeah, you're right. I was thinking in terms of unique visitors but even then, you're still right. I underestimated how popular that stuff really is.

[Droid101]

I understand watching video games being played to 1) learn new strategies in order to get better or 2) see footage of in-game action before you decide to buy.

Otherwise, I don't get it. I certainly wouldn't "donate" as many Twitchers or YouTubers request.

[GIF REACTION]

Delray Misfits is the best channel on youtube

Pretty much a REAL reality tv documentary of an autistic bodybuilder and other characters at the gym

[Heavincent]

I understand watching video games being played to 1) learn new strategies in order to get better or 2) see footage of in-game action before you decide to buy.

Otherwise, I don't get it. I certainly wouldn't "donate" as many Twitchers or YouTubers request.

Yeah these are the only reasons I ever watch walkthroughs, and I'll only watch a few minutes.

I like Centerstrain01 https://www.youtube.com/user/Centerstrain01/videos

He's down to earth, and he's really good at stealth games (finding the best path to avoid detection and whatnot).

[GIF REACTION]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuQ1v_1HoY0

100% real and absolutely ridiculous

[Joyner82reload]

Same exact question I asked myself time and again. However, apparently there's thousands upon thousands who do so. There's notable gamers out there who make serious money off of just.... playing and talking. Nothing particularly exceptional about what they're doing - they're just... playing and talking. Good for them in terms of finding a way to cash in, but still a strange phenomenon to me, in terms of mass appeal.

Yes, on twitch there are people who make 100k+ a year literally playing a game for 6 hours a day. The extremely popular ones probably make 200-300k. However that's only a very small portion. Most probably make $50 a week.

[UK2K]

YouTube video game commentators have always been an interesting phenomenon to me. Specifically, I'm fascinated by the folks who can sit and watch other people play NBA 2K. I understand watching crazy clips and unbelievable dunks or moves, but just watching a guy play through numerous random games with nothing of real note happening aside from him talking about the game is surprising to me in terms of its profitability. It all appears very strange to an outsider, monetization or not.

That said, do you monetize any of your videos, Cavs? Or have you ever tried? I would assume not since it's mostly footage stemming from others but I was curious. Do guys like the Highlight Factory or Dawkins make profit?
No shit.

I've seen a few (mostly watched swatting videos on youtube) but I have watched some map walk throughs before.

I didnt know they got paid for doing that :oldlol:

[Heavincent]

Yes, on twitch there are people who make 100k+ a year literally playing a game for 6 hours a day

That's nothing. PewDiePie makes over $1 million a year. Maybe even $2 million.

[Heavincent]

:biggums:

I'm WAY off. He made $7.4 million last year.


:biggums: :biggums:

[CavaliersFTW]

That's nothing. PewDiePie makes over $1 million a year. Maybe even $2 million.
And this is exactly why more and more channels keep popping up with IDENTICAL format. Everyone wants to be zaney while playing video games on YouTube and make it big. Every kid who's seen YouTube gaming videos prob thinks the world wants to watch them and their friends playing call of duty or GTA. Honestly a guy I work with was telling me the other day that his kids are trying to start a YouTube gaming channel. YouTube gamers are literally celebrities to the current generation of teenagers.

[CavaliersFTW]

I'm WAY off. He made $7.4 million last year.


:biggums: :biggums:
Damn.

[Joyner82reload]

That's nothing. PewDiePie makes over $1 million a year. Maybe even $2 million.

Yes, but at least he makes videos on youtube which get millions of views and he has a very unique form of editing/comedy(although I'm not a fan in the least). The guys on twitch just play the game for the most part. They talk about strategy and that is it.

[CavaliersFTW]

Yes, but at least he makes videos on youtube which get millions of views and he has a very unique form of editing/comedy(although I'm not a fan in the least). The guys on twitch just play the game for the most part. They talk about strategy and that is it.
You must have never seen other people's YouTube gaming videos. The formula is all EXACTLY the same no matter who it is :lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50GClRhiif4

Like I said, I think once "partner" companies came into the equation everyone is instructed to do the same things and edit videos the same way. It's industry standard to make YouTube gaming videos the way see PewDiePie making them.

[Heavincent]

Youtubers probably bringing in more money than the people who actually make the games. And make no mistake, it's an absolute bitch to make a video game, especially the big triple A titles. Hours are ridiculous and it's just a really difficult job from what I've heard. Even the good games are a complete disaster until the last two months of development or so.

I don't understand the world sometimes.

[Joyner82reload]

Youtubers probably bringing in more money than the people who actually make the games. And make no mistake, it's an absolute bitch to make a video game, especially the big triple A titles. Hours are ridiculous and it's just a really difficult job from what I've heard. Even the good games are a complete disaster until the last two months of development or so.

