It's not a dream when over 60 million others are working on achieving it. Pain, physical exertion, I think you've twisted the definition of sport to mean something it doesn't. We've become trained in believing that football, rugby, the hardcore, brutal activities are "true sports," when in reality that's our own opinion, not what definition would state.
To be honest with you, I wouldn't have cared if you had climbed Mount Everest. That plays little importance to me and the rest of the world for more than 5 seconds. Nor am I really interested in hearing what you think should be a sport. I'm sure that you have a mental list of what you consider a sport, fortunately, the world doesn't care about that list.
It has been shown that more people have watched an important international Counter-Strike match, than have watched an average college football game. But it's not a sport though because you're not familiar with it, and because the word "computer" associates with "inactivity" or some ridiculous judgment that you've had.
I'm a bit shocked at how many people have responded with stereotypical assessments on the gaming culture and those surrounding it (especially when it comes from people on Slashdot). You may be correct in identifying a portion of the World of Warcraft community by stating these inappropriate judgments, but it's time you get with the times and stop critiquing the entire gaming culture based on your lack of experience.
Take some time out of your day to look into the true gaming communities of Counter-Strike, and any game involved in what is being called, "E-Sports." Here is an entertainment industry built by people ranging from 10 to 30 years old, all with one goal in mind: to advance their game to the point where the public recognizes it as a true sport. Careers have been made from this, even DirecTV has gotten involved with the Championship Gaming Series which offers gamers over $30,000.00 each for competing in their televised series. Look at companies such as the World Cyber Games, World Series of Video Games, Major League Gaming, the Cyberathlete Professional League, and a host of others, you'll quickly see that gamers can change the way people perceive the gaming culture. The CPL alone just announced a $1,000,000.00 tournament for Halo 3! They wouldn't be putting that much money in a game if it wasn't taken seriously.
E-Sports alone is a direct product of what gamers are capable of. Individuals that consider themselves general managers of their gaming organizations have been shown capable of gaining sponsorships from companies such as Tylenol, Samsung, Microsoft, Intel, Subway, nVidia, and hundreds of other brand names. These are not people with degrees in marketing, nor even in public relations, these are passionate gamers that range in age, and that are able to convince a multi-million, and sometimes, billion-dollar company into a contractual agreement.
I could go on and on listing the characteristics that define true gamers, and the gaming industry in general, but it's not worth the time. Games teach people things that they never taught before. No longer are you trying to duke it out on Pong folks, you're now trying to develop strategic plans with four other friends, all the while considering a number of various factors, in the attempt to out-smart, out-aim, and basically, advance both yourself and your team into the limelight. That may sound hilarious to a few of you old-timers, but the time of e-sports, and the recognition of it, is now.
Who would've thought that a 16 year old could convince an internationally known company into a $17,000.00 product sponsorship with a brand new online gaming league without any experience in marketing, no classes in public relations, and no degrees in business? I would've. Someday many of you will too! This is not on accident, gamers are smart, and they're starting to show it.
Team Fortress 2 is worth the $50-60 alone! ($45.00 w/ beta for those that purchased it through Steam!)
I figured many of you may be interested in this, if you hadn't found it already:
http://www.primotechnology.com/2007/10/17/half-life-2-portal/
In the article posted above, they explain how to import the Portal gun into the Half-Life 2 single-player. It's very awesome, worth trying!
Slashdot Mirror
It's not a dream when over 60 million others are working on achieving it. Pain, physical exertion, I think you've twisted the definition of sport to mean something it doesn't. We've become trained in believing that football, rugby, the hardcore, brutal activities are "true sports," when in reality that's our own opinion, not what definition would state.
To be honest with you, I wouldn't have cared if you had climbed Mount Everest. That plays little importance to me and the rest of the world for more than 5 seconds. Nor am I really interested in hearing what you think should be a sport. I'm sure that you have a mental list of what you consider a sport, fortunately, the world doesn't care about that list.
It has been shown that more people have watched an important international Counter-Strike match, than have watched an average college football game. But it's not a sport though because you're not familiar with it, and because the word "computer" associates with "inactivity" or some ridiculous judgment that you've had.
I'm a bit shocked at how many people have responded with stereotypical assessments on the gaming culture and those surrounding it (especially when it comes from people on Slashdot). You may be correct in identifying a portion of the World of Warcraft community by stating these inappropriate judgments, but it's time you get with the times and stop critiquing the entire gaming culture based on your lack of experience.
Take some time out of your day to look into the true gaming communities of Counter-Strike, and any game involved in what is being called, "E-Sports." Here is an entertainment industry built by people ranging from 10 to 30 years old, all with one goal in mind: to advance their game to the point where the public recognizes it as a true sport. Careers have been made from this, even DirecTV has gotten involved with the Championship Gaming Series which offers gamers over $30,000.00 each for competing in their televised series. Look at companies such as the World Cyber Games, World Series of Video Games, Major League Gaming, the Cyberathlete Professional League, and a host of others, you'll quickly see that gamers can change the way people perceive the gaming culture. The CPL alone just announced a $1,000,000.00 tournament for Halo 3! They wouldn't be putting that much money in a game if it wasn't taken seriously.
E-Sports alone is a direct product of what gamers are capable of. Individuals that consider themselves general managers of their gaming organizations have been shown capable of gaining sponsorships from companies such as Tylenol, Samsung, Microsoft, Intel, Subway, nVidia, and hundreds of other brand names. These are not people with degrees in marketing, nor even in public relations, these are passionate gamers that range in age, and that are able to convince a multi-million, and sometimes, billion-dollar company into a contractual agreement.
I could go on and on listing the characteristics that define true gamers, and the gaming industry in general, but it's not worth the time. Games teach people things that they never taught before. No longer are you trying to duke it out on Pong folks, you're now trying to develop strategic plans with four other friends, all the while considering a number of various factors, in the attempt to out-smart, out-aim, and basically, advance both yourself and your team into the limelight. That may sound hilarious to a few of you old-timers, but the time of e-sports, and the recognition of it, is now.
Who would've thought that a 16 year old could convince an internationally known company into a $17,000.00 product sponsorship with a brand new online gaming league without any experience in marketing, no classes in public relations, and no degrees in business? I would've. Someday many of you will too! This is not on accident, gamers are smart, and they're starting to show it.
Team Fortress 2 is worth the $50-60 alone! ($45.00 w/ beta for those that purchased it through Steam!)
I figured many of you may be interested in this, if you hadn't found it already: http://www.primotechnology.com/2007/10/17/half-life-2-portal/
In the article posted above, they explain how to import the Portal gun into the Half-Life 2 single-player. It's very awesome, worth trying!