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MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: Tugg Speedman on January 20, 2017, 03:28:52 AM

Title: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Tugg Speedman on January 20, 2017, 03:28:52 AM
Will the Big East do this soon?

Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
By MARC TRACYJAN. 19, 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/sports/big-ten-is-entering-a-new-realm-e-sports.html?ref=business

In a recognition of the popularity of e-sports on college campuses, most Big Ten universities will field teams in the multiplayer online game League of Legends and compete in a style resembling conference play, in a partnership with the Big Ten Network.

Besides streaming competitions on the internet, the Big Ten Network will broadcast select games, including the championship in late March, weekly on its cable network, which is available to more than 60 million households nationally.

Riot Games, League of Legends’ creator and publisher, and the Big Ten Network — which is owned by Fox and the Big Ten Conference — announced the partnership Thursday morning in a joint statement. The Big Ten does not sponsor e-sports, which are not official N.C.A.A. sports.

In the first broadcast, on Jan. 30, teams from the Big Ten’s two newest members, Rutgers and Maryland, will face off, according to a Big Ten Network spokesman.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: HouWarrior on January 20, 2017, 07:15:22 AM
Will the Big East do this soon?

Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
By MARC TRACYJAN. 19, 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/sports/big-ten-is-entering-a-new-realm-e-sports.html?ref=business


In the first broadcast, on Jan. 30, teams from the Big Ten’s two newest members, Rutgers and Maryland, will face off, according to a Big Ten Network spokesman.
At long last...I finally understand why Rutgers and Maryland were recruited into the BIG....their students are great e-game players...lol
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: forgetful on January 20, 2017, 09:46:12 AM
Smart move.  Dirt cheap cost wise and increasing popularity amongst targeted audiences for advertising.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: brandx on January 20, 2017, 10:10:15 AM
Computer games are not sports.

What next? Will members of the choir demand to be called athletes? If schools can use this to make money, then go for it. But it has no connection to sport whatsoever.

Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: MU82 on January 20, 2017, 10:35:23 AM
Computer games are not sports.

What next?

NCAA Pokemon Go Championship!
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: rocky_warrior on January 20, 2017, 10:36:18 AM
But it has no connection to sport whatsoever.

Minor quibble, because they can fill arenas full of people watching participants in e-sports.  I know, hard to believe, but a final four like atmosphere.  So it has that connection.

(http://images.clarin.com/al_toque/Recap-Season_CLAVID20151030_0010_34.jpg)

(No I haven't gone, and don't care to, but have coworkers who have gone).
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: GGGG on January 20, 2017, 10:36:59 AM
Computer games are not sports.

What next? Will members of the choir demand to be called athletes? If schools can use this to make money, then go for it. But it has no connection to sport whatsoever.


It's called "e-sports."  Whether or not they should be called that may be interesting, but it is kind of beside the point. 
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Tugg Speedman on January 20, 2017, 10:37:56 AM
Minor quibble, because they can fill arenas full of people watching participants in e-sports.  I know, hard to believe, but a final four like atmosphere.  So it has that connection.

(http://images.clarin.com/al_toque/Recap-Season_CLAVID20151030_0010_34.jpg)

(No I haven't gone, and don't care to, but have coworkers who have gone).

e-sports are huge in South Korea and the top gamers are among the highest paid "athletes" in the country.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: GGGG on January 20, 2017, 10:39:47 AM
A co-workers son attended this back in the fall.

http://www.chicagonow.com/pipeline-chicago/2016/10/league-of-legends-world-championship-at-the-chicago-theatre/
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on January 20, 2017, 11:13:50 AM
Don't understand it but realize it makes money so hats off to them
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: MU82 on January 20, 2017, 11:22:35 AM
I believe R.E.M. is going to break out into "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" any second.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: GGGG on January 20, 2017, 11:29:15 AM
What is fundamentally the difference between buying tickets to watch teams play video games...and a movie...or a sporting event...or a monster truck rally?

It's all entertainment.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on January 20, 2017, 11:41:14 AM
What is fundamentally the difference between buying tickets to watch teams play video games...and a movie...or a sporting event...or a monster truck rally?

