I will probably do some of this for a bunch of things hence including the new GTA. Really depends of the nature of discussion each one generates and if I feel like being in on the details.

adkm1979 wrote:

Since I can't think of any analogies, it might be that watching walkthroughs (other than very briefly after I become totally stuck at specific points) might be the least joyful way I could spend my time.  I'm glad that people get enjoyment from making them and watching them but it's not for me.

i tend to do it while im doing something else, what with youtube being free on xbox, and would agree that just watching a walkthrough on its own would be pretty terrible, but i think there's plenty to be learnt from doing it and it at least gives you some insight into why people enjoy games you can really imagine playing yourself (mainly through lacking the right hardware and wotnot)

a good example is not, and never will, own a ps3, yet finding uncharted 2 and 3 and last of us extremely entertaining, go naughty dog

I watched a longplay of Rise of the Robots a week or so ago, it did not match my memories of playing it as a kid.

I frequently spectate matches in DOTA2 whilst I'm doing other stuff, Valve's client makes it freaky easy, although I'm aware this doesn't really fall into what you're asking about.

I'll usually watch long play's of SNES/MD games I'm never going to play so Ivan see all the bosses and stuff.

Also, I never responded to you PM cos I'm a moron but thanks and right back at you

If i play games i would need a machine to play on the and the ability to lay on my sofa while doing them usually, which means needing money to buy xbox games, or moving entirely to my desktop to play games which is just faffing about and uncomfortable. I like seeing what id never otherwise see in my life, and it seems a pity to let that work go without trying to enjoy the effort the creators put into it. And the having it on in the bacground is good cause conversely, when im playing a game it demands my entire attention, which i dislike doing with something that returns so little of consequence

I watched a fairly exhaustive Dark Souls walkthrough a week or two back and it was brilliant, brilliant educational voiceover (i usually hate voiceovers) where he told you a lot of the story and why things were happening, he went absolutely everywhere and my appreciation for the game went up a huge amount (and i already enjoyed playing it up to the point i stopped). It's a brilliant game, its use of space, its themes, its ability to surprise you from taking one end of the space scale to the absolutely massive, all just brilliant. The guy also talked a lot about how to manage inventory and explained why he created the build he did, and how lessons could be spread to many other builds.

Some big surprises in that game, possibly the biggest is how freaking depressing it can be, when well, some sucky things happen to good people, and the quite concept of going hollow is such an intriguing one, and the other biggest was your capacity to fight creatures where id tratitionally just bawl at the prospect, but it can be done! The first black night can be done not that far into the game, just had no idea

Im really glad i watched that walkthrough, it fully got me up to speed and was in itself very entertaining, and prepared me on how im actually meant to play ts sequel on release

Bollockoff wrote:

I watch playthroughs of games that I don't have the time to invest in or I know i'd get too frustrated playing myself.

This.

The secrets to a good play through (or "let's play") video are a) entertaining commentary, b) familiarity with the game (blind plays are pretty much always rubbish) and c) reasonable episode lengths.

LtMKilla on YouTube is a prime example of the best let's plays. His Resident Evil 4 and Banjo Kazooie are things of wonder.