If the first step in turning computer gaming into a professional sport was the formation of leagues and the creation of the professional computer gamer, then the next step (though you could debate the order of these steps) would be the creation of a way to turn computer gaming into a spectator sport.

　　The Total Entertainment Network thinks it has come up with a way to do just that with its MadCam feature.

　　Created for TEN by Thomas Erickson, the MadCam (Mutmut's Amazing Deathmatch CAMera), will be used for the first time during Quake deathmatches played over the TEN service. The MadCam will support the viewing of competition by up to 14 online spectators.

　　Observers can choose from a range of preset camera angles or use a "dynamic" camera mode to "fly through the game, hovering in midair or following the action from an infinite number of viewpoints," according to TEN.

　　Currently, only Quake competitions support the MadCam, but TEN says it plans to make other titles MadCam-compatible soon.

　　TEN, of course, has already organized the AMD Professional Gamers' League, which has more strongly focused the spotlight on computer game players as opposed to computer game makers. Now, people will be able to watch those professional gamers in action.

　　TEN said it plans to use the MadCAM capability to record and broadcast highlights and complete matches from PGL matches.

　　TEN's MadCAM feature can be accessed by selecting "Watch" from the options associated with each match created in TEN's Quake and Quake-PGL Arenas.