Pro-gaming
Last
Join Date: 2003-10-06 Member: 21463Members
Join Date: 2003-10-06 Member: 21463Members
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">Nerd heaven... OR IS IT?!</div> First of all, for those of you who are completely clueless, professional gaming refers to those who play games (either individually, or most often with a team) at specially held tourneys either online, at LANs, or other big events. Generally speaking, the victors (or second/third runners) are often awarded with a cash prize. Don't feel ashamed if you've never heard about any of this -- progaming is a rather obscure and unknown sport, except in Korea, where it's become as well accepted as say, football (NOT THE AMERICAN ONE, F00LZ).
When you think about it, it's easy to see why pro-gaming hasn't spread to all the corners of globe yet, despite the fact that more people play video games online then any other game or sport. Video games aren't seen by the public as a sport, rather, many people see it as a BWOTTFCAMKSP (Big Waste Of Time That Fails Classes And Makes Kids Shoot People). These people are often surprised to learn about the existence of clans and competetive play in general -- obviously, they are not gamers.
The question is often raised if whether or not gaming is a sport. IMO, I don't see why it isn't. It's a competition between different people, and requires real talent and skill in order to win. If chess can be played competetively, I see no reason why video games can't. Many pro-gaming teams, such as Shroet Kommando (sK, the current #1 counterstrike clan) or their players (do the names HeatoN, Potti, or Ksharp mean anything to you?) have reached some level of fame, at least in the relatively small circle of people who are aware of the pro-gaming scene.
[abrupt stop to post as Last. is about to fall asleep on the keyboard]
Uhm. Ya. ^_^. For more info on progaming, Simon Bysshe of 4Kings has made some great short film documentaries on pro-gaming and pro-gaming philosophy, both of which you can find here:
<a href='http://www.sogamed.com/movies.php' target='_blank'>http://www.sogamed.com/movies.php</a>
Clickety on
· Intel Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition Challenge - review
· Modern Day Gamer 2
Download sites should be linked at the bottom.
When you think about it, it's easy to see why pro-gaming hasn't spread to all the corners of globe yet, despite the fact that more people play video games online then any other game or sport. Video games aren't seen by the public as a sport, rather, many people see it as a BWOTTFCAMKSP (Big Waste Of Time That Fails Classes And Makes Kids Shoot People). These people are often surprised to learn about the existence of clans and competetive play in general -- obviously, they are not gamers.
The question is often raised if whether or not gaming is a sport. IMO, I don't see why it isn't. It's a competition between different people, and requires real talent and skill in order to win. If chess can be played competetively, I see no reason why video games can't. Many pro-gaming teams, such as Shroet Kommando (sK, the current #1 counterstrike clan) or their players (do the names HeatoN, Potti, or Ksharp mean anything to you?) have reached some level of fame, at least in the relatively small circle of people who are aware of the pro-gaming scene.
[abrupt stop to post as Last. is about to fall asleep on the keyboard]
Uhm. Ya. ^_^. For more info on progaming, Simon Bysshe of 4Kings has made some great short film documentaries on pro-gaming and pro-gaming philosophy, both of which you can find here:
<a href='http://www.sogamed.com/movies.php' target='_blank'>http://www.sogamed.com/movies.php</a>
Clickety on
· Intel Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition Challenge - review
· Modern Day Gamer 2
Download sites should be linked at the bottom.
Comments
then again, some people dont even consider darts a sport...
what were we talking about again?
The real reason we haven't seen lots of cash involved with gaming as of yet is because there hasn't been out a game that is popular enough on it's own to attract lots of cash.
Also:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm not too sure... the operative word in the definition of "sport" is "ACTIVE", but other than that, progaming is "a competitive recreational activity with a set of rules... blah blah blah..." which works for me. So, I dunno, let's just hope the OCA (Obese Children of America) don't take the word "sport" to heart. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Golf, anyone?
No, I am just joking.
Someday I forsee a world where virtual reality will become the next phase in professional competition.
Anyway, games are becoming extremely popular, proven by the fact that the gaming industry makes more than hollywood. It is just a matter of time when and and the right moment. Someday a gaming politician will come a long and....
hey, standing up from sitting in your golf cart to tee off is still better than sitting in a chair, no? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Plus Chess is a sport, and the last match between Casparov and Deeper Blue was done virtually.
No jokes, I've gotten so stressed I had to lay down once
Which would be hard, since the appeal of video gaming in the first place is the interactive element of it.
Along with the diversity of genres and titles, it would be very difficult for it to catch on.
With that said, once those issues are solved, I can see it becoming quite large and immense.
Definition of pro differs. A lot of top pro-gamers depend on winning cash from tournaments to feed themselves. Individual sports work get money "on occassion" as well. The top teams, like 3d or sK make close to a hundred thousand a year individually. sK has recently started paying their members monthly, just like in a pro-league. Other teams will probably follow suit eventually.
Another thing: I don't see why this can't be considered a sport. Be flexible in your definitions, this is like the old starcraft debate of whether "rush" meant an early attack or a fast climb up the tech tree. In the end, it doesn't really matter. And if you don't consider it a sport, fine, no reason to despise it or anything.
p.s. If you've got nothing more then 200 chars to post, then f-off.