How many of you game vicariously through Let's Plays?

I was thinking about this the other night. Having recently experienced my own personal gaming renaissance as it were; I find myself compelled to watch LPs quite a bit here recently. There are times I would rather watch an LP than play a game. Even if it's a game I already own. There are a LPers I've come to prefer as well. We either have the same or similar taste in games and/or I like their commentary and personality. There are games I will probably never play even though I enjoyed watching them being played. Anyone else experience this?

I heard that Curtis...

Never. The only time I will watch someone else play is to see what a game is like (purchasing decision) or progaming.

The appeal of Let's Play videos is totally lost on me

Well, yeah I watch for purchasing decisions as well. There are times though when I decide, nah I'm gonna pass on this one, but I still watch the LP. Some are absolutely hilarious. In a MST3K sort of way. I guess if that sort of thing doesn't appeal to you, or you just don't enjoy watching another person play a game as much as experiencing it for yourself then yeah.

There's one that I might consider watching, which I posted about here:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/avp_bonanza

My brother forced me to watch one episode. Typically, I don't watch stuff (not even movies) because I get bored and when I do, I need something peripheral on my main monitor that I focus on (i.e. Civ III is brilliant for this).

I am potentially interested in watching this AvP thing though.

I use LP's as a sort of video walkthrough occasionally, like if there's a particularly tricky platforming section that I'm not sure how to complete. I don't really get the fun of watching them for the sake of watching them, I'd much rather watch someone play a game in real life. Though there are a few that are funny, like a fiendishly hard Super Mario World romhack I saw once where the guy was cursing at the screen at all of the evil traps everywhere.

I only watch matches between Starcraft 2 gamers... or when I want to find out how the game looks, before I buy it.

I enjoy Let's Plays, usually for the entertainment factor, but there are also times where I learn something new about a game I've played before.

Some LPers that I watch regularly include:

Two Best Friends Play (they have a channel that has full Let's Plays, not just one-offs)
Raocow (a bit on the eccentric side... you've been warned)
ProtonJon and the other Runaway Guys
MugenMush (friend of mine)
DeceasedCrab
Frankomatic
VoidBurger

and lastly, they aren't Let's Plays, but The Angry Video Game Nerd does entertaining reviews of older games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C1BSbq5aB0
Voila!

edit: messed up, wanted to edit my previous post :(

Yeah, you're AvP thread inspired this thread. I have watched another LPer play AvP. Will be watching the one you subbed some tonight. Already have it favorited.

That's not the one I was thinking of, the one I saw before was the SNES Super Mario World, and the guy actually died several times AFTER finishing the level, but before going to the loading screen.
But the one you posted is possibly even MORE awesome.

Used to watch em alot, but now its kinda hard to find good ones, i mostly watch british/canadian LPers, cant stand most americans voices

Cool. WIll try to get a list together of some the ones I watch. There's one I really like atm:

Mangaminx

If any of you decide to watch her LP of Amnesia; you have to watch the first episode separate from the rest of the playlist. Then just start the playlist and skip to ep 2 and there you go. Be warned: For those with sensitive ears; she has an extremely foul mouth. And I love her for it...

"Pardon Mangaminx, are there any more foul mouthed horror loving women like you at home?..."

I wouldn't call this "gaming".

I watch tons of LP's. I don't really game vicariously through them though. If they're doing a game I like the look of, I'll check it out. If it's a game that I'm only interested for the story then I just watch the LP. To me it's equal to playing the game, and in some cases infinitely more entertaining.

LP's are exceptionally useful for learning how to play more difficult games or older ones with limited in-game help. There's almost always someone that's LP'd a game and explains how it works.

Edit: Also, LP's I'm really fond of are LP's of dynamic games. A good example is JefMajor's runs of IL-2. Silent Hunter, Covert Action, RTK, and other games that have many variables so you'll never play the same game or see the same things every time make for excellent LP's.