Giant gaming event to hit UK TV: Sky talks CGS
Gamers turning pro aren’t rare anymore, and guys spending lots of time to improve their game are more cool than geeky nowadays. If StarCraft is almost South Korea’s national sport, it’s not impossible for other countries to realize that video games can be good spectator sports. UK broadcasting company took notice, and will now feature the Championship Gaming Series on TV.
Big tourneys have been on TV before, sure. What makes CGS a lot more epic is how the top 20 players will walk away as pro-gamers earning bread by playing games. Still not exciting enough? “Pro-gaming has reached a level of maturity and reach that makes it a natural fit with Sky’s entertainment business,” said Adrian Pilkington, director of Enhanced TV and Games for Sky.
In other words, CGS aims to capture not only current gamers, but also intrigue others that aren’t into gaming yet. Skeptics would say it’s not fun when you’re not playing, but Pilkington has something in mind. He told GamePro in an interview:
People will watch CGS for the same reasons that sports fans like watching football or golf – because they want to watch the best players make the best plays. Pro-gamers have incredible hand-eye coordination that you wouldn’t believe unless you see it. It’s important too that viewers get to know the players and their personalities, so we’ll be following the gamers outside of the games as part of each show.
Sounds like American Idol, much? Apparently not, because no reality show can beat massive competitions on TV where we can see the best plays in FIFA, Dead or Alive, Project Gotham Racing, and even the classic Counter-Strike.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like PS3 games are on, while the Wii is still under consideration. “The online qualifications have been open to anyone with an Xbox or PC,” Pilkington continued.
Via CVG
Gamers turning pro aren’t rare anymore, and guys spending lots of time to improve their game are more cool than geeky nowadays. If StarCraft is almost South Korea’s national sport, it’s not impossible for other countries to realize that video games can be good spectator sports. UK broadcasting company took notice, and will now feature the Championship Gaming Series on TV.
Big tourneys have been on TV before, sure. What makes CGS a lot more epic is how the top 20 players will walk away as pro-gamers earning bread by playing games. Still not exciting enough? “Pro-gaming has reached a level of maturity and reach that makes it a natural fit with Sky’s entertainment business,” said Adrian Pilkington, director of Enhanced TV and Games for Sky.
In other words, CGS aims to capture not only current gamers, but also intrigue others that aren’t into gaming yet. Skeptics would say it’s not fun when you’re not playing, but Pilkington has something in mind. He told GamePro in an interview:
People will watch CGS for the same reasons that sports fans like watching football or golf – because they want to watch the best players make the best plays. Pro-gamers have incredible hand-eye coordination that you wouldn’t believe unless you see it. It’s important too that viewers get to know the players and their personalities, so we’ll be following the gamers outside of the games as part of each show.
Sounds like American Idol, much? Apparently not, because no reality show can beat massive competitions on TV where we can see the best plays in FIFA, Dead or Alive, Project Gotham Racing, and even the classic Counter-Strike.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like PS3 games are on, while the Wii is still under consideration. “The online qualifications have been open to anyone with an Xbox or PC,” Pilkington continued.
Via CVG