~ID #14: Professional Gaming?!

[Wand3rer]

~ID #14: Professional Gaming

Do you think that the idea of video game players competing for money could one day become an accepted form of entertainment by mainstream America/Canada/the world? Why or why not? What would be necessary in order to make/improve gaming's appeal to spectators? Would you consider professional video gameplay a sport?

Here are three source articles for you to ponder over while you respond, one for, one against, and one objective of the idea of "Pro Gaming" as an acceptable sport:

- http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/7/23/235053/081

- http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...progaming.mspx

- http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/april03/progaming/

NOTE: Professional Gaming may be the idea of playing games for money, but then again Professional Football is the idea of playing football for money as well. If that doesn't convince you to believe the name, then just refer to it as "the act referred to as Professional Gaming" or whatever.



FYI, sorry that I have been away for so long. I promised myself I would disassociate myself with gaming and computer stuff in general, but I am having trouble letting go *cry.* I'm not proud of what I'm good at. Nonetheless, I was wondering about this lately and wanted to know yall's thoughts on the topic.

[DaKilla]

I'm personally against "professional gaming" for the same reason I'm against "professional sports".

It's a game: you play for enjoyment.

That's all I have to say on the subject, really..

[Big Red 11]

Sure, why not? If people are willing to host tournaments and offer cash prizes then i'm fine with it. The problem is getting people to do just that and getting sponsors. The only sponsors willing to invest in that would be electronics and game companies, so your funding is limited.

[xa]

Originally Posted by DaKilla

I'm personally against "professional gaming" for the same reason I'm against "professional sports".

It's a game: you play for enjoyment.

That's all I have to say on the subject, really..

While I do agree, most people have very little fun at competitive levels of gaming.
Competitive gaming is relatively little fun as professional sports is less fun because it no longer becomes a game at those difficult levels where a mistake could mean you are hated by everyone.

Originally Posted by Chess for fun & Chess for blood

In the preceding pages, we have looked only at the pleasant side of chess—the kind played among amateurs for the excitement of a battle without bloodshed, in which the supreme command is in their hands, but the outcome of which is of no grave consequence to either player.

There is another side to chess, however, which is quite different—tournament and match games played by masters or those striving to become masters, whose standing, if not livelihood, may be seriously affected by the outcome.

Such games are no fun, even for the winner. They are the hardest work imaginable. You play for blood! You avoid the lure of beautiful combinations unless you see clearly that they do not endanger your chance to draw the game at least, if you cannot win it. For it is not the beauty of a combination which wins a tournament, but the number of points you make—a whole point for a win, a half a point for a draw, and an “egg” for a loss."

I don't really care either way, its really not as fun in my opinion once it becomes too serious.

[UnknownSubject]

Like it was stated before, if you can get people to host the touneys and such. Like yesterday, we had two TV's in the living room. One was on Superbowl and the other was hooked up to my PS2. I was not playing SOCOM, but Madden 06. We had a tourney and the winner won like 20 bucks.

Professional gaming could become the new American Tradition. We already have a G4 station that is mostly about computers and such. Why not get a station to broadcast the Madden Super Bowl in 135 countries. I don't think this is to far away from now.

[DaKilla]

Originally Posted by UNKNOWNSUSPECT

Like it was stated before, if you can get people to host the touneys and such. Like yesterday, we had two TV's in the living room. One was on Superbowl and the other was hooked up to my PS2. I was not playing SOCOM, but Madden 06. We had a tourney and the winner won like 20 bucks.

Professional gaming could become the new American Tradition. We already have a G4 station that is mostly about computers and such. Why not get a station to broadcast the Madden Super Bowl in 135 countries. I don't think this is to far away from now.

Other countries actually already have huge "professional gaming" scenes. Movie star-dating, body guard-utilizing gaming nerds - what's the world come to? :D

[breath of life]

Dude, I am using that exact excuse on my parents to let me play more, is it working? of course not, but still an excuse.

But I say, if you are willing to blow some money on a tournament, and then you win, then more power to you for winning soem cash. Amd if you are still playing the game you love, then who cares? Like jsut recently I played in a DDR competition (shut up) and I came in third place, I won $150 and it was a $10 entrace fee, but that ten bucks gave you all you can eat food/drink, and a awesome day of hanging out with your friends. That is the same price you would pay to go see a local band play or something, and you actually do the same stuff (listen to music, and hang with friends) I just so happend to win some money in the process. So I guess you could call me a professional gamer, but I play for fun, and thats it.

[Z3CH]

I believe sports and gaming is fine as a professional sport. You find something you are good at and shoot for that goal, however there may be some problems that can alleviate (nice word!) from "professional gaming."

Football, soccer, baseball, and all other sports are something kids do for fun. However, most know that they will never make it to the pro's. They realize how hard it is to achive the goal of going pro.

Video games are also something everyone does for fun. But after playing for a few months of years at a time, you get the feeling that you are really good at it. Now look at the "professional gamers" that win tournaments. They can be very young. A 15 year old got very very rich off of earnings at a professional gaming tournament. This will give kids the idea that it is, infact, very easy to become a professional gamer. If too many people get these ideas into their head, we're going to have a ton of homeless people.

When professional gaming, it is not a consistent job, and you don't get a pension. Before you retire, you're going to have to be pretty rich if you want to survive. In professional sports, no matter how you are doing you are always paid the same. If you start sucking as a professional gamer, you can really be screwed over. You won't get paid a salary or anything, and lets just say some bad stuff can happen.

Just wrote some ideas down on it, I guess am all for it, but if you want to become a pro gamer than you better know what you are getting into.