For those who are avid gamers, you’ll either already know what eSports are, or you might even play many of the games in the genre. But for those who love gaming or have considered it and aren’t quite sure, here is a quick intro into one of the fastest-growing gaming genres.
What are eSports?
Most of us will recognize the names of the biggest sports stars, but there is a different breed of sports stars around, too – the type that plays games competitively. One of the biggest and most competitive games around; played in tournaments (just like regular sports) is League of Legends. Ahead of LoL and other similar games, games like poker were on screen and are also now in the sports category.
In short, eSports are video games that are played by opposing teams competitively and for the entertainment of spectators.
Can anyone get involved in eSports?
Just like major sports, the only way to get involved directly is to get really, really good. No matter what you choose, if there are tournaments with cash prizes that involve skill to win, these are considered eSports. There are even players who play completely on their mobile phones, although they are more likely to play ShadowVerse or Hearthstone than CandyCrush.
Are all online video games where you can win prizes considered to be eSports? No, they’re not, but that doesn’t mean checking out online slots Canada or NZ is any less fun for the player. In fact, if you don’t have a competitive edge but love to bag cash prizes, those games are often better!
How did eSports start?
Like all smash hits in gaming, eSports has an origin story. Many people consider eSport to be a recent thing, but it was around for a lot longer – perhaps without the short name attached to it, though. The first multiplayer game was released way back in 1958. Tennis for Two is, for many, considered the start of the eSports genre.
A competitive game where opponents would use a joystick to hit a ball. Simple, but often the best things start that way.
A Spacears tournament was hosted by the Intelligence Lab at Stanford and had 22 players meeting up to compete – the prize? A year sub to Rolling Stones magazine. The 70s saw people being able to have consoles in their homes and the rise of arcades – where the aim was to get your name to the top of the leaderboard.
By the 90s, better tech and internet connections started to be standard, and before you knew it, groups of gamers would form teams, guilds, and clans. Joining forces to defeat huge foes. Events where these gamers could meet and compete started to become more common – and so did the infamous LAN parties.
Jumping a few years forward, the Championship Gaming Series was a huge competition, and the winner could bag over one million USD, as well as player salaries that were around 5 million USD.
The history of eSports spans back over 70 years to what we now know it to be. Spectators stream big matches, the prize pools reach into the millions, players are sponsored by huge gaming and tech companies – and it is incredibly attractive to investors from all industries.
Has eSports changed how we view gaming?
Interestingly enough, eSports hasn’t just changed how we view gaming as a society, but it has also impacted how we view sports too. The combination of gaming, teams, and tournaments has put a new spin on everything.
Millions of people tune in to watch huge eSports teams fight it out on their favorite games, just as much as people turn on the TV to watch sports matches – or, in both cases, spend cash on pay-per-view.
Where once upon a time, children and young adults might have said they want to be a football star or play basketball – they are just as likely to say they want to stream or be on a certain eSports team.
What are the growth factors for eSports?
What turns a competitive game into a multi-billion dollar industry? There are several factors that have forced the growth of the eSports industry.
Competition
eSports replicate traditional sports when it comes to competition and make it exciting for viewers and players. After all, there is something to be won – titles, cash, notoriety, world travel, and more.
Game quality
Gaming now far surpasses what it once was, immersive gaming with VR, incredible graphics, stunning soundtracks, and high-speed consoles and PCs.
Career
It used to be that sports would be a way for children to make money and make it big, but gaming is now a legitimate option – and just as competitive to make it work too.
Social
Just like regular sports, eSports have the ability to bring people together. Talking to people they meet online, going to gatherings of players, heading to a game cafe to watch live matches, and more. eSports can provide a social circle to those who might typically struggle with making friends in real life.
Internet
The internet has been the driving force behind many different entertainment sectors growing. More households than ever have internet connectivity – and that means that almost anyone can play eSports games.
eSports is here to stay and has a very bright future. With game developers offering new games, improvements, and great competitive content all the time, we are likely to see even more of it.
