USA Network and Major League Gaming recently announced a deal to televise the pro circuit in the fall. I’m not sure I want to watch other people play games — wouldn’t I rather play myself? Ya, think I would — but one thing that would vastly improve televised gaming: Gambling. They work something out with Vegas or … people that are more local … I’m on board. Which brings me to my latest idea for the MMOG raiding: Gambling. I’d like to see sanctioned in-game gambling on guilds and their scheduled raid targets for the night. Sure, there’s a lot of administration involved, setting odds and policing the whole operation for point shaving, etc., but this would be wildly popular. Some game adds in this feature, I’d be logging in EVERY NIGHT to get in on the action.
3 thoughts on “Improving Televised Gaming”
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Yeah, it’s like golf. Infinitely more fun to play than it is to watch.
Mortgaging the house and gonna put it all on C’Thun. Adds new meaning to the term “FTW”!
TV Gaming has potential, but every show I’ve seen (with the exception of BiTs, in the UK) has been aimed at young teens, presented by adults who don’t have a clue about games. Gaming is tricky in that many different ‘crowds’ enjoy it. The dorm-room EA Sports and GTA player probably won’t want to watch a show about geeky RPGs and Civ 4, and vice versa. From what I’ve seen, though, TV shows about gaming tend to aim at one crowd, and if they do try to take one both they just end up with a show you switch off for half of.
Still, I’m sure music and movies had to take the time to hit their stride when it comes to TV programming.