Are you familiar with competitive video gaming, otherwise known as esports? I ask only because as someone who plays games and is knee deep in doing so, my perspective on how widely known this stuff is to the mainstream is warped.

The International (which is a tournament for a game called Dota 2, TI5 is taking place in the old SuperSonics arena in Seattle in August) had a grand prize of over $5,000,000 last year, and a total prize pool of more than $11,000,000 and was covered by ESPN. The winners of last year's tournament, Newbee (a team from China), instantly became the five highest earning professional esports competitors in history.  

Comparing the prize to other sports, apart from club soccer, The International is right at the upper echelons, prize money wise, in world sport.

Now, not to debate whether this is a sport or not (honestly I don't think it's an important conversation to have, what difference does it make whether it is or isn't), I was just curious as to the perspective of those who aren't as entrenched in this stuff as I am. Do you think of this as a novelty, as just something the kids are doing (although I'm the 'kid' in our group of players and I'm greying rapidly), as something cool or interesting, anything? Do you think this is the dumbest shit ever? Is this (much like other ESPN dalliances) a fad, like poker?

I'm not here to pass judgement on anyone for their opinions at all, I'm just curious to hear what they might be.