I don't understand the world sometimes.

Free entertainment is king, always has and always will be.

[warriorfan]

Ever since YouTube monetized the video game community (PewdiePie, Markiplier, and now a plethora of others) have now taken off all with the same gimmicks. Everything looks standardized now. A camera window of their face in the upper corner of the screen. Quirky editing, with production quality royalty free music in the background, and an expectation that the uploader will scream and overreact to things happening in the video game and/or expose themselves to other fun challenges in real life now totally unrelated to video games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COy6qxWZRUI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsgIRPlko4U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97YPlb72zS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0wmuN52B3s

How did this happen? Do you think some of the innocence has been taken from YouTube now that "partner" companies signed with these people and took over these users choices of what they should come out with, and how often? It looks like these users strictly post videos in such a way that nets them and their companies the most profit. Not seeing a lot of individualism anymore. Video game videos are all the same it's just a matter of choose your host now.

Aren't you an adult? What are you doing watching these channels in the first place? :confusedshrug:

[CavaliersFTW]

Aren't you an adult? What are you doing watching these channels in the first place? :confusedshrug:
I don't have cable, so I watch a lot of YouTube, though I'm not subbed to any gaming channels I'm just aware of them. You know I have a YouTube channel so is it really all that surprising that I'm aware of things that happen on YouTube?

[ballup]

You are baffled by people playing to a low common denominator? Shit has been around for years, just in different forms.

[warriorfan]

I don't have cable, so I watch a lot of YouTube, though I'm not subbed to any gaming channels I'm just aware of them. You know I have a YouTube channel so is it really all that surprising that I'm aware of things that happen on YouTube?

That makes sense. But still, for the analysis you delivered you would of had to watch those channels for a good amount before and after their "monetarization", unless you took this discussion from another forum or something.

[DCL]

i learned to do some much shit on youtube, like cooking new foods, fixing small issues in cars, floor tiling, and plumbing crap... things i used to need to pay other people to do for me.

also learned how to replace the screen on my phone on youtube.

youtube is great.

[TonyMontana]

youtube in general has gone to shit(for entertainment reasons).

-They take down videos for the most bullshit reasons.

-All the popular videos these days are those lame ****ing "prank videos" which are staged.

-pewdiepies videos are absolute terrible. He just makes random noises while playing games, the ****? In real life though pewdiepie is actually a really cool dude though so I can't hate on him for being successfull.....if someone is going to be succesfull in something bullshit like that I'd rather have it be a top knotch bro. He is nothing like the autistic sperg in his videos.

Late 00s was the era for Youtube. You had hits like this. pruane2forever lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNpYpSZ2C4

[CavaliersFTW]

youtube in general has gone to shit(for entertainment reasons).

-They take down videos for the most bullshit reasons.

-All the popular videos these days are those lame ****ing "prank videos" which are staged.

-pewdiepies videos are absolute terrible. He just makes random noises while playing games, the ****? In real life though pewdiepie is actually a really cool dude though so I can't hate on him for being successfull.....if someone is going to be succesfull in something bullshit like that I'd rather have it be a top knotch bro. He is nothing like the autistic sperg in his videos.

Late 00s was the era for Youtube. You had hits like this. pruane2forever lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNpYpSZ2C4
Pruane2forever! I agree late '00's was PRIME YouTube era. Pre-monetization when money wasn't in the equation videos were more about people doing or showing things they sincerely liked on their low budget home video cameras. Everything felt more personal.

[CavaliersFTW]

OMG Pruane2forever is ****ing retiring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVwEsr8VRc4

:facepalm wtf this makes me not like monetization era even more. His channel prob got drown out by all those BS partner company channels. :mad:

[TonyMontana]

OMG Pruane2forever is ****ing retiring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVwEsr8VRc4

:facepalm wtf this makes me not like monetization era even more. His channel prob got drown out by all those BS partner company channels. :mad:

Yeah, it seems like he's just had a ton of life drained from him in his new vids.. He's nothing like the energetic young lad he used to be, it made me quite sad really. its still funny as shit to go to his classic vids once in a while. this kid was so popular at one time, even had a video with 50 cent hahahahahaha. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8MXij4D7Ls

playing basketball hahahahahaha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amx7aih3Z4E

basically their killing the diversity and creativity of youtube. Now all the people make the same exact vids in the same cookie cutter fashion..... It's super lame.

[Timmy D for MVP]

It's your fault it has come to that. Not you personally but the royal you. As with anything else once money gets to a certain level it makes sense to try to appeal to the lowest common denominator. It is because the safe, easy, boring gimmicks is what ensures the largest possible audience.

