Time to bring this conversation into this corner of the internet.
While it was possible in the past to get gamers visas for which to move to the USA for the express purpose of competition (a la Counterstrike), the USA set a precedent from which the future of professional gaming can flourish by making it far simpler for foreign gamers to get the same kind of visas that foreign NBA or NHL players can get, thus putting pro gaming up there with those arenas.
In a nutshell, eSports have the fans (tens of millions of gamers). They have the networks from which gamers can easily view the competition (Twitch, Polaris, YouTube). They have the means of which to hold many tourneys and competitions, which are popular (MLG, EVO, Twitch Championships, etc.). They have the industry from which to acquire the means to play professionally (video gaming, like sports goods, is a multi-billion dollar industry). They have the means to acquire plenty of money from their viewership (through ad revenue, which is how just about all networks make the big bills). Hell, the only thing missing are player unions.
And now that the USA recognizes pro gaming as a professional sport, should we?
I don't think we'll have to refer to gamers as athletes, but we don't do that with chess and poker players anyway. Like chess, poker and racing, the amount of skill it takes to play at a high level is unquestionable. I don't have to describe the extent of which I'd get my ass whupped if I tried to pick up an arcade stick against any professional fighting game player.
Since we'll inevitably have to move forward from here on out, the meaning of sports will have to as well. It certainly involves plenty of skill and high levels of competition, much like chess, poker and racing.
Also, do note that this is specifically talking about COMPETITIVE GAMING. Just because one plays video games doesn't make one professional. The same can be said for street basketball as well. Also note how the lines keep getting blurred.
Yes, I sincerely believe that pro gaming is a sport.
While it was possible in the past to get gamers visas for which to move to the USA for the express purpose of competition (a la Counterstrike), the USA set a precedent from which the future of professional gaming can flourish by making it far simpler for foreign gamers to get the same kind of visas that foreign NBA or NHL players can get, thus putting pro gaming up there with those arenas.
In a nutshell, eSports have the fans (tens of millions of gamers). They have the networks from which gamers can easily view the competition (Twitch, Polaris, YouTube). They have the means of which to hold many tourneys and competitions, which are popular (MLG, EVO, Twitch Championships, etc.). They have the industry from which to acquire the means to play professionally (video gaming, like sports goods, is a multi-billion dollar industry). They have the means to acquire plenty of money from their viewership (through ad revenue, which is how just about all networks make the big bills). Hell, the only thing missing are player unions.
And now that the USA recognizes pro gaming as a professional sport, should we?
I don't think we'll have to refer to gamers as athletes, but we don't do that with chess and poker players anyway. Like chess, poker and racing, the amount of skill it takes to play at a high level is unquestionable. I don't have to describe the extent of which I'd get my ass whupped if I tried to pick up an arcade stick against any professional fighting game player.
Since we'll inevitably have to move forward from here on out, the meaning of sports will have to as well. It certainly involves plenty of skill and high levels of competition, much like chess, poker and racing.
Also, do note that this is specifically talking about COMPETITIVE GAMING. Just because one plays video games doesn't make one professional. The same can be said for street basketball as well. Also note how the lines keep getting blurred.
Yes, I sincerely believe that pro gaming is a sport.