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Second-Hand Gamers: Experts Without Joysticks
I had the same thing with my roommate back in college. He’d marathon RPGs, and I’d sit there following the story like it was a series on Netflix. Later, when I finally got my hands on the game, I already knew the side quests, how to build the character, and even what mistakes to avoid. It’s funny because watching can sometimes be just as educational as playing — kinda like the article I saw about how gaming has shifted thanks to streams and let’s plays. If you want a quick take on that angle, check out this https://www.businessupturn.com/technology/gaming/how-watching-others-play-changed-how-we-game-ourselves/ .
I think it’s pretty similar to sports in a way. Some people never play basketball, but they can analyze a match better than half the folks on the court. Years of watching, listening to commentary, and picking up patterns make them sharp even without practicing the moves themselves. It shows that observation sometimes builds knowledge that’s just as useful as hands-on experience.
So here’s something funny — I used to get super frustrated when my younger cousin hogged the controller, but then I realized I actually enjoyed just watching him play. It’s like I’d pick up strategies without even touching the game. Now I kinda feel like I know more about certain titles than people who’ve actually played them. Do you guys think being a “backseat gamer” can actually make you better when you finally get your turn?