Great Debate: Are eSports sports?

Dr_Rez · 03-31-2012, 08:47 PM

I ****ing miss Counterstrike 1.5

Key · 03-31-2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

eSports is a collective term for videogames played professionally in a tournament format. Street fighter, Starcraft, Soul Calibur, Counterstrike, that kind of thing.

In terms of sheer physical exertion the impact in eSports is minimal, but the demands on skill, practice, and dexterity can be astronomical. In a professional Starcraft match players will frequently be putting in new commands at a rate of 6-800 per minute. Professional level street fighter relies on practice and dexterity sufficient to respond to stimuli as precise as 14-17ms and choose the correct action. Counterstrike players such as Heaton and Fatal1ty take the idea of precision control to an utterly absurd level and couple that with map knowledge and tactics.

None of those things demand large muscles or excellent body tone, but keeping that sort of effort up for the duration of a match is tremendously strenuous and legitimately exhausting. And that's when one match might take 45 minutes for a long game. These players are capable of doing this in practice sessions for upwards of 12 hours a day, approaching 16 in some cases.

Than yes, in my honest opinion, I think eSports could be considered a sport specifically for the amount of stress it can put on your mind. Which real sports can do. Would I class this in the same category as traditional sports like baseball, soccer, and football? Probably not. But that doesn't mean I don't think eSports isn't a sport, it just isn't what one would considered to be a traditional sport. I really hope that makes sense.

GuitarBizarre · 03-31-2012, 08:57 PM

Makes perfect sense. I agree with you. eSports is a subcategory of the wider area of sports as far as I'm concerned, in the same way football and car racing are subcategories which demand different approaches.

Key · 03-31-2012, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Makes perfect sense. I agree with you. eSports is a subcategory of the wider area of sports as far as I'm concerned, in the same way football and car racing are subcategories which demand different approaches.

Exactly. And I can understand how eSports can stress you out as much as a traditional sport could.

Howard the Duck · 04-01-2012, 12:13 AM

i would like to think eSports are sports simulations video games

FIFA, Madden, NBA, NHL et al

i've played a fair bit of them

Dr_Rez · 04-01-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

i would like to think eSports are sports simulations video games

FIFA, Madden, NBA, NHL et al

i've played a fair bit of them

I think you hit the nail on the head.

GuitarBizarre · 04-01-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

I think you hit the nail on the head.

And I think he's trollin.

Howard the Duck · 04-01-2012, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

And I think he's trollin.

i'm serious

GuitarBizarre · 04-01-2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

i'm serious

Way to not read the thread then.

Zer0 · 04-01-2012, 07:53 AM

It's Il Duce, what do you expect? I'm sure he's thinking of EA games.

03-31-2012, 08:47 PM	#51 (permalink)
Dr_Rez Registered Jimmy Rustler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,364	I ***ing miss Counterstrike 1.5 __________________ Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew* Always Checks Credentials Crew nba > nfl crew Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew

04-01-2012, 07:53 AM	#60 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	It's Il Duce, what do you expect? I'm sure he's thinking of EA games. __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound