Competitive video gaming as a sport?

A rather heated debate started over a Starcraft 2 article recently put out which called the competitive playing of Starcraft an "e-sport." I took exception that the word "sport", regardless that it had the prefix "e" to it, should not be associated with video games. For the same reasons that Poker and board games are not called a sport nor should video games. Anyways, I thought I would bring the debate over here and see what OT thought. Should video games, speaking more specifically to professional gaming, be considered a "sport"?

No it's not a sport in any way, shape or form.

I'm gonna go with number 3. I mean, what is a sport really? What "classifies" a sport? Why is basketball and racing a sport but not starcraft?

I'm gonna go with number 3. I mean, what is a sport really? What "classifies" a sport? Why is basketball and racing a sport but not starcraft?

xWoW_Rougex

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

I'm gonna go with number 3. I mean, what is a sport really? What "classifies" a sport? Why is basketball and racing a sport but not starcraft?

Pirate700

Playing starcraft in front of a keyboard and mouse doesn't seem very different from driving a car?

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

I'm gonna go with number 3. I mean, what is a sport really? What "classifies" a sport? Why is basketball and racing a sport but not starcraft?

xWoW_Rougex

Playing starcraft in front of a keyboard and mouse doesn't seem very different from driving a car?

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]A sport involves being atheltically active. :|

Pirate700

Playing starcraft in front of a keyboard and mouse doesn't seem very different from driving a car?

Elaborate?

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

Playing starcraft in front of a keyboard and mouse doesn't seem very different from driving a car?

xWoW_Rougex

Elaborate?

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

Playing starcraft in front of a keyboard and mouse doesn't seem very different from driving a car?

xWoW_Rougex

Elaborate?

NASCAR for example have to go 200+ miles while enduring 150 degree temperatures at incredible speeds. Now, I have a hard time considering car racing to be a sport but I am more open to it than video games. Professional Starcraft players can click a mouse button fast but they probably couldnt run a mile in less than 12 minutes.

My conception of sports involves some physical activity. Ergo, poker, chess, and competitive knitting are not sports. Sticking "e" in front of it doesn't bother me though.

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

I'm gonna go with number 3. I mean, what is a sport really? What "classifies" a sport? Why is basketball and racing a sport but not starcraft?

Pirate700

My conception of sports involves some physical activity. Ergo, poker, chess, and competitive knitting are not sports. Sticking "e" in front of it doesn't bother me though.

Palantas

You obviously have never competed in a race before...Pirate700

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

I'm gonna go with number 3. I mean, what is a sport really? What "classifies" a sport? Why is basketball and racing a sport but not starcraft?

Big_Bad_Sad

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

Playing starcraft in front of a keyboard and mouse doesn't seem very different from driving a car?

xWoW_Rougex

Elaborate?

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

Chrypt22

NASCAR for example have to go 200+ miles while enduring 150 degree temperatures at incredible speeds. Now, I have a hard time considering car racing to be a sport but I am more open to it than video games. Professional Starcraft players can click a mouse button fast but they probably couldnt run a mile in less than 12 minutes.

Sure that sounds rough but that still doesn't feel very "athlethically"?

And what about that racing sport where they drive really fast but a very short length?

By the way, I'm just gonna admit defeat but I do however not see a problem with calling Starcraft an e-sport...?

[QUOTE="Big_Bad_Sad"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]A sport involves being atheltically active. :|

mrmusicman247

it's a competitive activity. like darts or billardscomp_atkins

No it's not a sport in any way, shape or form.

Pirate700

Uh, no. It takes no athleticism at all to be good at video games.

Uh, no. It takes no athleticism at all to be good at video games.

TM_Darkside

[QUOTE="TM_Darkside"]

Uh, no. It takes no athleticism at all to be good at video games.

markop2003

I don't consider those sports either, but I'm guessing they're more physically demanding than video games.

it's a competitive activity. like darts or billardscomp_atkins

StarCraft is a mentally and physically tiring sport.

"Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively."

don't consider those sports either, but I'm guessing they're more physically demanding than video games.TM_Darkside

Have you competed at the major tournament level of video games? That stuff requires a lot of physical activity.

Vandalvideo

Compared to what?

Professional Starcraft players can click a mouse button fast but they probably couldnt run a mile in less than 12 minutes.

Chrypt22

South Korea has conscription so they can definately all run a mile in under 12 minutes.

yeah, lets give the fatties another reason not to get off there ass. "but but but!!!! im in training !!!". sports should make you sweat.

[QUOTE="TM_Darkside"] don't consider those sports either, but I'm guessing they're more physically demanding than video games.Vandalvideo

Most of the guys I've ever seen on TV who gamed at "high tournament levels" looked like this:

So no, I don't think even highly competitive gaming is a sport.

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]

Have you competed at the major tournament level of video games? That stuff requires a lot of physical activity.

Palantas

Compared to what?

Most of the guys I've ever seen on TV who gamed at "high tournament levels" looked like thisTM_Darkside

Why? What's different about a gaming tournament as opposed to playing Quake for six hours at home?

Why? What's different about a gaming tournament as opposed to playing Quake for six hours at home?

Palantas

Why? What's different about a gaming tournament as opposed to playing Quake for six hours at home?

Palantas

I'm hecka skinny but I could probably out run any football player you brought up against me. To quote Jandurin; I'm a freak of nature when it comes to running. Vandalvideo

:lol:

Yeeeaaah, I think I'll take your word for it. You realize that there are a lot of football players that run a 40-yard dash in the 4.4-4.5 seconds range?

Competitive gaming does not prep you for that level of athleticism.

By definition of sport it's a sport, therefore it's a sport, whether you like it or not :)

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]I'm hecka skinny but I could probably out run any football player you brought up against me. To quote Jandurin; I'm a freak of nature when it comes to running. TM_Darkside

:lol:

Yeeeaaah, I think I'll take your word for it. You realize that there are a lot of football players that run a 40-yard dash in the 4.4-4.5 seconds range?

Competitive gaming does not prep you for that level of athleticism.

yeah, lets give the fatties another reason not to get off there ass. "but but but!!!! im in training !!!". sports should make you sweat.

dog_dirt

Most competitive gamers are former athletes, extremely skinny, and probably able to run circles around other atheletes. Vandalvideo

You're completely delusional if you think competitive gamers are generally faster than football players. That is just insanity.

I know fat guys that would destroy me at video games. Me being more athletic than them gives me no edge.

I don't get how that puts strain on your body. Well, I see how it could put strain your arms and fingers, putting competitive gaming in the league of court recorders. How does it strain anything else?