Something called eSports on Sky Sports

JohnnyFlash

Relaxing on the couch this evening sinking a few beers and putting the feet up. There was an ad break on Sky Sports Golf, so I decided I'd flick through the channels to see what else was on.



Turned on Sky Sports Premier League, and there was something called the ePremier League Final on - two nerds playing the FIFA computer game on TV. How could that be considered a sport, and who would actually sit down and watch two fat lads play computer games? Am I missing something?


At least Liverpool were hammering Manchester United in the final, so there's that I suppose.

biko

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Am I missing something?

Yes
It's incredibly popular and the best ones are making crazy money.

For you, the viewer, it's the same. You sit and watch rich people do something you cannot do as well as them.

RocketRaccoon

I ended up watching some of that today for some unkown reason

AllForIt

If watching a footie match on the telly over a few cans is considered 'being into sport' then I don't see why playing computer games can't be considered a sport.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/esports-in-numbers-five-mind-blowing-stats

Big viewing figures and big prize funds.

There's even talk of it making the Olympics at some point.

Pherekydes

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Relaxing on the couch this evening sinking a few beers and putting the feet up. There was an ad break on Sky Sports Golf, so I decided I'd flick through the channels to see what else was on.

I suppose the irony of you watching Golf on Sky and complaining about non sports is lost on you.

JohnnyFlash

Brylee Better Pail wrote: »

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/esports-in-numbers-five-mind-blowing-stats

Big viewing figures and big prize funds.

There's even talk of it making the Olympics at some point.

An Olympic sport? Lads sitting around playing computer games and getting a gold medal for it? I’ve heard it all now.

Pherekydes

Brylee Better Pail wrote: »

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/esports-in-numbers-five-mind-blowing-stats

Big viewing figures and big prize funds.

There's even talk of it making the Olympics at some point.

Golf made it. :pac:

Woke Hogan

Video games cannot be sport, they’re games. Chess isn’t a sport for the same reason.

Nonoperational

AllForIt wrote: »

If watching a footie match on the telly over a few cans is considered 'being into sport' then I don't see why playing computer games can't be considered a sport.

Eera leave it out will ya.

Woke Hogan

I was going to point out that they’re hardly sport if the competitors aren’t sweaty afterwards but then I remembered the sopping hulking masses my nephew and his friends turn into after a few “rounds” of PlayStation.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Woke Hogan wrote: »

I was going to point out that they’re hardly sport if the competitors aren’t sweaty afterwards but then I remembered the sopping hulking masses my nephew and his friends turn into after a few “rounds” of PlayStation.

That would rule out darts, snooker, bowls and probably a few others.

As for eSports - it's a lucrative industry. Some bookmakers even offer bets on it.

biko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9cYcMK4IMI

TerrorFirmer

Wouldn't really personally be my cup of tea, and I say that as someone who plays a lot of games. But each to their own, there's indisputably mad skill involved in it, so I don't really see the distinction between many other non-physical sports like Darts or whatever.

Games are pretty complex these days and require incredible dexterity, response, teamwork, intelligence, etc in the big eSports titles, which is why they have huge followings and there is major money in it. Obviously people who don't understand games will just think "Jaysus, sitting around playing Mario the Hedgehog is a sport, wha?" when it's far from that simple.

It's been around the last two decades and beyond, but it's only in recent years it's starting to become extremely lucrative, with the rise of the likes of YouTube, Twitch, etc.

Woke Hogan

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

That would rule out darts, snooker, bowls and probably a few others.

As for eSports - it's a lucrative industry. Some bookmakers even offer bets on it.

Bookies offer bets on everything. I’m sure you can find a bookmaker willing to put money on dog fighting if you look hard enough.

SEPT 23 1989

This was on in the pub yesterday when I realised it wasn't real football I was looking around for the kid with a joystick

pleas advice

i am jacks skeptic eye

Manic Moran

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Video games cannot be sport, they’re games. Chess isn’t a sport for the same reason.

Many moons ago, when I was a young lad learning nursery rhymes, the word “sport” meant “fun” or “entertainment”. (Hey diddle diddle...)

Where is it law that there must be strenuous physical activity to be sport? Why are basketball, ice hockey and baseball referred to as games, despite your apparent classification?

