Poll: Gaming Television

[Zanez]

In South Korea there are at least two television networks devoted to 24 hour gaming interest, and at least one television network dedicated entirely to a single game, Starcraft.

In North America there is no such channel. Gaming and all its facets are crammed into tiny programs on children's networks, and the occasional tournament on EA sports games on Sports Channels, or Spike TV. Pay-per-view for events such as Blizzcon proved that there is certainly a demand for such a network. And yet, in North America we have access to a network devoted to 24 hour Poker.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why a gaming network has not been approved for television. The number of gamers in North America is huge, and they are a large television audience. The capacity for eSports' popularity seems to be self evident for me. The success of World of Warcraft (popularity of raids, celebrities such as Ensidia, arena spectator demands), Call of Duty, Starcraft in Korea and Halo are just a few examples of games that have become a part of modern society very quickly.

Blizzard and other such developers are working harder and harder to break into, and to popularize the eSport. Developments in Starcraft 2, and World of Warcraft are designed for the sole intention of getting publicized.

I believe that a Gaming Network would be a lucrative investment, and a possibility in the near future.

Do you believe that a 24 hour gaming television network would be a good idea in North America?
What kind of programs do you think would be a good idea to fill up the time slots?
Do you think this would have a strong impact on gaming or society as a whole?

 

[DragonChi]

i dont have too much time right now to give a full out answer.

but i can say initially, i would love to have a gaming television network. full on.
I stopped watching TV years ago for a number of reasons. commercials for one. a network like that would give me motivation to watch TV again.

 

[Zanez]

A few programs that would be interesting that I came up with:
Escapist Magazine could put a weekly show that includes things such as Zero Punctuation, Doomsday Arcade, Game and Movie reviews and other such things.

Starcraft 2 Tournaments like those in Korea. If it is popularized enough, then North American gamers may be able to catch up in skill with the Koreans! Jaedong and Boxer made more than enough money to retire on before they were 18 years old.

18 man Civilization 4 Tournaments. Everyone chip in a thousand bucks, the winner takes all. $18,000 pot.

Super Smash Bro's Melee tournies!

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

I'd definitely watch it, but I seriously doubt something like that could make much of a profit, if any.

 

[cyber_andyy]

Indeed, Sky 1 used to do a 1hour gaming show, but i was axed pretty quickly, there just isnt enough people watching these things...yet.

That said, Bravo do quite a succesful show.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Because...watching someone PLAY a game is EXTREMELY boring. Sure, its pretty cool for like about 20 minutes, but then it starts to wear thin.

 

[Zanez]

Because...watching someone PLAY a game is EXTREMELY boring. Sure, its pretty cool for like about 20 minutes, but then it starts to wear thin.

Certainly that would be a difficulty worth attempting to overcome. Have you ever watched the 24 hour poker or golf network? Those both exist and there is a large audience there. I very much enjoy playing golf, but I have never watched it on TV. I have seen poker on TV, and frankly it bores the hell out of me. They just sit there shuffling cards around the table. I would rather watch someone play a marathon of Civilization, than play 5 hands of poker.

But the important thing is that they understand it would be boring to watch, and take steps to overcome that. They don't fixate the camera on a single golfer and follow him. They follow multiple golfers, or multiple tournaments at once.

Hockey, Football, and such are ultimately the same as gaming. Whether they are interesting to watch or not is a matter of opinion. Really, you are watching someone else have fun, and play a game that you could play yourself.
The enjoyment that comes from watching sports on television is from watching the athletics, the skill, the finesse and the teamwork of the professionals. Instead of watching Hockey on TV, why don't you go outside and play it yourself? Because the professionals are so much better than me, and I would like to watch their finely tuned skills that earn them millions of dollars a season.
Whats the difference between sports on TV and games on TV?

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Because...watching someone PLAY a game is EXTREMELY boring. Sure, its pretty cool for like about 20 minutes, but then it starts to wear thin.

Certainly that would be a difficulty worth attempting to overcome. Have you ever watched the 24 hour poker or golf network? Those both exist and there is a large audience there. I very much enjoy playing golf, but I have never watched it on TV. I have seen poker on TV, and frankly it bores the hell out of me. They just sit there shuffling cards around the table. I would rather watch someone play a marathon of Civilization, than play 5 hands of poker.

But the important thing is that they understand it would be boring to watch, and take steps to overcome that. They don't fixate the camera on a single golfer and follow him. They follow multiple golfers, or multiple tournaments at once.