It's all entertainment.

I think it's just the next extension of the "golf, NASCAR, bowling, sailing, billiards, insert non mainstream sport" is not a sport argument.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Babybluejeans on January 20, 2017, 12:18:12 PM
I think it's just the next extension of the "golf, NASCAR, bowling, sailing, billiards, insert non mainstream sport" is not a sport argument.

Sailing and NASCAR should never exist within the same clause.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: brandx on January 20, 2017, 01:06:56 PM
Minor quibble, because they can fill arenas full of people watching participants in e-sports.  I know, hard to believe, but a final four like atmosphere.  So it has that connection.

(http://images.clarin.com/al_toque/Recap-Season_CLAVID20151030_0010_34.jpg)

(No I haven't gone, and don't care to, but have coworkers who have gone).

I wasn't questioning the draw that these events are. I have a friend who has traveled around the world for tournaments.

My quibble was when the word sports is involved. Every "game" is not a sport.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: chapman on January 20, 2017, 01:21:40 PM
"Digital athletics"  :P


Getting to be some serious money flowing into this.  I watch a little on Twitch (an Amazon affiliate).  Major events can have tens of thousands of viewers, and even professional players can get 10k+ viewers watching them play from home, which comes with ad/subscription revenue, organizations that sign them to attract sponsors, and invites to competitions.  Has taken off in Europe and Asia even more than the US.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Spotcheck Billy on January 20, 2017, 01:30:02 PM
Sounds like the professional paint-ballers I've known.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on January 20, 2017, 02:03:22 PM
Are they going to form their own E-Conference?
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: RideMyBuycks on January 20, 2017, 03:16:37 PM
You old timers are really going to fall from your walkers when you hear about e-sports PED testing.

http://newatlas.com/video-games-esports-drugs-testing/38629/
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: rocky_warrior on January 20, 2017, 04:30:17 PM
I wasn't questioning the draw that these events are. I have a friend who has traveled around the world for tournaments.

My quibble was when the word sports is involved. Every "game" is not a sport.

Your exact quote was "But it has no connection to sport whatsoever.".  I merely supplied the connection.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: #UnleashSean on January 20, 2017, 05:17:53 PM
Computer games are not sports.

What next? Will members of the choir demand to be called athletes? If schools can use this to make money, then go for it. But it has no connection to sport whatsoever.

I played professionally in counter strike and college basketball. These are just as much sports as the latter.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: #UnleashSean on January 20, 2017, 05:19:52 PM
I think it's just the next extension of the "golf, NASCAR, bowling, sailing, billiards, insert non mainstream sport" is not a sport argument.

Except the only one who beats esports in viewer ship is nascar. Esports is very close to mainstream at this point. Just have to see if it will last.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on January 20, 2017, 07:56:48 PM
Except the only one who beats esports in viewer ship is nascar. Esports is very close to mainstream at this point. Just have to see if it will last.

It will. Go on YouTube one day and just type in "let's play." The people who do that aren't anywhere near professional and get a million views on videos. Like someone said earlier, just a different form of entertainment.
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: 🏀 on January 20, 2017, 08:58:01 PM
Sounds like the professional paint-ballers I've known.

I got paid to play, what's the problem with that?
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on January 21, 2017, 09:17:28 AM
ESPN has been showing poker matches for years...
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Jay Bee on January 21, 2017, 09:19:26 AM
One of my favorite Tweets takes us back to 2010 & @BuycksWorld13, who was about to play Xbox...

"bout to Handle these bOyz rough on the sticks nohomo"
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Spotcheck Billy on January 21, 2017, 10:59:23 AM
I got paid to play, what's the problem with that?

Nothing
Title: Re: Big Ten Universities Entering a New Realm: E-Sports
Post by: Stronghold on January 21, 2017, 02:01:17 PM
People enjoy watching competitions of activities/hobbies they are involved in themselves.  The outdoor channel and it's hunting shows, poker, bass fishing, even cooking competitions are successful comparisons I can think of.