Why Fighting Games Should NOT be Considered Sports Games

[RaychelSnr]

We all know Fight Night and UFC are two rather successful franchises within the sports-gaming industry. These games give gamers a chance to create themselves in an environment that would be nothing more than a pipe dream if it were transferred to real life. Nevertheless, if you put your mind to it, worked your *** off and trained every day, your pipe dream could come true, and you could be in the ring or octagon before you could say Tito Ortiz.

But can you burn in Hell, put on a yellow mask and become Scorpion from Midway’s Mortal Kombat? Can you hop into an orange jumpsuit and bust out a Kamehameha wave and call yourself Goku? No, it won’t happen outside of your dreams.

The point is simple, an underlying lack of realism negates the opportunity for all fighting games to be considered sports games.

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[Crossover1]

So by your definition, NBA Jam shouldn't be in the sports category because no one can jump 20 feet over the rim and do 1080s + double windmills all in one dunk, right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[TalenT]

So by your definition, NBA Jam shouldn't be in the sports category because no one can jump 20 feet over the rim and do 1080s + double windmills all in one dunk, right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

But basketball is an actual sport. The "King of the Iron Fist" tournament is not a sport. The battles that take place in the underworld...not a sport. I kind of agree w/ this.

[IV THA UNITY]

I think you should look at the bigger picture. If you are only looking at things from a simulation standpoint, you are kind of shutting yourself in a box. Football is football, fighting is fighting etc. When put into a competitive nature, it is a sport, no matter how you put it. Also when it comes to fighting games, designers also build their games outside of the digital space when it comes to pinpoint button presses within 2 frames etc. Games like madden are not built that way. So with that said fighting games are more sport in terms of in game and out of game skill. You need good dexterity to play street fighter, mvc3, MK, BBCS, etc.

All games are over the top, they all have things in them that don't really represent the sport sim. But fighting is and will always be a competition to see who is the strongest, fastest, and who can endure more, which makes fighting games sports games on two different levels in game and out versus a game like NBA 2K, Madden, Tiger Woods etc.

[jyoung]

Mortal Kombat : fighting games :: NBA Jam : sports games

If a realistic fighting game like MMA and UFC can be considered a sports game, why can't an over-the-top fighting game like Mortal Kombat?

In Looney Toons Basketball for the SNES, I can summon anvils to fall out of the sky or electrocute my opponent with a strike of lighting, yet it obviously is still considered a sports game.

Why don't the same rules apply for Mortal Kombat?

[kelvinmak]

Re: Why Fighting Games Should NOT be Considered Sports Games

But basketball is an actual sport. The "King of the Iron Fist" tournament is not a sport. The battles that take place in the underworld...not a sport. I kind of agree w/ this.

This whole debate just totally reminds me of this

[Layoneil]

Mortal Kombat : fighting games :: NBA Jam : sports games

If a realistic fighting game like MMA and UFC can be considered a sports game, why can't an over-the-top fighting game like Mortal Kombat?

In Looney Toons Basketball for the SNES, I can summon anvils to fall out of the sky or electrocute my opponent with a strike of lighting, yet it obviously is still considered a sports game.

Why don't the same rules apply for Mortal Kombat?

if the choice was if NBA Jam is a sports game than Mortal Kombat is also a sports game. i would rather say NBA Jam is not a sports game.

NBA Jam to me is a sports game because for the most part it still follows some athletic rules, a 3 point shot is still worth 3 points, the team that scores more points still win. if unrealistic makes things not a sports game, you can turn off fouls in NBA 2K11 and make it unrealistic too.

what MMA or boxing rules does Mortal Kombat comply by?

[notoriouzwun]

I have never considered "fighting games" as sports games. Nor do I believe they should be put in that same realm. Although I don't consider WWE or TNA professional wrestling a sport. Athletic people take part in it but its entertainment. If I were to throw WWE or TNA in I would have to throw in Stuntmen from movies. I understand the OP's original point though. I would just say its safe to assume the majority would not consider Mortal Kombat a sports game.

[notoriouzwun]

I guess I should give my definition of sports. Sports are things that can be played in leisure as well as the professional and amateur counterparts. There is no predetermined outcome and are normally governed by a defined set of rules. I know this is still vague but thats pretty much my premise. I also understand this brings about the arguement "Is poker a sport then?". I'll leave that arguement for another day!

[jyoung]

Re: Why Fighting Games Should NOT be Considered Sports Games

what MMA or boxing rules does Mortal Kombat comply by?

Fight your opponent until one of you is knocked out or time expires.

[EtheRed]

I'm with Notoriouz, I don't think I ever really thought of Mortal combat or other fighting games like that to be anywhere near sports gaming????? Fight Night, MMA, UFC , most definitely. Curious what got you off on this subject? did you and another gamer have a throwdown on what a real sports fighting game was?

[lnin0]

There is no debate. MK and SF are "Fighters". Plain and simple. They never pretend to be another genre or even a hybrid.

I think the better argument would be to ask fighter fans if MMA, UFC and Fight Night belong to the "Fighters" genre as well or if they should just be considered purely "Sports" games.

[SHAKYR]

Man, these are the fans that are keeping the Fight Night series from being a true sim because they feel Mortal Kombat and Tekken should be considered sports games. SMH!

I'm on a campaign to prove to the EA producers that a sim boxing game will sell well but saying Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter are sports games will make them keep making arcade/sim hybrid games.

[EtheRed]

I'm pretty sure that EA knows that a boxing sim would sell, but I also think they know that if they cheeze the game up a bit then they open it up to an expanded market. if they wanted to do it right they'd make aFight Night game for sim style fighters and a licensed FaceBreaker type game for those wanted to just turbo punch with their friends.

[mickliovek]

Re: Why Fighting Games Should NOT be Considered Sports Games

All gaming titles are greater compared to top, they all have factors in them that don't genuinely represent the sports sim. But fighting is and will invariably be considered a rivalry to decide who could be the strongest, fastest, and who can endure more, which tends to make fighting gaming titles sports activities gaming titles on two different quantities in gaming and out versus a gaming like NBA 2K, Madden, Tiger Woods etc...