HBO eSports Discussion (AKA: Bunch of old people "discussing" whether or not they think videogames a
45 replies, posted
[video=youtube;Box01YzekaQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Box01YzekaQ[/video]
The lady in red who says (that to her) "It's still not a sport, it's a game", at the end of the day, things like Football, Soccer (sorry Europeans :v), Rugby, Basketball, etc. are games too. Games that you compete against other teams for cash prizes and for the entertainment of an audience. That's the same thing with eSports, they're games in which teams compete against one another for cash whilst entertaining people. Real sport or not, that was a pretty dumb thing for her to say.
So Facepunch, are eSports a real sport? Or do we just say they're a sport to feel better about ourselves
#realsports
only real sport is darts
oh good god what the sweet fuck
they're so old and don't know anything
By definition sports have to be physical in nature. In some ways I guess you could consider dexterity of fingers and quickness of thought as "physical." eSports aren't sports in the traditional (and defined) sense of being athletics, but they do involve the other aspects that the definition of sports encompasses. Namely:
-involves competition
-requires skill
-done for entertainment
-involving an individual or team
The only conflicting argument is whether or not to consider the sports as "physical exertion." While they may not technically involve such, one can argue that the other required skill-sets (namely the response time) outweigh the lack of extreme physical competition and require a change in the definition of a sport.
For instance, racing planes, cars, horses, and so on, are all considered sports, but require little actual physical exertion on the part of the participant. One can argue that the skill and mental awareness required to exceed at certain games is equivalent or greater than of many Motorsports.
Well, it isn't.
It is a gaming competition.
Old people talking about things they know nothing about. Seems pretty run of the mill for television.
Also I'd argue that who fucking cares that it isn't a physical activity, I didn't know the word sport was so sacred that we need standards as to what is and isn't a sport. Same goes for people who complain about things that are and aren't a video game.
The level of skill and competition seems reason enough to call it a sport.
[QUOTE=Loriborn;43232184]By definition sports have to be physical in nature. In some ways I guess you could consider dexterity of fingers and quickness of thought as "physical." eSports aren't sports in the traditional (and defined) sense of being athletics, but they do involve the other aspects that the definition of sports encompasses. Namely:
-involves competition
-requires skill
-done for entertainment
-involving an individual or team
The only conflicting argument is whether or not to consider the sports as "physical exertion." While they may not technically involve such, one can argue that the other required skill-sets (namely the response time) outweigh the lack of extreme physical competition and require a change in the definition of a sport.
For instance, racing planes, cars, horses, and so on, are all considered sports, but require little actual physical exertion on the part of the participant. One can argue that the skill and mental awareness required to exceed at certain games is equivalent or greater than of many Motorsports.[/QUOTE]
If you insist on physical exertion being a requirement, you've essentially ruled out a huge number of things that are considered sports already. Shooting, Curling, Golf, Darts. I could list dozens of things that require very little physical exertion and are very clearly sports. In some cases Olympic ones at that.
What makes Football, or Basketball, or even Chess any more real of a sport than an Esport?
Because old people are familiar with it and have been raised to see it as such. That is the only difference.
What do you means its not a real sport. Just look at the first minute of your own video and you'll see that there is a pretty large amount of people that see it as a sport.
Its a couple million vs 10 old people
[QUOTE=Zephyrs;43232606]If you insist on physical exertion being a requirement, you've essentially ruled out a huge number of things that are considered sports already. Shooting, Curling, Golf, Darts. I could list dozens of things that require very little physical exertion and are very clearly sports. In some cases Olympic ones at that.[/QUOTE]
Well this was the point I was making.
I was merely giving examples of argument against calling them arguments, and giving my two cents about how physical exertion is a part of the actual definition of sports, but I personally feel that it is not necessary, and the skill required (such as in the case of chess) is reason enough to call most gaming competitions sports.
[QUOTE=cdr248;43232652]What do you means its not a real sport. Just look at the first minute of your own video and you'll see that there is a pretty large amount of people that see it as a sport.
Its a couple million vs 10 old people[/QUOTE]I never said it wasn't a real sport, personally I don't care for eSports that much, but I see nothing wrong in calling it a sport.
Yeah sorry it's a fact that eSports are very much already huge and rising in popularity every day no matter what some geezers who've probably never even picked up an atari think
not too big yet in America, but look at Asia and even Europe now
Really, I put eSports on the ranks of chess. You have to stratgize and practice just like chess and you do about the same physical exertion. You just have to quickly respond to your opponents moves.
I'd say that there's more of a discussion to be had than is it or is it not a sport, because definitions vary.
By etymology (anything humans do for leisure), it's a sport.
By SportAccord's definition, it's in a grey area (as you could consider the games "equipment provided by a single supplier", and any games that have any RNGs go against it's "no luck elements" rule)
By the Oxford definition, it's not a sport (since there's no physical exertion)
By most mainstream sports organizations, eSports are not considered sports, but that's arbitrary and should be open for debate.
etc etc.
