I often wonder how video games fit in next to, say, march madness and football. Growing up, I played 3 sports full-time all through high school (sometimes two in a season). But deep down, behind every vacation and after every game or match, I'd play Starcraft, or Dota, LoL or some game.
But for my entire life, my parents have looked down on it. I've viewed it as a sub-par piece of my life that I had to hide, or not talk about outside of my "gaming" circle. I played sports, joined a social frat, had a kind of outward-facing "career" where I did what I thought I was supposed to do. I remember one specific memory I desperately wanted to talk about Diablo 3 at a party with a fellow nerd, but I didn't because I feared judgement for doing so and dismissed the entire conversation. And until this week, I'd been subconsciously putting gaming down as an industry to be denigrated, something I did on the side, not something to be taken seriously. Then I thought about it: what if I made money off of games? I learn to program, get hired to build people apps and websites, and suddenly my parents are extremely happy for me. So what if I could go play a game, and make money? My parents and friends would view my "hobby" much differently.
Here's another shocker for me, that might be obvious for you. Now that I've had the opportunity to learn and see the insides of various businesses and industries, I've realized: they're all mundane. Not that this is a bad thing, but they're all totally and completely mundane in that nothing is truly more important than anything else. If somebody will buy it, you sell it, and thats business. Understanding people, making their lives better, and being financially rewarded for it.
People like to compete, do what they're passionate about, see the best and the greatest. What differentiates a good passion, a good hobby, from a bad one? Why have I been shunning and compartmentalizing gaming my entire life? Why does the passion I have for it not matter as much, as, say the guy next to me who can talk for hours on end about his bracket?
Because there's money in it? That becoming a star basketball player is a viable career path? I've always said I never understood sports, or being a fan, or all that stuff. I've denounced it for being useless and stupid. I've been dismissing it not because I didn't understand it, but because I have.
What's the difference between video games and professional sports in terms of career viability, industry, life? I'm shaken, hopeful and delighted to tell you: nothing. The passion, the following, everything is there and building. It's happening in front of us, all around us, competitive video games capture the same essence as sports, but they leverage the internet. And as a whole, I'd say humanity still doesn't understand the internet. And as a whole, our parents and mentors don't understand video games, and tell us to stop. Then they spend all sunday trying to simultaneously watch 16 different basketball games.
So from a practical point of view, the only difference is money. Competitive gaming isn't being properly monetized, players aren't getting paid like their basketball/baseball/football counterparts, and that's the biggest weakness of the industry right now.
Live and let live. It's not my parents fault they don't get it - march madness is proof that they can "get it" because they already DO - it's our fault, its my fault, for not being open and truly sharing my passion. I hadn't accepted it in myself, so how could I embrace it in others?
I think this entire stigma fundamentally stems from the fact that older generations have troubles putting their consciousness inside a computer, or inside a device, or a website, etc. We've intuited it as a result of growing up. And then the internet instantly allows us to put our consciousness ANYWHERE in the world in seconds.
Dendi talks about "losing himself in the game." I know precisely what he means.
Anyway - you've likely heard - a fantastic documentary just came out and you can watch it for free on youtube. I don't care what game you play, this isn't about the game. It's about the validity and realization of a deep, relatively new passion we all share and how it fits into the world around us.
Enjoy
ps I also heard there's a smash one. If you've seen it, is that worth a watch?
The smash one is definitely worth a watch if you're into fighters (or even just esports in general). Be warned though, it's a LOT longer than Free to Play (it runs about 4h iirc - split into several 20-40min parts).
It's not just money though (which is pretty silly to dismiss considering that if you make it in esports you're not making very much at all most likely). In the US, if you are good enough in your chosen sport, you can get a free ride to college. So even if you fizzle out, you've still got a degree. High school and collegiate sports require you to have at least decent grades to stay active, whereas here you get people talking about dropping out of college to play 12 hours a day. Sports also have the benefit of keeping you in good physical shape vs being sedentary.
also, it's really not that you have to be shunned about your gaming life. I love hockey. I don't go on for ages to people who don't like hockey. Someone who loves college basketball isn't going to chew your ear off if you don't. By that same measure, going on about video games to someone who does not care is silly
On March 27 2014 07:58 KurtistheTurtle wrote: So from a practical point of view, the only difference is money
Football, basketball, etc. aren't accepted because there are pro players that get paid a ton. It's the other way around. The sports are popular which brought about the pros getting paid a ton.
