Pool is dead.

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Well not really but this is how I felt when I saw this in the New York Times.

I guess Vincent was right.

"DR PEPPER plans to announce on Wednesday that, for the first time, it is promoting a professional athlete on bottles that it will distribute nationally. But the shaggy-haired athlete on the label is not a traditional sports star: he?s a 21-year-old who has a three-year, $250,000 contract to play video games."

When did playing video games become a professional "sport" and when did the players become athletes? I guess it was when ESPN started broadcasting video game tournaments. ESPN, where the Spelling Bee is a sport as well.

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/business/media/19adco.html?th&emc=th

Just wait.

In 2013 Barry Behrman will only promote the Virtual Pool US Open and first prize will be $500,000 and there will be 20,000 players and since it will be the internet kids under six will be allowed to play.
 
I play computer games. They take extreme skill to be on top and I respect them immensely just like I respect other professionals. It's similar to billiards or table tennis or bowling. You don't have to be in exceptional condition to excel but your brain has to be capable of inhuman reaction and calculation based on years of training and instincts.
It may be hard for the older crowd to comprehend but that's the truth. Sorry older crowd, if I offended you lol :p
 
I was at one time a top Unreal Tournament player, a first person shooter that became very popular along with Quake. I would play on servers that logged stats on each player which were compiled for worldwhile rankings and posted on a website, and consistently be near the top. To compare it to the pool world, I would say I was open speed. I could play skilled players, and depending on which weapon I used, the other player would never score a single frag (kill).

Then, I could play one of the best in the world, and the situation was exactly the opposite. I had zero chance, and may possibly never score a frag in a 15 minute deathmatch. The skill of some of the top video game players, particularly FPS and RTS games, is beyond phenomenal.

That being said, yeah, calling it a sport is a stretch, and it would be nice if a pool player was on a Dr. Pepper can. The bottom line is a pool player on a soda can is not going to increase their sales, but a professional gamer could. It is simply a sign of the times.

Kelly
 
Pool takes as much skill as Video Games, but Generation X, the Echo boomers, or Millennium Children have no place to Play & Learn Pool like the Y's, or Boys Clubs where some of us got hooked on Pool. I can not think of any city park in the Valley of the SCUM that have Pool Tables for the kids of year 2008.
 
Pro gamers have been around since the original Quake hit it big. There are a number of pro gamer leagues and events like QuakeCon have been around for ages.

Hate to break it to you, but the reality is that playing videogames at that level takes the same amount of skill and practice that playing pool at the pro level does. They spend 8-10+ hours per day practicing and make the games do things that even the creators didn't know was possible.

The top pro gamers pull down similar money to what the top pro pool players make and the big events like QuakeCon pull about 10x the attendees that a show like the Super Billiards Expo pulls.

Simply put, videogames are a much larger industry and have a far greater audience than pool. Videogame sales have surpassed box office sales on an annual basis and far more people have an X Box, Wii or Playstation in their homes than a pool table. Pro gamers have huge reach in their demographic the same way that Tony Hawk does for skateboarders and Shaun White does for snowboarders.

If anything, the billiards industry should look at a deal like this as well as the growth in popularity of the videogame industry and try and learn something from it.
 
poolsnark said:
Pro gamers have been around since the original Quake hit it big. There are a number of pro gamer leagues and events like QuakeCon have been around for ages.

Hate to break it to you, but the reality is that playing videogames at that level takes the same amount of skill and practice that playing pool at the pro level does. They spend 8-10+ hours per day practicing and make the games do things that even the creators didn't know was possible.

The top pro gamers pull down similar money to what the top pro pool players make and the big events like QuakeCon pull about 10x the attendees that a show like the Super Billiards Expo pulls.

Simply put, videogames are a much larger industry and have a far greater audience than pool. Videogame sales have surpassed box office sales on an annual basis and far more people have an X Box, Wii or Playstation in their homes than a pool table. Pro gamers have huge reach in their demographic the same way that Tony Hawk does for skateboarders and Shaun White does for snowboarders.

If anything, the billiards industry should look at a deal like this as well as the growth in popularity of the videogame industry and try and learn something from it.
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I do not think the billiards industry is as well orginized, as the game industry is.
 
Pool is dead for most.

Pool is alive for some.

Pool will always a passion for a minute few.

I am reminded of the adage: In the pool world, we've all known a few of them. They're the "Road Players." These are the traveling gunfighters, who know no other way of life than betting it all and hanging on the edge. Most of the greats of today started out this way, but for every one who made it, there are at least a hundred who did not survive.

I am also reminded of one of the great road players, Shake and Bake, who smiled when asked about the old days and spoke warmly of players like Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane, and Jimmy Caras: "I've got a lot of good friends and good memories of a lifestyle that few people are fortunate enough to experience," he says. "I had the luck to know the old greats as well as the new crop of superstars the sport has cultivated."

It may be hard for younger folk to comprehend, but it's the truth. In fact, they will NEVER know what pool was like when it shined brightly in all its glory. They can only read about it on pool forums and imagine, while playing their video games. Sorry, younger folk, if I offended you. LOL.
 
Pro gaming is mega money. Gaming in general is a multiple billion dollar industry. If you want to know what killed pool - it's not poker, it's gaming. Kids hang out on the xbox360 or ps3 instead of chilling in pool halls.

There's also a gambling underground for gaming as well. I used to search out action with Madden and Tiger Woods golf for big money. People tend to master a game or two and then hunt for competition. These pro gamers play EVERYTHING top-notch (as far as major titles).

Gaming is the real deal, IMO.
 
I believe it is a cycle and at some future time it will dawn on a lot of kids that it is cooler to be doing something 'real' as opposed to playing in a fantasy world of gigabytes and software code. To conquer the real forces of the universe, i.e. physics, motion, angles etc wil be where it's at.

