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Local gaming team forced to pull out of world tournament

ins1dious

By ins1dious,
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ins1dious

ins1dious

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Pity the boys couldn't take part in this e-game. DotA 2 is one of the biggest e-game franchises. The winning team in the last International final won over US$ 5 million.

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/local-gaming-team-forced/1525732.html

 

 

Five Singaporean gamers who were bound for the finals of an international tournament for a popular multiplayer online game had to pull out after two of them were denied leave of absence from their polytechnics and one of them from National Service (NS).

The episode led some members of the gaming community to question whether there should be more support for gamers who are good enough to compete on the world stage.
Others wondered if some flexibility should have been exercised, citing the case of Mr Jeremy Teng, who was granted permission to postpone his enlistment date to participate in a singing contest in Shanghai earlier this year.
The team of Singaporean gamers, who call themselves First Departure, advanced to the finals of The Summit 2, one of about 10 large-scale tournaments for Defense of the Ancients (DotA) 2, after beating 11 teams to emerge champions in South-east Asia.
But they have now missed the chance to pit their skills against teams from the United States, China and Europe for a shot at a US$300,000 (S$394,000) prize pool.

 

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Ktglfc

Ktglfc

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Pity the boys couldn't take part in this e-game. DotA 2 is one of the biggest e-game franchises. The winning team in the last International final won over US$ 5 million.

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/local-gaming-team-forced/1525732.html

 

 

 

Education studies and NS commitment should be priority...

 

Understand the frustrations, but above two are good enough reasons for me though..

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Shull

Shull

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IMO, gaming at the professional level is no different from playing sports in olympics.

 

Discipline, teamwork, practise etc all applies too. In fact, games at these level needs alot quicker thinking than say badminton or tennis. Look at the way the Koreans play starcraft, the clicks-per-second is crazily high.

 

So i don't see why it should be looked upon differently.

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Vega

Vega

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the culture is very different.

over here, if you are still riding a bmx or skateboard at 20+ yr old, you are childish.

in the west, those are pros.

 

we are brought up to at least get a basic degree first before pursuing other interests.

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ins1dious

ins1dious

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will you allow your kids to drop school to pah games whole day?? even if its a sport??..

 

i dont think i will..

 

If that's the career that my child choses, who am I to stop her. I guess the relevant question is... is it just playing games or is it a legitimate sport.

 

If there was a clash of dates for an Olympic or World Cup event, will the opinion be the same?

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Darryn

Darryn

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Is this a sport or a professional competition?

 

Is there a difference between this, and (for example) a professional poker tournament someone gets invited to?

 

 

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Forte3737

Forte3737

5th Gear

This is Singapore and that's why its looked upon differently

IMO, gaming at the professional level is no different from playing sports in olympics.

 

Discipline, teamwork, practise etc all applies too. In fact, games at these level needs alot quicker thinking than say badminton or tennis. Look at the way the Koreans play starcraft, the clicks-per-second is crazily high.

 

So i don't see why it should be looked upon differently.

 

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Jman888

Jman888

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If that's the career that my child choses, who am I to stop her. I guess the relevant question is... is it just playing games or is it a legitimate sport.

 

If there was a clash of dates for an Olympic or World Cup event, will the opinion be the same?

 

One of my wife's cousin has been playing game since young, now a game designee for a reputable American firm here. Lucky his parents never stop him even when he chose to study in this field.

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ins1dious

ins1dious

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the culture is very different.

over here, if you are still riding a bmx or skateboard at 20+ yr old, you are childish.

in the west, those are pros.

 

we are brought up to at least get a basic degree first before pursuing other interests.

 

Very true. I read about another example today...

 

Two kids, one pursuing a degree in MIT and another who just received his admission into MIT, put their degrees on hold to pursue building an app. They won initial funding of 100K from Peter Thiel to quit/pause their degree so that they can flesh out their idea for the zero-commission financial trading app Robinhood.

 

A degree isn't a be-all end-all for a person. We know so many successful entrepreneurs who made it big by pursuing their ideas/dreams. We should encourage them.

 

This seems like an appropriate time to include this popular message

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwXdGm89Tk

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Icedbs

Icedbs

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(edited)

IMO, gaming at the professional level is no different from playing sports in olympics.

 

Discipline, teamwork, practise etc all applies too. In fact, games at these level needs alot quicker thinking than say badminton or tennis. Look at the way the Koreans play starcraft, the clicks-per-second is crazily high.

 

So i don't see why it should be looked upon differently.

 

You see, the problem is, gaming is not consider a "sport" at the national level.

 

These folks are representing themselves on a personal pursuit. They are not representing Singapore.

 

If they represent Singapore,then perhaps they will be given some concessions.

 

if it is a personal thing, then education and national priorities have to be considered first.

 

IMO, how the team position themselves is important here.

Edited by Icedbs
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Darryn

Darryn

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You see, the problem is, gaming is not consider a "sport" at the national level.

 

These folks are representing themselves on a personal pursuit. They are not representing Singapore.

 

If they represent Singapore,then perhaps they will be given some concessions.

 

if it is a personal thing, then education and national priorities have to be considered first.

 

IMO, how the team position themselves is important here.

I think this gets to the heart of the matter --

 

Poly and NS shouldn't be allowing exemptions for "personal pursuits"

 

Is it fair that gaming is considered such? That's a slightly different discussion.

 

If deferments and exemptions are granted for this - what other equivalent things should they be granted for? Of course, the authorities could make a simple value judgement without setting a precedent (which they have perhaps done?)

 

If, for whatever reason, a Singaporean was invited to something like America's Next Top Model - should that also qualify for exemption / deferment (I see one was given for a singing contest previously?)

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Galantspeedz

Galantspeedz

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(edited)

I think this gets to the heart of the matter --

 

Poly and NS shouldn't be allowing exemptions for "personal pursuits"

 

Is it fair that gaming is considered such? That's a slightly different discussion.

 

If deferments and exemptions are granted for this - what other equivalent things should they be granted for? Of course, the authorities could make a simple value judgement without setting a precedent (which they have perhaps done?)

 

If, for whatever reason, a Singaporean was invited to something like America's Next Top Model - should that also qualify for exemption / deferment (I see one was given for a singing contest previously?)

 

i disagree... what about sports... not personal pursuits?

 

just because it is gaming, people see it differently.....

 

well.. if a singaporean has the chance to be the next top model.. why not?

 

it is not that they are seeking to be out out of poly or NS forever, it is just a deferment...

 

And isn't studying also personal pursuits?

 

talk rubbish lor...

 

it is very clear because our country does not deem gaming important enough so no deferment.. simple as that

 

but if the team had gone and won... then you see all the glory hunters surrounding them

Edited by Galantspeedz
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