Just when you (who watch TV) thought it might be safe to switch to the boob tube for a little vacation from gaming, along comes Gameplay HD
Yes, there will soon be a channel just for watching video games in action. Going by the article, it appears to be a sophisticated affair, and can handle both PC and console games.
The real question, though, is whether there is an audience for this. I mean a big audience, as this looks to be a major production. Anyone can buy a game and play it, though there may be some fascination in watching others do the work.
Personally, I think that, at best, most who would watch this would be looking for playing tips, and then they’d go off to do the games themselves. And there certainly would be viewers for previews of upcoming games, which may be the big draw here.
Check out the article and see what you think.
Sure, why not? Back when I was playing tennis (badly) I was also very into watching tennis matches on television. (Bjorn Borg vs Jimmy Connors era.) If the game tournaments feature recognizable individuals and teams that one can root for, it would be much the same thing.
I guess we’ll find out if there’s a big enough audience for it.
Dell the difference is this: people can watch any sport without being a player. To play one, you have to get up out of that easy chair and work hard.
To play a video game, you can sit in that easy chair and do it.
So how many game players would watch before they get the itch to do it, too?
Point taken. Then again, championship poker tournaments are very popular on TV. My brother watches obsessively. But (live) poker requires getting other people together in a room. That’s not as easy as just firing up a computer game so your point still stands.
I wouldn’t want to sit and watch tournaments, but if they showed gameplay footage and trailers from games it would be worth an occasional viewing. That might be especially useful to people still on dialup that don’t have the bandwidth to download the trailers, such as a certain arachnid I am aquainted with. Another advantage is that streaming video is usually lower quality, so by being broadcast in HD you should get much better graphics than web based streaming.
I would probably watch occasionally, but unless I got really into it after some horrible accident forced me to sit in front of the TV and not move my mouse finger for months, I don’t think I’d get so into it I’d watch a tournament.
Then again, I did for some unknown reason start watching American Idol for the first time this season, so I guess you never know.
Sure Klara, but does that make you want to go out and try for the show? ;)
But yes, as I said above, I think the main draw will be previews and showing play tips. And maybe those who don’t play at all may find it interesting, at least for awhile.
I can’t stand to watch someone else play because I want to play. I think I’ll stick to the Sci-Fi channel.
Who would want to watch games when it is more fun to play???
However, I know you can learn a LOT by watching to good chess players play.
But computer games are not the same thing.
Also doing demos for games is NOT the same as watching the FULL game. Demos can let you decide to buy the game or not.
Finally, Scorpia, why watch a game for tips, when most games have a strategy guide released for them as well. Not to mention many on-line sites that have forums where you can get any problem resolved for you.
And, if Scorpia buys the game, Scorpia will tell you the best way to play a game.
AND WHICH GAMES TO AVIOD!!!!!
Boy do I miss Scorpia’s Mail as well as Scorpia’s Lair columns in good old CGW.
Scorpia, do you know what Johnny Wilson is doing these days?
Finally for fans of TQ, prepare to fight for the Immortal Throne. Today is suppose to be the release day for this expansion.
See what I mean? You’d rather play than watch. And I think that would be true for many hardcore gamers especially.
Regarding tips, though: there are those who can get more from a visual presentation than a written one. Sometimes seeing how something is done can be more helpful than a written list of steps to follow.
Demos are a different matter. They’re playable. However, seeing a good preview could entice you to get the demo.
Presto, last I heard, Johnny was working for some educational games outfit, the name of which I no longer recall.
By the way, Scorpia, you said you objected to one name for a column that CGW suggested, correct?
Well, just be glad that Johnny Wilson didn’t suggest the following (to go along with Lair and Mail):
Scorpia’s Snail
Scorpia’s Hair
Scorpia’s Nail
Scorpia’s Pail
Scorpia’s Hails
Some of those sound like Scorpia is becoming the next Fashion Maven! Look out, Joan and Melissa Rivers!