Can video games be considered a sport?
February 5, 2019
Competitive video games, e-Sports as they’re called, have become a growing phenomenon over the last decade considering the massive amount of attention they are getting from the general population. Millions of people around the globe are tuning in on the internet to watch “professional gamers” duke it out for prize pools of over a million dollars. Not only are these players skilled at the games they play, they’re near perfect, spending hours a day practicing to fight to become the best in the world.
In 2018, an annual e-Sports tournament held in Katowice, Poland had over 169 thousand attendants watching teams represent countries including England, The United States, Croatia, Germany, South Africa, Serbia, Australia, the Netherlands and more. Alongside the live attendants, there were a total of over nine million views over the span of the 61 hour stream time of the tournament. This brought in large amounts of revenue for the prize pools totaling over two million dollars. The teams played a variety of games at this tournament, each having a specific roster of players for each individual game. The games varied from first person shooters like: Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch; to massive online battle arena games like Dota 2; battle royale games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds; and real-time strategy games like Starcraft II.
Many of these professional players put hours and hours of practice and hard work to become the best in the world. According to ESPN, Greg “IdrA” Fields, a former StarCraft II champion, stated that his team would practice for 12 hours a day, taking only 2 days off a month. These hours of practice would usually go into only one game so these players could be the best at that game rather than just good at multiple games. If that’s not dedication, I’m not sure what is. There’s hours of training and practice in standard sports, what makes competitive video games any different?
Keeping an open mind through recent technological advances is essential to keeping up with everything, especially when times are changing more than ever before. Standard sports hand out millions of dollars from millions of viewers to players who put their whole lives into their passion. E-Sports are the exact same way, these competitive players drop everything and put all of their energy into not only a hobby, but a passion that is fun to partake in and fun to watch. In my opinion, based on the enormous amounts of revenue and fans competitive gaming brings in, alongside the dedication and heart the players put into them, e-Sports should not only be viewed as a competitive sport; but funded and broadcast the same as any other sport on television.
zeke • Nov 12, 2021 at 8:49 am
it is a sport
isaac joseph • May 14, 2021 at 12:22 pm
i think it should not be video games as sports at all they should stop it.
Jason C • May 6, 2021 at 8:35 am
Do you play video games? Do you watch esports? Do you really think video games are not a sport? In addition, some people believe that video games aren’t a sport. Others disagree and believe that video games are a sport. As video games have grown in popularity the debate over whether they are a sport or not has grown as well. Events like Esports have also become more popular and bring more attention to the video game community. Websites like Youtube and Twitch where people broadcast their gameplay have made gamking more popular. Video games are a sport, because they can teach kids teamwork and they stimulate the brain.
This can be proven, because video games much like other sports incorporate wins and losses. For example, “The basic idea of any sport is competition. A team or individual competes against another team or individual in hopes of achieving victory.” (Should Video Games Be Considered a Sport?) Which proves, people who play video games learn to get used to winning and losing, and it is important to be exposed to both.
Next, video games teach both teamwork and communication. In addition, “Just like any other competitive game, video games can be an excellent tool for teaching children how to work together.” (Ryan Barrone) Many video games require good teamwork and communication, which can be taught to those who play.
Finally, video games have popular events like esports. Esports is a competition where people play video games against each other to win money. “Fans line up outside the stadiums for hours”. (Starecheski) Video games are clearly very popular and it is something people want to see.
Some people might say that, you can’t play a sport while sitting. If you feel that way ask people who play professional chess and poker, or how about nascar or even horse riding, and most of all bobsledding. If your argument is that sitting can’t be a sport, ask Kevin Kuske, 4 time gold medalist for bobsledding in the olympics. On top of that, video games, just like all other sports stimulate the brain. The brian produces the same endorphins as if you were playing a “real sport”.
As you can see, video games are indeed a sport, they stimulate the brain and teach teamwork. It is such an important part in society and to claim they aren’t a sport is truly foolish. Imagine a young child dreams of being a professional gamer but they are told gaming isn’t a job or a sport. The poor child would be devastated and their dreams would be crushed, all because of an incorrect belief. You don’t want to be that person, do you?
jrk • Apr 14, 2021 at 12:52 pm
video games are a sport they don’t just require staring at a screen it takes lots of practice
Tristan • Nov 13, 2020 at 6:53 pm
I don’t believe that video games are a sport because under the current definition of sport video games do not fit. As defined by the Oxford dictionary, a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Exertion is the physical or perceived use of energy. Exertion traditionally connotes a strenuous or costly effort, resulting in generation of force, initiation of motion, or in the performance of work. It often relates to muscular activity and can be quantified, empirically and by measurable metabolic response.” Video games are not considered in any world as “costly effort” or “muscular activity and can be quantified.”