As to the OP, watching folks play video games is a fairly big business. Go look up the figures for even casual viewing on Twitch.

FrankieFeeler

Esports are not sports because they are not real, they are just simulations of something that could be real.Simple as that.Every other sport people might want to dismiss as being a sport at least have the virtue of being real.

It's utterly depressing that this **** is going to be in the olympics in a few years time and will probably eventually supplant real sports in popular culture.Show you how ****ed up the world really had gone in recent years.

kowloon

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Turned on Sky Sports Premier League, and there was something called the ePremier League Final on - two nerds playing the FIFA computer game on TV. How could that be considered a sport, and who would actually sit down and watch two fat lads play computer games? Am I missing something?

As opposed to two fat lads sitting watching football two fat lads get to sit watching two fat lads sit watching football. It's World of World of Warcraft:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw8gE3lnpLQ

scamalert

id like to see those cheering for players on telly to be on actual field for more then 10 minutes without having a stroke, never mind making across the field like pros do, it would be like watching fat adults playing like 10yr olds if it came across playing between pros.


esports is just the same, some games require insane iq and skills, as what you have been watching prob had 20-100k prize win.


grand you dont need to sweat 10hours each day, but to put in 1000 hours into mastering some game to make a kill isnt lesser investment.


theres some good docus on esports where revenue is almost on par being generated by these tournaments like any other sport.

EmmetSpiceland

It really is crap that they have this stuff on the sports channels. I mean, you’re paying for sports but instead they put on people playing computer games.

The drone racing is another dud. I’m not sure what they’re thinking, are they trying to get the more nerdy types to pay for Sky Sports? Surely they just watch their games online. It just seems like a waste of time.

I’d rather watch reruns of NFL or Kabaddi than watch these nerdy kids playing games or flying toys around.

Canis Lupus

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

It really is crap that they have this stuff on the sports channels. I mean, you’re paying for sports but instead they put on people playing computer games.

The drone racing is another dud. I’m not sure what they’re thinking, are they trying to get the more nerdy types to pay for Sky Sports? Surely they just watch their games online. It just seems like a waste of time.

I’d rather watch reruns of NFL or Kabaddi than watch these nerdy kids playing games or flying toys around.

There's something on TV you don't like??? What craziness is this. It's almost like the TV companies aren't solely catering for your personal needs. You should complain.

beertons

E sports is bad. Chewing like a mofo. Find a good dentist.

EmmetSpiceland

Canis Lupus wrote: »

There's something on TV you don't like??? What craziness is this. It's almost like the TV companies aren't solely catering for your personal needs. You should complain.

When I’m paying for a sports package I expect sports.

You still hear people bang on about how MTV never plays music and that’s been going on for over a decade.

Are the sports channels going to be all kids playing computer games in ten years time? If they are I certainly won’t be paying for them. Maybe they could bring back Patrick Moore’s disembodied head to do some colour commentary. Ridiculous.

Haven’t seen any of this tripe on BT Sports so maybe I’ll keep that one. But it’s no wonder people are being forced to go through other means to watch TV these days without paying.

Richard Hillman

I wa always bewildered at the whole people watching other people play games phenomenon.

Then I remembered that one of my favourite tv programmes is Soccer Saturday, where we watch a bunch of men watch footballing football matches. Even though I have access to the games, I still prefer to watch Soccer Saturday over the games themselves

dreamers75

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Relaxing on the couch this evening sinking a few beers and putting the feet up.



two fat lads?

Career oppurtunity?

sk8erboii

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

An Olympic sport? Lads sitting around playing computer games and getting a gold medal for it? I’ve heard it all now.

Nothing says ‘out of touch’ like gawking at disbelief at a multi billion phenomenon thats been around for a decade.

I dont watch esports personally but its literally everywhere these days. Though this board being full of old men might be why this thread even exists

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

When I’m paying for a sports package I expect sports.

You still hear people bang on about how MTV never plays music and that’s been going on for over a decade.

Are the sports channels going to be all kids playing computer games in ten years time? If they are I certainly won’t be paying for them. Maybe they could bring back Patrick Moore’s disembodied head to do some colour commentary. Ridiculous.

