Being a professional in sports has never been an easy accomplishment. In the modern day, where competition is fiercer than ever, finding a place at the top means dedication and specialisation on a level that most of us mere mortals couldn't handle. Being amongst the best means sticking to one thing, and there's not a lot of moving from being near the top of one form of competition to being near the top of another.
There have been exceptions to this rule, as is most seen in the world of eSports. Players like Nicholas "Nitr0" Cannella have moved between titles like Counter-Strike and Valorant, demonstrating that there is crossover potential here to be uncovered. What's underestimated is the crossover that eSports could have to their physical equivalents. It's a development that's only now just finding its feet, but with a new generation of technology, the potential waiting to be unlocked could be immense.
The Challenges of Moving from Electronic to Physical
The most obvious problem in moving from an electronic game to one played physically is that using your hands is a lot different than using your whole body. Of course, there are cases where this difference doesn't matter at all, like in bingo. Online bingo rooms like Flash Bingo and Deal or No Deal are all about the mental aspect, while also relying on the ever-present luck aspect. Pure forms of movement like this in most sports are rare, however.Electronic games can be great at supporting the mental aspects, like in sports titles such as FIFA. A game like this has you keeping an eye on the entire field, watching how the players move, what the opponent does, and working towards gaps in their defence. It's not one-to-one, but it does provide an appreciation of the game's intricacies greater than what many outsiders predict.
Closing the Gap
The easiest and most effective way to close the gap between physical and electronic sports is to incorporate physical components into the electronic game. Standing out as the most effective and widespread way this has been accomplished yet is by driving simulators.Driving simulators are fairly easy to set up, with entry-level and expensive systems offering broad support for many different titles. Aiding in the playing experience are modern games that offer increasingly accurate physics and tracks that accurately map the minute aspects of real courses. The right setup and the right game with the right player can provide transferable skills to the real world.
We know this is possible because it's already happened. The biographical sports drama Gran Turismo tells the tale of Jann Mardenborough, a professional racing driver who got his start by winning video game contests. He wasn't the best, but he was able to compete with some of the best traditional racers in the world.
What Comes Next
The coming potential in eSports athletes crossing over into the physical world is a matter of eSports including more physical aspects. Playing with a controller on a couch for FIFA won't ever translate to physical skill, but coming generations of AR might shake up this former status quo. With lighter, faster, and more durable AR, eSports games will be poised to offer experiences closer to the physical thing, helping further allow skill transference.Of course, the future of moves like this is still years away, but for now, there are sports like racing and games like poker that already foster transferable skills. As technology improves, the gap between these pursuits will tighten, which could open up opportunities to many who'd otherwise miss out. It's an exciting time and an area we'll have to keep a close eye on.
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