In 30 years time, would E-sports be able to overcome traditional sports?

[TwiceOver]

I'm still trying to figure out how people can stand playing the same game over and over again. Other than graphics enhancements, the games are basically the same thing that has been played for years now. Yet another FPS, whoopdie friggin do.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I'm still trying to figure out how people can stand playing the same game over and over again. Other than graphics enhancements, the games are basically the same thing that has been played for years now. Yet another FPS, whoopdie friggin do.

Balance changes keep the game fresh, new champions/weapons come out all the time, easy to play/hard to master, lots of different ways to play, lots of ways to improve, infinite ways to outplay someone else.

Its like asking why Chess has existed for as long as it has. Or why people enjoy running back and forth with a ball in their hands while causing brain damage to each other.

 

[Train]

I'm still trying to figure out how people can stand playing the same game over and over again. Other than graphics enhancements, the games are basically the same thing that has been played for years now. Yet another FPS, whoopdie friggin do.

I had a friend call it "glorified duck hunt"

Man, he was right.

 

[Homerboy]

At first, I was also thinking LOL. But, then I realized that there's an entire generation of kids growing up who spend more time playing xbox, playstation, etc., than they've ever spent outdoors. Hell, for some kids, the only time they're outdoors is walking out to the bus to go to school, walking from the bus into the school, walking out of the school back to the bus, and... running from the bus into their house so they can get in enough levels on some game before their mom makes them stop to eat dinner.

While I agree with you on some levels, I think the "kids never go outside" card is played too heavily. They certainly do from what I see.

That being said, even if less kids are running around outside, the hyper-increase in competitive sports for kids over the past 20 years easily outweighs the amount of slugs staring at TVs.

E-Sports... whatever.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Lol, imagine ESPN Magazine's Body issue with 'e-athletes' in the spread.

 

[smackababy]

Lol, imagine Sports Illustrated's Body issue with 'e-athletes' in the spread.

Eewwwwwww!

 

[Homerboy]

Lol, imagine ESPN Magazine's Body issue with 'e-athletes' in the spread.

 

[Sureshot324]

Nah, fundamentally all e-sports gamers peak at age 24-26.

From 18 to 24 they don't make enough to compensate for the practice it takes to play e-sports. You end up in your 30's with no skills and no life.

The real money is actually in being an ex-gamer and commentating.

Part of the allure of sports is that the players are legends. Its tough to get into a sport you know is probably ruining their lives. They are more like e-gladiators, hopelessly enslaved to videogames in a battle to the death for their 15 minutes of fame. The problem is not the sport/games, but the players. e-sports burns through talent too fast to really develop a household name. Who are the latest and greatest? I have no idea honestly.

Professional athletes have the same problem. They peak in their mid 20s and most go broke within a few years of retirement. A few get jobs as commentators or something similar, but many end up in their 30s with no useful skills for any other career.

In order enjoy watching a sport or game, you have to have a decent understanding of it, and ideally have played it yourself a significant amount. We've all played the most common sports as kids in school, so we understand them can enjoy watching them. The number of people in the world that have played and understand League of Legends is much less than soccer, but that's changing fast.

The big advantage video games have over sports is how much easier it is to find equal opponents and play. I suspect most football fans rarely actually play football, but e-sports fans play regularly. This is the biggest reason I think e-sports could eventually surpass sports in popularity.

 

[mmntech]

If soccer and lacrosse can't get popular in North America, e-sports don't have a snowball's chance.

I actually think lacrosse is better than hockey. It definitely should be more popular here.