Competitive gaming for cash, would you do it? If so, how often?

[Nyte]

So I'm curious about the direction that the gaming industry and its user-base is heading towards. Video games have always been on the cusp of "acceptable activity" and "waste of time". But in the last decade or so, gaming competitions and tournaments where players win cash have been more rampant. Even more so, gaming for cash at friends places have been all-too-common (I like to call this "house gaming" similar to "house poker"). I can't count the number of times I've wagered a few bucks at a friends place on a best 2 out of 3 match in Super Smash Bros Brawl or Streetfighter IV or whatever.

Because this activity is becoming more common these days, I'd like to know from you guys (clearly gamers) how likely you are to play games for cash (knowing that you could lose your entry fee). If you are willing to play it, how much money would you drop on a single match and how often would you play it. Playing "BIG" would mean entry fees of $10 or more. Playing "SMALL" would mean less than $10. Psychologically speaking of course, if you won your match and some cash, you are most likely going to play again in the near future.

ASSUMPTIONS:
- Assume that this is all regulated online (and not at some local tournament place) meaning you could play in the comfort of your own home.
- Assume this applies to all types of games (console, PC, mobile phone). Yes, even small time indie games like Dungeon Defenders and "older" games like Chess.
- Assume you pay the entry fee online with PayPal or something similar.
- Assume this tournament service was built into each of the games you played so you don't have to do anything outside of the game to set it up.
- Assume these aren't games of chance like BlackJack/Roulette (ie. gambling games) and these are true skill video games like FPS, RTS, puzzle, etc.

Just mentioning another very likely scenario...
You're walking down the street to your nearest coffee shop. You're waiting for your order to come out (which takes 5 mins). During that time, you take out your phone and launch some mobile app game. Your coffee costs $2 and you're thinking to yourself "hmm, I'm gonna setup a $2 challenge" in the game you launched (let's say its some futuristic version of Angry Birds). Someone joins your game, within a few mins you win and get the pool prize in your PayPal account.

It doesn't have to be huge name games like CoD or Halo. It could be ANY game ANY where for ANY type of audience. The current eSports scene is very specific in the games it uses but it fails to address the other half of the market... the casual gamers, the indie gamers, the mobile gamers. There's more to games than just CoD and Halo and Starcraft 2.

[Phusius]

I like this idea, though I am afraid it would be make me go broke. ^^

[Nyte]

Originally Posted by Phusius

I like this idea, though I am afraid it would be make me go broke. ^^

You could always go small like $2, and do it maybe once a week. Imagine going to the coffee shop and whipping out your phone to compete for high score in a match of Angry Birds against a friend.

[Phusius]

I was thinking more like a match of search n destroy hardcore on Modern Warfare 3, each person has to pay $5 to enter, winning team each member gets $10, since its usually 6 vs 6, so $60 pot.

[Nyte]

Originally Posted by Phusius

I was thinking more like a match of search n destroy hardcore on Modern Warfare 3, each person has to pay $5 to enter, winning team each member gets $10, since its usually 6 vs 6, so $60 pot.

That could get addictive real fast lol. I'm assuming if this were ever used, the game developers would cap the amount of money you lose in some time period like $20 a month.

[Phusius]

Originally Posted by Nyte

That could get addictive real fast lol. I'm assuming if this were ever used, the game developers would cap the amount of money you lose in some time period like $20 a month.

Yeah, and that is the great thing about $5 in, Win $10, even if you lose 3 matches, win the 4th, you can keep playing for quite a long time, etc.

While knocking other people out, who end up getting at $20 loss max can no longer enter, so after a few days or weeks, those remaining for that month are having more intense matches, etc.

[Faith[ROG].Anarchy]

Interesting
As a matter fact, I'm trying to go competitive in Dota 2 right now.
Of course I do support this idea, bringing computer games as a REAL sport

[erocker]

I'd play for cash. I wouldn't spend a dime though.

[Nyte]

Originally Posted by erocker

I'd play for cash. I wouldn't spend a dime though.

How would that work? I guess getting recruited for a pro team and playing in the big leagues?

[Nyte]

Some articles of interest:

Professional baseball player states the future of "sports" is competitive video gaming:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/g...k-ops/1615999/

Research article supporting the idea that esports (competitive video games) is the future:
http://t.co/AsbIsWYN

And another one:
http://t.co/X6M2Ngbw

[1nf3rn0x]

There is already something like this. I haven;t delved into it much but when MW2 was released and always heard the term CG. I looked into it and it cyber games. Cyber gaming australia had tables and competitions for mw2 and so on. I wouldn't bother with it though, the money is minimal.

[Nyte]

It wouldn't be just for MW2 and other hugely popular shooters. I'm talking moreso about the smaller indie games and even the casual games.

I mean, how many folks on the transit/bus play mobile games like chess or scrabble? At least several hundred thousand in the world at any given point. How many of those are willing to play for a few bucks? I'm guessing more than 1.