Hockey, Football, and such are ultimately the same as gaming. Whether they are interesting to watch or not is a matter of opinion. Really, you are watching someone else have fun, and play a game that you could play yourself.
The enjoyment that comes from watching sports on television is from watching the athletics, the skill, the finesse and the teamwork of the professionals. Instead of watching Hockey on TV, why don't you go outside and play it yourself? Because the professionals are so much better than me, and I would like to watch their finely tuned skills that earn them millions of dollars a season.
Whats the difference between sports on TV and games on TV?

Because they are professionals. There amazing at what they do, something that people like us will probably never achieve. That is what I assume is where the novelty lies. Gaming is different, if you play the same game over and over long enough, you will become god at it.

Athletics are different. Humans have different bodies to work with, and you can't just switch with someone better. So yes, at least in my honest opinion, games and sports ARE different.

 

[Zanez]

Because...watching someone PLAY a game is EXTREMELY boring. Sure, its pretty cool for like about 20 minutes, but then it starts to wear thin.

Certainly that would be a difficulty worth attempting to overcome. Have you ever watched the 24 hour poker or golf network? Those both exist and there is a large audience there. I very much enjoy playing golf, but I have never watched it on TV. I have seen poker on TV, and frankly it bores the hell out of me. They just sit there shuffling cards around the table. I would rather watch someone play a marathon of Civilization, than play 5 hands of poker.

But the important thing is that they understand it would be boring to watch, and take steps to overcome that. They don't fixate the camera on a single golfer and follow him. They follow multiple golfers, or multiple tournaments at once.

Hockey, Football, and such are ultimately the same as gaming. Whether they are interesting to watch or not is a matter of opinion. Really, you are watching someone else have fun, and play a game that you could play yourself.
The enjoyment that comes from watching sports on television is from watching the athletics, the skill, the finesse and the teamwork of the professionals. Instead of watching Hockey on TV, why don't you go outside and play it yourself? Because the professionals are so much better than me, and I would like to watch their finely tuned skills that earn them millions of dollars a season.
Whats the difference between sports on TV and games on TV?

Because they are professionals. There amazing at what they do, something that people like us will probably never achieve. That is what I assume is where the novelty lies. Gaming is different, if you play the same game over and over long enough, you will become god at it.

Athletics are different. Humans have different bodies to work with, and you can't just switch with someone better. So yes, at least in my honest opinion, games and sports ARE different.

I agree with you for the most part. I urge you to go watch some Professional Korean League Starcraft. I can safely say, that no matter how long and how hard I practice, I will never ever be as good as they are. How does one account for that? Seems to be the same deal as professional sports. I cant switch brains with them, any more than i can switch bodies with a sports star.
I think that if gaming were to become a professional and respected endeavor, then gaming would change. Developers would develop games designed for professional gaming. Sure there are games out there now that have a low skill threshold, a skill cap, or other such things, but then there are games that have a large amount of strategy and a huge learning curve or skill cap.

Obviously I am speaking hypothetically over a long period of time.

 

[khaimera]

What about the G4 network. I can't believe nobody mentioned it yet.

But at the same time, who needs this network, thats what the internet is for.

 

[AvsJoe]

I don't watch any of the tech channels that also review video games so I doubt I'd watch a channel dedicated to our hobby either...

...unless Themis Media produces an Escapist TV Show. That I would definitely watch!

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Because...watching someone PLAY a game is EXTREMELY boring. Sure, its pretty cool for like about 20 minutes, but then it starts to wear thin.

Certainly that would be a difficulty worth attempting to overcome. Have you ever watched the 24 hour poker or golf network? Those both exist and there is a large audience there. I very much enjoy playing golf, but I have never watched it on TV. I have seen poker on TV, and frankly it bores the hell out of me. They just sit there shuffling cards around the table. I would rather watch someone play a marathon of Civilization, than play 5 hands of poker.

But the important thing is that they understand it would be boring to watch, and take steps to overcome that. They don't fixate the camera on a single golfer and follow him. They follow multiple golfers, or multiple tournaments at once.

Hockey, Football, and such are ultimately the same as gaming. Whether they are interesting to watch or not is a matter of opinion. Really, you are watching someone else have fun, and play a game that you could play yourself.
The enjoyment that comes from watching sports on television is from watching the athletics, the skill, the finesse and the teamwork of the professionals. Instead of watching Hockey on TV, why don't you go outside and play it yourself? Because the professionals are so much better than me, and I would like to watch their finely tuned skills that earn them millions of dollars a season.
Whats the difference between sports on TV and games on TV?

Because they are professionals. There amazing at what they do, something that people like us will probably never achieve. That is what I assume is where the novelty lies. Gaming is different, if you play the same game over and over long enough, you will become god at it.

Athletics are different. Humans have different bodies to work with, and you can't just switch with someone better. So yes, at least in my honest opinion, games and sports ARE different.

