Youtube revolutionizes the gaming industry

2017 was a great year for video games and 2018 is poised to be just as good if not better. The problem? Students are broke. This isn’t true of everyone in HC; a lot of kids have access to at least one gaming console and get to make the most of the new titles from big names and indie creators. For those that don’t get to game, the solution may be on Youtube.

“Let’s plays” are a combination of recorded gameplay of new or popular games and commentary from the players, usually posted to different social media outlets. Every year, a surplus of gaming “let’s plays” get uploaded to youtube to be consumed by viewers from around the world. It isn’t hard for even the most inexperienced to upload footage of themselves playing Minecraft or Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) to Youtube, so some videos are subpar at best. However several people have made a name for themselves through gaming. Youtubers such as Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, and Pewdiepie became memorable because of video game related content.

Gaming isn’t just beneficial for big name Youtubers. It also helps out game companies. Not only Nintendo, who doesn’t need much help, but smaller companies like TheMeatly. TheMeatly is responsible for Bendy and the Ink Machine, an indie horror game that came out last year and exploded in popularity after the first few playthroughs came out on youtube. TheMeatly responded in gratitude towards its fans, including fan art (artistic appreciation of the game or other medium in question) in their various chapter releases and hiring Seán McLoughlin, the man behind Jacksepticeye, to voice a small character part in Chapter 3. Other gaming companies release demos for games that need financial support and find that support after relevant gamers test out the game.

“Let’s plays” are beneficial to videogamer and video game company, and to viewer. For those looking to expand their gaming horizons they can watch gameplay from their favorite gamer and choose whether or not they want the game. For people who have a love of video games, but no means to play them, they can appreciate what the game has to offer as well as what the youtuber has to offer. To delve further into gaming lore fans can watch videos from the likes of Game Theory, which works to uncover hidden game secrets as well as applications to real life science to games to prove whether or not certain game mechanics are feasible outside of the game. For more casual game enjoyment, some channels bring games to life through skits and musicals, such as RandomEncounters, notable for FNAF the musical among others.

Cash doesn’t determine your ability to enjoy pop culture, it hasn’t stopped people from listening to albums online without spending a cent, and it won’t stop people from enjoying video games either. Personally playing a video game will obviously be a different experience than watching someone else play one, but it is not necessarily less enjoyable. 2018 will be a great year in gaming, and everyone will get to enjoy it.