Video Games: Why Should They Be Considered Sport? Essay

Introduction

The personal computer's development led to the emergence of a new type of competitive gaming called "eSports." This has brought more attention to the controversial question of whether or not video games should be considered a form of sport. Video games have many similarities to traditional sporting events, such as large audiences, high earnings and the application rigorous strategy and skills. To support their argument for classification of video games as a sport, proponents point to the above similarities. The similarities, however, are not sufficient to make competitive games a sport. Because video games do not require any athletic ability or physical exertion, they should not be considered a form of sport.

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History, Definition and Background

A sport is an activity in which participants compete against one another and follow certain rules. Brookey & Oates (2015). Baronowski and colleagues recently conducted a study. Baronowski et al. (2012) discovered that children are not able to get any physical activity from playing active video games. A tournament featuring college students playing in "Heroes of the Storm" was broadcast by an ESPN cable and satellite television channel. The broadcast was criticized by those who opposed the classification of video gaming as a sport.

Video game opponents argue that TV networks that focus on sports should broadcast only tournaments that involve physical activity (Borg 2015). Organisation is a key feature of traditional sports. The level of expertise of players determines how sports are organized. Video game tournaments, however, are not well-organized (Borg 2015). Video game leagues are characterized by a lack of a strategy for managing players. Fines are the only strategy. Players can also play in international competitions independently and without being part of any league (Borg 2015). Video games are not considered a sport due to the lack of physical exertion. This encourages sedentary lifestyles which are absent in traditional sports.

Video games are not a sport, but a hobby. It's a hobby that people do when they feel bored or need to relax. It is how much physical effort involved that makes a sport or a hobby different from a sport (Cashmore 2010, 2010). Video games are popular hobbies as they don't require physical activity. The World Health Organisation states that sedentary lifestyles can have a negative impact on the health of young people, as they encourage obesity and other diseases. As a way to decrease the prevalence of obesity and diabetes among young children, the organisation recommends that they engage in sport. Video games should not be encouraged as they can lead to sedentary lifestyles and numbness. Before the advent of the personal computer, the primary criteria for success in sports was the level of physical and mental power required to master the activity and achieve excellence (Cashmore 2010). International tournaments are restricted to events that require strength and stamina. The term "eSports" was created in 2008 to describe games that were played with the aid of electronic devices.

Inactivity

Because video games do not require physical activity, they should not be considered a form of sport (Brookey and Oates 2015). Online multiplayer games require a lot of skill, strategy, and training. Mental exertion is not the same as physical exertion. Video games only require mental exertion, while traditional sports require both mental as well as physical exertion (Berger 2002). Video games lack physical exertion, which makes them unfit to be considered a sport. Video games are slowly becoming the most popular pastime activity for both young and old (Vorderer, Bryant 2012).

They are not considered a sport, even though there are similarities to traditional sports. Sports can be beneficial as they improve physical fitness, weight loss, strength, and encourage healthy eating habits. Video games do not provide these benefits. Research has shown that playing video games does not make you stronger or more healthy (Baronowski and colleagues, 2012). Both video games and traditional sports require a lot of strategy, commitment, training, and mental acuity (Berger 2002). Video games are not eligible for the sport status because they do not get enough physical activity. It takes effort, time, and energy to master a sport such as basketball or football (Brookey & Otte, 2015).

Inadequacy in Athletic Ability

People don't understand that video games are not considered a sport due to the lack of physical exertion. They also fail to realize that they can be used as a way of exercising. Tournament participation does not require players to have any athletic ability. Traditional sports like football, basketball and tennis require a lot of dedication and training (Cashmore 2010, 2010). Intensive physical training and mental conditioning are key to great athletic ability. It doesn't require any athletic ability to play video games. Only the fingers are required to press buttons on the controller. This is all that is physically involved in video gaming. Vorderer & Bryant (2012) state that the skills required to play video games can only be developed mentally. For a set period of time, athletes can develop their athletic prowess by going through intense sessions of mental and physical conditioning (Cashmore 2010). Athletes often test their limits by suffering life-threatening injuries. The physical and mental exhaustion associated with traditional sport is also a result of exertion. It has many health benefits (Cashmore 2010, 2010).

Video Games: Why Should They Be Considered Sport?

Because video games do not require physical exertion or the application of athletic abilities, they should not be considered a form of sport. Many people believe that video games require the same amount of strategy, training, and mental effort as traditional sports (Young 2016,). According to Consalvo et. al. (2013), video games are just like traditional sports in that they attract large audiences, are competitive and earn professional players a lot. The 2013 League of Legends Championship, for example, attracted over 32 million fans and generated millions of dollars in revenue.

Video games are becoming more popular than ever. This is a sign that video games will become a major part of everyday life. Video games are becoming more popular and people are spending more time learning how to play them. Video games require the same amount of training and specialisation as conventional sports (Newman 2008). Video games can be considered a sport, as they have many similarities to traditional sports. Researchers may suggest that active video games allow players to engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and, as a result, reap the health benefits of exercise (Consalvo and al., 2013). Active video games are more physically demanding than passive games.

Although the evidence may seem convincing, if you examine it more closely you will find that they do not require physical exertion nor application of athletic skill. While many may believe that active video games require moderate to vigorous physical activity, current research shows the contrary. Baronowski and colleagues. (2012) found no relationship between active video games and physical activity. Physical activity is one of the key characteristics of any sport, as we have already mentioned. As technology improves and eSports become a major source of income, video games are becoming more popular (Young 2016, 2016). It is unlikely, however, that video games will be played in any international sporting event.

Conclusion

It is highly debated whether video games should be classified as a sport. Video games tournaments are governed by rules. People compete against one another, and it takes a lot of skill, coordination, and training to be an expert in these types of events. While video game mastery requires a lot of mental effort, dedication, and training they are not eligible for the sport status. My research revealed that both passive and active video games don't require any physical exertion, and that athletic ability is not required. Video games are not considered a sport, as they don't require any athletic ability or physical exertion.

References

Berger, A. A. (2002). Video games: a popular culture phenomenon. New York, NY: Transaction Publishers.

Baronowski, T., Abdelsamad, D., Baronowski, J., O’Connor, T. M., Thompson, D., Barnett, A.,…Chen, T-A. (2012). Impact of an active video game on healthy children’s physical activity. Paediatrics, 129(3), 636-642.

Borg, O. J. (2015). Is computer gaming really sport? Web.

Brookey, R. A., & Oates, T. P. (2015). Playing to win: sports, video games, and the culture of play. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Cashmore, E. (2010). Making sense of sports. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

Consalvo, M., Mitgutsch, K., & Stein, A. (2013). Sports videogames. New York, NY: Routledge.

Newman, J. (2008). Playing with videogames. New York, NY: Routledge

Vorderer, P., & Bryant, J. (2012). Playing video games: motives, responses, and consequences. New York, NY: Routledge.

Young, H. (2016). Seven-figure salaries, sold-out stadiums: is pro video gaming a sport? Web.