Competitive gaming isn't being properly monetized, players aren't getting paid like their basketball/baseball/football counterparts
Well, it's not that easy to monetize... People are certainly trying though. Trying to become a pro video game player or a professional athlete is pretty unrealistic for most people.
Our parents didn't have video games. They didn't exist so they can't relate.
On March 27 2014 07:58 KurtistheTurtle wrote: So from a practical point of view, the only difference is money. Competitive gaming isn't being properly monetized, players aren't getting paid like their basketball/baseball/football counterparts, and that's the biggest weakness of the industry right now.
You can't artificially make players earn more money. It has to come from somewhere. Why can basketball and football players get paid so much? Because half of America is willing to turn on their TVs to watch and to fill stadiums to watch them. ESPORTS appeals to a limited demographic, and probably a demographic that isn't that easy to get to buy stuff.
If a video game company cares about esports (which I can't see an inherent reason why they should, it's one way to go but not the only way): 1) The company should make fun video games that people like to play so they tell their friends and everyone wants to play because it is awesome. <--- The important part. 2) The game needs to have some sort of deepness such that it can be palyed by a select few at a higher level than the average joe.
People understand basketball and football in the US even if they've never played it due to our culture. That's a pretty big advantage sports have over video games where fans are mostly limited to those who have played the game themselves.
Thanks for linking this. As someone not into dota it'll be a great watch when I have more time.
I want to comment that the gaming community is young and progressive. We tend to not think of either sports or esports as sustainable careers for the majority of individuals who try to make a career in them.
This is truly a wonderful post. You have moved me to tears. It's a great feeling when someone is so passionate about something that they stand directly in the face of adversity and reevaluate their worldview. Thank you so much for this enlightening post
I think QuanticHawk's post hits the nail on the head. You can't just say it's due to money that video games aren't seen in the same vein as sports, there's much more to that as that post indicates
Really sick of bloggers talking about their `unique` love for gaming and using it to justify a career. Being passionate about games is about as original as loving drugs or sex. It's not a great career path (very competitive/low paid/poor security) and is a very different beast to sitting at home enjoying stints of SC2/Dota.
On March 27 2014 12:43 NeuroticPsychosis wrote: This is truly a wonderful post. You have moved me to tears. It's a great feeling when someone is so passionate about something that they stand directly in the face of adversity and reevaluate their worldview. Thank you so much for this enlightening post
On March 27 2014 12:43 NeuroticPsychosis wrote: This is truly a wonderful post. You have moved me to tears. It's a great feeling when someone is so passionate about something that they stand directly in the face of adversity and reevaluate their worldview. Thank you so much for this enlightening post
...what?
That was my reaction aswell but then I saw his name.
On March 28 2014 05:20 biology]major wrote: it's not so much stigma, its just that 95% of the population can't relate to your hobby
Literally what?
90% of the guys I meet that are 15-30 years old game a lot.
Read "population", that includes girls too + toddlers + old folks (trust me there are PLENTY of old folks )
On topic:
Majority of games are actually really repetitive and takes little to no skills but only clicking around mindlessly. Majority of people play those games thus the stigma of a gamer.
Also majority of the games doesn't exactly teach you much. Playing BW made me interested in economy because of its complexity nature, playing DotA made me realize how to operate within a team and that everybody in a team have a specialty. But for 95% of the games out there, they don't exactly teach you much and thus considered as "time wasters".
Even though we may get something like 400K viewers for LoL tournaments, that's still a VERY tiny niche comparing to the mainstream entertainment out there even for LoL. And who knows how long will that last? Generations grow up, people get busy w/ their real life jobs and careers to focus on, and newer companies captures the ever changing internet culture of the younger kids.
On March 28 2014 05:20 biology]major wrote: it's not so much stigma, its just that 95% of the population can't relate to your hobby
Literally what?
90% of the guys I meet that are 15-30 years old game a lot.
