The Esports Industry and What Competitive Gaming Is About
Introduction to the Global eSports Industry
When esports first
started, it was referred to as the subset of the sports industry. But, over the
years, the industry has continued to experience tremendous growth with constant
technological advancement. Today, the esports industry stands alone; not a
subset of sports but exists within the intersection of sports and technology.
However, its growth over the years has made it one of the most lucrative
industries globally.
Today, esports like
what you have on parimatch.in/en/e-sports is a leveling ground
for gamers to play competitively virtually. The esports industry does something
like the sports industry that separates it from the sports industry. It creates
a platform where players can actively participate in games as though they were
in real-time. With technological innovation, the industry has carved out a
space for itself outside the traditional sports industry.
According to records,
esports has over 400 million people watching online and offline. However, its
motive isn’t to compete with the traditional sports industry. But, esports
viewers continue to challenge sports viewership. This article explores the
basics of esports and other notable things about the industry.
What Is eSports?
eSports is nothing
really different from the regular sports we are used to except that it happens
virtually. From its name, it implies sports that take place electronically, on
a digital device. eSports is equivalent to sports games, but what
differentiates it is the game pattern. While sports games are held in physical
events, esports are hosted virtually with viewers watching players compete.
You’ll find
traditional sports games like FIFA and NBA2K on esports. Other core esports
games are League of Legends, Dota, and Counter-Strike. In esports, players
participate by streaming themselves playing or joining an organization to
compete for prizes. On the other hand, fans watch their favorite teams compete
and win tournaments virtually.
Esports are sports
done on a virtual ground. Its ability to exist this way is aided by technology.
Due to this, the industry continues to embrace more growth because it exists
within a “limitless” space.
Popular
eSports Games You Should Know
In esports, popular
games are ranked, and the ranking changes each month. Yet, some games appear on
the list of the most popular esports games. Some of these games are;
●
League of Legends
●
Dota 2
●
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
●
Hearthstone
●
Heroes of the Storm
●
Overwatch
●
World of Tanks
●
StarCraft II
●
Street Fighter V
●
Super Smash Bros. Melee
It might surprise most
people, but the most popular games in esports are not even the traditional
sports like FIFA. Popular esports games are multiplayer online battle arenas,
real-time strategy, and first-person shooter games.
The
eSports Landscape: Who Are the Parties Involved?
In the esports
landscape, there are several parties involved. Below are the major parties that
comprise the esports industry.
1. Players
The players play an
essential part in esports. Players have to spend time honing their skills
through competitive play to qualify as a player. eSports players train between
8-14 hours a day. Esports players have the option to branch out their careers
either through streaming or playing professionally.
2.
Teams
For players who decide
to play professionally, join a team or sometimes play solo for tournaments.
Each esports team has to specialize and compete only in one game. While these
teams compete, viewers watch them as they play through the tournament.
3.
Organizations
Being part of an
organization is reserved solely for the best esports teams. There are various
organizations teams can join. Cloud9, NRG, TSM, Optic Gaming, and Fnatic are
some of them. Organizations have to recruit high-profile players and teams to a
more extensive fan base to become prominent.
4.
Leagues
Representing their
various organizations, esports teams will compete within their video game’s
respective leagues. It’s like traditional sports, with regular seasons,
playoffs, and championships. These league tournaments are headed by companies
like Major League Gaming or Electronic Sports League.
When Major League
gaming launched in the early 2000s, the tournament drew the attention of a lot
of fans. Today, that record has grown even higher as esports tournaments record
millions of viewers just like traditional sports. In addition, Every tournament
has an attached prize. For instance, the international Dota 2 Championship of
2016 had total prize money of $20.8 million.
5.
Publishers
Every game on esports
has a game creator who is referred to as the publisher. The publisher has right
over where the game is played, video tournaments, and many more. The games in
esports are the intellectual properties of the publishers, and every other person
within the esports landscape is aware of them.
eSports:
Games & Tournaments
Like the Super Bowl,
Football, BasketBall, and Tennis, esports occasionally hold tournaments. As
such, it continues to attract millions of viewers. As a result, this has drawn
the attention of companies to partner with the industry.
