Has WoW reached the level of Competitive Gaming?

[miDE]

From the posts on Blizzards site, it seems that World Of Warcraft might reach the level of competitive proffesional gaming. To see a MMORPG reach such a level is unorthodoxed. While RTS and FPS games like Counter Strike, StarCraft, and Warcraft TFT have ruled professional gaming, it wasnt hard to beleive as the playing field is very competitive and takes a lot of concentration and practice to excel in.

Im personally very excited over the outcome, yet its going to bring more debate on imrovements and nerfs towards each class. I've followed the scene of professional gaming since 1998 with StarCraft mostly. And had deeply involved myself in it during my Warcraft TFT days nearly reaching my dream of competing in the World Cyber Games in 04 when i ended up leaving for the Army.

This is just one more step to bringing gaming on par with other majors sporting events like footbal/basketball/baseball/ect.

[Ulwar]

First off, to call competitive computer gaming a sport is a farce. It lets out-of-shape guys (like me - "I'm not out of shape ... round IS a shape!) say we participate in a "sport". Sports IMHO involve some level of athleticism, not just a skill or talent. If it were just a skill/talent, then any job could be considered a sport. I might think that so and so is a great software developer and they might truly be gifted at it, but it doesn't mean that software development is a sport, irrelevant of the skill level achieved.

Now, has WoW reached the "level" of competitive gaming? I would argue that it really defines it's own category. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Sure they are both fruits, but that's about the only similarity (Oh, and they grow on trees.)

[aetha]

well, the title says competitive gaming, and not competitive sports.

But golf is called a sport, and it isn't that physically demanding.. Especially if you bring a golf cart / caddy etc...

Then you have a game like Dance Dance revolution -- which *can* be pretty demanding, but is not considered a sport....

[Eliot]

...on par with other majors sporting events like footbal/basketball/baseball/ect.

this will never happen

there no L.T., Kobe Bryant, or Roger Clemens in WoW to help bring it to that level...

I mean.. in 05 Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds to steal a win over the Spurs... is some warlock going to lose all 4 of teammates in a 5v5 arena game and still end up sealing the win by pwning all 5 of the opposition by himself??? Seed of Corruption at the buzzer?? ESPN top ten?? I think not...

[aetha]

...on par with other majors sporting events like footbal/basketball/baseball/ect.

this will never happen

there no L.T., Kobe Bryant, or Roger Clemens in WoW to help bring it to that level...

I mean.. in 05 Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds to steal a win over the Spurs... is some warlock going to lose all 4 of teammates in a 5v5 arena game and still end up sealing the win by pwning all 5 of the opposition by himself??? Seed of Corruption at the buzzer?? ESPN top ten?? I think not...

thats what people once said about curling.... and LOOK AT IT NOW!!!! =p

[Lyese]

"Professional Competitive Gaming" very interesting terminology since its not possible to live off what you win at these competitions given what you have to spend to get there.

Still, its cool that Arena has become involved in competitive gaming.

[Eliot]

curling=waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay gay

vs. real sports

vs. the eastern kingdoms dream team


PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!! keep it real dude..

[miDE]

First off, to call competitive computer gaming a sport is a farce. It lets out-of-shape guys (like me - "I'm not out of shape ... round IS a shape!) say we participate in a "sport". Sports IMHO involve some level of athleticism, not just a skill or talent. If it were just a skill/talent, then any job could be considered a sport. I might think that so and so is a great software developer and they might truly be gifted at it, but it doesn't mean that software development is a sport, irrelevant of the skill level achieved.

Now, has WoW reached the "level" of competitive gaming? I would argue that it really defines it's own category. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Sure they are both fruits, but that's about the only similarity (Oh, and they grow on trees.)

When i consider something along the lines of a sport, i consider it something that has a high level of competition. Hunting has been considered a sport, so has golf, Icing, ect. Even though theyre is limited physical energy required to play these games there still considered a sport. Ive played nearly every common sport in my life time for many years, and ive had more shoulder pains and hand cramps, along with extreme mental exhaustion from playing in Gaming tourniments. Now your right about WoW reaching on the same level of other largely played competitive games, it might never grow to that level. But it has the possibilities. For most gaming is about position, exploiting advantages, timing, and teamwork. Which WoW has, but its an unmarked territory which leaves many doubts if it will ever reach the same level as CS/SC/WC.

this will never happen

there no L.T., Kobe Bryant, or Roger Clemens in WoW to help bring it to that level...