This is basic stuff. Look at ever other entertainment field ever. And I blame no one but us for allowing that to work. It is not PewDiePie's fault he can make an absurd amount of money for his content, because I would do that shit too if I could.

But just like anything else there are alternatives out there. Like... it's the information age, you can find something you like.

There is some great content out there. But they have maybe hundreds of thousands or fewer subs because they are more niche, and don't play to a low standard of viewers.

[iTare]

pruane.....no:(

[CeltsGarlic]

I cant imagine how anyone could enjoy pew videos. From what Ive seen it has like the lowest quality of humor ever seen on youtube. And hes leading it.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

I remember that kid Xjawz being really popular back in the day then he had like a breakdown and his popularity dwindled and so did his youtube channel which was apparently making over $100k a year.

[Rake2204]

Thought this was fitting - Jimmy Kimmel recently ran a skit about YouTube Video Gamers, inventing YouTube Third Watch, where people could watch people watch people watch people play video games.

The video gaming community was not pleased: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji9KmXwrA5Y

Kimmel's response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJHhM5uKlg

[plowking]

Thought this was fitting - Jimmy Kimmel recently ran a skit about YouTube Video Gamers, inventing YouTube Third Watch, where people could watch people watch people watch people play video games.

The video gaming community was not pleased: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji9KmXwrA5Y

Kimmel's response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJHhM5uKlg

Kimmel is hilarious.

I can't believe people got upset and actually compared it to sports. :oldlol:

[KyrieTheFuture]

Jimmy Kimmel is not funny but this is one of the greatest example of butthurt I've ever seen. Watching sports gets made fun of all the damn time. These nerds can't handle that their hobby is being made fun of boo hoo. Nerds are so overprotective of their hobbies they might as well be religions. No criticism allowed.

[Graviton]

Idk about youtube but I do watch tournaments on Twitch, it's just burning time while being entertained. Instead of watching a movie/tv show you can watch something live. Not much different from watching UFC, NBA, etc.

It's a new world, people are on their phones/computers most of the time, there is always a demand for free entertainment.

[Rake2204]

Idk about youtube but I do watch tournaments on Twitch, it's just burning time while being entertained. Instead of watching a movie/tv show you can watch something live. Not much different from watching UFC, NBA, etc.

It's a new world, people are on their phones/computers most of the time, there is always a demand for free entertainment.I think that makes sense. I can see the draw in watching certain forms of gaming. I used to watch Video Power with Johnny Arcade back in the day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_JYQLKtmK8) and there's other video game clips I've enjoyed watching on YouTube.

However, it's the shear popularity and viewcount for random, run-of-the-mill gamers who do nothing more than play their NBA 2K MyPlayer and talk over it that confounds me. Nothing special, nothing crazy, just people watching people play normal video games. The mass appeal on that type of video game watching is what fascinates me most.

[warriorfan]

Thought this was fitting - Jimmy Kimmel recently ran a skit about YouTube Video Gamers, inventing YouTube Third Watch, where people could watch people watch people watch people play video games.

The video gaming community was not pleased: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji9KmXwrA5Y

Kimmel's response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJHhM5uKlg

these video game watching kids are future cucks :roll: :roll: :roll:

"hey johnny wanna come over and play my xbox while I watch?"

turns into "hey johnny wanna come over and fucc my wife while I watch"

[CavaliersFTW]

Thought this was fitting - Jimmy Kimmel recently ran a skit about YouTube Video Gamers, inventing YouTube Third Watch, where people could watch people watch people watch people play video games.

The video gaming community was not pleased: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji9KmXwrA5Y

Kimmel's response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJHhM5uKlg
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Great find I'm with Kimmel on this :oldlol:

[bigkingsfan]

LOL @ reading people post on the internet, when you could go outside and have actual conversation.

[CavaliersFTW]

LOL @ reading people post on the internet, when you could go outside and have actual conversation.
You actually are conversing on the internet though... this is an interaction. A watching people play games on YouTube isn't, unless you become actively involved in some sort of discussion afterwards.

[bigkingsfan]

You actually are conversing on the internet though... this is an interaction. A watching people play games on YouTube isn't, unless you become actively involved in some sort of discussion afterwards.
Twitch TV, probably the most common way to watch someone play a live stream.

