Written by Zeke Perez Jr. This weekend (Friday, October 20th through Sunday, October 22nd), DreamHack is hosting its inaugural DreamHack Denver festival. Taking place at the National Western Complex, the sprawling event is home to a number of experiences, including eSports competitions, tabletop gaming, panels, a 24-hour LAN party, cosplay competitions, and much more. The stacked schedule is sure to provide a little something for everyone.
For me, it’ll be my first time attending anything like it. I’ve attended Denver Comic Con, but I’ve never been to an event where the emphasis is on gaming. So, before I go to DreamHack Denver 2017, I think it’s only fair that I put all my preconceived notions on the table for the sake of honesty. I’m a newcomer to eSports and I have to admit that there is a size-able disconnect there for me… Two interests have run the course of my entire life: sports and video games. I’ve been watching and attending games for every sport imaginable for as long as I can remember. I’ve been playing video games for just as long. While I absolutely love the two, I also have to admit that sports are much more of an area of expertise for me, with my gaming knowledge (and skill) lagging behind quite a bit. Interacting with each separately in my own life, I never thought I’d see those worlds collide in the way that they currently are. Sponsorships, massive crowds, a billion-dollar valuation on the horizon, arenas being built specifically for eSports…it all makes complete sense, but it’s still very foreign to me. In recent years, the amount of eSports coverage by major sports networks has obviously gone up. With that, there has been pushback. Internet commenters (because, of course…) respond to every article with ‘video games aren’t a sport’, ‘these people aren’t athletes’, any number of nerd jokes, and a bevy of other insults. While I don’t share a disdain for eSports, I would be lying if I said that eSports’ presence on ESPN and Sports Illustrated didn’t catch me off guard or that I haven’t had some similar thoughts about whether video games qualify as a sport. All that being said, I’m working on it. I’m holding off on knocking something before I experience it. I mean, I’ve spent countless hours watching other people play sports. Who’s to say it’s any different when the games being played are virtual? There is undoubtedly a market for it. Even pro sports teams are beginning to see that, investing in the establishment of their own eSports teams. I’m also trying to understand the athleticism that it requires. I know it doesn’t come easy. If it did, maybe I’d be better at video games. It takes superb hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and - like anything else - hours and hours of practice honing your skills. I’m clueless when it comes to the appeal of watching eSports competitions, as I’ve never had the opportunity to do so. But I’m heading into DreamHack with an open mind. I am excited to sit in the crowd for the event’s Grand Finals and feel the energy that you get at any live sporting event. I hope to chat with people and see where they are coming from, what drives their passion for the sport. ESports are an ever growing hobby; let’s see if DreamHack Denver can make it one of mine! Follow along with my adventure on Twitter (@NerdsThatZeke) and check back on NerdsThatGeek.com for follow up articles after the event.
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