Boom! Headshot! This phrase is likely one that you’ve never heard at the X-Games before. That, however, is about to change as Gaming is set to become the competition’s newest sport.
Through a recent deal, Major League Gaming (MLG) and ESPN – the organizers behind the X-Games – are about to introduce professional gaming to the masses. And while some are already laying claim to the fact that “gaming is not a sport”, there is no denying how competitive and rule-driven it is.
As for the game? Call of Duty: Ghosts (COD) will be played on the Xbox One. Gamers everywhere are already disputing this decision, but it seems to be a natural step for MLG.
[tweetable alt=”ESPN is bringing @MLG to the mainstream with adding it to @XGames – #SportsBiz”]So with the help of ESPN and the X-Games, MLG is about to equip the “marathon perk” and sprint right into mainstream sports.[/tweetable]
A League of Their Own
Because the X-Games have become a great mix of content that so very well captures generations X and Y, gaming is a natural fit for the competition. For more reasons than one, Major League Gaming has been poised to go mainstream.
MLG has put up a staggering Kill/Death ratio, if you will. Its worldwide growth over the previous four years equates to a %1557 increase in its audience. And no, that isn’t a typo.
MLG: Play itself has nine-million cross-platform tournament members worldwide. This fact alone makes MLG a valuable place for companies looking to target a male audience. These highly engaged fans are 90% male and 50% of them are 16-34 year olds.
This online competitive gaming platform plays host to more than 40 top game titles. From the ever-popular Call of Duty series and the Madden franchise, to the next-generation stunner Titanfall and fan-favorite Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2), MLG: Play has great loadout to take to the battlefield.
Adding to its advertising curb appeal is the simple fact: more than 700,000 online matches are held each month. So it’s no wonder The Worldwide Leader in Sports sought to lock down a deal with MLG. After all, hasn’t ESPN always been at the forefront of sports and entertainment?
Matchmaking Made in Heaven
MLG and the X-Games go together like pairing the Marathon perk with the Combat Knife: mild frustration turns into envy. If you’ve ever played COD online, you know how frustrating it can be to repeatedly get stabbed in the back by the fastest player you’ve ever seen.
Likewise, gamers are mildly frustrated that MLG and ESPN have decided on making Call of Duty: Ghosts and Xbox One the game and platform of choice at the X-Games. Read any discussion board and you will quickly learn that players would rather show off to the public a title like DOTA 2 played on the PC.
But on the contrary, COD and Xbox One make sense. Why? Because a game like Call of Duty helps edge the idea of gaming into the public’s eye.
Any viewer will find the concepts of COD much easier to grasp than a game like DOTA 2. Hardpoint or Capture the Flag; you can simplify the experience much more than that.
And as far as the Xbox One is concerned, the console is more fan-friendly and familiar. Not to mention that a powerhouse console provides both ESPN and MLG with more advertising opportunities.
To put this all in perspective, the X-Games are a total package. Sports, music, and entertainment have always been the building blocks of the competition. By throwing gaming into the mix, the X-Games and MLG have each expanded their audiences.
For instance, Major League Gaming has argued that its 2013 online video consumption and engagement time outdrew NCAA March Madness Live Online. That means ESPN and the X-Games have the potential to instantly acquire viewership from a brand new demographic: Gamers.
On the other side of things, MLG will easily gain the exposure it’s looking for from being part of a competition that provides a key age and gender demographic.
And concerning the whole “sport” argument that seems to be ongoing, if poker is a sport, then gaming can surely fit well into that category. There may not be much in the way of physical activity, but there’s no denying the competitive spirit and mental focus that relies so heavily on great technology.
A League Built on Technology
Every sports league is finding new ways to utilize technology to enhance their sport and deliver a product to the fans. Traditional sports like football, baseball, and racing started with radio and TV, and continued on to the internet trend. Major League Gaming was born and bred on the internet. Online gaming has created itself by leveraging online viewership with the expanding video game industry.
Newer platforms like Playstation 4 and Xbox One are further driving gamers online and allowing them to not only play games online, but to watch live streams of championships held by MLG.
The odd thing is, MLG appears to have “switched sides of the map”, as COD players might say. Because of the league’s online foundation, it’s built an audience in a non-traditional way and is seeking to go mainstream with the X-Games TV presence.
It seems backwards by any traditional standards. MLG isn’t playing the “camping game”, but instead they’re pushing the front lines ahead by connecting multi-platform gamers all over the world. They’re giving gamers air support by creating an engaged online community.
And all of this buildup has led to the league’s public unveiling: the X-Games. While bigger and better game consoles, computers, graphics engines, and internet speeds will continue to drive MLG’s popularity, a step toward more traditional media like TV is the proper step to be taking at this time.
Gamers rejoice. The proper loadout has been selected for the playing field and it’s now your time to shine. Although Call of Duty and Xbox One may not be your first choices, MLG has shown strategy in its first major step toward the mainstream.
So show the public how competitive gaming can be and don’t forget to show some sportsmanship. You can’t use curse words on national television.