Video games should be in Olympics, says Warcraft maker

[Deleted]

sourcE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30597623

E-sports attract huge crowds - but can it become and Olympic sport?

Competitive video gaming - known as e-sports - should be included in the Olympic Games, the creator of World of Warcraft has told the BBC.

Rob Pardo, who until July was chief creative officer at Blizzard Entertainment, said "sport" now had a broad definition.

"Videogames are well positioned to be a spectator sport," he told Afternoon Edition on BBC 5 Live.

Professional e-sports events currently attract audiences of millions.

A recent major final held in Seoul, South Korea, filled a stadium of 40,000 people - with many more watching either online or at meet-ups around the world.

"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."

However, he conceded that video gaming faces a cultural battle to win other those who follow more physical sports.

"That starts getting into how you define sport," he said.

"If you want to define sport as something that takes a lot of physical exertion, then it's hard to argue that videogames should be a sport, but at the same time, when I'm looking at things that are already in the Olympics, I start questioning the definition."

'Mind sport'
Having new sports admitted into the Olympic roster is a long-winded process and, since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) capped the number of sports allowed in the Games, has become increasingly difficult.

Even if e-sports were to be recognised as an Olympic sport, that does not mean it will be included in the Games - it merely means a case can be presented to the IOC.


Thousands turned up for the League of Legends World Championship in Seoul
Take chess, for instance. Supporters of the game have long called for its inclusion the Games, but the IOC has been reluctant, considering it a "mind sport" and therefore not welcome in the Games.

Video games face the same hurdle, but has done its best to at least act like a sport, by adding measures such as an anti-doping programme.

Mr Pardo argues that e-sports could be visually appealing to a broad audience.

"You can do whatever you want with the graphics, you can make it be really excited and competitive," he said.

[Netherspark]

Chess used to be in the Olympics. So did ballroom dancing.

At the end of the day, the Olympics is just pandering to the spectators - if people don't want to watch it, it won't be in the Olympics.

[Deleted]

sports ≠ e-sports

[Val the Moofia Boss]

I... no.

sports ≠ e-sports

This in every possible way.

[Zoaric]

There's already a thread on this.

That said, there's sillier in the Olympics, and as long as it's fun to watch, I don't care
what they put in.

[Aeula]

It's own form of Olympics perhaps, sadly a large amount of older people tend to associate video games with violence and nerds, namely the media and my father, until such people are extinct (A generation or two after our own) it's better to keep a low profile.

[zorkuus]

Chess used to be in the Olympics. So did ballroom dancing.

At the end of the day, the Olympics is just pandering to the spectators - if people don't want to watch it, it won't be in the Olympics.

And people don't want to watch something that is complicated, such as computer games.

[nomorepriest]

No....
Olympics are a test of physical and mental performance/skill.
Plus have you seen these fat fucks who play video games...
In the Olympics they do need to get rid of ribbons and curling?


Sword of a thousand truths.

[DustWolf]

I don't think it should be in the Olympics. I don't feel that it would fit, but that's just my opinion on this matter.
I do, however, support e-sports becoming more recognized, if you will. And by that I mean these events are usually under a pay-to-watch barrier. You have to buy passes to watch the streams, whereas the traditional sports get broadcasted over the TV, where you only get billed for that monthly fee.

Imagine a TV-program running games of DotA, LoL, HoN, WoW PvP, maybe some raiding or CMs.
I think I'd watch that program quite often

[Deleted]

Of course, a huge amount of ignorance and social stigma will stand against this.

But in a progressive society, one will duly note that the populace show interest for it.

Hence, yes, it is fully possible.

[zorkuus]

I do, however, support e-sports becoming more recognized, if you will. And by that I mean these events are usually under a pay-to-watch barrier. You have to buy passes to watch the streams, whereas the traditional sports get broadcasted over the TV, where you only get billed for that monthly fee.

Where there is a demand there is a supply. Currently there is not a demand. the average Joe not interested in e-sports outnumbers gamers who would be. And only a small fraction of even gamers are interested in it.

[Deleted]

And people don't want to watch something that is complicated, such as computer games.

I don't know, for me, the athletic challenge seems quite complicated, I never figure out how the referees give the notes to the participants and their routine.

But that being said, I do agree that computer games have no place to be in the Olympics... but I do believe an Olympics for computer games should be created. World-wide and giving medals and international recognition.

- - - Updated - - -

Where there is a demand there is a supply. Currently there is not a demand. the average Joe not interested in e-sports outnumbers gamers who would be.

This will change in the next 25 years, games will become more and more accepted as the current generation reaches 50 or so years and replaces the one before them slowly.

[Deleted]

Where there is a demand there is a supply. Currently there is not a demand. the average Joe not interested in e-sports outnumbers gamers who would be. And only a small fraction of even gamers are interested in it.

I didn't know you sat on such an authority such as numbers, much less the numbers to just ignore the whole e-sports scene.

[zorkuus]

This will change in the next 25 years, games will become more and more accepted as the current generation reaches 50 or so years and replaces the one before them slowly.

this isn't just about gamers being more accepted though because there's still plenty of gamers who just aren't interested in e-sports at all.

I didn't know you sat on such an authority such as numbers, much less the numbers to just ignore the whole e-sports scene.

I'm not ignoring it, TV channels are because there's not enough demand.

[Reyzzz]

And people don't want to watch something that is complicated, such as computer games.

And you base this on what?

[zorkuus]

And you base this on what?

On the olympics. Everything in there is relatively simple when it comes to rules and such. Esp. when you compaire them to video games which can be sometimes confusing even for gamers.

[Phookah]

Why did a different thread about this open? We already have one.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...ight=rob+pardo
Use the search function next time.

[SL1200]

E-sports dont' belong in the olympics.

[Deleted]

I'm not ignoring it, TV channels are because there's not enough demand.

Video games are usually portrayed in streams. Just saying "cuz TV" is kind of a weak argument.

[DustWolf]

Where there is a demand there is a supply. Currently there is not a demand. the average Joe not interested in e-sports outnumbers gamers who would be. And only a small fraction of even gamers are interested in it.

Well, I guess I partially agree with your statement, but even Pardo suggests that the audience is there.
With the risk of producing a cyclic argument: would there be more gamers watching the program if it actually was there?
To be frank, there's a lot you have to do to get a watchable /free/ stream, if you don't really want to pay.

So at the same time it's a bit hypocritical from Pardo to say that, since you have to sell a kidney to watch Blizzcon.