While you may not know it, your statement is false. There are many Gaming superstars out there. Gaming within the US hasnt reached the same plain as it has overseas. Players like Grubby, MadFrog, SkyCN, Xioat, and many more who are well known in China, Korea, and multiple european countries. While thousands watch Kobe on TV. In CHina and Korea there are cable TV channels and events broadcasted the same way any football, basketball game is shown on TV. Theres commentaries, evaluations, statistics, interviews, crowds in the hundreds and thousands watching and listening through Online stream, Radio stations and replays.

"Professional Competitive Gaming" very interesting terminology since its not possible to live off what you win at these competitions given what you have to spend to get there.

While profesional gamers dont make millions of dollars they can make a living and some make a fairly nice living. All top players and teams have sponsors who pay for most to all traveling expenses, room and board, along with entry fees just to have there logo within there game names, and wear there shirts and jackets. Companys like Intel, Samsung, Fujitsu, IGE, and hundreads more. I can tell you that some of the top players make over a 6 figure income, no joke.

The prize money now a days arent a joke either. In WCG the 1st place for Warcraft TFT alone took home 25,000 dollars. Second place took home 10k and 3rd 8k. For Counter Strike the 1st place team took home 60,000, 2nd 30,000, and 3rd 15,000. In this one event alone out of a total of 8 different competitive games, nearly half a million dollars was given away as prize money. Thats just one event out of the year.

Now if anyone else knows what WCG is, it literally is the biggest event of the year and is considered to be the Olympics of gaming. (BTW this year its taking place in Seatle) All who are able to compete in the WCG play more for personal pride and to represent there country.

Many cant fathom the idea of what several have started to call E-Sports. But its there, and its growing exponentially every year. Dont be surprised if 10 years from now its as normal as monday night football.

[Eliot]

it would probably help to get that dunk on shawn bradley from a different perspective...

like this is what tmac did just after!!!


competitivegamingNOTASPORT-- (unless ur from china)

[beowolf]

you should at least pick a real sport eliot - NBA basketball is not a sport its for stupid people who only can only get one shape correctly on a test and thats the circle - cause a basketball is circular. College is better.

[Caffeinated]

you cant really do any competitions in wow unless they held one on the test server. When you go to a lan most people are on diff servers and cant really play against each other. even with the cross server battlegrounds unless all servers could could be linked and you could pick the team or person to fight against. even then it is very gear based so to be a true competition they would have to make everyone use same quality gear. The only true balanced competition you can have in wow is a leveling competition or fishing tourney. I usually win those at lans I go to and I get a free 30day game card. Wow is an mmo and not a true competitive game.

[aetha]

my problem/question in regard to doing any sort of competitive WoW is that they are changing the classes in all of the various patches...

There is also the gear consideration. All things being equal, someone in T6 is going to win.

Is someone who plays high end going to have several different toons, all of them in top gear and depending on buff/nerf, switch between them?

I see that team play and competition can add to something, but I'm still a little skeptical on the matter at the moment. Think it might be easier to do something like that in a FPS or a RTS, as things are a bit more static in those games imo.

[Toony]

that green lady better be a mage

[Eliot]

you should at least pick a real sport eliot - NBA basketball is not a sport its for stupid people...

BLASPHEMY!!!!



if you don't know what this picture is of then you can't say shit about sports ever because you don't know shit!!!

edit: "YOU" is a general term.. not directed at beo.. even though its obvious he doesn't know shit

mike jordan ftw


edit again!! I had to add this other angle of that same shot... if this isn't what sport is than just kill me!!!

[miDE]

I agree completly about the gear dependency and how classes will have unfair advantages. Thats why no one has ever done something like this before. Its something that blizzard and WSVG, who are hosting the tourniment have to sort out.

Getting players onto servers is very simple, theyll create or use the test server to bring players together for the competition. Has been done in the past when EQ had its BotB tourniment.

Oh yah forgot one other thing. .... Go Warriors! Even though basketball is boring =(