Play to win

Posted on 25 Sep 2008 at 10:59

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Martin Korda delves into the world of professional video gaming to discover whether it's just a passing fad or an industry on the cusp of greatness.

Two muscular combatants circle each other warily, watching for an opening amid the din of the crowd. It's a crucial moment, with a place in the final at stake. The favourite, Offbeat Ninja, steps forward confidently and unleashes a lightning-fast kick to his opponent Messy's midriff, folding him in half. Three more blows send him tumbling to the ground as the crowd rises to its feet in anticipation of the knockout blow. As a groggy Messy struggles to stand, his opponent moves in for the kill. Suddenly, Messy explodes into a crippling combination of kicks and punches that sends his unsuspecting opponent reeling. With a final hooked uppercut from Messy, Offbeat Ninja crumples into an unconscious heap. The crowd explodes into rapturous applause, as a booming announcement proclaims Messy the winner and cameras zoom in on the victor's beaming face.

This titanic battle isn't your average muscle-bound bout of mixed martial arts fighting. In fact, it couldn't be further from the bloody brutality of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's octagon competition or the razzmatazz of the giant US wrestling entertainment brands such as WWE and TNA. This is the Championship Gaming Series, the world's most prestigious and lucrative professional video gaming league, which pits teams of elite gamers from across the globe in an internationally televised annual contest of reflexes, nerve and hand-eye coordination. The victorious team walks away with a five-foot trophy and $500,000 in prize money.

Based in Los Angeles, the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) is a joint venture run by BSkyB, DIRECTV and STAR, in which teams of 10 players from the US, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia compete to determine the best collection of gamers on the planet. Backed by massive sponsorship from internationally recognised brands such as Mountain Dew, Creative, Xbox 360 and Dell, the CGS is the most lucrative and high-profile global competition in the rapidly expanding industry of professional video gaming, with its broadcasts reaching 400 million viewers worldwide. Colourful commentators, MTV-style coverage and a focus on the personalities of the competitors (all of whom compete under pseudonyms such as RattlesnK and Picaso) have helped propel the Series to the forefront of professional gaming.

Despite such global exposure, pro gaming is still struggling to break into the mainstream and cast off the image of socially awkward overweight teenagers huddled in front of computer monitors in dark, stinking rooms. Tournaments such as the CGS are the industry's attempts to distance itself from this stigma. And with the competition mooted to become an Olympic event (trials at this year's Beijing games are set to determine the viability of video gaming at the Olympics), it can only be a matter of time before professional gaming gains the respect its highly skilled competitors demand.

Practice makes perfect

Top professional gamers are every bit as committed as the most dedicated athlete. They can clock up between four and 10 hours of practice a day to attain the highest level of excellence, as well as adhering to strict sleeping and eating guidelines to ensure peak performance. Contrary to popular opinion, practice sessions aren't confined to hours of gaming entertainment. Just as a javelin thrower may have to spend countless hours in the gym to improve their throwing distances, pro gamers often dedicate long hours to repetitive drills to hone their gaming skills.