Gamers call for tournament TV

By Ian Hardy Click's North America technology correspondent

Televised computer game tournaments are a big draw in Korea, but elsewhere, coverage has so far been non-existent. In the US however, there are growing attempts to turn next generation video games into a bona fide TV spectator sport.

E3 confirmed an appetite for televised gaming tournaments

At last month's E3 video game convention camera crews were everywhere, yet at this type of event most of the coverage centres around reviews, trailers and demos of the software and hardware.

But there was clearly appetite for bigger and better TV events, like tournaments.

Multi-camera viewing is the first big step in bringing tournaments to the small screen.

Spectators demand fast-paced action from almost every possible vantage point.

"When you build a stadium in real life you build little TV booths so you can get all the right angles," said Ankarino Lara, vice president of GameSpot.com.

"They're now saying how do we build those virtual TV booths into video games? That's a challenge because it also increases costs."

Spectator sport

For the first time American media companies are putting together highly focused programming with spectators in mind.

"Now that this becomes a mass market, or a large market, opportunity, we're going to start covering it in a really, really big way on AOL," explained Carter Lipscomb of AOL Games.

"We'll start streaming these events, we'll start hosting these events. So whether you want to be a spectator or a participant, you'll have an opportunity to compete for prizes, for prestige, or the opportunity to see the bigwigs play."

The larger organizations have set up their own leagues to keep everything in-house, and have dramatically upped the championship cash prize payout to six figures.

Players were once fortunate if they got a new graphics card.

Voom Networks, based in Manhattan, recently started Gameplay HD, a channel dedicated to tournament coverage from around the world for a US audience.

With High Definition output and 5.1 surround sound, it is currently the boldest attempt to entice viewers to a yet unproven format.

Mark DeAngelis is in charge and says the lack of a core viewership in the US is historical and cultural.

"In Asia, especially Korea, you usually play games at community spots like cafes, sites specifically set up to give you the ability to get online there.

"So it was a community thing right from the beginning. Here it's been sort of individual and at home, and it wasn't a family thing at the beginning, and the adults didn't really get into it."

Gaming celebs

Jonathan Wendel (aka Fatal1ty) won 2005's World Tour

So what makes gaming so interesting to US TV outlets all of a sudden? In a phrase - next generation graphics. It can be more like watching a movie now.

But it will take a lot more than pretty pictures to keep an audience. America needs to create its own video game stars.

At the moment the most recognizable face is World Champion gamer Jonathan Wendel, or "Fatal1ty" from Missouri.

He realizes his image is becoming increasingly important as a wider audience tunes in.

"I like to look clean cut, or like I'm a hard worker," he said.

"People know that I'm a go-getter, I'm very competitive. I have my look and my style, people know that I'm serious about winning, and I'm serious about business as well."

"The great thing is the personalities are already there, now it's just showing them to the people, doing the feature packages on those guys, getting you to want to root for them, being excited about their wins, seeing their action, understanding their strategy," said Mark DeAngelia.

"The industry as a whole agrees the time is right for tournament television.

"Teams of top class players, knowledgeable commentators and experienced TV producers in the US hope to develop a multi-million dollar business around game play.