You already know the definition of sport but do you know the difference between a sport and a game? A game is,” a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.” Sports are a game but games aren’t always sports because sports require Physical exertion while video games require mental exertion. They both qualify to be games however, only sports are sports.
Some examples of games that are close to being sports but don’t quite make the cut are thumb wrestling, chess, and all board games. If we consider video games a sport any thing where you have to move, you can win, and could entertain an audience would be considered a sport. Some examples of these are a staring contest, professional water drinking, and competitive light switch flicking. I think we can all agree none of those are sports, except for light switching we all know that is a sport.
Some people say video games are a sport here are some of their arguments. First video gamers do just as much practice and have huge tournaments for millions of dollars and with hundreds of thousands of fans.
The issue with the points they make is well they are true they have nothing to do with video games being a sport. Nowhere in the definition does a sport need Practices, Toutments, or Cash prizes.
In conclusion they are a plethora of reasons that videogames are not a sport the main one being it doesn’t fit the definition.
trintrin • Oct 20, 2020 at 8:38 pm
VIDEO GAMES IS 100% A SPORTSSSS!!!!! IM SAYING THIS BECAUSE IVE BEEN PLAYING IT FOR YEARS ALWAYS VS MY FRIENDS AT THEM!!! WE EVEN DO GAMBLING WHEN PLAYING OVERWATCH OR COD!!! ONE DAY IM GOING BECOME HOKAGE SOME DAY!!!
bruh • May 17, 2020 at 2:21 pm
and video games are probably by definition a sport because they don’t require as much physical activity, but they are doing physical activity nonetheless. Baseball and soccer don’t have the same amount of physical activity, so why should video games?
bruh • May 17, 2020 at 2:19 pm
anyone who says no: look for some other facts besides this article. Try ID Tech’s Article about Video Games Should Be Considered A Sport. You will find out that video games do require physical activity, and it is not what you might think. That article might change your mind. Also, sitting there being lazy playing video games is the lowest level of competitive video games
(^>^) • Apr 29, 2020 at 2:19 pm
I think they are not a sport becuase you do not get excersise doing E-sports.
Austin • Apr 17, 2020 at 12:10 pm
That is very true.
some guy • Apr 7, 2020 at 9:02 pm
^^^
Hey at least someone whose disagreeing knows their stuff!
Other than that, I still keep a vote as yes, it should be considered a sport.
Marcus • Apr 6, 2020 at 9:50 am
By definition i don’t think video gaming is a sport for it doesn’t involve as much physical activity as basketball or soccer. BUT to just say video games is just staring at a screen being lazy and doing nothing is BS. lets use an example, Fortnite, you might just see someone playing Fortnite and just say they are mindlessly going around and killing people for fun. That’s not how it works, there are 4 general things involved with this game building, editing, aiming, and game sense which can be put into 2 prases you might hear, mechanics and game sense. professional players spend hours perfecting their aim, edits and builds. but game sense is not talked about a lot. game sense is the knowledge a player has on the game, this would be like knowing drinking a mini shield will give a player 25 shield and the limit for drinking them would be drinking 2 getting a player to 50 shield. and drinking a big pot or big shield potion would get them 50 shield giving them in total 200 hp because there health is already 100 hp. there is a lot more then just staring at a screen. proffesional players need sharp precision, good reflexes, intense focus under high pressure, game sense, the best mechanics, the ability to learn from every mistake, accurate predictions of an enemy’s next move, how to stay calm and not make mistakes under pressure, how to have the best communication to give to teammates so they know their next move, teammates that are similarly skilled as them, can play as a team, can play without a team, and what the best decision is in every situation. Therefore, video games may not be a sport by definition but are most definitely a job and take more skill then being able to stare at a screen for 10 hours. people make millions off these games with fans that will watch hours of matches by their favorite pro player. to consider video games a mindless, lazy no-skilled hobby is just and ignorant opinion made by someone that has seen someone play a video game once without knowing any thing about it.
