The Christian Science Monitor has decided to run a healthy number of gaming articles this month. One of their latest articles enters a lengthy discussion as to whether or not Pro Gaming is considered a sport. The rest are atypical ‘video games are bad’ articles; atypical because they actually make some solid sense. Anyway, does a decent job of breaking things down and then becomes downright hilarious.
It starts by making us well aware that there are a fair number of people making a decent amount cash from pro gaming. Arena events have been known to pull 80,000 fans, and some competitive teams pay up to $90,000. Whether people like it or not, there is a niche for competitive gaming in mainstream competition.
Shortly after exposing the horrific shenanigans of the WCG vs the Olympics, the article turns to gaming’s Prodigy/Savior/Michael Jordan - Johnathan Wendel AKA Fatal1ty. Sound familiar? Just like every other gaming article you have ever read? Thought so.
After discussing Wendel’s awesome success, they quote him saying one of the most entertaining things I have ever heard him say. (This is where things get funny)
“I’m sleeping in my business partner’s guesthouse right now,” he says – Wendel says the life of a professional video-game player is as much work as it is play.
“It’s the same way with the big rock-’n’-roll stars,” he says. “You think it’s all glitz and glamour, but it’s a lot of time on the road, away from your family, sleeping in strange places. It’s fun for now, but it’s also a lot of work.” But, he adds with a sly smile, “nobody can say video games are a waste of time anymore. I’m living proof of that.”
Brings a smirk to my face and a chuckle to my belly.
Sadly, in spite of this one quote, the article is pretty much empty. It starts off well, but later shifts gears in the middle to uncannily familiar territory. I have been and will continue waiting for an article that discusses western professional gaming without ranting and raving about Fatal1ty.
[From: CSMonitor]
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August 5, 2008
Pro Gaming is as much a professional sport as the WNBA.
Until their is a participant that is recognized by more than just the niche market following and brings interest to the events by people that usually could care less, it will be just a niche.
August 6, 2008
Fatal1ty’s early successes are to be noted but to credit him with the tremendous and present-day successes of professional gaming is reaching… His success at achieving, early on, what many in the mainstream media thought not possible helped to ignite a general belief among other gamers that they too can achieve professional-level status.
Fatal1ty was definitely an early pioneer, but it is the legions of professional gamers today, who have caught the watchful eye of the media and big name sponsors that is fueling the growth of eSports in the U.S. today.
August 6, 2008
My thoughts exactly. Apologies if the article is misleading, Fatal1ty is definitely not pushing U.S eSports right now.
August 29, 2008
Very interesting site, nice design, greetings
August 30, 2008
Nice to see ya around. Hope you enjoy the current and future content. I swear now that college has started I’ll write more. Eerrr… Right. ;P