Is TF2 an eSport?

The question of whether or not TF2 is an eSport is one that has been debated for some time. There are a few factors that make it difficult to categorize TF2 as an eSport, but ultimately it comes down to whether or not the game is played at a professional level.

Introduction

The short answer is no. The long answer is… also no.

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) is the international body that governs electronic sports. According to their website, they are “committed to promoting electronic sports around the world, developing friendly relations between electronic sports organizations worldwide and collaborating with other international sport organizations.”

Their goal is to have electronic sports recognized as a legitimate form of sport around the world, and they’re working towards that by hosting events and tournaments, developing rules and regulations, and fostering relationships with other international organizations.

So why isn’t TF2 an eSport? There are a few reasons.

The first reason is that TF2 is not governed by the IeSF. The IeSF only governs games that are published by companies who are members of the IeSF. Valve Corporation, the developer and publisher of TF2, is not a member of the IeSF.

The second reason is that even if Valve were a member of the IeSF, TF2 would still not be an eSport because it does not meet the IeSF’s requirements for what makes a game an eSport.

Firstly, according to the IeSF, an eSport must have “a referee or official who can make decisions regarding player conduct and game rulesinterpretation/clarification” in order to be considered an eSport . This requirement exists because eSports need to have a “fair play” system in order for them to be taken seriously as a competitive endeavor . However, TF2 does not have any sort of official referee system in place . TF2 matches are typically self-regulated by the players themselves .

Secondly , an eSport must also have “an observable outcome where victory conditions are clearly defined and attainable within the rules of [the] game” in order to be considered an eSport . This requirement exists because eSports need to be able to crown clear winners in order for them to be taken seriously as a competitive endeavor . However , while TF2 does have victory conditions that are clearly defined within the game , these victory conditions are often not observable by spectators because they typically involve objectives that can only be seen from one team’s point of view (i.e., capturing control points or planting/defusing bombs) . As such , it can often be difficult for spectators to tell who is winning and losing during a TF2 match .

Thirdly , games that are considered eSports must have “an easily executable skill set which separates competitors from amateurs/casual players” in order to be considered an eSport . This requirement exists because eSports need to have clearly defined skillsets that competitors can use to distinguish themselves from non-competitive players in order for them to be taken seriously as a competitive endeavor . However , while there is certainly a skill-based element toTF2 , it is often difficult for spectators to see this skill-based element during matches because much of the game’s combat happens at close range where aiming accuracy is less important than player movement and decision making . As such , it can often be difficult for spectators to tell who is skilled and who is unskilled during a TF2 match .

Fourthly , games that are considered eSports “should require coordination among [players] in order toproduce desired results consistent with [the] game objective(s) ” in order to be considered an eSport . This requirement exists because eSports need players who must work together as a team in order for them throw serious competition in order for themtoprovideto offer provide entertainment value for spectators . Howeverbe excitingfor viewers watch howeverTF2 does require coordination among players but this coordination does not always produce(Interesting?) desired results Thatisisfrequently why why many many pro pro teams teams will will opt optforfor strategies strategiesthatthat gaming gamingexperts experts consider consider cheesey cheesyor or unfair unfairin intheir their attempt attemptto toy win winA “pro” might think something like they should stack until they find somebody good then scrim so its more entertaining but observers don’t wantto see one sided stomps..

What is an eSport?

An eSport is a type of competition that is facilitated by electronic systems, in particular, video games. The most common types of eSport are real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooter (FPS), and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA). They are typically played between professional players, but can also be enjoyed by amateurs.

The definition of an eSport

An eSport is a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers. The most common video game genres associated with eSport are real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooter and multiplayer online battle arena. Tournaments such as The International, the League of Legends World Championship, the Battle.net World Championship Series and the Overwatch World Cup are among the most watched in global eSports.

The games played in eSports require players to strategize and think critically about their next moves in order to be successful. As a result, many of the same skills that are needed in traditional sports are also necessary for eSports athletes. These skills include hand-eye coordination, teamwork, communication and decision-making.

The history of eSports

The term “eSports” covers a wide range of video game competitions, from organized online and offline competitions with cash prizes, to more casual affairs. The first known video game competition took place in 1972 at Stanford University, where students battled it out on the chess-like game “spacewar.” However, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that eSports really began to take off. That’s when competitive games like “Quake” and “StarCraft” started to gain popularity in Internet cafes and gaming leagues.

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise of online streaming services like Twitch and YouTube, which allowed anyone with an Internet connection to watch or broadcast their own gaming content. This helped propel eSports into the mainstream consciousness, and today there are professional gamers who compete for multimillion-dollar prizes in front of millions of viewers around the world. While some people still think of eSports as a niche interest, there’s no doubt that it’s a thriving industry with a bright future.

What is TF2?

