Monday, September 12, 2005
Watching Titans Battle on Screen and Keys - New York Times
Watching Titans Battle on Screen and Keys - New York Times
Are competitive cyber sports any less real for the spectator than watching "real" sports on television? This fan/gamer doesn't think so:
Sponsers are making these competitions real marketing events as well. Gaming as big business promoting tech brands as well as games. These gamers are professional atheletes:
Craig Levine, Team 3D's managing director, mentioned the new pressure of sponsorship after his team's triumph at the games:
Are competitive cyber sports any less real for the spectator than watching "real" sports on television? This fan/gamer doesn't think so:
"I would much rather watch a really good game of StarCraft or Counter-Strike than watch something like a football game," said Dave Sayles, a 17-year-old high school senior from Ridgewood, N.J. Sitting with three other friends who came into the city for the matches, he gestured to the front of the hall, where huge screens displayed the final match in Counter-Strike, a team-based modern combat game. "These games are so much more exciting, more interactive," Mr. Sayles said, speaking over the onstage announcer who was continuing his "shoutcast" match commentary.
Sponsers are making these competitions real marketing events as well. Gaming as big business promoting tech brands as well as games. These gamers are professional atheletes:
Mr. Levine, a 22-year-old from Long Island, started Team 3D in 2002 while an undergraduate business student at New York University. Shortly after founding the team, he retired from active play and moved into management. Now, backed by sponsors like Intel and the graphics company nVidia, Team 3D pays some of its players a regular living stipend so they can practice and play tournaments full time.
"Obviously we're thrilled with all of our success here, but we still have a lot of work to do," Mr. Levine said, sounding like the professional sports executive that he is. "Now we need to go to Singapore and close the deal."
Craig Levine, Team 3D's managing director, mentioned the new pressure of sponsorship after his team's triumph at the games:
"Frankly, I'm more relieved than anything," he said. "We have some big new sponsors, so there has been a lot of pressure to do well recently. But it's just that feeling of competition that is so amazing. There is nothing like it."
