QGirlz’ Trillian has written a new T or D article entitled “In Search of a Real Gamer”. She takes a look at the disturbing antics of some of the star players in our blossoming sport of choice.
Excerpt:
This past weekend was one of the most action-packed in the history of professional gaming. On one side of the globe, the CPL ramped up for its latest event humbly titled the “World Championships.” On the other side of the globe, WCG was going all out with their first official “Grand Final” tournament. Yes, some of you remember WCG’s previous event, which had just about as many bells and whistles, but they are claiming that one as a trial run. Regardless of whether it’s the first or the biggest or even the best, the second weekend in December 2001 will not soon be forgotten by the hoards of gamers who attended the events or watched them online.
In the midst of all this hype and gaming hysteria, there is a common theme. Let’s make gaming a recognized, professional sport. Let’s show the world that getting a bunch of boys and girls (I loathe to refer to them as men and women for fear of elevating the intelligence of some gamers) to play computer games together in a large room is a good thing. In fact, I saw Angel Munoz doing a live interview on CNN complete with the “violence in video games” question and the “there aren’t many women playing, are there” question. That’s one thing you can always count on… the old faithfuls… the controversy-laden questions that keep America running.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m actually a pretty big fan of getting the world of computer gaming recognized. I would love to be able to refer to my husband, the consummate gamer, as a professional cyberathlete. Of course, I cannot do so unless the CPL says he is, since they have the copyright on cyberathlete. But that’s hardly the point. The point is, it’d be nice to have our hobby recognized as more than just a passing fancy. Rather, to be noticed as something requiring skill.
But there is another facet of this quest to have computer gaming recognized as a sport. Our events are scrutinized. Our gamers are picked apart. Our world is surrounded by controversy in the wake of school shootings and terrorist acts. We have an image to overcome and a lot to prove. What we need are real gamers. I don’t mean computer gamers that represent the epitome of all that is sweaty, smelly, un-washed, caffeine-overdosed and full of porn. I’m referring to computer gamers that can show the world that regardless of our image, we have a lot to offer society. We have well-spoken individuals who can represent our community as a reasonable addition to the world of sports… even if you want to put us in the same realm as the X-Games and other alternative sports. That’s fine. Just recognize us as viable.
With a weekend as big as this past one, it was a prime opportunity to show how cool gamers really are. And what are we faced with? Another temper-tantrum by Makaveli in the face of a devastating series of losses. I am well aware that many sports have unsportsmanlike conduct. I know about Tonya Harding. I’m aware that Rasheed Wallace has so many technical fouls over the past couple of years that it’s sickening. I know that almost all sports have their black sheep. But, computer gaming hasn’t even reached that level yet. Can we afford the potential setback caused by a volatile response to losing? I know it’s not fair. We have eyes on us watching to see if we truly are a menace to society. We have an extreme set of expectations placed upon us, and conclusions are formed far too quickly.
All hope is not lost! There are some great examples of the gamers we want to put out there to represent us. Case in point… socrates. That boy was sick as a dog, puking throughout the entire Q3 tournament. And yet, he made every one of his matches, even if only at the last minute, and even if only to lose horribly. The fact that he sucked it up (or puked it up? yuck) and played the best he could in the face of adversity is a good sign that we have what we need to make it as a sport.
What do we do now? Well, for one… anger management classes for all volatile gamers in the public eye. Maybe the CPL and WCG could split the cost? Okay, maybe that’s not the most feasible answer. Perhaps the only answer is for all of us as gamers to do our part. Yes, it sucks when you lose. It sucks worse when you lose bad and the world is watching. But, let’s look at the bigger picture. If you want to make money at this – and I mean more than the various cash prizes offered at an event or two every year, I’m talking about the results of a sport – you’re going to have to bury your instinctual response and put your best foot forward. You’re going to have to learn to lose gracefully and win graciously. Save all that pent up rage for after we’ve cleared our first major hurdle. Then, we can all sit back and laugh about the good old days of brawls and chair-punching.