Blizzard smokes the crack pipe. Says videos games should be in the Olympics

[Jodell88]

Competitive video gaming - known as e-sports - should be included in the Olympic Games, the creator of World of Warcraft has told the BBC.

Rob Pardo, who until July was chief creative officer at Blizzard Entertainment, said "sport" now had a broad definition.

"Videogames are well positioned to be a spectator sport," he told Afternoon Edition on BBC 5 Live.

Professional e-sports events currently attract audiences of millions.
A recent major final held in Seoul, South Korea, filled a stadium of 40,000 people - with many more watching either online or at meet-ups around the world.
"There's a very good argument for e-sports being in the Olympics," Mr Pardo, who was also lead designer on Starcraft: Brood War, a game often credited with kickstarting the e-sports phenomenon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30597623

E-Sports should forge their own way. E-sports and regular sports have nothing in common.

 

[BeeBoop]

I see his point but doing so would be too soon for this generation. Maybe in 20 years time.

 

[TwiceOver]

A recent major final held in Seoul, South Korea, filled a stadium of 40,000 people

And how many of those people were from anywhere other than Asia? The two have nothing in common.

 

[lxskllr]

I'd like to see it. It's more interesting than a lot of sports.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Fuck, I don't want to add something to the olympics that korea kicks our ass in every year!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

 

[positivedoppler]

20 years from now masturbation will be an Olympic sport.

 

[Insomniator]

I'd wonder if the major Esports are more popular then some of the stupid crap the Olympics has right now. Prize pools and viewer counts are in the millions with games like Dota 2, LoL and SC2.

I'd watch young minds play those games that before watching... curling.

 

[Thebobo]

20 years from now masturbation will be an Olympic sport.

Good something I can win a medal at.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Still would have no care to watch.

 

[TheSlamma]

I'd watch young minds play those games that before watching... curling.

damn, didn't think the word "minds" would be in this thread.

 

[MrDudeMan]

I would actually watch the olympics if esports were included.

 

[DrPizza]

I'd wonder if the major Esports are more popular then some of the stupid crap the Olympics has right now. Prize pools and viewer counts are in the millions with games like Dota 2, LoL and SC2.

I'd watch young minds play those games that before watching... curling.

Perfect timing - I was going to say, "absolutely not. And take curling out of the Olympics while you're at it. "

 

[poundruss]

http://xgames.espn.go.com/article/11816559/major-league-gaming-contested-x-games-aspen-2015

 

[disappoint]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30597623

E-Sports should forge their own way. E-sports and regular sports have nothing in common.

WAT? They have a lot in common. Or so it can be argued.

Sports require a lot of concentration.
So do E-Sports.

Sports require a lot of practice.
So do E-Sports.

Sports require a lot of physical fitness.
So do E-Sports.

Spoiler

You laugh. Why?
You have to be pretty physically fit to go on a several hour gaming binge while eating nothing except cheetos and swilling soda without having a heart attack. Or diabeetus, or some other illness. You think a 90 year old can do that day after day? He didn't. He wouldn't have made it to 90 that way.

 

[SP33Demon]

WAT? They have a lot on common. Or so it can be argued.

Sports require a lot of concentration.
So do E-Sports.

Sports require a lot of practice.
So do E-Sports.

Sports require a lot of physical fitness.
So do E-Sports.

Spoiler

You laugh. Why?
You have to be pretty physically fit to go on a several hour gaming binge while eating nothing except cheetos and swilling soda without having a heart attack. Or diabeetus, or some other illness. You think a 90 year old can do that day after day? He didn't. He wouldn't have made it to 90 that way.

Physical fitness is a bit of a stretch. It's more a mental gymnastics type thing than physical, but hey while we're at it, let's add the spelling bee and chess to the Olympics. Silly, I know because that's how retarded this is. Maybe create a mental Olympics for "mind athletes".

 

[darkewaffle]

Eh, I think an "Olympic" level equivalent for gaming would have an audience but don't think it has a place at the Olympics simply because the audiences don't have much overlap.

Plus games change every year, sports don't really. I think part of the draw of the Olympics is the long term storylines and recurring participants. But I don't think you could really make a case for any given "game" being at the Olympics for longer than two (max three) events.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Not everything needs to be an Olympic sport. The current tournament system works just fine for e-sports, chess, magic, and poker.

 

[disappoint]

Physical fitness is a bit of a stretch. It's more a mental gymnastics type thing than physical, but hey while we're at it, let's add the spelling bee and chess to the Olympics. Silly, I know because that's how retarded this is. Maybe create a mental Olympics for "mind athletes".

Yes it's a bit of a stretch, but fast twitch muscles and muscle memory are required.

 

[imagoon]

It would be more interesting than most sports. It isn't very interesting to watch a bunch of people tackle each other for 3 hours and a dozen 'timeouts.'

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Problem is that there's no set game. What is SC2 gonna be the game one year then once the new RTS comes out that takes it's place?

 

[TheSlamma]

It would be more interesting than most sports. It isn't very interesting to watch a bunch of people tackle each other for 3 hours and a dozen 'timeouts.'

Problem is it's not a sport. But hey my generation runs the mile and average of a 1m 30s faster than this slothfest

BuyNLaaaaaaarge!!

 

[disappoint]

Problem is that there's no set game. What is SC2 gonna be the game one year then once the new RTS comes out that takes it's place?

Same game that gets updated every 4 years to take advantage of new technology and removal of any unfair advantages anyone discovers if there are any.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Same game that gets updated every 4 years to take advantage of new technology and removal of any unfair advantages anyone discovers if there are any.

Counter-Strike would be that game but the newer generation doesn't play CS.

Now would it be an RTS? MOBA? FPS?

Industry works in the flavor of the month.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

20 years from now masturbation will be an Olympic sport.

seriously, why not add something like air guitar or rap battles to the olympics? not sure why people are interested in getting games classified as sports. keep it in it's own realm and showcase it for people that are actually interested in it.

 

[mnewsham]

Counter-Strike would be that game but the newer generation doesn't play CS.

Counter Strike Global offensive. I have put 300 hours into that game in the last 6 months.