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General discussionIs computer gaming really sport?(105 posts)(105 posts)
(105 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted January 15, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSVBhlGoq4Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9BZ6QOvm6s
Posted January 15, 2015
It completely depends on the interface.

Playing with the Cyberith Virtualizer or the Virtuix Omni in combination with some motion controller can be sport, yes.
Posted January 15, 2015
Anybody who says no or even laughs at the idea has no clue what this term even means.
Posted January 15, 2015
As obvious from the replies in this thread, it depends on how you define "sport".

I think it's fine to refer to any competitive activity based on skill as sport. Certainly there are games that have been referred to as sport, such as go, chess, bridge and poker. If we define it that way, then gaming is in, TV trivia shows are out, and embroidery can be in provided objective criteria for determining a winner is provided. Oh, and "hardcore workouts" are also out, though I hope that post was satire.
Posted January 15, 2015
It can't be a sport.
Everyone knows from common sense and good upbringing that scrawny nerds can't put effort into training for a team or individual activity that involves some sort of competitive spirit.

Oh wait.
Posted January 15, 2015
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Fenixp: As long as checss can be a sport...
chicks? :s
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Elenarie: Anybody who says no or even laughs at the idea has no clue what this term even means.
The term can mean a bunch of things.
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ShadowWulfe: It can't be a sport.
Everyone knows from common sense and good upbringing that scrawny nerds can't put effort into training for a team or individual activity that involves some sort of competitive spirit.

Oh wait.
But do they marry top models and porn stars?
Post edited January 15, 2015 by realkman666
Posted January 15, 2015
No, PC gaming is not a sport. And it really doesn't need to be. Enjoying and being good at a sport is no nobler then enjoying and being good at gaming. Chess is a game, Starcraft is a game and Carcassonne is a game. I am not an amateur athlete, I'm just someone who enjoys playing games. I like stories and experiences. Wanting to win does not make it a sport.
Posted January 15, 2015
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realkman666: chicks? :s
... I've got a suggestion for a new Olympic sport.
Posted January 15, 2015
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Voight-Kampff: Wanting to win does not make it a sport.
If it was, trolling and internet aguing would be the biggest sport of our time.
Posted January 15, 2015
No.

To be fair though, I don't consider darts or golf to be anything more than pastimes either. I suppose if those can be considered professional sports then so can certain computer games where skill and / or strategy are integral. So while my answer remains unchanged, it's only fair to put it in the context of being from someone who'd see the number of recognized sports reduced, not increased.
Posted January 15, 2015
More like competitive activity.
Posted January 16, 2015
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InkPanther: Does it really matter?

But there are many similarities that were pointed out in "The case FOR". "The case AGAINST" boils down to "you don't get physically exhausted" which isn't compelling, especially that there already are "sports" not meeting this requirement.
That pretty much sums it.


The follow up question is more relevant : If gaming is a sport, then what ?
Or is it just to put the activity in a bigger category ?
And is Archery a sport ? Bowling ? Pool ?

Knowing that videogames can be practiced in a professionnal and/or competitive manner is all there is to know on the subject.
Posted January 16, 2015
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Potzato: And is Archery a sport ?
It certainly is for the targets. Man, those can run!
Posted January 16, 2015
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Maighstir: Wikipedia, while not necessarily the end-all-be-all of knowledge and correctness state that:

The closest to an international agreement on a definition is provided by SportAccord, which is the association for all the largest international sports federations [...], and is therefore the de facto representative of international sport.

SportAccord uses the following criteria, determining that a sport should:

* have an element of competition
* be in no way harmful to any living creature
* not rely on equipment provided by a single supplier
* not rely on any "luck" element specifically designed into the sport

They also recognise that sport can be primarily physical (such as rugby or athletics), primarily mind (such as chess or go), predominantly motorised (such as Formula 1 or powerboating), primarily co-ordination (such as billiard sports), or primarily animal-supported (such as equestrian sport).

There has been an increase in the application of the term "sport" to a wider set of non-physical challenges such as electronic sports, especially due to the large scale of participation and organised competition, but these are not widely recognised by mainstream sports organisations.
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Maighstir: I bolded the bit relevant to computer games, the rest is kept mostly to stoke the fire for people not considering formula1, chess, and horse racing sports.
So according to them hunting and fishing can't be sports as they harm living creatures.
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InkPanther: Does it really matter?

But there are many similarities that were pointed out in "The case FOR". "The case AGAINST" boils down to "you don't get physically exhausted" which isn't compelling, especially that there already are "sports" not meeting this requirement.
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Potzato: That pretty much sums it.

The follow up question is more relevant : If gaming is a sport, then what ?
Or is it just to put the activity in a bigger category ?
And is Archery a sport ? Bowling ? Pool ?

Knowing that videogames can be practiced in a professionnal and/or competitive manner is all there is to know on the subject.
You could say that about all sorts of things though. In fact, I have a hard time thinking of anything that couldn't be a sport if that's all that there is to it. I'd be more willing to consider competitive flag pole sitting to be a sport than computer games.
Post edited January 16, 2015 by hedwards
Posted January 16, 2015
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hedwards: So according to them hunting and fishing can't be sports as they harm living creatures.
According to their criteria, yeah. Unless the Wikipedia contributor has messed those up somehow.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionIs computer gaming really sport?(105 posts)(105 posts)
(105 posts)