by Digger

Various forms of online fantasy sports simulation games have forever changed how fans root for during sporting events. It wasn't long ago, before the internet explosion, anyone rooting for an opposing player vs a home town team would be treated as treasonous traitor by friends and family members.

When favorite teams are winning by wide margins, fans now often root for opponents when fantasy points are involved. It is common practice to hear fans proclaim their team will be victorious ... and at the same time root for an opponents player to score big fantasy points.

This adds a new dynamic to watching games which has greatly enhanced fan/viewer participation. All major sports feature games produced from various vendors. Interactive games coinciding with live broadcasts are becoming increasingly popular as the internet age has brought fans to the best seats in the house... right in front of a pc screen.

Not all sports fantasy games are live. A few companies have created games featuring all time players using various formulas for simulating fantasy results.

No matter which type of sports game fans choose to play, live vs simulated, from Baseball to Rugby to Bass Fishing... online games have tremendous interaction on their message/bulletin boards. Many friendships have been forged from one common bond... sports. Sometimes groups of fans splinter off into their own leagues within a league... usually optimizing player participation.

In one of my baseball games, a group of us met for the first time for a Yankees game in the Bronx. Others have traveled to stadiums across the country, met at sports bars etc.

Due to increased popularity and competition between vendors, many games which were once offered for a set price are now being offered for free. Every major sports league sponsors games or has an officially licensed product (as do major sports tv/radio networks).

These games have also changed water cooler talk at offices around the world. No longer do suffering NY Knicks fans have to dwell on their losing ways... now some brag of how Dirk Nowitzky's triple double bailed out their team the previous night or Jets fans boasting of Randy Moss breaking the single season touch down record helped win a league title.

A whole new dimension to sports is talking hold.... pick a sport and give it a shot. Buyer beware... games can become addicting!