jacob • Mar 2, 2020 at 3:27 pm
i think that is is a sport because some games involve you actively doing something for example Wii and if it isn’t a sport why would people make a group of people play for mass amounts of money if it wasn’t then it would be pointless to do and to watch and lets talk about rainbow six siege becuase someone was saying something about it the person is right you have to practice a lot and if you dont then you start to get bad and you have to learn all the callouts in order be good at the game and there are rolls for people a few are support where you go who we need there is the fragger its the person that gets most of the kills and the last person is on defence and its the denial aka bandit kaid and mute so the attackers cant open the walls that you need
AS • Apr 17, 2019 at 11:16 am
Yes, but no. I see both sides of the argument. You practice for hours and make money, but you don’t do anything active. There isn’t anything physical besides moving your thumbs back and forth. You sit and stare at a screen all day. Multiple things like singing and chess aren’t a sport. You practice for hours, but it isn’t a sport.
Jaxson schloss • Apr 17, 2019 at 11:15 am
I say yes it is a sport because many people use it to get money and get skills people aren’t innate with skill. the virtual reality console you can look 3d with a helmet you move around and are active.
Kole H • Apr 17, 2019 at 11:14 am
No, Esports is not a sport. Yes, gaming requires skill but there is no physical activity and no face to face teamwork. Gaming can not get your heart rate up as a sport can do like basketball or football.
Drew L • Apr 17, 2019 at 11:12 am
Yes I believe games should be considered a sport because it gets your mind thinking depending on what game you play. Like for me, I play Wii sports and I have to think my move before I throw my bowling ball down the lane. Another one could be Just dance on Xbox one. If you have a kinect it does require some physical movement to get points in the game.
gavin dzierlinga • Apr 17, 2019 at 11:10 am
In my opinion video gaming is a sport. I believe this because people spends hours and hours competing and practicing .In my opinion a sport is something that gets your heart beating and video games defiantly gets your heart beating .
Max Bogenski • Apr 17, 2019 at 11:08 am
I think video games should be considered a sport. It also takes team work just like some other sports. The people that play make a lot of money and they also have practice which will make them better.
Ryan Chavez • Apr 17, 2019 at 10:21 am
I think competitive gaming is a sport because people have to think fast and they have to strategize on what they are going to do next so they could plan ahead so they could win. Since I play Rainbow Six Siege, I have to concentrate and say call-outs so my teammates know where the enemy is and what they might try to do.
jaden criss • Apr 17, 2019 at 10:16 am
Yes, even though there is not much physical motion, many people play video games as a job, and people play sports for a job, so if you can make some sort of profit then I think that it should be considered a sport. It doesn’t matter if there’s no motion in your body.
Gabe Marin • Apr 17, 2019 at 10:16 am
I think that video games should be a sport because the players make a lot of money and in my opinion they practice a lot more then sports players do which is saying that there is more desire to be good and showing your skills. Yes i think video games should be a sport. They would be so fun to watch!!!!!
Alexis Schwartz • Apr 17, 2019 at 10:15 am
No! Esports are not a sport because not everyone will get paid for playing video games if they are good. Also sports have practice and drills and video games don’t have that.
Daniel • Apr 17, 2019 at 8:05 am
I think that e sports are a sport because the amount of training or practicing is exactly the same in sports. Also, it’s mostly competition and dedication that make people think it’s a sport.
Owen Pleva • Apr 17, 2019 at 8:04 am
Video Games are always going to be a sport no matter what. I’ve been playing video games for years now and been playing in tournaments, getting money, and getting recognized by teams. I play Competitive Call Of Duty and make bank with other people in my team: Risen Four, ClapGang and RaZe Gang I’m on top. I play more than 12 hours a day.
Michael Windhauser • Apr 17, 2019 at 8:04 am
I think video games are not a sport because you just sit down and stare at a screen. Some people say that it is a sport because they go and make money but how does that make sense, there’s no actual physical activity going on. The only thing moving that fans can see is the fake characters in the game. I think that video games aren’t a sport also because they don’t get your heart racing like at a baseball or football game.
