Twitch gaming is a form of entertainment which uses the reflexive, instantaneous-response portion of the brain. So named because of the short-rapid jerking motions most hardcore gamers exhibit, nearly all games falling into this category are video games; however, there are a unique select few which defy this criteria, such as Snap.
Twitch games, though fairly narrow in description, have an alarmingly dedicated following. Genre's can range anywhere from Side-scrolling Blasters, to First Person Shooters to Rhythm and Music games. Popular and unique titles include Unreal Tournament, Counter Strike, FreQuency, and Silpheed, as well as many more. There are also a number of games which couple twitch reactions with strategy elements, the most popular arguably being Warcraft 3.
What makes Twitch games stand apart from the other games is the constant immersion required in order to achieve success; movement is quick, and the feedback immediate. This works to keep the user actively engaged by indulging the "instant gratification" trigger.
But more importantly, Twitch gaming is more a
delicate art than a
science of
technicalities.
When things become
intense, a twitch gamer will begin to
Flow; all extraneous
distractions are shut out (often with the aid of a
nice pair of surround
headphones), and the
player enters a strange
trance.
Adrenaline levels begin to mount, and
chemical reactions begin to
explode somewhere in the
primal recesses of the
mind. The eyes become fixed on an imaginary point somewhere between the
retinas and the
screen, and
facial tics and other
nervous, unconcious
gestures sometimes begin to manifest.
If you've never tried it, it comes heavily recommended; very little can beat the natural high of giving someone a flak cannon facial, or pulling a huge combo streak out of your ass.