Can Video Games Become the Next Great Spectator Sport? | Idea Channel | PBS Digital Studios
As our
South Korean friends can confirm, video games can most definitely be a spectator sport. But will they ever catch on in a huge way in the good ol'
U.S. of A? Well, pro leagues already exist, but to know if they'll ever reach the levels of
March Madness and
Superbowl Sunday, we need to take a closer look at traditional sports spectatorship to figure out the
REAL reason we watch.
It's more than just winning and losing: there are characters, rivalries, histories, and a host of other background information that coalesce into an AMAZING story, and we're dying to know the ending. Could eSports ever achieve this level of storytelling?
Watch the episode to find out!
Special Thanks to Mr. AJ Mazur / HatPerson for assisting greatly with research on this episode.
Check out some awesome eSports
Leagues featured in this episode!
Major League Gaming:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MajorLeagueGaming
IGN Pro League:
http://www.youtube.com/user/IGNProLeague
Further
Reading Links:
Jason Johnson Kill Screen Article:
http://killscreendaily.com/articles/articles/pro-gaming/
Is
Math Real on BoingBoing:
http://boingboing.net/
2013/06/22/is-math-real
.html
Numberphile - Is it Math or
Maths?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbZCECvoaTA
Extra Credits -
Zombies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohC10rUuuF4
Idea Channel IRC!
http://bit.ly/138EHBh
Tweets of the
Week:
https://twitter.com/lidowatts/status/347811988501585921
https://twitter.com/twptwit/status/349230246572199937
Music:
"
Europe" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
"
Carry on
Carillon" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
"
Bouncy Castle" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
":P" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
Level 5:
Room for the
Homeless
http://www.jamendo.com/en/
list/a101325/level-5
Chiptune - Kenzalol
https://soundcloud.com/chiptune/kenzalol
Pocaille
https://soundcloud.com/pocaille/tachyon-pulses
Binarpilot
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/661417/geeks
"
Squarehead" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
Clockwork -
Titan (geometry remix)
https://soundcloud.com/wompworthy/clockwork-titan-geometry-remix
Let us know what sorts of crazy ideas you have, about this episode and otherwise:
Tweet at us! @pbsideachannel (yes, the longest twitter username ever)
Email us! pbsideachannel [at] gmail [dot] com
Idea Channel
Facebook!
http://Facebook.com/pbsideachannel
Hosted by
Mike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta)
Made by Kornhaber
Brown (http://www.kornhaberbrown.com)
Want some more Idea Channel?
Here's
Last Week's episode: "Why Do
We Love Zombies?" http://youtu.be/RSoIDJCY3r8
Want another one? Here ya go: "Is
The Universe A
Computer?" http://youtu.be/ws3XQo9MTA0
Here's Some More: "Is Math A
Feature of The Universe or a Feature of
Human Creation? http://youtu.be/TbNymweHW4E