DirecTV to broadcast Gaming

[bapenguin]

According to this press release (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=799955&highlight=), DirecTV will begin to broadcast Massive Gaming League events. This quote is hillarious though:

Using new technology that allows for the placement of cameras within an actual videogame, DIRECTV will produce a videogame tournament and cover it as a sporting event, complete with producer, director and technical crew. Stories of the competitors will be told via interviews and features, complemented with coverage of their exploits in actual competition. DIRECTV plans to launch the Massive Gaming League in 2006.
Do you think they actually push a TV camera INTO the video game world? I mean, wow, that's some serious technology right there.
Thanks Gamecloud (http://www.gamecloud.com)

[divinechaos]

Soon enough we'll have an ESPN for video games. Cant wait to see this new "technology" they talk about....

[QueQueg]

Have you ever spectated a Counter Strike match using HLTV? They've already got a pretty good basis for the kind of technology we're talking about here.

[bapenguin]

Have you ever spectated a Counter Strike match using HLTV? They've already got a pretty good basis for the kind of technology we're talking about here.

Right...the point is how DirecTV worded it. they are insinuating that their TV cameras somehow are magically transported into video game worlds.

[Demo_Boy]

I think that Direct TV can be forgiven for their "TV crew in the game world" explanation in light of making it easier for casuals to understand how they are going to make it more interesting to watch than merely a cameraman pointing a camera over the shoulder of one of the players while the reporter says "look he killed someone, look he killed someone else"

[Heretic Machine]

Using new technology that allows for the placement of cameras within an actual videogame, DIRECTV will produce a videogame tournament and cover it as a sporting event, complete with producer, director and technical crew. Stories of the competitors will be told via interviews and features, complemented with coverage of their exploits in actual competition. DIRECTV plans to launch the Massive Gaming League in 2006.

...Fucking stupid shit... Hey, you know they had a camera guy in Mario 64? Is that the same thing?

And for the billionth time, watching other people play games is one of the most boreing things, ever.

[drakkarim]

this is just pathetic, right up there with the "<insert stupid game title> world championship competition".

but i suppose if the kids are that stupid, then milk them for all they're worth.

[phantomhitman]

do i need a value chain tv for this?

[Knite]

And for the billionth time, watching other people play games is one of the most boreing things, ever.

Maybe for you. Personally? I love watching other DoA4 matches while I'm waiting for my turn.

[Mr.Green]

Yeah I tend to agree with Perigon but I guess it depends on the type of game. Sure watching someone play World of Warcraft would be about as exciting as watching paint dry but a game that involves dexterity like Tony Hawk or like Knite said, a fighting game, could be fun. As long as you care for said game.

That beeing said, the closest thing to this I've seen is Arena on G4 and man was that boring crap...

[Ozymandias]

According to this press release (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=799955&highlight=), DirecTV will begin to broadcast Massive Gaming League events. This quote is hillarious though:

Do you think they actually push a TV camera INTO the video game world? I mean, wow, that's some serious technology right there.
Thanks Gamecloud (http://www.gamecloud.com)

Actually, if it's what I'm thinking of, this is somewhat "legit." There's a company out there that's done tech to allow you to basically insert a free-floating virtual camera into different game worlds. Think the spectator mode in Quake, and you'll get the idea - except this can be done for any game that integrates the technology hooks.

Saw some demos years back, and it was sort of cool in a gimmicky way. Sorry - I honestly can't recall the company name, but I'll try to dig it up. But there's a bit more here than doing the Willy Wonka digitizing trick.

[bapenguin]

do i need a value chain tv for this?

Only if it includes a wobulator.

[moron]

I've been wanting this sort of thing for ages.

I'll take well edited coverage of say an uber UT2004 match over Baseball (the world's single most boring sport), Football (American Style, soccer rules) and most other spectator sports besides hockey.

Live machinima is cool.

Cheers

[Stormwatcher]

Dudes, you CAN put a REAL camera inside the games, they digitized people in TRON in 1982!!!! just do the same thing with a TV crew. Duuh...

[captainspankypants]

You stole my Tron comment right out of my brain, damn it.

[if76]

I think there are two different types of people in this world: those who like watching competition and those who would rather be DOING something.

Now I admit there are a lot of inbetweens but I know people who will spend their entire saturday watching college football. They may know the teams and perhaps the coaches but the majority of players are a mystery to them. They don't have anything invested in the game like gamblers or fantasy football players. One of the people I'm refering to is my friend Kate who obviously never played football on a team and probably can't appreciate the game on that level. These people just like watching competitive events.

Then there are people like me. I'd love to get into watching sports and I've tried it many times to fit in. The only time I ever enjoy it is when I have players on my fantasy team. Otherwise I just sit there kindof bored wishing I was doing something. I think this is the reason I got so into videogames and I don't think I'm alone.

It's because of this gamer mentality that I think games as a spectator sport won't work. Clearly the people most likely to watch are gonna be the hardcore gamers that already know the rules of the game their watching. But in my opinion, these people just don't have the mindset to sit still and watch other people play games.

[Kefkataran]

I am pretty happy to hear this. It's exciting seeing the slow but eventual evolution of gaming-as-sporting-event in the US. I hope it picks up well enough.

It's because of this gamer mentality that I think games as a spectator sport won't work. Clearly the people most likely to watch are gonna be the hardcore gamers that already know the rules of the game their watching. But in my opinion, these people just don't have the mindset to sit still and watch other people play games.

I think you're confusing the 'gamer mentality' with your own. The truth is there is no single gamer mentality, and I know plenty of hardcore gamers such as myself who are also very interested in viewing gaming matches, especially among great players. It's a fun way to learn new potential skills, and more than that, if it's broadcast the right way, it can be extremely entertaining. Far more so than normal sport, IMHO.

[Abash Alarmist]

It all depends on how cinematic a game is. A poor example would Resident Evil 4. I have had my girlfriend come over and watch it while I play, not becoming bored because it was presented as a movie rather than your average game. Now, I say poor example because it obviously isn't multiplayer, but perhaps they could get a more cinematic online FPS into the spree(maybe Battlefield 2? I haven't played it before, but it seems somewhat cinematic in its quality)

[Vulture]

Now the problem comes when you union rules dictate a crew for each actual camera. And union scale for those virtual cameramen.

[Tohoya]

If they cover the Guild Wars world championship, I am SO there.

[Stormwatcher]

I LOVE watching games. I love watching good people play. I love watching SC3 and SMBM matches...