The Development of Sports: A Comparative Analysis of the Early Institutionalisation of Traditional Sports and E-sports by Dr. Rory Summerley, Falmouth University, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE
[email protected] Abstract This paper takes the definition of a sport as ‘an institutionalised game’ under which both ‘traditional sports’ and ‘e-sports’ fall. It takes a comparative analytical approach that examines the historical documentation and cultural output of these two major categories of sports and their early institutionalisation. Given the increasing interest in, engagement with and spectator numbers of e-sports it is worth considering the key similarities and differences between various institutions. This paper examines traditional sports institutions from the mid- to-late 19th century alongside e-sports institutions that emerged from the mid-1990’s to the present day. Firstly, the processes of institutionalisation are analysed with these examples in mind and, secondly, are compared to draw out the significant differences and similarities between the factors affecting early institutionalisation. Keywords esports, e-sports, competitive gaming, sport, institutionalisation Author Bio Dr. Rory Summerley is a lecturer and researcher based in The Games Academy of Falmouth University, UK. His research interests include e-sports, experimental game design, the history of games and narrative design. INTRODUCTION As the arena of sports expands to include e-sports, many of the common definitions of sport are called into question. While traditional sports are commonly associated with athletic or physical prowess, the competitive play of video-games (like card games and board games before them) calls this association into question. Taylor (2012, 39) and Witkowski (2012a, 14; 2012b, 356) have both discussed the significance of physical behaviours in e-sports when defining the field and grey areas exist in the domains of both traditional sports and e-sports.