Some enthusiasts call video gaming a sport. They like to talk about the rising popularity of international gaming tournaments and how their audience numbers are already surpassing those of the NBA playoffs.
Top players are worth millions of dollars. They also become idols in their field and some are eagerly sought after by brands to promote their products. In short, they have reached the status of sports stars.
Sports require strategy, thought into each action, muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, reflexes and reaction time. And so does video gaming, they argue.
Huge fans even note that with virtual reality technology being quickly adopted, players will soon have to physically run, jump, crouch and reach.
On the other hand, calling video gaming an e-sport is regarded by some as outrageous and totally unacceptable.
“Sitting on your butt in your room all day is not playing a sport. That is just highly offensive to sport players like myself,” one netizen wrote.
“If sitting down and playing games is called a sport then you could say eating is a sport as well,” another said.
Others insist the word sport should be reserved for active games that can be played without a screen.
If video gaming is a sport, it is certainly only for the young. In the pro world, 26 or 27 years old is already considered a very advanced age for a player.
Top “e-athletes” have to perform 400-500 actions per minute or APM.
The tremendous strain on the brain and fingers is probably one reason why retiring at their 20s is the norm – not to mention the harm to the eyesight.
Sports are supposed to help us get fitter and healthier. On this count alone, my verdict is no way should video gaming qualify as a sport.
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CG