Tyler • Apr 17, 2019 at 8:03 am
NO!!! Video games are not a sport due to the fact of you are literally just sitting in a chair or on a couch and being lazy. You need to get your adrenaline going or get your body all worked up. Physical fitness is always in sports and it certainly is not for video games. Sure, videogamers practice for hours and hours but that means only for a game and not for a football game or whatever. I have played a lot of sports in my day and I do not think videogames are a sport
Israel Diaz • Apr 17, 2019 at 7:31 am
I believe that e-sports isn’t sport because of the fact that it does have a physical activity. I also believe that e-sports can be a hobby. But people might say that they get like pressure to win so they get the heart rising but other than that there is not physical activity.
michael tackitt • Apr 16, 2019 at 8:45 am
I believe video gaming is a sport because it requires effort & knowledge. Some professional gamer’s do go to arena’s because they compete for money if they are in a tournament. That is why I consider gaming as a sport.
Anthony Montes • Apr 16, 2019 at 8:38 am
Video games should be considered a sport because they have professional levels. E-sports get the same amount or even more viewers than regular sports. E-sports takes hours of practicing, hard work, and dedication.
Marcos Reyes • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:36 pm
I think Video games are a sport because you can win a bunch of money . You have to practice each day to get better. Teams compete for big prize pools and each game can have a roster and uniforms etc.
Paxton Rumpf • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:34 pm
I think that video gaming is a sport because people can win money and they hold tournaments for people who have enough skill to become pro gamers.
Ayden Watson • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:24 pm
I honestly think video gaming should count as a sport because people that play video games for there life they put in typically 12 plus hours into perfecting there skills and to work for being the best they can be in that sport and they get paid for it. Also because the pro players are playing competitively to be the best that they can be in that game.
Kelly O • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:19 pm
I agree with the point of this newspaper, it should be considered a sport in my opinion.
Alexander Gresham • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:01 pm
I believe that video gaming should be consider to be a sport I have tuned in to competitive matches of games like overwatch and others. There is lots of teamwork involved you have to have certain roles to people. practicing on hours on end that takes a lot of determination.
Kassy Gonzalez • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:00 pm
In my opinion,I think video gaming is like a sport because e-sports are all about competition just like football or soccer. They need ability and concentration. The best players are so talented, they’re like the LeBron James video games. Serious gamers spend hours sharpening their abilities. Some pro gaming teams practice for up to hours a week. Some people say that playing video games doesn’t involve physical activity. But that’s not always true. When playing Wii sports, you move around and even get out of breath sometimes.
Adrian Stypulkowski • Apr 15, 2019 at 2:00 pm
I think that video game should not be a sport because there is no physical activity.
Eric J • Apr 15, 2019 at 1:48 pm
I think video gaming is not a sport because you just sit there and do nothing. There’s also no physical activity while playing . The author also says that players spend hours playing video games but rappers also spend hours in the studio and is not considered a sport .
AJ L • Apr 15, 2019 at 1:42 pm
NO gaming is NOT a sport all you do is sit there and use your fingers. There is no physical activity involved. Even that you get paid more than real sports do it doesn’t mean its a sport. Sports require a lot more effort and physical activity.
Keven P • Apr 15, 2019 at 10:28 am
I agree that E-sports is a sport because they have the same qualifications as a traditional sport. They have teams, tournaments, matches, referees and etc. They also have thousands of people watching their sport.
Aldair Perea • Apr 15, 2019 at 10:23 am
I think video games should be a sport because gaming is competitive and others will play to be the very best.I also like playing competitively because I too want to be better in video games.#Apex Legends is better than Fortnite.
Dakota Hagen • Apr 15, 2019 at 10:19 am
I think that video games are a sport. One reason why I think that is because they get paid a lot and they practice hard everyday for hours and can earn scholarships for colleges and could actually start a career for their lives.
Carmen • Apr 15, 2019 at 10:19 am
I do agree with Meier Glab because I have seen how some people stream on Twitch and they make it competitive but fun to watch at the same time. For example, the Overwatch Leagues make it competitive and fun to watch with their comments. They are creative and come up with comments. It was also very fun to watch these competitive games with a friend. I’d say it brought me closer to that person and made the end of the day fun and leaving us wanting more. I agree to having this being on television too for all the fans out there that want to watch it too but don’t have an electronic device. I’m kind off dumbfounded by only having 2 days off a month. I love that they do all they can to please their fans but they need to take care of themselves too. Their fans should be understanding of this too. I overall agree that Gaming is considered a sport.
