Twitch.TV Streaming Culture

(Image Source: heedmag.com)

What is Twitch.tv? According to Twitch player Max Gonzalez in For Twitch, it's game on , "It's like a kind of talk show. Some people are watching me riff on the game. Some people are trying to pick up tips. It's great, because Twitch has really exploded."

Twitch.tv, introduced in June 2011, gives users the ability to stream themselves live while playing video games for others to enjoy. It is by far the largest streaming site on the internet as of now. In 2014, it is acquired by Amazon.com for a whopping $970 million. 

However, although Twitch has become a cultural phenomenon in the world of gaming, it is still an enigma and an unexplored entity to the non-gamers. To non-gamers, the thought of watching other people playing video games seem like a very odd idea. Why not play the video games themselves instead? Jimmy Kimmel, a popular talk show host has criticised on this fact and came under fire for it a few months ago. Twitch's stats prove otherwise.

So why is Twitch so popular? According to the article, "[Twitch] sometimes accounts for the fourth-highest traffic on the Internet, behind only Netflix, Google and Apple during peak viewing times." I think Twitch brings that social element to the gaming community. "What Twitch brings to it is the excitement of live possibility and the community", says James McQuivey in the article. "It appeals to a very specific target, but that target consumes it rabidly."

With a single push of a key, Twitch players like Max Gonzalez combine a mix of exciting live-streaming, social interaction and network towards the gaming community. In fact, the TV industry are in talks about having the second screen experience built in. Advertisers see a brand new niche: future generations may never subscribe to TV cable anymore.

Moreover, Twitch is very participatory. There is a whole new big participatory culture behind the Twitch community. The player experience will always be a priority over revenue in the gaming world. The big question is: Is Twitch just a fringe activity or is it here to stay? I'd reckon it's here to stay for good and will continue expanding into bigger avenues.