http://www.gamespot.com/articles/twitch-plays-pokemon-is-a-fascinating-vision-of-the-future/1100-6417867/It's like some kind of unholy convergence of every modern gaming trend. Thousands upon thousands of people wrestling for one digital controller, eyes captivated and attentions fixed, willing Red to perform the most basic functions known to Pokemon trainers. More social experiment than game, Twitch Plays Pokemon uses crowd sourcing in such a fascinating way that it's utterly mesmerizing, even for someone who could not care less about the goings-on in the land of Kanto. As strange as it sounds, this is the destination of the path gaming has been venturing down the last few years. The result is like nothing that I ever expected: terrifying yet uplifting, and completely unpredictable.
The name Twitch Plays Pokemon simultaneously communicates everything that this experience is while explaining nothing about how it works. The aptly named user TwitchPlaysPokemon created a way for Twitch goers to control Pokemon Red/Blue by typing commands within the chat window. Imagine the chaos, for a second, of countless people typing "Up" or "B" at once, forcing Red to wiggle and jive as if he had a family of Caterpie dancing in his pants. Each time someone would enter a button prompt, Red would react accordingly, causing chaos to reign over the peaceful land in which the Pokemon roam.
This tug-of-war control scheme incited a political revolution. When every person's voice carries the same weight, it's anarchy. Clearly, a proper society cannot function under such a lawless system. So how about giving power to the majority while shunning those with outside--and potentially dangerous--ideas? That's where democracy comes in. If enough users vote for democracy, the rules controlling Red shift, and his movements are restricted to what the majority of people desire. But don't expect a democratic state to rule for long. Opposing factions--also known as Poketrolls.
