E-sports Gaining Popularity in South Korea 20
delirium of disorder writes "According to the JoongAng Daily, a Korean English language newspaper, e-sports are a large and growing pastime in South Korea. The market for organized gaming competitions in South Korea was 40 billion last year and is growing at 29 percent a year. Tens of thousands of people go to watch tournaments and Korea even has three 24-hour television channels devoted exclusively to computer gaming." From the article: "According to the Korea Game Development Institute, the average budget for a pro gaming team in Korea is about 1.5 billion won, which includes practice sites, living quarters and transportation. The income of pro gamers depends on the individual. The highest earners can receive about 200 million won a year in salary and prize money plus endorsements and other additional fees from television appearances."
Pretty good (Score:5, Informative)
Re:It really is... (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:Pretty good (Score:2)
I can only hope one day we westerners also get some 24/7 game-channels; While I am not too much a fan of Starcraft, or any other strategy game for that matter, I wouldn't mind being able to watch the best on the FPS-field battle eachother.
Currently I do so by downloading demos of great matches, but I'd enjoy it more when I would be able t
In unrelated news... (Score:2)
E-sports? (Score:2)
Dude: What are you doing?
Other: Just participating in some massively multiplayer e-sports on my handheld sporting platform.
I can't wait to see this on ESPN (Score:2)
I remember when ESPN had a "Magic: The Gathering" (in Tokyo, I believe). My coworkers at the time were throwing a hissyfit!
Re:I can't wait to see this on ESPN (Score:2)
Because it annoys jocks? (Score:1)
Re:I can't wait to see this on ESPN (Score:2)
Re:I can't wait to see this on ESPN (Score:1)
That's the problem with this anti-intellectual country; if you flunk out in school and can dunk a ball, you make millions; meanwhile all the intelligence-needing jobs are going overseas, leaving a boatload of well achieved college grads without a job (indeed, more college grads are out of jobs than high school dropouts).
Re:I can't wait to see this on ESPN (Score:2)
It's a tough life (Score:1)
e-sport events more fun at home (Score:1)