Edith Miranda • Apr 15, 2019 at 10:12 am
I personally agree with this and do think that it is a sport.
catherine anderson • Apr 15, 2019 at 9:06 am
I believe that video games should not be called a sport. I feel that sports have to require physical activity and video games do not bring that. Yes, video games do have fans and they do have competitions and they do require skills. However, the voice and the show agt have fans and competitions and they also require skills as well. They’re not called a sport so why should video games be called one. Sports have physical activity and it gets your health to be better in the long run which I don’t think video games just do not do that. I have nothing against video games I just feel that it should not be called a sport and why can’t we just leave the name it already has which is just Video games.
Sean Snyder • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:56 am
When you and a team are plying games like Fortnite and Call of Duty you need to talk to each of your player to see if they need help. When you and your friends are really good at some game you can go to a huge tournaments in different states to compete against the top of the people in each game. When you and your squad win the tournament you guys will win so much money from people donation money from the live stream to help support you and your team.
Arly • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:53 am
I feel that Video Gaming should be considered a sport now that I have read more about it.Video Gaming should be considered a sport because it does take dedication and hard work and a lot of practice to become better at it every time.Video gaming needs a lot of practice especially if you are competing with other people.After reading this article I say that Video gaming does have a lot of similar things are other sports.Video games should be considered a sport.
KENNY LOPEZ! • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:52 am
i think it is a sport because you get payed millions and people all around the world come see them play the game
Lina H & Daisy P • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:52 am
In our opinion gaming is a sport. One has to put the same amount of work in video gaming as on the football field. Stay up on long nights and play for hours and hours. Stay clam in hard and rough situation.
Brandon • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:52 am
I think video games should be considered a sport. The games take a lot of smarts to be able to get good at it. However, why can’t esports just be categorized as its own unique thing. It doesn’t have to be thrown in the same conversation as baseball, football, and basketball.
Shelby Stalesky • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:46 am
No! Video gaming isn’t a sport because most people that play video games is just for fun and not for competition. Also not to forget some people that do this competitive thing they sometimes won’t even be noticed by it at all because some people around the whole world don’t even watch it.
Briseyda Garcia & Deysi Palomino • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:19 am
We considere that E-sports are a sport because even though some doesn’t require to move your body, their are some that allows you to move. They require serious skills, and time to practice a game. Gamers need to be able to focus and remain completely calm under intense pressure. In Robert Morris University said that E-sports are part of the athletic department.
Abby M • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:01 am
OK so singing has computations and takes hours of practice but is singing a sport. No!video games don’t involve any physical activity your literally sitting down doing nothing. You may be screaming at a screen and throwing controllers at your tvs but do you do that in sports? NO!!! Yes you guys compete in video games but your not getting up and moving around your sitting in a chair staring at screen. So in conclusion video games is not a sport.
Abby Fitzgerald • Apr 15, 2019 at 8:00 am
Singing has a lot of competition, but is singing a sport??? No! All you do is sit there, playing video games all freaking day. There is no physical activity, or any real teamwork. My mother and my sister play Mario together as a family tradition, and they got very good at it. But are they fit? No. Does it make them feel more social? No. It isolates them from the world. In conclusion, video games is NOT a sport.
Autumn B • Apr 15, 2019 at 7:56 am
I really don’t think E-sports is a sport because it does not require physical activity and doesn’t get your blood pumping, All you are doing all day is sitting in a chair being lazy and you need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
John Underwood • Apr 5, 2019 at 2:29 pm
I think video games should be considered a sport. While they don’t require as much physical ability as traditional sports, they still strategize, team, and push themselves to win just as much as any other sport.
Noah DuMez • Apr 5, 2019 at 8:40 am
This is great. I’ve been playing Call Of Duty Competitive for years and I’m so happy to see how Esports in general are making it mainstream. I’m glad someone finally shed some light on this topic.
Luis Aguilar • Apr 4, 2019 at 10:35 am
YES! We really underestimate the amount of time, effort, and funding put into eSports. I wholeheartedly believe that eSports is a sport! My favorite game is Overwatch. A lot is put into consideration: health, damage per second, tanks, other support roles, defense vs attacking strategies, health pods, edges of maps… the list goes on. This is is almost parallel to other traditional sports except the players compete on a monitor now. Our club is in its pilot year but we look forward to so much in the future!