Let's Plays

Something that is kind of a recent internet phenomena is a new type of video entertainment called Let's Plays. YouTube is now littered with channels of either a single person or groups of people who record themselves playing video games and then upload it for others to watch. I personally really enjoy watching these sometimes. Some of my favorite channels are Achievement Hunter, Funhaus, and Game Grumps. After about a year or so of watching these, I realized how strange what I was watching was. I mean... It is kinda weird. Instead of just playing the game myself, sometimes I prefer to watch someone else play them, and not just anybody, people I don't even know in person. It's also odd because video games are the only real form of media that something like a Let's Play can work. Nobody ever watches a video of someone else watching a movie. Or watching somebody read a book, or listening to music. 

People watch Let's Plays for different reasons as well. I think some people would rather watch Let's Plays at times rather than play the game because when watching the video, you feel like you're there with them instead of playing the game by yourself. Others tend to watch people play games because they either want to watch through a game that they can't play themselves, whether that be because they don't have the correct platform, or can't afford it. Either way, I think this new form of internet videos are very unique and can be highly entertaining. I do think that they can be dangerous though. For some people, I think they give viewers a false sense of intimacy with the content producer. People can become very attached to others over the internet because these kinds of videos literally give you the feeling of that you are right next to them, experiencing the game with them. Which isn't always bad, but it can be dangerous sometimes.