Technology is an ever-evolving aspect in the daily lives of today, and the way we use them is also becoming integrated in new and interesting ways. With new technologies on the rise, for instance, there are bound to be new forms of entertainment like video games. Video games have been a staple of entertainment since the dawn of the first game, and have such been changing and evolving with the times. In fact, according to studies, 65% of American youth today play video games (Petrova). However, there is an even more popular form of entertainment on the rise, and that is the phenomenon on YouTube where content of or on the topic of video games are published and viewed by the public. Studies have shown that 95% of gamers in 2013 got entertainment or information from a video online (Johnsmeyer). And if that was not enough, research done in June of this year shows that 73% of gamers on YouTube say they enjoy watching video game content on YouTube (Petrova).  Many parents across America have asked a question involving their children on this topic: What is the appeal behind these videos? What is it about these videos that makes them irresistible to so many people to the point that people are paid millions to post such content? The main reasons why video game content on YouTube has become extremely popular are for inclusion and community, for information and skill building, and for entertainment and escape.

One cannot go in depth to explain the desire and interest in video game content without defining what exactly gaming content entails. Gaming content on YouTube is a very broad subject, which can cover many different subgroups and separate communities. According to an article made in 2015 by an author only known as Evan, there are 5 popular types of video game content on YouTube, which are each given their own definitions. However, only four of these five are the key types. The first and most popular type of gaming content is the Let’s Play genre, which is where the YouTuber records themselves playing a certain video game and giving commentary in a normally humorous manner. The second version which is widely popular would be the Walkthrough genre, which is where a YouTuber records themselves playing the game with certain objectives in mind: like getting achievements, getting 100% completion, or just showing the different glitches in a certain game. A third type of video with game content would be the Reaction category. This particular genre is where the YouTuber records their reactions toward other videos or events involving games, like the unveiling of a new character in a game, or reaction to another person’s video on the subject of a game. The fourth popular video type of the genre would be the Review type. In this type, they do not do a complete run through of the game, or to help viewers with learning tricks or tips to the game. This genre actually focuses on analyzing the game itself, and determining it’s worth and if it accomplished certain objectives, like being appealing or playability. In some instances, review videos determine if a game is even worth purchasing. Now, regardless of the type of video being watched, or the game being shown on screen, they all share a like minded fan base, and the reasons behind watching them stay the same.

There are several reasons behind why gaming content on YouTube is popular. Firstly, YouTubers in general, regardless of what type of videos they produce, create a sort of community revolving around them. According to research, 56% of YouTube gamers mention that they felt closest to their respective communities (Petrova). This ties into a second reason why game content on YouTube has a growing popularity, people watch those videos to gain a sort of acceptance. If they may lack the means to get a particular game for any reason, they go and watch it online to connect with those around them and be included in conversation. The third possible reason behind the desire to watch video game content on YouTube would be to escape the troubles of everyday life. Some people grow extremely stressed, and when watching a humorous Let’s Play of a game they enjoy, they begin to relax and grow absorbed in the videos they watch. A final possibility for YouTube game content growing in popularity is to learn and improve one’s skill in a particular game. People learn many different ways, and watching someone else go through a certain spot may be more beneficial to the player rather than just reading it in some walkthrough online, needing to see how exactly to get through that part in order to progress. However, to truly understand how theses kinds of videos are appealing, one must look to the benefits video game content on YouTube gives for many different groups.

Depending on what type of content one watches, there are certain benefits to each type. The main appeal to game content in general is that it can provide entertainment to a whole host of varying publics. Another general help these videos give would have to be the economic benefit for video game companies. Should a popular YouTube gaming celebrity, Markiplier for instance, were to play a particular game and give it high praise, more people would be exposed to the game and desire to purchase it. As such it would cause a chain reaction, where those that watched the video on the game would tell their friends about the game, who would then go see it for themselves. Not only this, but other YouTube gamers would then do videos covering that game because of recommendations from their fanbase in the comments section. And should those YouTube gamers give good reviews on that game, the cycle would just repeat, and the company or creator of the game would profit exponentially. Now even though they share benefits, the types themselves give unique benefits as well. For most Let’s Plays and Reactions, it gives humor and fun to their audience of gamers. When it comes to Walkthroughs, they give the audience a way to learn how to get through a game, find certain hidden objects or locations, or just to see a certain game in general. Reviews help gamers decide if a game is actually good, which can save them money in case the game they really want is not as good as one hoped. And in some cases, Reviews and Walkthroughs also give humor, becoming entertaining as well as educational. Although they do give excellent benefits, the YouTube platform is not as solid as it once was, with the implementation of live streaming.

Much like video game content has grown on YouTube, the content is not shown exclusively on that site. There are many other sites as well, but namely the most popular thus far is that of Live Streaming on platforms like Twitch. This gives not only the audience a new perspective, but the creator of the content new ways to earn a living besides relying on YouTube advertisements. See, the system on YouTube when it comes to earning money is based on popularity and advertising. The more views a video has, the more people get to see ads, and the more money a person gets because of those advertisements being shown on their video. However, due to the many problems and scandals YouTube advertising has went through, it makes it even more difficult to attempt to earn money from their videos, as seen in the article by Michael Sawyer. These complications and troubles leave gamers searching for new outlets to express themselves and make some cash on the side. Enter Twitch, a platform where the audience can watch a video as the gamer plays it, give them feedback and advice in real time rather than in the comments where they may not be read, and even donate money to their favorites and subscribe to them, which gives them an extra boost in income beyond donation sites like Patrion and relying on YouTube advertising money. And from the perspective of the audience, there is a large draw in seeing their favorite content creator playing a game in real time. One can donate their money to them through such platforms as Twitch, get their comments read by their idols in real time, and be more connected to their respective community and their favorite content creator than ever before.

So far, the battle for popularity between gaming on live streams and creating content on YouTube is still raging, and many would argue that it is a close race. But in either case, the popularity of video game content on sites like YouTube is undeniable. Be it to be accepted and connect with a community, to learn from the videos to help themselves, or just to enjoy and escape the troubles of everyday life, vast amounts of people watch content of video games to accomplish those tasks. Be it from a Let’s Play, a Walkthrough, a Review or a Reaction, there is proof that many people are entertained by such content. Whoever they are, they are all gamers, and they are some of the people who keep platforms like YouTube and Twitch thriving to this day.