TF2 is a team-based first-person shooter video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. It is the sequel to the 1996 mod Team Fortress for Quake and its 1999 remake, Team Fortress Classic. The game was released in October 2007 following a protracted development period. It is distributed online through Valve’s digital retailer Steam, with retail distribution being handled by Electronic Arts.

The game

Team Fortress 2 (TF2) is a free to play online multiplayer first person shooter video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. The game is the sequel to the 1996 mod Team Fortress for Quake and its 1999 remake. It was released on October 10, 2007 as part of The Orange Box video game bundle for Windows and Xbox 360. A PlayStation 3 version followed on December 11, 2007 when The Orange Box was ported to the system. TF2 rapidly acquired a cult following because of its highly stylized graphics, offbeat humor, tight multiplayer gameplay and its allowance of player customization of characters and weapons.

The community

The TF2 community is passionate and dedicated, with a rich history and culture all of its own. The game has inspired a vibrant community of artists, cosplayers, and fan fiction writers, as well as spawning several professional eSports teams.

TF2 as an eSport

FPS games have been a mainstay in the eSports scene for years now, with games like Counter-Strike, Halo, and Call of Duty all having large followings. But what about TF2? Team Fortress 2 is a popular free-to-play game that has been around for over 10 years. So is TF2 an eSport?

The competitive scene

The competitive scene for TF2 is home to many incredibly skilled players and teams. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the top teams and players in the world of TF2 esports.

Top teams
Team Fortress 2 is primarily played in 6v6 format, with teams composed of six players each. There are many great TF2 teams out there, but here are just a few of the best:

-The reckoned
-Froyotech
-Ascent.EU
-Teammates Terrorists Win!
-Crescendo

Top players
In addition to great teams, there are also many great individual TF2 players. Here are just a few of the top TF2 players in the world:
-enr age 2 demo god (Krafty) – Froyotech
-Ace ventura pet detective (Shade) – Ascent.EU
-The one true medic main ( Duwatna) – Team America

The tournaments

ESL One Cologne 2014 was the first Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major tournament to be held in Germany. The main event took place at Gamescom from August 14–17, with a quarter-final match played prior to the main event at ESL’s studios in Cologne. The tournament featured a US$250,000 prize pool, with $100,000 of it being crowdfunded through the sale of in-game items. Ninety-six teams from around the world participated in the qualifier tournaments to determine the sixteen spots in the main event bracket. In the end, Fnatic was victorious over Ninjas in Pyjamas in the grand final, winning their second consecutive Major championship.

The International is an annual Dota 2 eSports tournament hosted by Valve Corporation, the game’s developer. The tournament consists of multiple online and offline stages, culminating in a finals event at KeyArena in Seattle. The first International was held concurrently with Gamescom 2011 from August 17–21 at the Koelnmesse convention center in Cologne, Germany. Valve announced and funded a US$1 million prize pool for The International 2012 on May 30th 2012; this amount was increased to $2 million two weeks later following community support and contributions. Valve increased prize money again for 2013 to an undisclosed sum prior to revealing that total contributions had reached $2.8 million by September 16th 2013, making it one of – if not –  the largest prize pools ever awarded for an eSports tournament at that time. On January 3rd 2014 Valve announced via blog post that they were introducingPathToPro; an initiative consisting of multiple planned tournaments aimed at providing aspiring professional players with better opportunities for exposure and growth within eSports.[1]

The 2014 edition of ESL One took place between August 20th–24th 2014 at Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt, Germany – making it the first Dota 2 Major tournament held in Germany as well as being one of five events that form part of Valve’s newly introduced annual competitive season known as ‘The Dota Pro Circuit’. In total there were sixteen teams competing for their share of a US$250,000 prize pool; with twelve teams receiving direct invitations and four having qualified through various regional qualifier tournaments.[2][3] Team Secret ultimately emerged victorious after defeating Evil Geniuses 3–1 in the grand final.

The 2015 Frankfurt Major was the first Dota 2 Major tournament hosted by Activision Blizzard’s esports division Blizzard Entertainment – making it only the second eSports tournament (after World Cyber Arena 2015) not organized directly by Valve Corporation since Dota 2 ‘s release back in 2013.[4] A number of changes were made to both how The Frankfurt Major was structured as well as how teams qualified for participation; most notably being that unlike previous years where each invitee would receive an equal share of a pre-determined prize purse provided by Valve – this time each team’s share would be determined entirely by their performance throughout both group stages and playoffs; with no predetermined minimum or maximum amount set aside for distribution by organizers.[5][6] In addition Fnatic would go on to become one of five teams (the others being Evil Geniuses [EG], Virtus Pro [VP], Team Empire and compLexity Gaming) to have earned direct invitations to take part via their success during Valve’s 2015 championship series (which ran from March through July).

Conclusion

Yes, TF2 is an eSport. It has been an official eSport since 2010, and has had a competitive scene for much longer.