[blibba]

Originally Posted by Faith[ROG].Anarchy

Of course I do support this idea, bringing computer games as a REAL sport

Esports are already a big thing, but the "poker tournament" format less so. Cash prizes are normally provided by sponsors. Just like in most more conventional sports.

[FreedomEclipse]

Hmmm Id do it, but it depends what the game is. Id make small bets probably 2 or 3 times a week. my old man puts down no more than 50p-£1 on horse racing probably once every two weeks. Occasionally he gets £20-30 back. not big money by any means but its still a win. He doesnt play for big money. on the rare occasion he does go higher though - He put £8 down and got something like £70-80 back but he was super confident about that one.

gambling can get seriously addictive (im addicted to the one arm bandits in BL2) and you need to know when is enough is enough. Just because you dont win a ton of money each time doesnt make it any less of a win.

[Nyte]

Originally Posted by FreedomEclipse

Hmmm Id do it, but it depends what the game is. Id make small bets probably 2 or 3 times a week. my old man puts down no more than 50p-£1 on horse racing probably once every two weeks. Occasionally he gets £20-30 back. not big money by any means but its still a win. He doesnt play for big money. on the rare occasion he does go higher though - He put £8 down and got something like £70-80 back but he was super confident about that one.

gambling can get seriously addictive (im addicted to the one arm bandits in BL2) and you need to know when is enough is enough. Just because you dont win a ton of money each time doesnt make it any less of a win.

What you're referring to though is a game of chance. Games of skill have a different audience where people are generally only willing to play if they have trained for it (or have confidence in their abilities).

For instance, I would consider myself pretty good at Heroes of Newerth and would instantly put down $5 against anyone. However, I would not put the same amount on Roulette.

[silkstone]

problem i see with this idea is hacks. With games being on an individuals computer, this idea wouldn;t work. If cloud gaming is ever fully developed it would be an interesting idea.

[Nyte]

Originally Posted by silkstone

problem i see with this idea is hacks. With games being on an individuals computer, this idea wouldn;t work. If cloud gaming is ever fully developed it would be an interesting idea.

Not just computers though. Mobile apps and consoles would be the other market and those are very tough to hack.

[BlackOmega]

Originally Posted by silkstone

problem i see with this idea is hacks. With games being on an individuals computer, this idea wouldn;t work. If cloud gaming is ever fully developed it would be an interesting idea.

^This would be my only apprehension.

I've played competitively before (CS:S - CAL, OGL) and have played against people that have been BLATANTLY hacking. When you get to that level it's very high stakes. And if you thought that someone was cheating, you could file a complaint and the persons demo would be reviewed. The biggest flaw that I saw with it was that the opposing team couldn't also review their opponents demo. If they have nothing to hide then the other team should have every right to review it as well.

This idea is from certain types of clubman racing (in real life). If a competitor thought that someone was cheating, like for instance they modified their engine against regulations, they could have the engine inspected, and could even inspect the engine themselves. And another thing, they could outright buy the competitors engine.

So really the only way to somewhat insure that there isn't hacking would be at LAN type events where the computers provided aren't peoples personal machines. And then have them swap stations every match.

[stinger608]

I would probably play "Small" once in awhile. Its a pretty good idea.


It would have been great back in the UT 2K3/2K4 days when there was a bunch of us playing the DeathBall mod. :-)

[tacosRcool]

Turning leisure into work is not fun. Sure it sounds good but think about it, if you did would you ever play video games for "fun" anymore?

[silkstone]

Originally Posted by Nyte

Not just computers though. Mobile apps and consoles would be the other market and those are very tough to hack.

As soon as money is involved people will figure a way to hack or modify games and programs. If it were a mobile app though, the data usage would probably be small enough for you to be able to run the game on a central server, kind of like the casinos do.

[ThE_MaD_ShOt]

I wouldn't pay because I suck to much.

[Flibolito]

Kinda ruined Diablo 3 for alot of people although im slowly getting back into the game.

[Nyte]

Originally Posted by silkstone

As soon as money is involved people will figure a way to hack or modify games and programs. If it were a mobile app though, the data usage would probably be small enough for you to be able to run the game on a central server, kind of like the casinos do.

That's the biggest concern but I wonder how much that would affect the grand scheme of things.

Think of things like softball tournaments... how often do those people "dope" drugs to play better? I'd think it's a very small percentage.

Considering money is involved now, it's also a deterrent for people to actually hack because now they are facing criminal prosecution. Whereas in regular gaming with no cash, there is no repercussion so hackers are free to do anything to their desires.

[Faith[ROG].Anarchy]

Originally Posted by blibba

Esports are already a big thing, but the "poker tournament" format less so. Cash prizes are normally provided by sponsors. Just like in most more conventional sports.

Yeah yeah I agree with that one.