Haven’t seen any of this tripe on BT Sports so maybe I’ll keep that one. But it’s no wonder people are being forced to go through other means to watch TV these days without paying.

This guy in particular. ‘WAAAAAAH WHY ARENT THEY CATERING TO ME ANYMORE’

Grow up

Danonino.

There’s arguments for both sides. Usually chess gets brought up and shot down due to the fact it isn’t a physical sport needing things like reaction speed, hand eye coordination, twitch reactions etc. so is a ‘game’. Usually Darts gets thrown around as a counter argument and how it’s considered a sport because of the above etc etc.

I think e-sports fall somewhere inbetween and it really depends on the ‘game’. Street Fighter for example is crazy. It’s definite rules made by numbers that solidify the playing field. The fact that It’s one-on-one and based on no random variables or **** like ‘oh no my striker just got injured’ etc. It’s high speed chess but also the muscle memory and dexterity needed at the level where people are wearing stupid looking sponsored jerseys and being televised is insane.

It’s mental high speed mindgames and training and physically difficult. Would I call it a sport... emmm maybe, probably not. A legitimate form of competition capable of having ‘pros’ and leagues etc... yeah.

Of course the argument against it being a sport is if it’s really physical if it’s just your hands? Your arms at a stretch?

I dunno the answer, but if Arm Wrestling is considered a sport....

I’d watch two high level players duke it out in street fighter over Arm Wrestling I know that much. Would I watch people play FIFA? Probably not.

lertsnim

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

When I’m paying for a sports package I expect sports.

You still hear people bang on about how MTV never plays music and that’s been going on for over a decade.

Are the sports channels going to be all kids playing computer games in ten years time? If they are I certainly won’t be paying for them. Maybe they could bring back Patrick Moore’s disembodied head to do some colour commentary. Ridiculous.

Haven’t seen any of this tripe on BT Sports so maybe I’ll keep that one. But it’s no wonder people are being forced to go through other means to watch TV these days without paying.

This has been shown on sky sports before during the international break. Its nothing new and you will be able to enjoy your repeats of match highlights again from tomorrow on.

Danonino.

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I wa always bewildered at the whole people watching other people play games phenomenon.

Then I remembered that one of my favourite tv programmes is Soccer Saturday, where we watch a bunch of men watch footballing football matches. Even though I have access to the games, I still prefer to watch Soccer Saturday over the games themselves

You’d be surprised at the amount of streams, YouTube personalities etc who are very popular for doing similar. Pretty much people watching other people watching others play a competitive game ha ha

Ashleigh1986

Was channel flicking earlier , came across this .
The interviewer asked the following question to a finalist .
" how are you going to warm up,for the final " ???
I was expecting him to say
By having a spiff and a couple of mars bars !!!
But he actually went on to give an actual premiership players answer !!!
The worlds gone nuts !!!

pjohnson

An esport F1 champion actually got a job as McLaren's official simulator driver.

If you're good enough you can get a profession from it.

OldMrBrennan83

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Relaxing on the couch this evening sinking a few beers and putting the feet up. There was an ad break on Sky Sports Golf, so I decided I'd flick through the channels to see what else was on.



Turned on Sky Sports Premier League, and there was something called the ePremier League Final on - two nerds playing the FIFA computer game on TV. How could that be considered a sport, and who would actually sit down and watch two fat lads play computer games? Am I missing something?


At least Liverpool were hammering Manchester United in the final, so there's that I suppose.

Showing that was the final straw for me that made me cancel Sky sports, so at least it was useful for something.

cdeb

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Video games cannot be sport, they’re games. Chess isn’t a sport for the same reason.

Actually chess is recognised as a sport pretty much everywhere in Europe except Britain and Ireland. The International Olympic Committee recognise it for example.

If physical activity is the main criterion, is snooker or darts a sport?

Problem with this is that I really do agree with you that video games aren't a sport, and I'm now fudging the line between sport and game...

I think chess is worth funding from the government's sports budget, but I don't think video gaming is.

Mrcaramelchoc

My 85 year old dad was watching it and highly engrossed in it and i said you do realise that's a video game don't you? He cursed under his breath and changed the channel. : )

squawker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTj7NSHVwSk

FrankieFeeler

sk8erboii wrote: »

Nothing says ‘out of touch’ like gawking at disbelief at a multi billion phenomenon thats been around for a decade.

