Engagement With the Gurus of Gaming Culture: Parasocial Relationships to Let's Players. Issue 8 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kreissl, Julian; Possler, Daniel; Klimmt, Christoph
• Is Part Of: Games and culture. Volume 16:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1021
• Page End: 1043
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: parasocial relationships -- Let's Play -- YouTube -- video games -- gaming communities; Games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Video games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Computer games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Interactive multimedia -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.4834
• DOI: 10.1177/15554120211005241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-4120

Abstract

Let's Players have emerged as a successful class of entertainers in the YouTube® universe. Most of their broadcasts not only relate to video games and gaming but also feature elements of talk shows and other modes of personality entertainment, including star–fan interaction through social media channels. Hence, they represent focal points of reference for gamers and important manifestations of contemporary gaming culture. The present contribution applies the concept of parasocial relationships (PSR) to examine how dimensional compositions and formation dynamics of audience engagement with Let's Players are affected by the specific conditions of digital online media environments. Findings from an online survey indicate that PSR with popular Let's Players are composed partially similar to "conventional" stars, but seem to rest more on interactive responsiveness and less on idolizing "larger-than-life" characters. Implications for PSR theory in hybrid mass/online communication settings and for digital gaming culture are discussed.