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ESPN to stream The International

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Real sport

You know how we keep debating if eSports is a “real” sport and when will it get noticed/appreciated by a mainstream audience? Well, much like the 4th of July hotdog eating competition and World Series of Poker, eSports has finally gotten the attention it deserves, from ESPN.

The International is huge, and perhaps it’s because of the giant prize pool, or maybe because of the enormous user interaction thanks to the Compendium, but ESPN has decided to get involved. They are even getting an appearance from Gabe Newell as part of the build up to the final.

ESPN3 (which is available online through the WatchESPN app) will show all the matches along with interviews and analysis. I wonder who they are bringing on board for the event; I doubt that ESPN has eSports analysts on hand, so they will have had to bring on some special talent just for this broadcast. I would wager that depending on the success of this stream, they might start showing even more eSports.

Now can we stop discussing if eSports is real enough? Can we just accept that it’s a sport, that people play and watch it? We have enormous prize pools, tons of spectators, talented professionals and now some mainstream coverage – what more do we need before we just accept the legitimacy of eSports?

How are you planning to watch The International? Will you be tuning in via twitch, or through your DotaTV? Have you organized a viewing party with friends considering how late these things run? What kind of drinking games should we create for these events – every time someone Skywrath or Razor get banned you need to do a shot. Should be fun!

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Last Updated: July 18, 2014

7 Comments

  1. James

    July 18, 2014 at 22:53

    No its not a sport

    Reply

  2. Jason

    July 18, 2014 at 23:26

    Its a game not a sport. Like poker. A sport has one or more balls and/or requires moving around (in the physical sense). And don’t think I’m judging. I play sport and love gaming. Just not the same thing.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      July 19, 2014 at 00:32

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      July 19, 2014 at 09:41

      https://www.google.co.za/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=xiDKU_qJGqrd8gfT-oCABQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=definition+sport

      “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”

      Are there any physical exertion in Dota? I think so.

      Reply

    • MakeItLegal

      July 21, 2014 at 08:40

      Wow , open your eyes man watch one of the group stages of a dota 2 match , they have 4 people commenting , pre and post game , 2 during. Game , they have 4 different casts , it’s mad to see how big it is , as for being physical ? They have to move the mouse , as for balls ? They all guys

      Lol

      Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      July 21, 2014 at 08:42

      In that aspect running in the Olympics isn’t a “sport” and neither is Skeet Shooting, or Bobsledding, or Skateboarding… I could go on for a while on this topic.

      People playing games do move around… it’s mostly just their hands though.

      Reply

  3. MakeItLegal

    July 21, 2014 at 08:38

    Yea been watching like crazy , I ve put in 36 hours alone into dota 2 this past week, my gaming heroin

    Reply

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