I dont watch esports personally but its literally everywhere these days. Though this board being full of old men might be why this thread even exists




This guy in particular. ‘WAAAAAAH WHY ARENT THEY CATERING TO ME ANYMORE’

Grow up

Esports have for most of the last decade only really been something you would know about if you happen to have been interested in them yourself and seek them.It's only in the last couple of years that they have appeared on tv where you could come across them without necessarily wanting to.

I'd suggest that someone like yourself who has an issue with every person who has a difference of opinion to them and doesn't have youthful enough tastes/beliefs is the one who needs to grow up.

Potential-Monke

Yeah, gas that we have adults telling people to grow up because they're still playing games. We're not the problem, you are with your narrow views and expectations of what everything should be. Ye strike me as the kind of people who're adamant there are only 2 genders, or that men who want to be women and vice versa as sick in the head.

I'd much prefer watching an eSports match, because 1: I would find it interesting as i'm a gamer, 2: the winners can be virtual unknowns so it keeps it interesting, 3: they can't dive, like every soccer player these days. I think people who either go to the pub or stay at home to watch typical sports are wasting their lives, because they're literally watching millionaires make more money and seem to think that makes them more normal.

Open your minds and realise that the world is changing, gaming is quite mainstream now and of course if there's money to be made, companies will get behind it. Kuro "KuroKy" Takhasomi in a Dota 2 championship won $3.35 million. Yeah, for playing a game, but playing it better than basically everyone else on this planet. He's one of the best in his field, he would be like the Ronaldo of soccer.

And as many have pointed out above, there are some 'sports' which I wouldn't consider a sport either, and I don't consider gaming a sport, which is why it's called eSport (the e stands for electronic, fyi). Either way, you do your thing, we'll do our thing, and we'll leave each other alone to be happy in our blissful ignorance.

sk8erboii

FrankieFeeler wrote: »

Esports have for most of the last decade only really been something you would know about if you happen to have been interested in them yourself and seek them.It's only in the last couple of years that they have appeared on tv where you could come across them without necessarily wanting to.

I'd suggest that someone like yourself who has an issue with every person who has a difference of opinion to them and doesn't have youthful enough tastes/beliefs is the one who needs to grow up.

Its funny when old men try to lecture you on esports.

Its been around since 2006 and became a huge thing in 2009 with dota and league of legends.

Again i dont watch the ****e cause frankly i think its boring.

But youre really REALLY out of touch if you’re surprised that it even exists considering you’d be in your 20’s if you grew up watching it as a kid

Again, boards being full of out of touch old men might be something to do with it


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Legends

BeerWolf

Some old farts here stuck with an 80s/90s mindset, calling gamers "fat nerds", despite how incredibly mainstream it has become alongside a whole host of demographs and types... :rolleyes:

I personally find watching anyone play whatever to be boring, be it men running around kicking a ball, or some streamer shooting the enemy team. I would rather do it myself, thanks.

The irony of people watching others play complaining of others watching [gamers] play is somewhat lost. :rolleyes:

donspeekinglesh

pjohnson wrote: »

An esport F1 champion actually got a job as McLaren's official simulator driver.

If you're good enough you can get a profession from it.

Most F1 teams now have official eTeams to try and do something similar. Nissan used to run competitions on Grand Turismo, one of the winners is now a professional GT driver and has raced at Le Mans.

FrankieFeeler

sk8erboii wrote: »

Its funny when old men try to lecture you on esports.

Its been around since 2006 and became a huge thing in 2009 with dota and league of legends.

Again i dont watch the ****e cause frankly i think its boring.

But youre really REALLY out of touch if you’re surprised that it even exists considering you’d be in your 20’s if you grew up watching it as a kid

Again, boards being full of out of touch old men might be something to do with it

These things have only been on mainstream broadcasters in the last couple of years (if even that).Sky Sports, BBC etc haven't been broadcasting e-sports for the last 10 years and mainstream media barely reports on it.

Nothing quite as childish as someone saying "you're so out of touch" as if it's a massive slight on their character like you've just done in your post.

sk8erboii

FrankieFeeler wrote: »

These things have only been on mainstream broadcasters in the last couple of years (if even that).Sky Sports, BBC etc haven't been broadcasting e-sports for the last 10 years.

