//Editor's Note: This is not in response to the article by Chris 'Douja' Cossey featured on fnatic.com as to whether or not World of Warcraft should be considered an eSport.

eSports and gaming are trying to shake the geeky, basement-dweller stereotype that has clung on strongly and refuses to lessen its grip. Jason Lake pitches the idea that eSports could be as big as Baseball or Football. Meanwhile, Michael "Carmac" Blicharz has stated that he envisions an eSport world with heroes, one where "the outsiders will instantly understand that the dude in the oversized headphones is not a geek but a champion, a superstar and a true badass" (Interview). It is necessary for eSports to cross the divide and to do that, mainstream games need to be featured as they give the greatest headstart towards breaking that divide. But World of Warcraft is not the answer.

The geeky stereotype is one of the biggest difficulties that gamers and the concept of eSports faces. World of Warcraft is seen to personify these traits and reinforce the conceptions and mental images that people conjur. Remember THAT South Park parody? It checked all the boxes for the geeky stereotype (and not the ones that were made appealing by the explosion of 'geek-chic- culture). The boys cut themselves off from the world in a basement, lived off nothing but junk food (and paid the price physically) and spoke in tongues. Yes, Guitar Hero has also been the subject of a South Park parody but that problem is less of a pandemic as it is a game that has been ignored by tournament organisers for the most part, is seen as a more social game (although receives it's fair share of bashing from people who compare it to playing music for real).....and at least in that episode, the boys were left with the ability to go to the toilet for themselves!

Is gaming addictive? Most things in life are but gaming receives far more attention than other past times do. For example, it is considered acceptable to laze around in front of a television screen (provided you do not have a controller in your hands). When documentaries, talk shows or radio shows analyse gaming and gaming addiction, Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) are the first port of call. It is the type of game most known for escapism; for allowing players to escape their mundane life and enter one filled with fantasy, exploration and possibilities. It is a genre that has gained the reputation for some players taking this escape too far and becoming absorbed within the game, abandoning real life connections and responsibilities altogether. MMORPGs have gained massive amounts of negative attention as a result of people neglecting their physical needs and living without food or sleep, often with disasterous results. World of Warcraft is that genre's flagship.

The gameplay itself is not designed with spectators in mind. In order to have an idea of what is happening on the battlefield, you need to know and understand the game. eSports, sports and activities that capture the imagination have a clear purpose and the basic mechanics are easily understandable very quickly. Viewers will gain a greater appreciation as they become more accustomed to the action on-screen but initially, it should be very easy to pick-up-and-watch. World of Warcraft is not. Players of the game that are interested in eSports will often express the opinion that you need a good commentator to explain what is happening. Compare that to popular sports: these could be watched without commentary altogether while commentary teams consist of a play-by-play broadcaster and someone who knows the more intricate details and may have a greater understanding as to why a player or team performed a certain action. It is the "average spectator" that must be roped in; that is where the advertising revenue comes from.

World of Warcraft as a game was designed for quests and exploring. By pushing it as an eSport, it is being forced to become something that it is not suited for. It is not designed with the purpose of players engaging within a confined battlefield. World of Warcraft rewards those who have time to invest. While players must invest time to become competitive, new players do not have to endure levels of grinding in order to reach a level where they can mix with the top players. By its very nature, a higher level player (i.e. a higher character) will have an advantage. Compare that to a game like Quake or Warcraft 3 in which players can become competitive relatively quickly. Both these scenes have seen players emerge in the last number of years that are suddenly to be taken seriously at the top level - LucifroN, rapha, cypher...

The language within the game reinforces the stereotype. We are all used to terminology that is often specific to an activity; a number of eyebrows are even raised when the offside trap within Soccer is mentioned. But an MMORPG takes this to another level. The "Talisman of Ephemeral Power", the "Seal of Righteousness" and "Entangling Roots" are all examples of terminology or powers used in play. One is almost expecting a battle to open with a cry of the immortal "I put on my robe and wizard hat". Yes, there are phrases that sound impressive such as the "Demoralizing Roar" or the "Sinister Strike" (Terminology) but the fact is that there are too many terms to become familiar with and even more that sound wishy-washy. Compare this to other accepted eSport titles such as Quake ("Deathmatch", the "BFG" - although removed from competitive play and neither friendly or a giant and the staple shotgun) or Starcraft (the "Dark Templar", the "Goliath" and the "Lurker"). These are terms that exude raw power. The basic premise of Counter-Strike is not something to be sneezed at - it doesn't get any grittier, meatier or real than the subject of terrorism.

With a base of approximately 11 million players, it may be tempting to alter the rules and overhaul the game mechanics, and then take it under the eSports wing. Should we simply accept any game that sells well? Perhaps such a game just needs minor alterations or an implemented ruleset. The Sims and Football Manager appear to be the only PC Games that sell well or are available in retailers anymore. Both games are very popular and would strike a chord with the mainstream. Does that mean that they should be accepted, or pushed as, eSports?  Of course not. The game mechanics are simply not suitable.

As stated previously, the mechanics within World of Warcraft are also not suited to competitive play. WoW has more factors working against it in its quest to be an eSport. Gaming may never be the coolest hobby and it may be difficult to break the "geek" stereotype. But that does not mean that we should willingly take a backwards step in the legitimisation of eSports. WoW is not the answer...