Variety in Cybergaming
Last year in the concluded South-East Asia (SEA) Games in Thailand, Singapore sportsmen and women obtained an excellent result compared with the past games, making it a great year for Singapore athletes. They managed to clinch 43 gold, 43 silver and 41 bronze medals in the games. They fought against the best in South-East Asia.
As such the SEA gold medallists were awarded S$500,000 under the Singapore National Olympics Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP) to encourage local sportsmen and women to do their best in the sporting fields.
But what about the Singapore Swords? For getting into the top eight of the Championship Gaming Series, they will receive a US$30,000 reward for their achievements. The MAP did not award them for they only provide awards to winners of the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and SEA games, but not to the Cybergames.
Individuals like Mr Wilson Chia, who is a member of the Singapore Swords, obtained the price award and a US$5000 bonus for his individual achievements in the fields of cybergaming. Whereas, national bowler Remy Ong who won gold in the men's championship two years ago, who did not receive anything from the MAP as well received a $10,000 bonus reward from the Singapore Bowling Federation.
A typical Cybergamer
So despite the cybergamers having trained just as hard, and spent just as much time as the athletes, their pay off is a lot lower. They have no salary, no bonuses, no support from the country as well as the public, and yet they have made it to the near top of the world. Compared with the athletes, who have best equipment, the best facilities as trainers, the cyberwarriors should be commented for their efforts and achievements. Yet, there is no sign of appreciation, or a change in attitude towards the cybergamers. The public still has the traditional and conservative thinking that cybergaming is a complete waste of time and excessive playing is harmful to their overall health and will turn them into addicts. Although the thinking does have its reasons, for the only way for cybergamers to survive in the real world is through tournament winnings since they have no salary, as such many who tried also gave up.
However today, cybergaming is a part of life of teenagers, just like music, and movies. Nearly every teenager in Singapore is exposed and has participated in Cybergaming although not to the extent of competitions and tournaments. The world has changed, cybergaming has taken over the world of teenagers nowadays, it has become part and parcel of our everyday life, Prime Minister Lee said that we should move forward with the times and accept new things and ideas.
But yet why is cybergaming not yet accepted by our society?
Cybergaming now a national sport
Section: News
Publication: The New Paper 24/04/2006
Page: 17
