Sport in video gaming

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The concept of video gaming has been around since the 1960s. ^[1] Video gaming in today’s world also contains worldwide competition through online gaming. ^[2] Just as in sports leagues, there are leagues and tournaments in video gaming. The CPL (Cyberathlete Professional League) is an example of a video gaming league.^[3] The World Cyber Games is an example of a video gaming tournament.^[4]

1 History
2 Leagues and tournaments
3 Video gaming sports on television
4 References

[edit] History

The video game leagues began to form in the late 1990s. The CPL (Cyberathlete Professional League) was formed in 1997.^[5] MLG (Major League Gaming) was found more recently, in 2002.^[6] The formation of these leagues also brought about video game tournaments, such as the WCG (World Cyber Games) that was formed in 2000.^[7]

[edit] Leagues and tournaments

There are many professional video game leagues and tournaments that host worldwide competitions and provide ways for gamers to compete online. The following are some of the biggest leagues and tournaments.

The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) was founded in 1996. Based in Dallas, Texas, CPL has hosted 300,000 gamers in over 60 events. The Cyberathlete Amateur League (CAL) is the "minor league" of the CPL. It is based mainly on online game play. It hosts more than 600,000 online gamers.^[8]

Major League Gaming (MLG) is currently the largest organized professional gaming league. Competitors from 28 different countries have participated in their tournaments, while over one million participants have competed online.^[9]

Electronic Sports League (ESL) is a European organization that’s host to around 700,000 German and English computer gamers. ESL has 1800 leagues for amateurs and professionals in 80 different games.^[10]

The Global Gaming League (GGL) is "a video gaming culture." It gives the world’s gamers the means to find other competitors and form their own competitions and groups.^[11]

World Cyber Games (WCG), which began in 2000, hosts nearly one million competitors online. Top competitors from 70 countries participate in the World Championships, which have been held in six different cities across the globe.^[12]

Electronic Sports World Cup is an international championship held annually in France. Representatives must win their respective national qualifier to represent their country in the tournament.^[13]

A 2003 competition hosted by CAL was played in a Hyatt Regency Ballroom. Several tables were placed together where 10 computers were set up for the professional gamers. The game was Half-Life: Counterstrike.^[14]

Video game competitions have referees or officials to monitor for cheating.^[15] These video gaming tournaments also bring in fans, that either show up at the tournament or view it online^[16] Video gaming has sponsorship; for example, the CPL is sponsored by Sierra Entertainment, Razer, Cyber Shots Energy Drink, and Gamerail^[17]

Video games are not a part of the Olympics but the Global Gaming League have made attempts to make them a demonstration sport in the 2008 Olympics.^[18].

[edit] Video gaming sports on television

In countries such as South Korea, professional gamers are seen in action on local video game channels.^[19] In the United States, gaming is seen on a variety of channels. ESPN has a show called Madden Nation, which shows gamers playing the Madden NFL game for XBOX 360. These players are competing for a cash prize.^[20] DirecTV shows live video game matches for the Championship Gaming Series.^[21] CBS aired footage of the 2007 World Series of Video Games tournament that was held in Louisville, Kentucky.^[22] G4 (TV channel) is dedicated to keeping viewers up to date on video games.^[23]