Video Games and Sports

It has come to my attention over the past couple of years.  Video games are starting to take the place of real sports.  These games have brought new meaning to the words, Virtual Reality.The invention of the competitive gaming league, Major League Gaming (MLG), put professional video gamers in the limelight.  However, the game that started making professional gamers household names was Halo 2.

Halo 2 is a first person shooter that first came out on Microsoft’s original Xbox.  This is the game that MLG started off of, and the game that has made the people that compete very rich.

I am seventeen years old, so naturally people around my age love video games.  Nevertheless, the kids that go to these tournaments and win are obsessed with these games.  These people can spend ten to twelve hours a day playing these games.  In addition, in reward for their good play are checks for thousands of dollars, cars, and fame.  All because of a video game.

This column was appropriate for a sports website because these gamers are actually considered athletes.  Moreover, if you think a little you can see why they are athletes.

1. These people make ridiculous amounts of money for playing a game. (See: athlete)
2. If you want to be competitive, the gamer will have to travel around the world to do so.  Yes, I said the world.
3.  The amount of time spent playing video games is actually longer than most athletes practice for their respective sports.
4.  Now MLG has officially made a deal with NBC to show its gaming events on national TV.  (See: NFL)

In addition, I know what you are thinking.  This is why there is an obesity problem in America.  And I am definitely not arguing with that statement.  But if you were being paid a decent amount of money by world known sponsors to compete in video game tournaments, would you say no?  I sure could not, and I am sure 99% of the teenage and young adult population would not say no.  And why do I think that?  Because American consumers spend there hard earned money to play these video games.

And up top when travel was mentioned, it is no exaggeration.  MLG tournaments are held all over the country.  From New York, all the way to San Francisco.  There are also a few tournaments overseas that gamers have to qualify for with their play over the year.

And if you think that people are the only ones that play in these tournaments, think again.  There are quite a few prominent women clans out there.  One such clan is called PMS.  They are main gamers are PMS Shanzie, and PMS Delta.  They are the biggest women’s team with hundreds of members.

Another clan that is dominating the pro circuit is Final Boss.  They are players go by the names Ogre 1, Ogre 2, Walshy, and Saiyan.  I personally know Ogre 1 and Ogre 2, and I cannot explain how well these brothers play with each other.

Halo 2 is one of the two games that has been an economical hit all over the country but there is also another franchise that is could be considered bigger than the Halo series.

Everyone that plays video games also knows of another popular game that has generated millions of dollars as well.  The Madden series by EA Sports.

This game actually combines two of my favorite things.  Football and Video games.  But I am not a pro at it.  And that is the reason this game is a blockbuster, and will stay a big hit.

But the reason I bring up Madden, is that ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, actually televises these events.  Now if you cannot see how important this game is to people after reading that last sentence than I will not be able to convince you.  

Madden 07 is such a hit that recently they had a promotional day in a town called Madden.  That day every resident of the town received an Xbox 360 console, and the game itself.  Now granted, it was only 72 people, but it was still a big deal that a video game was getting its own holiday.

Madden is even big enough to attract casual gamers such as the NFL professionals.  In fact some of the players have made playing Madden a pre-game ritual.  Imagine that!

Look out for “Madden Nation” to appear on ESPN 2 in the following weeks.

Most people outside of the gaming industry do not consider the people that participate in these tournaments athletes.  And I disagree that they are your `traditional athletes’, but I would still consider them athletes.  They practice, play, and travel like regular athletes.  They spend time away from their families just like athletes.  And they have sponsors just like athletes.  

Play for yourself and only yourself.  That is a gamer’s motto.  Hmm, that sounds a lot like Terrell Owens.  By the way, he is an athlete.