Japanese online game cafe
With the future of gaming being over the internet, due to massive online game such as World of Warcraft, Starcraft II, DarkOrbit, and Final Fantasy XIV, one would think that the United States was the central hub of gaming. This could not be further from the truth, as other countries have taken online games to the same level that we take professional sports. One such country, which is heavily responsible for the current state of video games, even has associations dedicated to the covering of online gaming events. We’re talking about Japan.
Japan takes its online games very seriously. Groups such as the Japan Online Game Association are dedicated to provider security services, cheat prevention, and score tracking during tournaments, which receive the same televised coverage our professional sports receive. Gamers who excel in these tournaments, usually having undergone years of intense training, find themselves with celebrity status. When you compare the same level of training and celebrity status that professional athletes here in the United States receive, it’s easy to understand why talented gamers in Japan make a living off of their skills.
If gamers in the United States were to receive the same level of accolades as professional athletes, it would redefine the business of spectator sports. Can you imagine purchasing a PPV for a tournament of Starcraft II or DarkOrbit? Or can you imagine attending a packed stadium hosting a live World of Warcraft event? It’s all possible, and probable, if the current trend for online games continues in the States as it does in Japan.
But outside of competitions, online games in Japan are still significantly different from western countries. For example, online gaming cafes, which are uncommon here in the United States, are as common as Starbucks and McDonalds in Japan. In major cities like Tokyo, virtually every street corner has a cafe where customers can get coffee, tea, and play any of their favorite online games. Can you imagine if Western Europe or the United States had that many gamer cafes? It’s a virtually untapped multimillion dollar industry!
We live in the digital age. Older toys, such as dolls and blocks, are being replaced by electronic entertainment. And with video games in the forefront, the market to play them online grows each day. Countries like Japan recognize this and capitalize on the market by providing online games everywhere. So should the rest of us. By the way, anyone who is interested in such things as online games, here’s a cool link.