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The Purposelessness of FPS Professionalism
Doley writes "Over at GotFrag, there's an article discussing the financial and evolutionary problems related to professional FPS gaming. The piece explains: 'Regardless of how many fans exist, how many people play Counter-Strike, how many tournaments take place, or how many sponsors participate, Counter-Strike will never truly be a sport. Never will the players make an excellent living playing the game. Possibly, in time, the top teams from each country will be able to make a decent living - a living that we are all capable of making by simply attending college. However, because the majority of cream of the crop players and teams cannot make Counter-Strike a true career, the purpose of the entire structure and making it to the top is destroyed. Until purpose is put back into our community, the situation will continue to worsen.'"
Two of the top names people know in gaming, Thresh being the first, Fatal1ty being the current one prove this guy right. They both have won several tournaments at the top spot, but still find the need to have other sources of income. Both have managed to turn their popularity into a source of income. Thresh has done well behind the scenes helping on things and giving endorsements. And Fatal1ty has teamed with ABit to help make gamer products, with his name on it, so some kickback cash there.
This isn't like some highly rated sports figure signing off on some product for a bit more spending cash. It's because they know gaming is not a way to support themselves alone yet. While some "large" prizes have been given out, Fatal1ty only won $20,000 for Quakecon. After tax, thats probably less then what minimum wage full time would gross in a year. So, something else has to pay the bills too.
sport Pronunciation Key (spôrt, sprt)
n.
1.
1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
2. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.
4.
1. Mockery; jest: He made sport of his own looks.
2. An object of mockery, jest, or play: treated our interests as sport.
3. A joking mood or attitude: She made the remark in sport.
5.
1. One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation: a poor sport.
2. Informal. One who accepts rules or difficult situations well.
3. Informal. A pleasant companion: was a real sport during the trip.
6. Informal.
1. A person who lives a jolly, extravagant life.
2. A gambler at sporting events.
7. Biology. An organism that shows a marked change from the normal type or parent stock, typically as a result of mutation.
8. Maine. See summercater. See Regional Note at summercater.
9. Obsolete. Amorous dalliance; lovemaking.
Regardless of the third definition, sports require actual physical activity. Sitting on your ass moving a mouse and punching keys is not a sport much less an actual "job".