The world of gaming online is ever changing. From being a hobby it has become a competition where money plays a role.
Multiplayer games and tournaments are now offering cash prizes, adding
to the thrill of competing. To participate, a valid credit card or
paypal account is required. And, a player must live in a state or
country that has no laws against online gaming for money. Sites which
promote such activities are: www.worldwinner.com and www.arkadium.com
Gaming leagues are becoming professional and organize competitions
where cash prizes are worth over US$ 100,000 in cash. These events are
seen as business and marketing development opportunities. Hardware
manufacturing giants like Intel sponsor gaming clans and see gaming
world-wide as a profitable avenue for promoting their products.
High-stake gaming competitions are popular, but the real fights occur
behind the scenes, where companies spend millions trying to get their
technology directly into the hands of gamers
Professional gaming has taken the world by storm and, LAN competitions
are high-stake tournaments with a few gamers earning a living just
competing. A professional gamer with a sponsorship plan in place can
earn up to US$ 500,000 per year. Cyberathlete, Professional League,
Gamecaster, Global gaming League, are some of the organizations that
host competitions. The first professional gaming league was set up in
1997 and today the competitions are not just televised but covered by
major publications and newspapers. MTV, CNN,ESPN, USA Network, ABC
World News Today, FOX, WB and others telecast the events live.
Gamers from all walks of life train intensely to become virtual world
champions, winning brings fame, money, as well as recognition. And,
since 2001 The World Cyber Games are held in a different country each
year. The prize in 2004 was worth US$ 400, 000 and competitors played:
FIFA Soccer 2004, Need for Speed, Underground, Star-Craft, Brood War,
Unreal Tournament 2004, Dawn of war, Dead or Alive Ultimate, and Halo 2.
Gaming is serious; it is about quick thinking, intense practice, team
work, interaction with other players, and understanding technology at
its best. Gamers have to be on their toes, keep abreast with new
launches, changes, patches, cheats, and more.
According to online gaming expert Psychologist Professor Mark
Griffiths, “online gaming addiction for a small minority is a real
phenomenon and people suffer the same symptoms as traditional
addictions. They are the types of games that completely engross the
player. They are not games that you can play for 20 minutes and stop.
If you are going to take it seriously, you have to spend time doing it”
That gaming is taken seriously is confirmed, many major colleges
are offering minor as well as major courses in game design, animation,
cognition and gaming, computer music, psychology of play and more. RPI,
the Pratt Institute, University of Colorado, the Art Institute of
Phoenix, the University of Washington, and the University of
Pennsylvania are among those that have programs in computer graphics
and game technology. They are set to become a feeder system for the US$
10 billion a year game industry.
