Why Are YouTube Walkthroughs and Let’s Plays So Entertaining?
So, I have a question: Do you watch YouTube? Now, many of you may have answered yes to this, so my next question is do you watch video-game walkthroughs/playthroughs as well, and if so, why? Why is it that many of us, myself included, find Youtubers that do this kind of content for the respective channels entertaining to watch? The first logical explanation might be that we simply just have too much time on our hands, or that we are just bored or don’t care about what we are watching. But these seem to me as being the coward’s way out and that just won’t do.
I think that a big reason for why we find this kind of content so entertaining, might be do to the fact that we don’t just watch the game but the gamers as well. I think it is because of them that we are so entertained. Many of the more popular Youtubers that do video game walkthroughs and playthroughs usually have unique personalities. Some are funny while also having a deep respect for their fan-base, and may or may not have an odd hatred of chairs, but I digress.
Some even try to get their viewers involved as much as possible in their content, but no matter what they display themselves as doesn’t matter so much because they do so in an entertaining manner or that’s just who they are inside.
Either way, that is what keeps us coming back for more. Another reason for this style being more entertaining is kind of easy when you really think about it; I mean who would you rather watch, a person who never talks? Or someone that talks all the time about various things in an attempt to keep we the viewers amused in some way.
Also, I don’t know about you folks, but the whole silent player routine really makes this kind of content seem kind of eerie to me. I mean, if you are not going to talk then why even go through the trouble and risks involved with uploading video games onto the site? Wouldn’t it be less risky to talk? Just saying it beats the heck out of me.
Now, there are probably a million other reasons why we watch these kinds of YouTube videos, and I would be quite interested to read about what you, the readers, can come up with in the comments section.
Jesse Hill
Jesse Hill is a second year student in the professional writing program at Algonquin College. He wishes to be a novelist.