Professional Gaming League Raises $10M

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Major League Gaming, aspiring to become the official league of professional videogaming, raised $10 million in funding from Ritchie Capital, and named Matthew Bromberg, the former general manager of Time Warner's Moviefone and AOL Games properties, as president and chief operating officer, the Wall Street Journal reports. 'The championship match for MLG's second season will be held this weekend in New York, where individuals and teams of gamers will battle against others in fighting and shooter games like Microsoft Corp.'s Halo 2 for a total of $100,000 in prizes. ... The company says it is in discussions with various cable networks about deals to have its competitions carried on television. "We want this to be covered as a circuit," said Mr. Bromberg.'"

Comments

Fantastic

[TheRealFixer]

Because there's nothing more exciting than watching a room full of Ritalin-addicted 14-year-olds "pwn" each other at Halo all day.

This is even too nerdy for me

[BecomingLumberg]

I gotta say, it is very sad to me that there are actually professional gamers.

Disclaimer: I am terrible at shooter games, so consider me biased if you must.

As much as I love video games, there is no excuse for it being your main pursuit of life (playing them, that is - video game creation makes total sense to me as a career). And it is getting ingrained as a part of our children's culture.

I mean, seriously, has anyone looked at a picture of this Jon F4ta|1ty (or however his baby1337 ass choses to spell things) Wendell guy? He has the same "I'm the badass of the world" expression that those idiots with thier $20k civics with $30k of upgrades on them look when they get out of their car.

I mean, seriously, eat something beside pizza, drink something besides red bull, go outside, get a suntan, and get some bruises playing sports with friends. If you have any, that is.

I'm sick of kids contending that being a gamer is a valid counter to being an athlete. All the kids I used to play video games with all played sports.

/rant

Now that my head is no longer primed for explosion... this really is rediculous. Gaming is fun. Have tournaments. Have a cash prize. But poker should not be on TV, and nor should videogames. Heck, curling and pool are pushing it as it is, but at least they require some physical skill.