Remember, it's not a question of is it popular or not, and that doesn't really matter in any of the definitions anyways. It's more of a "should mainstream organizations adapt their definitions to have eSports within the rest of sports" thing.
Who gives a fuck if it's a sport or a game. They love it, and the fans love it.
They also probably make more money than Australia's top athletes in general.
[QUOTE=Loriborn;43232184]For instance, racing planes, cars, horses, and so on, are all considered sports, but require little actual physical exertion on the part of the participant. One can argue that the skill and mental awareness required to exceed at certain games is equivalent or greater than of many Motorsports.[/QUOTE]
Look how many fat people there are in boat racing, car racing or horse racing. Almost none. Look at the elite F1 drivers - they're as fit as can be, and some maybe even fitter than elite football players.
Comparing that to those who play esports - I wouldn't suggest that it is a requirement.
To be honest though, why do people care so much?
Wow sick startrek burn.
I don't think grouping it with traditional sports is appropriate, but eSports definitely works. I consider them separate.
Reminds me of when my roommate left his computer on with a League of Legends livestream up. My other roommate looked over and watched for a bit, then commented on how "pathetic it is that people actually watch stuff like this" and how "they treat them like they're [I]athletes.[/I]"
I wonder how long it took these old fucks to be convinced that email wasn't black magic
[QUOTE=Loriborn;43232184]For instance, racing planes, cars, horses, and so on, are all considered sports, but require little actual physical exertion on the part of the participant[/QUOTE]
lol what. you must have no understanding of those sports if you think there is little exertion. f1 drivers have to be really really fit. it's pretty damn hard to drive a 200mph car at a maximum of 5g for 2 hours. neck muscles come under such ridiculous stress that the canopies have rests in them that are designed to be used at certain part of the tracks just so that the drivers get a brief chance to rest. back issues are also really common as a result of the strain
[QUOTE=Tacooo;43235294]I wonder how long it took these old fucks to be convinced that email wasn't black magic[/QUOTE]
It's comments like this that just make us look bad.
They aren't wrong by the literal definition of sports, but the general idea behind the question of whether video game competitions are "sports" or not is about more than just being called a sport or not, and these presenters failed to even accept video games as a legitimate form of competition.
They are sports in every way except they aren't as physical, but that doesn't really make much of a difference overall.
[editline]19th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=ChestyMcGee;43235348]lol what. you must have no understanding of those sports if you think there is little exertion. f1 drivers have to be really really fit. it's pretty damn hard to drive a 200mph car at a maximum of 5g for 2 hours. neck muscles come under such ridiculous stress that the canopies have rests in them that are designed to be used at certain part of the tracks just so that the drivers get a brief chance to rest. back issues are also really common as a result of the strain[/QUOTE]
well LoL players need to be ready for migraines brought on by the game's community, so there's that.
[img]http://i.cubeupload.com/QbILXS.png[/img]
Could you call it real sports? because there is some amount of phyiscal exertion, very little but they yell alot and they click a lot.
[QUOTE=Zeb Brown;43235481][img]http://i.cubeupload.com/QbILXS.png[/img]
Could you call it real sports? because there is some amount of phyiscal exertion, very little but they yell alot and they click a lot.[/QUOTE]
The thing is, there are tons of different dictionaries/websites with different definitions, some fit and some dont.
This exact debate has gone on regarding chess and whether or not that is a 'true sport'.
I would say yes, many people may think its easy sitting in a chair to do this stuff but it really isnt. Your muscles, mind and entire body are under very large amounts of stress that you need to be able to cope with.
I have played finals for a few game tournaments before and afterwards, including up on a main stage with all of those lights shining down and people watching. I'm usually a bit of a wreck afterwards. My heart is pounding and adrenaline pumping throughout, I get incredibly clammy and tense and it just really takes everything out of you. Maybe it isn't as physically exerting as physical sports, but it puts a lot of strain on a person and their body and coping with that while still being able to get through the game is a part of it.
Speaking of which I wonder how long it is before they start requiring esports players to be tested for drugs like beta blockers, cocaine or other psychostimulants :V
Holy shit that woman in red has a dark voice. I thought she was a dude first.
Here is my view of esports, as someone who has been involved in the scene for a while now. The name it's self sounds kinda silly and I think leaves a bad first impression.. it seems almost unprofessional in a way. But what is actually going on the production behind it for the tournaments, and how much hard work the players for any esports (dota2, starcraft, LoL, etc) is very professional, to the standard of real sports today. I think that esports is on the same teir as professional poker, or chess and I think if the communities keep putting in professional grade content then maybe we will be on TV in America and Europe and not just Korea. There are tons of examples I could post but I dont want to stretch the page with youtube videos and pictures
[sp] disclaimer: I have been involved with esports for a pretty long time there is some positive bias toward it [/sp]
Yet ESPN has put Chees, spelling bees, and even magic the gathering on its channel :v:
I like the part where they say "It's not a sport!" over and over again. I'm convinced.
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