Is Gaming Really a Spectator Sport?

njkid1 passed us a link to a GameDaily article on the upcoming DirecTV Championship Game series. There's big prize money at stake, dozens of teams are flocking to the banner of the event, and promoters are talking the event up as something that can't be missed. All of this begs the question: Is competitive gaming a spectator sport? Is the culture of videogaming conducive to mass-market entertainment? Will Counter-Strike matches draw enough of a crowd to maintain advertiser interest at future events? What's your read on this new entry into American gamer culture?

Some of my family certainly thinks so...

[FooAtWFU]

... do you know how annoying it is to have someone looking over your shoulder offering advice you don't need or criticizing your every move? :)

Re:Some of my family certainly thinks so...

[antifoidulus]

Yeah, we have managers at my work too!

Re:Got to have a ball

[stratjakt]

So if I ditch the laser mouse for my old razor boomslang, with mouse ball, it's a sport?

If you can live on a diet of cheezers and dr pepper, let your body atrophy to the point that you cant stand under your own power, and still perform as well, you are not engaged in any sort of sport.