My name is Jeff eXtine and I want to welcome you to eXtelevision.com! eXtv started out with the realization that coverage of eSports is the crucial first step towards it’s mainstream acceptance and success. On one hand eXtv is still a very young idea as our first video was produced in December of 2009 and eXtelevision LLC was formed in March of 2010. In our short history we’ve been featured several times on the TeamFortress.com official blog and within the near future will surpass 1 million video views and 5000 subscribers. The enthusiasm shown for eXtv displays the energy and passion of gamers.
Electronic Sports are a reality. Call it competitive gaming if you wish, but the fact remains that certain video games can be played in a competitive format that is a step beyond the traditional player versus computer format. You can compete against others in any game, like Solitaire, Peggle, or Bejeweled, but when a video game allows you to conquer a real opponent through quick reflexes, sharp thinking, and strategical play then it becomes something else.
Throughout my life I’ve been involved with traditional sports as an athlete and as a coach. I love and believe in eSports because I see the parralels with traditional sports and see the benefits eSports provide as a past time. Of course we must all take care of our bodies so that we can live healthy and positive lives, but just because eSports are mostly non-physical doesn’t mean they can’t have a positive impact. The act of playing, being on a team, and being involved with the community can build one’s confidence, social skills, capability for team work, and improve one’s grasp of technological know how. Just like real sports, playing eSports can have a positive impact in somebody’s life. I don’t see why we as a community of gamers cannot have High School eSports teams formed by player/student run groups.
Like all great sports and activities of the world, it comes down to the fans, players, and behind the scene contributors. While the scene is still relatively small with an inability to monetarily provide for top-level players, the long term outlook is very strong.
While our online presence leads to a world wide community of gamers, this nation’s population is extremely large and only growing. There are console gamers, gamers of different ages, and many different genres of PC games, but we all love the same thing: Video games. Competitive video games are the cutting edge of this passion and expanding this scene is only a matter of time and effort.
The possibilities are endless.
