Turning Games to National Sports (E-Sports)
Since Counterstrike became an instant hit in the Philippines, a lot of people have been floating around the idea of “e-sports” and “professional gamers”. This gained more support when more Real Time Strategy Games like Starcraft, Warcraft, Red Alert, Generals, and DOTA built their own cult followings. Of course there is also the online gaming segment which is mostly composed of MMORPG’s. The question now is how do we grow the Philippine E-Sports industry? I was surfing through the various gaming blogs when I stumbled upon an article in “The Ironic Gamer” wherein they featured a korean champion team explaining how E-Sports was developed in Korea.
Pro-Gamer CS Team Lunatic-Hai
Find out how Starcraft became a national sport after the jump.
Why Korea Is So Into StarCraft & PC Gaming…
by Patrick on December 19th, 2007In an interview with GameAxis, Korea pro-gaming CounterStrike (CS) team, Lunatic-Hai, revealed why Korea is so obsessed with PC gaming and StarCraft and don’t give a damn to video game consoles. An interesting read for inspiring pro-gamers.
Well it’s the same everywhere. When we first started off our parents naturally said things like: “Why don’t you do normal sports?” Some even go to extremes like hiding computers or throwing them out of windows, so yeah we totally understand how struggling pro-gamers must feel in Singapore. After a while though we were featured in magazines and on television, managed to earn some money and went overseas for matches. Through this, the parents eventually realized that we were passionate about what we do, and the attitude towards e-sports became a lot more respectful. Right now they are really supportive, helping us settle things like visa documents and so on.
There you go. It started with the youth and eventually was supported by their parents. Only time will tell if this scenario will also be replicated here in the Philippines.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:33 pm
National Geographic (if memory serves me correct) did a documentary about cyber athletes (korean starcraft players). If you’re good, sponsors will support your cause, but the world of cyber gamers sadly has an early retirement age, I think being young helps in your reaction and micromanagement skills as the documentary mentioned… (saka na rin yung carpal tunnel mo habang tumatanda lolz)
December 24th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I remember that one, that was a part of the Show Real Asia 3 series.
The industry’s not that stable in my opinion, they should focus on getting bachelor degrees rather than playing PC games.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Pro-gamers in Korea make really good money. They even endorse products there (mostly computer related products, and clothes). You would see their billboards, posters, stickers everywhere. And they have their fans who patronize those products.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
hmmm…being young huh ? how about the gaming adult who has skills in micromanagement ?? Oh sure…..endorse these teens who does nothing but play Counter Strike and Star Craft all day. Just because a boy can be good doesn’t mean a grown man can’t ? I believe there are also a lot of passionate professionals out there who are dying for the chance to be a part of the E-Sports community. There ought to be a match against these young pro-gamers you so highly speak…I mean come on! Carpal Tunnel ?? What makes you think these young assholes don’t experience the same thing ?? An injury is an injury no one is exempted by it. I know a lot of old guys who are also good in CS and SC just ask around.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:57 am
hindi tumatagal ung mga sikat na pro-gamers kahit gano pa sila kasikat, kagaling etc… ambilis kasi magsulputan ng mas maggaling na players na cchallenge at magpapataob sa knila eh… iba parin talaga yung may normal na career. :)
December 26th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I agree with ” tigerkatol’s ” statement. However, have you ever heard
of a pro-gamer named ” Fatal1ty ” ? You can find his life story at this site ” http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/fun.games/04/11/fatal1ty.
profile/index.html “. Anyway, bottom line is I would call this E-sports thing a chance of recognition and opportunity. There was once this guy who told me that ” Recognition of skills does take time and money.” (Which by the way is true) and he also said that ” It is an investment in ourself and could be a pathway to a better job always remember that it takes passion, commitment and the courage to do it.
An average employee can earn about P150,000 to P250,000 a year and it is still wouldn’t be enough considering the fact that family expenses are increasing every year and let’s not forget the harmful effects of inflation. If a guy thinks he has the skills to be a good pro-gamer, then why not do it ? After all a normal career is good but the question would be…Are you content with your career ? Would you rather be stuck in an everyday job that does nothing but the same thing over and over again without any assurance of a promotion or would rather take that risk to be someone better and be happy about it ?
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 am
sounds like a really good job fair enough for them doing It I think anyone would if they had the chance.