The Next Time You Go To A College Sport It Might Be For Gaming
This news brings a tear to my eye. There is an article that is talking about esports in college and how it might be the next big thing. College sports are huge in the US and I am happy if that passion moves to video gaming competitions. The article says there are 41 US College and Universities that have teams that are competing.
I'm going back to University :p. This is a big deal for esports not because of how big college sports are but because this is the launching pad for bigger things for the evens. Think about the NBA and NFL, almost every pro player comes from a college team. And when it is accepted as a 'sport' or at least a popular event at this level it will echo to bigger things for the league. Like anything there are different areas of growth that propel something to the mainstream and college and universities are a big push.
Here is the article for more info:
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/college-level-esports-on-the-rise/3959974.html
Would you go to an event?
*my upvotes/rep disclaimer: https://steemit.com/steemit/@whatageek/my-steemit-account-where-i-stand-on-bots-self-votes-and-multiple-account
I wouldn't go to an event in the classical idea of what a sports event is. I have a small history in pro gaming yet still concede the incentives need to be different for eSports events - just showing the players and a big screen tv isn't ever going to fly, there needs to be a lot more going on.
I've gone to Smash Bros events, largely because you can play with other players (often pros as well) and the whole thing feels like an epic convention.
The consideration still is that sports are accessible for pretty much anyone due to their simplicity, while eSports are accessible only to those who have decent familiarity with the game. It comes down to recognizing and appreciating feats of skill, and when you don't get what's going on, you miss it entirely.
It's easy for those who don't follow say American football to get wasted and root when the guy carrying the ball runs into the end zone. Harder to ask someone who doesn't play League of Legends to cheer when a team achieves an economy advantage through a good call on a rotation.
The tectonic shift has yet to come as games remain too inaccessible for a mass audience. Obviously this will help pro players mitigate career risk, but I don't see financial incentive for schools to support it nor think much will change until a lot more innovation happens.
Upvoted for the thoughtful response. you make a good point that people who do not play do not get what is going on. Maybe they can make a game more visually telling so they are easier to stream. Rocket league is one that has a clearer goal. But conventional perks is a good way to push the events.
that will be a great news for college gamer's..
I really like college sports
Isn't it bad enough that American colleges obsess over regular sports instead of actually academic excellence? Now they are going to do it virtually. Mind blown.
I guess it levels the playing field and at least makes "sports" a non-jock only pursuit. But the idea of someone getting an eSports scholarship to spend 4 years sat in front of a computer screen twiddling their thumbs... Isn't that the least bit scary?
Yeah I thought it was pretty crazy when I saw there was an Overwatch College league that had a 100k prize pool. I can see more and more universities embracing E-Sports, especially since they are becoming more and more mainstream.
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Nice blog post!