[CavaliersFTW]

Jimmy Kimmel is not funny but this is one of the greatest example of butthurt I've ever seen. Watching sports gets made fun of all the damn time. These nerds can't handle that their hobby is being made fun of boo hoo. Nerds are so overprotective of their hobbies they might as well be religions. No criticism allowed.
It really is, like, he teased them a little bit and rightfuly so because that shit is weird. And whether anyone think he's funny or not he's a middle aged confident man who has definitely made it in life and is in perfect position to criticize, tease, and rustle the jimmies of 10 million 15 year old angst ridden nerds who get off on watching other kids PLAY video games

:oldlol:

Honestly if you watch YouTube gaming videos it's just like Kimmel said, watching sports instead of doing sports is a guilty enough please, and we're all guilty of it here on ISH and it is kind of silly. However Kimmel got it right when he said watching people playing video games is like watching people play FANTASY sports :roll:

[Graviton]

It really is, like, he teased them a little bit and rightfuly so because that shit is weird. And whether anyone think he's funny or not he's a middle aged confident man who has definitely made it in life and is in perfect position to criticize, tease, and rustle the jimmies of 10 million 15 year old angst ridden nerds who get off on watching other kids PLAY video games

:oldlol:

Honestly if you watch YouTube gaming videos it's just like Kimmel said, watching sports instead of doing sports is a guilty enough please, and we're all guilty of it here on ISH and it is kind of silly. However Kimmel got it right when he said watching people playing video games is like watching people play FANTASY sports :roll:
Well, there is WWE, this shit is in the same category. :oldlol:

[bigkingsfan]

What other people form of entertainment might not be yours. It's like anything else in life. Plenty of crap I would never watch like golf,poker, or the Kardashians. I don't make a big deal about it, there's always the remote controller.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Video game community especially for GTA 5 can make good money. Some people have 10+ million views on their GTA 5 videos. Around MW 2 is when COD started to be seen as a lucrative game to do for videos for Youtube. A handful of guys were making 100K+ at their peaks by doing that. Their bitter rivalries with each other were hilarious. There were videos of them beefing over a dumb game and subscribers. Most of their channels died down and I'm sure they have to find new ways to make $$.

[StephHamann]

Kimmel's response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJHhM5uKlg

Damn, the kids are like:

https://media.giphy.com/media/TlK63Er4gKHILXzNeA8/giphy.gif

[knickballer]

I do think it's kinda stupid watching others play video games but I think the whole stigma behind it because it's a relatively new phenomenon. Video games(Not the old arcade games) started in the 90's, internet in the 90's and the whole youtube/social media thing is relatively new.

Maybe there was people in the 60's who thought it was stupid to watch baseball or football on TV because they can go outside and play it.

[Jailblazers7]

I do think it's kinda stupid watching others play video games but I think the whole stigma behind it because it's a relatively new phenomenon. Video games(Not the old arcade games) started in the 90's, internet in the 90's and the whole youtube/social media thing is relatively new.

Maybe there was people in the 60's who thought it was stupid to watch baseball or football on TV because they can go outside and play it.

Yeah, there is never a shortage of stupid stuff that people watch. WS of poker was ****ing huge not too long ago and that is kinda the same thing. People enjoy watching "pros" who are excellent at something they are interested in or just entertaining people.

[KyrieTheFuture]

It really is, like, he teased them a little bit and rightfuly so because that shit is weird. And whether anyone think he's funny or not he's a middle aged confident man who has definitely made it in life and is in perfect position to criticize, tease, and rustle the jimmies of 10 million 15 year old angst ridden nerds who get off on watching other kids PLAY video games

:oldlol:

Honestly if you watch YouTube gaming videos it's just like Kimmel said, watching sports instead of doing sports is a guilty enough please, and we're all guilty of it here on ISH and it is kind of silly. However Kimmel got it right when he said watching people playing video games is like watching people play FANTASY sports :roll:
I like anime and play Magic The Gathering. I'm a ****ing nerd. I will make jokes with the people making fun of my interests because no interests are exempt from ridicule.

[CavaliersFTW]

I like anime and play Magic The Gathering. I'm a ****ing nerd. I will make jokes with the people making fun of my interests because no interests are exempt from ridicule.
So TIL video game watching culture is softer than charmin. One harmless 2 minute segment of teasing and they all lash out with death threats and dump huge paragraphs of emotional essays. Seriously look at some of the comments on those Kimmel vids, people are writing long winded heart felt essays saying how "wrong" Kimmel is... the guy was just being entertaining, it was harmless teasing :lol

[warriorfan]

So TIL video game watching culture is softer than charmin. One harmless 2 minute segment of teasing and they all lash out with death threats and dump huge paragraphs of emotional essays. Seriously look at some of the comments on those Kimmel vids, people are writing long winded heart felt essays saying how "wrong" Kimmel is... the guy was just being entertaining, it was harmless teasing :lol

Most of those kids posting didn't want Jimmy Kimmel to literally commit suicide.

The nerds were engaging in hyperbole for humor purposes. Not saying that it was funny, but that is what they were doing. It obviously started off as a few people getting upset and then built up into a big joke.

[9erempiree]

Watching video games is a natural thing just like watching a movie. Lets be honest here, these games have gotten so advance that it's like watching a movie.