eSports — Soon bigger than real sports?

[Grumbs]

BTW, Riot is streaming now - 150k viewers . For gaming thats pretty good progression from some years ago

http://www.twitch.tv/riotgames

[Overdriven]

Heck my dad's 55 and plays video games and watches football. You can be into both.

E-sports have gotten massive, largely due to internet acessibility but they are nowhere near the level of normal sports, at least in the western world.

[Laufknoten]

Yes, eSports are big today and they will become even bigger but they will never reach the same status as "real" sports. For me there is no real passion behind eSports or atleast not close to what you can witness in football matches or stuff like that.

Another problem is that you need quite some knowledge of the game that is being played to be able to enjoy it.
If you don't know anything about Dota 2 you'll never be able to enjoy watching people play it, because you don't really know when something special happens. Sure, that applies to some sports too, but I for example can enjoy a good american football match even though I have minimal knowledge of that sport.
When you see a great pass, homerun or goal or anything you know that it was something great because you can literally see it. If you watch a dota 2 match and someone kills someone else in a fancy way it looks cool too but you can't really point the finger at what just happend, you can only see/hear the audience and the commentators freak out.

[Christo]

Yes, eSports are big today and they will become even bigger but they will never reach the same status as "real" sports. For me there is no real passion behind eSports or atleast not close to what you can witness in football matches or stuff like that.

An entire generation is born into using smartphones, internet, videogames immediately.

As time passes these people will understand the flow of these games more and more, just look how freaking popular they are. (looking at you, league, etc) So e-sports will gain even more popularity because there WILL be a breakthrough in this "not understanding what is going on" problem you mentioned.

At least that's what I think.

And why do people know a move like homerun is good?
Because it's popular among people and they know basic rules, because they are exposed to it often, everywhere.
See? In time e-sports will reach the other sports because of this tech generation factor.

[Molly]

Can you think with your own mind for a second or are you just stating stuff that the current (or already past) social norms dictate? What do you think will happen in 10, 20 years? The average gamer age is already increasing, due to now so many older gamers out there. I know a fuckload of people who enjoy playing games and only a bunch that play and watch football - of my age, that is. You really think that every gamer just drops gaming once they get a girlfriend, a job, a flat and a kid? I sure as fuck didn't (no kid tho) and neither did people I know.

Games are so popular nowadays nearly all kids play them, unless you're some filipino slave kid. They are growing up in a gamer world where gaming already isn't just some childish thing anymore. And with more gamers and gaming oriented youth (which is already now), e-sports will keep increasing. There's no denying that, just look at the fucking graphs man.

Can you actually read what I wrote or are you just jumping the bandwagon with everyone else?
Not once did I deny the growth of Esports. But the OP is "eSports — Soon bigger than real sports?" and I say "No." And I am not Xant nor Obery, I leave reading weird social studies to them. I base my opinion on my personal observations and my own experiences of being part of Esports for several years, rather successful I might add.
Maybe we should define the term "soon" here. If you consider 20 years from now on "soon" then I might be wrong...  But it certainly won't outgrow real sports in the next 10 years. And I doubt it will even come close to the numbers real sports gets right now during special events like a World Cup Final, SuperBowl or similar big time events.

[Tomas_Miles_again]

I don't think eSports have as low an entry requirement as most popular sports. It's easier to get hold of a football than a computer and internet connection at present. I think eSports will be bigger than real sports when the platform they are delivered on is embedding into our biology at an early age.

[Leshma]

While I agree with this part, I never claimed that e-sports are good. I only said that it's a bit weird to deny this rapid increase, when it's in front of people's eyes.

If we're discussing popularity aspect of eSports then Nessaj should consider starting a thread on Selfies. It's a sport, in a way...

But no, this is gaming forum where bunch of overweight and skinny guys are dwelling. Selfies aren't desirable topic in here.

My point is, this is a weird ass forums which members are in no way representatives of general population. Just because fat Leshma and his scrawny buddy ptx think eSports is huge, doesn't make it huge in the whole world.

And as Tomas said, hungry african and latino kids can make a improvised ball out of old socks but they sure can't create gaming PC and good connection out of thin air.

[Vibe]

My point is, this is a weird ass forums which members are in no way representatives of general population. Just because fat Leshma and his scrawny buddy ptx think eSports is huge, doesn't make it huge in the whole world.

Is that what you tell yourself to make yourself feel better? Not everyone is some weird attention seeking basement dweller like you Leshma. Admitting that to yourself is the first step to becoming a "representative of general population", which is what plenty of us here are.

[Tomas_Miles_again]

I wish I had a basement to dwell in.

[djavo]

I really hope that esports will become bigger than real sports because it takes much sacrifice to sit in front of computer for 12 hours a day as opposed for example athletics, gymnastics and other shitty team sports like basketball, football, hockey, et cetera.

[Christo]

I wish I had a basement to dwell in.

Especially on those insanely hot, 40 celsius summer weeks.

Would be amazing to have an actual basement where I could dwell 

[Kafein]

Basements are cozy. Warm in winter, cold in summer. Perfect place to stay.

[Nessaj]

For the DotA lovers: http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/

[Xant]

I don't think anyone loves Dota 2.

Lin told SGamer last year about his favorite heroes being Spirit Breaker, Phantom Assassin, Tide Hunter and Ogre Magi.

noob

[Thovex]

Yolo Breaker confirmed best hero for NBA players playing doto.