Gaming Tourneys Coming to U.S. Television

greig writes "DirecTV is aiming to bring to the states what the South Koreans have been enjoying for years: regular broadcasts of videogaming tournaments. Games at the first tournament were Battlefield 2, Counterstrike 1.6, Halo 2, Project Gothem Racing and Dead or Alive 4. The initial broadcasts of the exhibition invitational are on the free DirecTV channel 101 this weekend. Is this the first step to escalating videogames to the status of the X-Games and poker?" Taken from the about section: "The Championship Gaming Series will launch as a league starting 2007; however, in 2006, we will broadcast 3 television events: Championship Gaming Invitational, the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) Winter Finals and an event that will be announced shortly."

Is there really a market for this?

[hine_uk]

Does anyone see a market for this sort of event? Gaming - a predominantly solo event (yes we can argue that it is 'social' when gaming online but thats another discussions) does not lend itself well to passive viewing. Isnt this one of the main arguements as to why gamers (myself included) claim that it takes consumer entertainment to a different level? Because unlike television where the viewer sits there; the gamer is immersing him (or her) self in the game world and experience and is the catalyst rather than the recepticle.

Look at LAN parties, do you see people sat back watching the action in large numbers? No, instead everyone sees that Dust is on and jumps into the action. Games just arent fun to watch.

To me it just doesnt seem like entertainment, I dont want to watch other people play games I want to play it myself - thats what games are for.

Re:Videogame a sport ?

[Troed]

Videogames, on the other hand, will see your best stats nerfed, rules changed, new versions coming out, maps modified

Formula 1, on the other hand, will see your best stats nerfed, rules changed, new versions coming out, maps modified

Re:Videogame a sport ?

[Anonymous Coward]

For 9 years I've been part of these gaming tournaments and can assure you that there are specific skills that must be developed to rate as a top professional gamer. Things like hand-eye coordination, reaction time, pixel acurate aim, focused concentration and precise strategy execution, all come to play and can determine the difference between a win or a lose at these high-stake tournaments.

Competing at the CPL is not the same as playing videogames at your home, as playing pro baseball is not quite the same as tossing a ball with your dad in the backyard. For home play the CPL has an online league named "CAL" (Cyberathlete Amatuer League) but the serious gameplay takes place live on location, in front of spectators, television cameras, officials, etc. You may have to experience it to understand the appeal.

Angel Munox, founder & president
Cyberathlete Professional League
 

Re:Is there really a market for this?

[SamSim]

Gaming does not lend itself well to passive viewing.

Agreed - but that's because nobody has made a game with this specific aim in mind - yet. All games are designed so that they are enjoyable from the point of view of one player - not from the point of view of an observer. A game like Counter-Strike doesn't lend itself well to spectation because it's impossible to follow more than one person at once, but there might be three dozen people you need to keep track of to make sense of the flow of the game. Football, by comparison, is better, because you only need to keep your eye on one thing: the ball.

I am almost certain that very soon manufacturers will begin making games with the spectators in mind as well as the players. It's only a matter of WHEN somebody will realise there's money in it.