I just dont think I'll live to see it.
 
JAM said:
It may be hard for younger folk to comprehend, but it's the truth. In fact, they will NEVER know what pool was like when it shined brightly in all its glory. They can only read about it on pool forums and imagine, while playing their video games. Sorry, younger folk, if I offended you. LOL.
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Neener neener, poke prod poke, etc.

Welcome to my generation's world. Please enjoy your time here :p

Seriously JAM, never change... Never ever change. You're like a window into the old pool world you describe in every other post. I actually enjoy the quotes and I do understand I will never know what it was like. I live in the present though... so I find it difficult to focus on the past as effectively as you.
 
A game's a game, I guess, and I'm sure it takes great skill. But it's completely human-controlled, none of the natural, physical reaction you get when you strike a ball in a traditional game.

I don't know, but that weirds me out a little. Kind of like how some folks think it would be just fine to live on a spaceship or on a moon colony with no natural air, water, flora or fauna. Others would say we've got a miracle of a planet right under our feet, if we'd only pay her more attention and treat her with more respect.

To me, it's a symptom of how cut off some of us are getting from what's real.
 
Not trying to take sides in this, as I feel that both sides have strong arguments. Are there fewer pool players as a result of video games? Absolutely. Should professional gamers be recognized for their skill and perseverance? Absolutely. That pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject.

I'm also not sure what the exact criteria are to be considered a "professional gamer", but there have been gaming organizations and competitions ever since the first arcade games (Asteroids, Defender, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc.) became popular in the late 70's and early 80's. Anyone interested in seeing how professional gaming got its start, as well as learning a bit about some of the pioneers of competitive gaming, should watch a very good documentary called "The King of Kong - A Fistful of Quarters". A trailer for it can be found here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJZ-_bJKdI

Good rolls,

Aaron
 
Aaron_S said:
Not trying to take sides in this, as I feel that both sides have strong arguments. Are there fewer pool players as a result of video games? Absolutely. Should professional gamers be recognized for their skill and perseverance? Absolutely. That pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject.

I'm also not sure what the exact criteria are to be considered a "professional gamer", but there have been gaming organizations and competitions ever since the first arcade games (Asteroids, Defender, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc.) became popular in the late 70's and early 80's. Anyone interested in seeing how professional gaming got its start, as well as learning a bit about some of the pioneers of competitive gaming, should watch a very good documentary called "The King of Kong - A Fistful of Quarters". A trailer for it can be found here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJZ-_bJKdI

Good rolls,

Aaron
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Asteroids.... the very first level.... just blow up all of the asteroids until there's just one tiny piece of the last one left and don't blow it up. Just keep blowing up the random alien ship that shows up and you'll destroy any high score posted anywhere. If you find someone who thinks they're good at that, bet and make sure they go first. ;)
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Asteroids.... the very first level.... just blow up all of the asteroids until there's just one tiny piece of the last one left and don't blow it up. Just keep blowing up the random alien ship that shows up and you'll destroy any high score posted anywhere. If you find someone who thinks they're good at that, bet and make sure they go first. ;)
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LOL. Spoken like a true Atari 2600 owner.

Aaron (nearly had a coronary when his wife tried to sell his 2600 at a garage sale a few years back :D )
 
Aaron_S said:
LOL. Spoken like a true Atari 2600 owner.

Aaron (nearly had a coronary when his wife tried to sell his 2600 at a garage sale a few years back :D )
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Hey, I had to win GI Joes and lunch money when I was 9.
 
Hierovision said:
Neener neener, poke prod poke, etc.

Welcome to my generation's world. Please enjoy your time here :p

Seriously JAM, never change... Never ever change. You're like a window into the old pool world you describe in every other post. I actually enjoy the quotes and I do understand I will never know what it was like. I live in the present though... so I find it difficult to focus on the past as effectively as you.
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Your generation's world won't ever get it.

When you reach my age, then we'll talk.

I live in the present too, which is why I find your opinions so amusing. Typical of a young whippersnappker who's never experienced pool in its glory, and never will, I might add. Read on, my young AzBilliards member, and keep pulling your joy stick.
 
If you think gaming in U.S. is bad, check out South Korea. Top Starcraft/Diablo players are considered "gods" even outside of the gaming circle. These nerdy looking guys have girls throwing themselves at them.

The future does not look bright.

Adam <-- still plays CounterStrike from time to time
 
The bottom line is that sponsor money goes where there is interest. Videogame players get big purses and big sponsorships because they have companies backing them like Dr. Pepper, Intel, AMD, Dell, Microsoft, etc. Pool players get what comes from an industry that relies on small companies for support. Go to the Major League Gaming homepage and you'll see what I mean. Presented by Gamestop, a $3.6 billion dollar company, Powered by XBox (Microsoft), a $177 billion dollar company.

The real issue here is the goal of the industry. For Microsoft, their goal is to get an XBox in every home. They price it competitively (currently 199 bucks) and make it affordable for all income levels. When was the last time you saw anyone in the billiards industry come up with a goal of getting a pool table in every home?

Then there's the elitist attitude of the "players" vs. the "bangers". The casual players are the future of the industry. The more bangers come to play, the bigger the reach of the industry gets. Get a critical mass of people playing pool and homes with pool tables and the sponsors will come. No offense to any of the current sponsors, but the industry isn't going to grow by relying on cuemakers, table makers, online stores and such as title sponsors.

Next time you're in a pool hall and some banger is flailing away, instead of hustling him and making him hate the game and the industry, try playing with him and <gasp> helping him with his game. Next time you see someone playing with an import cue, be happy that they're playing pool instead of crapping on them and their gear. The market for the $100 import cue is way bigger than the market for the $2500 custom cue.

/rant off
 
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