As we continue to fumble around our houses or apartments in a vain attempt to entertain ourselves, the draw of video games has spiked dramatically. Some of you may ask, “but this is the sports section, why am I reading about video games?” I would have to agree that this seems out of place at first, but with a little more thought, it becomes obvious.
Some of the most popular video games that are annually produced are sports games, such as Electronic Arts’ madly popular “FIFA” and “Madden NFL” series. Other developers have churned out sports games too, such as 2K Games and their NBA series or Nintendo with their Mario-themed baseball, soccer and tennis games.
The escape that video games offer coupled with the lack of live sports to watch has led to a bump in activity in the player base of these games. According to gamstat, more than 3.4 million new players emerged in the “FIFA 20” world between March 26 and April 26.
Big budget games such as “Madden,” “FIFA” or “2K NBA” offer an easy way to spend hours of your day with a variety of activities to enjoy. One could play career mode—where the player creates their own athlete or takes control of a whole team, guiding them each season in hopes of a championship win. In addition to career modes, players can play quick games against artificial intelligence or against their peers online.
Online gaming has been a lifesaver for many people as it offers connections to the outside world and presents a challenge to players; are they as good as they think they are? Online games can be tightly contested between players, and only the best can systematically come away with the victory. These high-profile games have gained a lot of attention in the last decade as more gamers are streaming their games online to reach as wide an audience as possible.
This brings us to another couch potato/athlete crossover. Esports, or the industry of competitive and paid gaming, has gained significant traction in recent years. Being stuck inside for more than a month has undoubtedly led to more people tuning into streams to see their favorite gamers compete for glory and cash. Again, you may ask yourself, “playing video games isn’t a sport, it doesn’t require any movement or anything!” With no hesitation, I would say that you are correct.
Although Esports don’t meet my criteria for what constitutes a sport, millions of people would disagree with me, and that’s okay. According to a study conducted by Newzoo, 2019 saw more than 450 million Esports viewers worldwide. This shows how popular watching competitive video game tournaments has become, with a spike coming in the past month due to COVID-19.
In addition to the modern games, old classics from 15 years ago are still a ton of fun, especially those that came from Nintendo. For example, the original “Super Mario Strikers” soccer game on the Nintendo GameCube provides endless frustration as well as entertainment. Four-on-four soccer matches with acrobatic passes and shots on goal provide endless replayability as well as intense competition among friends. With no online feature due to its age, “Strikers” forces people to sit together in the same room if they want to play. This feature is a downfall but also a strength as it can bring families or partners together for a common, righteous goal: getting a perfect season.
As a suggestion from me, “Strikers” is one of the best ways to pass time in quarantine. Attaining a perfect season on “Super Mario Strikers” is without question one of the most challenging things I’ve ever attempted on a sports video game. In order to officially get a perfect season, players must complete the 16-game-long Super Bowser Cup on the highest difficulty setting without losing a single game. The unrelenting AI seem to always be one step ahead, but with hours of practice, I can assure you it’s possible to make it all the way to the end.
Video games provide a lengthy escape from reality, and sports games specifically fulfill the desire for live sports that is lacking. So, in these unpredictable and cabin fever-inducing times, try your hand at “FIFA,” “Madden,” “Strikers” or whatever is on hand. If actively playing isn’t an interest, seek out streamed gameplay or competitive tournaments to see what the craze is about.