I agree with you for the most part. I urge you to go watch some Professional Korean League Starcraft. I can safely say, that no matter how long and how hard I practice, I will never ever be as good as they are. How does one account for that? Seems to be the same deal as professional sports. I cant switch brains with them, any more than i can switch bodies with a sports star.
I think that if gaming were to become a professional and respected endeavor, then gaming would change. Developers would develop games designed for professional gaming. Sure there are games out there now that have a low skill threshold, a skill cap, or other such things, but then there are games that have a large amount of strategy and a huge learning curve or skill cap.

Obviously I am speaking hypothetically over a long period of time.

In actuality, you can learn to play exactly like them. No matter how good a person is, there is a probability that you could eventually be better ( But I do have to agree with you. it would seem HIGHLY unlikely). Sports on the underhand depend on how much physical abuse the body can take. You can't just get stronger or make your heart beat more blood, but you can at least learn newer and better strategies to excel your capabilities in said game.

Also, there are games that are made for professionals. Fighting games that have been out for decades are still being played today as sports. Popular shooters like Halo or Call of Duty have tournaments in which you can win millions of dollars. SO I think professional gaming has already been established.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

What about the G4 network. I can't believe nobody mentioned it yet.

But at the same time, who needs this network, thats what the internet is for.

Since when did G$ talk about games? Have you seen their line-up? Its Spike TV-esque bullshit.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I don't watch TV now, so what would be the point?

 

[BeeRye]

I think the issue is that really gamers would rather be playing games than watching games for the most part. Also, gaming really lies within the internet realm. When you want to watch starcraft there are usually streams, source tv's for Counterstrike, etc., then demos uploaded after games. I know that personally I would much rather watch games via an internet stream than a dedicated tv channel.

I think that if gaming were to become a professional and respected endeavor, then gaming would change. Developers would develop games designed for professional gaming. Sure there are games out there now that have a low skill threshold, a skill cap, or other such things, but then there are games that have a large amount of strategy and a huge learning curve or skill cap.

I think this is a long way off myself. The thing about games that have a "professional" element to them is that they are horribly difficult when you get to any sort of decent level of the game. Making a true "professional" game might sell that game to a few thousand really hardcore players, but this isn't going to make the developer bucketloads of money in the way that a game targeted at a wider audience is. You just have to look at Counter Strike Source. For years there have been bugs in the game that the top end players have been lobbying valve to have fixed, but valve haven't patched the game in years, and show no sign in doing so as they still sell a hell of a lot of copies of the game even still.

I'm not saying that it can't happen, but I really think I'll be far too old for gaming if it eventually does.

 

[khaimera]

What about the G4 network. I can't believe nobody mentioned it yet.

But at the same time, who needs this network, thats what the internet is for.

Since when did G$ talk about games? Have you seen their line-up? Its Spike TV-esque bullshit.

I agree, but at least they have xplay most nights of the week. I used to like that network until they decided to show nothing but marathons of cops and cheaters. It really has gone downhill.

 

[demoman_chaos]

I may turn it on every now and then, but I probably wouldn't watch it too much.
Though I do spend a decent chunk of time watching gameplay vids and what not online, I'd only watch if it was about games I am interested it. Sadly, most mainstream games are boring to me (MW2, Halo 3, KZ2, etc.). And most of what would probably be shown is mainstream stuff like that.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

A few programs that would be interesting that I came up with:
Escapist Magazine could put a weekly show that includes things such as Zero Punctuation, Doomsday Arcade, Game and Movie reviews and other such things.

I think you overstimate the importance of this website to gaming, I doubt it would get it's own show.

And I would neither watch it nor would it make money (not least because with 24 hour gaming, where're the adverts gonna go?)

 

[omega 616]

Because...watching someone PLAY a game is EXTREMELY boring. Sure, its pretty cool for like about 20 minutes, but then it starts to wear thin.

Certainly that would be a difficulty worth attempting to overcome. Have you ever watched the 24 hour poker or golf network? Those both exist and there is a large audience there. I very much enjoy playing golf, but I have never watched it on TV. I have seen poker on TV, and frankly it bores the hell out of me. They just sit there shuffling cards around the table. I would rather watch someone play a marathon of Civilization, than play 5 hands of poker.

Don't forget (multiple) 24 news channels, 24 hour roulette, (multiple) 24 hour sport, (multiple) 24 hour shopping (including jewelry only channels), I live in england and have a Russian news channel and teachers channel and thats just free view.

How many people do you think watch them things constantly? There viewer base must be tiny.

Surely there would be more viewers for games, it wouldn't just be watching people play games, it could be reviews etc.

 

[BENZOOKA]

If it would include lots of high class matches with commentary and interviews. The only way to find out is to try. I suppose there are many channels that are devoted to things that aren't that popular.