Video Game History Archive

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1 entry of 164 involving Emmett Shear

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2010-2019 The 2010s

Cultural milestones

Twitch turns watching other people play into a medium

A general-purpose live video site spun its busiest section, the gaming channels, into a separate service. Broadcasting play with a chat window running beside it grew into an industry of its own.

Key facts and significance Hide details
Who
Twitch Interactive, Justin.tv, Emmett Shear, Justin Kan
Platform
Industry-wide
Region
North America, Worldwide
Period
The 2010s

Why it matters

Spectating became a mainstream activity rather than a side effect of competition. Discovery, marketing and community all reorganized around live video, and a new occupation appeared with no obvious precedent in earlier entertainment industries: the performer whose material is the act of playing something.

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