Everyone acts like watching strangers play video games is some bizarre Gen Z invention. Nope. I was doing this in the 90s. In person. On couches that smelled like Doritos and broken dreams.
For some reason, although I enjoyed playing my console games here and there, I also enjoyed watching others play. Whether friends would come over and play, or I would goto their house, I often times would rather watch them play nintendo or sega than I would actually play.
No no, I wasn't trying to put on a show and say "no you play, I'll watch". It was more of "oh its single player, cool, I'll watch" - I genuinely enjoyed watching others play, Yes, again, I ENJOYED played the games myself but I also wouldn't complain, fuss, and cry in my room when I had to watch someone else. It was just as entertaining and fascinating for me to watch - I could still enjoy the game without having to think of the strategy, or next move myself. So it was win-win in my opinion.
I should have invented a service that let people stream and others could watch.
Damnit 1990, why didn't I try harder?!
Also I was about 10 years old. So there's that. And internet wasn't a a thing either so...
❤️
Jake