If you are wondering what YouTube Gaming is, click over to Ciaran Laval’s blog and see: YouTube Gaming Launches And Second Life Has Its Own Channel. The short explanation is this is Google’s answer to Amazon’s Twitch… and if you don’t know what Twitch is… well… you are hopelessly sheltered. To pop your bubble… Twitch is a site that allows gamers to stream their game play. People can watch a video stream of a person, in-game, playing in almost (?) real time.

The recent news is Jimmy Kimmel thought it was a funny idea and made fun of YouTube Gaming. As they point out, considering how poorly TV is doing these day he hasn’t much room to talk. But, I thought the video funny. 

Google is reporting that time spent watching game videos is up about 75%, which is probably why they decided to create YouTube Gaming. The entertainment industry is losing viewers from TV and movies. In 2013 Business Insider was reporting that from 2002 to 2013 broadcast TV had lost 50% of its ratings (Reference), that didn’t mean half of everyone stopped watching TV. It means at any given time only half as many people are watching or said another way, you are watching half as much TV as you used to. Of course these are averages across the world audience and have nothing to do with what you personally do.

Nielsen is reporting that from 2014-Q1 to 2015-Q1 the 18-24 demographic reduced viewing of traditional TV by about 23% (Reference) and the rate of loss is increasing. People are cutting the cable. Even Nielsen is starting to track social media and other online entertainment.

So, 75% growth verses 50+% drop… where would you be moving your business, or at least looking for new markets?

Google is the king of large data. They can tell when there is a flu outbreak before the CDC or WHO. So, I am not surprised that they have identified a trend in what we are doing with gaming… or at least the majority of us.

The battle for dominance is in play. Twitch has signed ‘partners’ to exclusive streaming contracts. Word is they are reminding ‘partners’ of their legal obligations. If you stream your game on Twitch, you can’t do that on YouTube Gaming (YTG).  (Reference) There is some confusion as to what is actually meant by the agreement and no one has gone to court yet.

I’ve been checking it out. Seems for now people are using Twitch Chat to talk and do money stuff while watching on YTG. I suspect YTG will be adding the features… but I’m not sure what all is going on. There were 350± people watching an EVE Online channel. 2k+ people watching Rooster Teeth @ PAX.

Twitch banned streaming of Second Life™ not long ago because of possible adult content. (Reference) So, that YTG allows SL their own section is something. Obviously those SL peeps that are wanting to stream, will be doing it on YTG.

There are a number of SL Categories that show up when you search for Second Life… or may be suggested search terms is more accurate. YTG has taken videos from YouTube to add to YTG. So, there is quite a bit of stuff to see. Lots of stuff I never came across on YouTube.

One funny example is Second Life Gor – Episode 41 – Raid on Strongheart Outcasts. It is NSFW visual and audio wise. Watching the whole thing is pointless unless you’re finding it funny. This is Hillbilly Gor…  once you see it you’ll understand.