Read "population", that includes girls too + toddlers + old folks (trust me there are PLENTY of old folks )
On topic:
Majority of games are actually really repetitive and takes little to no skills but only clicking around mindlessly. Majority of people play those games thus the stigma of a gamer.
Also majority of the games doesn't exactly teach you much. Playing BW made me interested in economy because of its complexity nature, playing DotA made me realize how to operate within a team and that everybody in a team have a specialty. But for 95% of the games out there, they don't exactly teach you much and thus considered as "time wasters".
Even though we may get something like 400K viewers for LoL tournaments, that's still a VERY tiny niche comparing to the mainstream entertainment out there even for LoL. And who knows how long will that last? Generations grow up, people get busy w/ their real life jobs and careers to focus on, and newer companies captures the ever changing internet culture of the younger kids.
I doubt people aged 15-30 are only 5% of the population.
On March 28 2014 05:20 biology]major wrote: it's not so much stigma, its just that 95% of the population can't relate to your hobby
Literally what?
90% of the guys I meet that are 15-30 years old game a lot.
Read "population", that includes girls too + toddlers + old folks (trust me there are PLENTY of old folks )
On topic:
Majority of games are actually really repetitive and takes little to no skills but only clicking around mindlessly. Majority of people play those games thus the stigma of a gamer.
Also majority of the games doesn't exactly teach you much. Playing BW made me interested in economy because of its complexity nature, playing DotA made me realize how to operate within a team and that everybody in a team have a specialty. But for 95% of the games out there, they don't exactly teach you much and thus considered as "time wasters".
Even though we may get something like 400K viewers for LoL tournaments, that's still a VERY tiny niche comparing to the mainstream entertainment out there even for LoL. And who knows how long will that last? Generations grow up, people get busy w/ their real life jobs and careers to focus on, and newer companies captures the ever changing internet culture of the younger kids.
I doubt people aged 15-30 are only 5% of the population.
He also said that they can't relate to YOUR hobby. There are rampant factionism in gaming.
Hey guys. I got a couple things to say after reading these responses:
1) QuanticHawk is spot on with his post. It actually includes some stuff I cut out of mine because it was too fluffy, but he says it straight and concise. Also, nerd tip on his point: if you're telling somebody about a game and they have a blank face of death, SHUT THE FUCK UP and get curious about them and ask questions
2) This blog is about my experience realizing that I had this belief: "gaming isn't a worthwhile hobby, and I shouldn't be proud of it." And then realizing I had it, and then eradicating it. There's nothing magical here. Personally, I'm pretty much a really average guy, so I figured a bunch of other people might have this same monstrosity of a belief lodged inside of them and I hope this post will illuminate that.
@NeuroticPsychosis, hell yeah dude. glad you liked it
3) Totally agree about SC and Dota. I'm talking about "competitive" games - there are games that are a complete waste of time. There's also this insidious belief of "mass gaming" - the more hours you pour into something, the more results you will get. No that will destroy your life if you rationalize more gaming time without commensurate results.
Gaming...it's not about the amount of time you spend. It's about the intensity and focus on systematically improving your weaknesses and growing that's important, and how competitive games are a wonderfully interesting canvas to watch warfare and human drama unfold.
4) Speculation on the future of gaming in this post is only as relevant as its positioned to provide hope. I personally think that a discussion of viability and future of the industry is basically a suicidal thing to do on TL, and should only take place with the right people in a gated setting if that happens on here at all. That said, I still love you all
I think this entire stigma fundamentally stems from the fact that older generations have troubles putting their consciousness inside a computer, or inside a device, or a website, etc. We've intuited it as a result of growing up. And then the internet instantly allows us to put our consciousness ANYWHERE in the world in seconds.
I don't agree with the premise here. Video gamers are not some oppressed/powerless victim - as a group, they are part of a multi billion dollar industry with some of the greatest purchasing power per capita in modern history.
This blog reads a little too much like a letter from a North Korean work camp.
One thing I do agree on - it's important to be passionate about something and have activities you're interested in. I don't see any reason to compare hobbies, or demand legitimacy for my own. I'm sure there's a freestyle bird-watching parkour enthusiast penning another "war on christmas" equivalent as we speak.
EPT
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