Nothing quite as childish as someone saying "you're so out of touch" as if it's a massive slight on their character like you've just done in your post.

Imagine thinking mainstream means three tv channels.

Really REALLY out of touch man. The internet is more mainstream than TV these days.

Massively out of touch. We’re talking a literal multi billion dollar industry thats been around since 2006 and basically every gaming channel and twitch stream is about it.

But no its not mainstream since its not on sky sports.


Mate i want you to reconsider that maybe you truly are out of touch

FrankieFeeler

sk8erboii wrote: »

Imagine thinking mainstream means three tv channels.

Really REALLY out of touch man. The internet is more mainstream than TV these days.

Massively out of touch. We’re talking a literal multi billion dollar industry thats been around since 2006 and basically every gaming channel and twitch stream is about it.

But no its not mainstream since its not on sky sports.


Mate i want you to reconsider that maybe you truly are out of touch

Couldn't care less if I am out of touch.Claiming not being in touch is some sort of slight on a person character is the ultimate example of childishness.

People playing a game which a simulation of something that might be real is not a sport, it's not real therefore it's not a sport.Claiming e-sports are a sport is like claiming braveheart is a documentary.

sk8erboii

FrankieFeeler wrote: »

Couldn't care less if I am out of touch.Claiming not being in touch is some sort of slight on a person character is the ultimate example of childishness.

People playing a game which a simulation of something that might be real is not a sport, it's not real therefore it's not a sport.Claiming e-sports are a sport is like claiming braveheart is a documentary.

What? Why are you bringing braveheart into this?

FrankieFeeler

sk8erboii wrote: »

What? Why are you bringing braveheart into this?

Because it's not reality .Just like e-sports are not reality.

Potential-Monke

FrankieFeeler wrote: »

Because it's not reality .Just like e-sports are not reality.

What are you on about? eSports is a reality, a multi billion dollar reality, as has been pointed out. Just because it has sports at the end doesn't mean it has to be physically enduring, otherwise the following would not be classed as sports (which they are):

Golf
Bowling
Snooker/Pool

Plus, have you ever bring in a close Team Deathmatch where literally every kill counts? Gets my blood pumping more than any 'proper' sport.

FrankieFeeler

Potential-Monke wrote: »

What are you on about? eSports is a reality, a multi billion dollar reality, as has been pointed out. Just because it has sports at the end doesn't mean it has to be physically enduring, otherwise the following would not be classed as sports (which they are):

Golf
Bowling
Snooker/Pool

Plus, have you ever bring in a close Team Deathmatch where literally every kill counts? Gets my blood pumping more than any 'proper' sport.

E-sports are not real.They are simulations on a computer screen.I assume in team death matches people are not killed.

When a golfer takes a shot it actually happens. The club strikes the ball, the ball travels through the air and lands on the ground.

sk8erboii

FrankieFeeler wrote: »

E-sports are not real.They are simulations on a computer screen.I assume in team death matches people are not killed.

When a golfer takes a shot it actually happens. The club strikes the ball, the ball travels through the air and lands on the ground.

Thats a low IQ argument and everyone knows it

Potential-Monke

FrankieFeeler wrote: »

E-sports are not real.They are simulations on a computer screen.I assume in team death matches people are not killed.

When a golfer takes a shot it actually happens. The club strikes the ball, the ball travels through the air and lands on the ground.

I think you're wording is wrong. eSports is real, the content is digital. There are still real people sitting in real seats looking at real computers with real controllers playing a game that exists, so it was made by real people.

The player presses the button, which sends a signal to the computer to do something. Same as golf, input-output, but the outcome is digital. I suppose reading a book is not real, even if the book, pages and ink are real, the content lets your imagination fill in the blanks, so it's not real?

Also, what we're doing right now, a back and forth digital conversation, that's not real by your standards, so you're not real, neither am I. Are we all bots, AI pretending to be human? Is the real us stuck in some biological pod with pink fluid and wires connected to us, imagining this life we're having, a la The Matrix? Did you believe in God at any stage? Or any diety? What you consider real does not limit what is real. Open your mind, broaden your horizons. Or don't.