Video Games Should be in the Olympics

That's the view of Rob Pardo creator of World of Warcraft and chief creative officer at Blizzard Entertainment.

"There's a very good argument for e-sports being in the Olympics," Mr Pardo, who was also lead designer on Starcraft: Brood War, a game often credited with kickstarting the e-sports phenomenon.

"I think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset and you look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning quick and their having to make very quick decisions on the fly.

"When you look at their 'actions per minute', they're clearing over 300."
www.bbc.co.uk...

I have no interest in the Olympics but if they added an e-sports competition I'd watch it.

a reply to: gortex

if 'daily thompson's decathlon' was added i'd get my tracksuit on

I say the same thing about basket weaving and finger painting.

Peace

a reply to: gortex

Sometimes, I go into my apartment in GTA5 and watch other players on my in-game TV. I know that's pathetic but my point is that I would do that over watching the Olympics. To reiterate, I find watching people playing digital games on a tv that's in the game they are playing more enjoyable than watching people in-person playing a boring game right in front of me.

So, yeah... I consider competitive gaming to be a totally valid spectator sport.

I don't think so. Of the gamers I know, the only lightning quick decision they make is whether to stuff a handful of Cheetos in their mouth or a ding dong.

Olympic sports are about physical competition. About tempering mind and body to function with precise coordination. I don't believe video games reach that standard of achievement.

it very much should be, i mean who really wants to watch ice skating or synchronized swimming or crap like that

originally posted by: N3k9Ni
I don't think so. Of the gamers I know, the only lightning quick decision they make is whether to stuff a handful of Cheetos in their mouth or a ding dong.

Olympic sports are about physical competition. About tempering mind and body to function with precise coordination. I don't believe video games reach that standard of achievement.

It sounds like you just know a lot of lazy fat people and some of them just happen to game.

The gamers I know are active people with families and careers. Gaming is a great outlet for overstimulated and stressed minds much like exercise is for the body.

I think the bridge to gaming=sports will happen when we develop more augmented reality tools to enable physical components to digital gaming. The possibilities for future spectator sports being complimented with technology are vast.

originally posted by: N3k9Ni
I don't think so. Of the gamers I know, the only lightning quick decision they make is whether to stuff a handful of Cheetos in their mouth or a ding dong.

Olympic sports are about physical competition. About tempering mind and body to function with precise coordination. I don't believe video games reach that standard of achievement.

They aren't near the level of professional gamer then. Korea is kind of the bread basket of professional gaming with Starcraft, they have a school dedicated to it, and a professional league, and training is pretty intense.

They had a tournament where 120,000 people attended in a stadium.

As the guy stated they do 300 actions per minute. Thats 5 actions a second. The reflexes you need to achieve that is beyond most people.

www.pcworld.com...

www.cracked.com...

a reply to: boncho

Not only that, but for like a game such as League of Legends, hand-eye coordination is also key. Surez you can know what the right decision is, but if your muscle movement isn't 100% precise, you can't execute a plan and lose the game.

If curling can be an Olympic sport then why not video games? I'd personally watch it.

real war is a spectator sport, it will also make its way as a sport digitally. I'm not against it.