Call of Duty. Halo. Madden. Team Fortress 2. Pokemon. Video games; once a harbor for a niche community, they are now a forefront of modern culture. They, in all of their splendor, create a cascade of tirades from self-absorbed, stereotypical women and aggravated spouses. Video games are lambasted by various peoples; from politicians to psychologists. Parents and teachers. They, along with cable television, are synonymous with a torpid existence. The inert Cheeto consuming American. The pastime of nerdy shut-ins.
Though widely aggrieved by the general population, video games have persevered through criticism. They have blossomed into a casual industry, no longer a primary consumption for the “secular” nerd community, the hardcore gamers. Even your average thickheaded, meatwad or sports bro can engage in the video game past time. With the joys of the sports genre and a plethora of first person shooters, a diverse array of new gamers have entered the fold. Females, too, have boldly proclaimed their affiliation for gaming. Children, teenagers, adults; the pleasure of games is enjoyed by many. Games are fun.
Games matter. It is a blossoming industry, forming its own culture. This culture has grown magnificently. Websites, conventions, books, internet streaming and Youtube channels have arose to meet the call of the culture. Even the innate competitive drive of our species has proven to form a community. If we can praise the lame physical accomplishments of professional athletes, if we can provide an atmosphere for glorious board games such as Chess and Go, then competitive gaming deserves a cultural presence too.
The idea may be scoffed at and trivialized by those who labor under the perception of inertness. Those who criticize are ignorant joy kills who probably engage in similarly inert activities. They do not perceive the requirements and abilities that are required. Just like the professional athletes, professional gamers require assiduous effort and practice. Comprehensive abilities are utilized. The ability to coordinate with team members. The ability to analyze on the fly, form a strategy and possess the mechanical abilities to execute the idea. The sheer mechanical ability alone is impressive.
Competitive gaming has existed; it won’t disappear. It most certainly will continue to grow. In South Korea, Starcraft and Starcraft Brood War have spawned a massive fan and gaming base. Two television stations have formed for the game in response to its popularity. Exceptional players earn hundreds of thousands of dollars for numerous victories. Some players even have DVD compilations of their best games. Dozens of gaming associations have formed to provide professional tournaments for the professional gaming teams.
These players live together, eat together, and practice together. The love of Starcraft has since spread with the release of the sequel, Starcraft 2. The game’s community now encompasses most, if not, the entire world.
Call of Duty, Halo, Street Fight, Super Smash Bros., League of Legends, and various other games have risen to popularity and mass consumption. They have spawned their own professional play and tournaments. Along with Starcraft, they have helped form various video game festivals and tournaments. The U.S.A has created Major League Gaming (MLG) and the North American Starleague (NASL). Sweden has Dreamhack. Korea, a haven of professional gaming, host the Korean Starleagues, the World Cyber games and many more.
Gaming is no longer something to be ashamed of or degraded for. It is a culture with a professional, thriving scene. It’s here to stay, and it’s no longer for nerds.