[jack_pp]

Well, can't really compare a fairly complex computer game where you need to actively play in order to even understand the stream with a.. checks Wikipedia.. 2000 year old game with simple enough rules that you can watch without any knowledge.

Football also has the advantage of a fixed rule set. I've played over 4000 hours of dota in my life but none in the last 12 months. I've tried watching it on twitch and the map layout changed, probably new heroes were added or old heroes changed..

[Cyph0n]

That’s why I’m of the opinion that CS is the best spectator esport out there. The rounds are short and the overall barrier to entry for a viewer to enjoy the game is low, yet the skill ceiling is extremely high.

Edit: If you’re not familiar with CS, try tuning in to the ESL stream and see how much you understand: https://www.twitch.tv/eslcs

[matrss]

Makes sense. Trackmania would fit that bill as well: it's just racing, but most often without the burden of following real-world physics too much, which can make it very entertaining.

[thaumasiotes]

> Football also has the advantage of a fixed rule set.

I'd tend to agree that video games are ensuring they can never stick around by constantly throwing the rules in the garbage.

But if you're going to claim that soccer is 2000 years old, you can't also claim that it has a fixed rule set. It changes at a slower pace. The slower pace of change is an improvement over video games. But it still changes. There is not even continuity between an attested 2000-year-old game and soccer.

[walthamstow]

I'd read that article about association football again if I was you. 1) just because kicking a ball is 2000 years old doesn't mean soccer is and 2) offside and backpasses have both changed in my short lifetime, completely changing how the game is played.