How to Go Into Esports: A Comprehensive Guide

A complete guide on how to enter the world of professional gaming including what you need, where to start, and what to expect.

Introduction

Hi there! You might be reading this because you’re interested in getting into the world of esports. Or, maybe you’re already involved in gaming and want to take your passion to the next level. Regardless of your situation, we’re here to help you figure out how to go into esports.

Esports is a rapidly growing industry with tons of opportunity. But it can also be daunting and competitive. So, where do you start? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to get into esports, including:

-What are esports?
-The history of esports
-The different types of esports games
-How to become an esports player
-How to get into esports coaching, management, or other behind-the-scenes roles

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a good understanding of the esport scene and what it takes to make it as a professional player or other type of gaming industry professional. Let’s get started!

What is Esports?

Esports is a form of sport competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players. Although organized online and offline competitions have long been a part of video game culture, these were largely between amateurs until the late 2000s, when participation by professional gamers and spectatorship in these events saw a large surge in popularity. By the 2010s, esports was a significant factor in the video game industry, with many game developers actively designing and providing funding for tournaments and other events.

The Different Types of Esports

Just as traditional sports are divided into different categories (e.g. football, basketball, baseball, etc.), so too is esports. But because esports is such a new industry, the types of games played competitively are constantly evolving.

As of right now, the most popular types of esports games can broadly be classified into the following categories:

First-person shooter (FPS) games: In FPS games, players experience the game from the perspective of the main character and use weapons to eliminate opponents. Examples of popular FPS games include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Halo 5, and Overwatch.

Real-time strategy (RTS) games: In RTS games, players are tasked with building up their own base while simultaneously attacking opponents’ bases. The best-known RTS game is Starcraft II.

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games: MOBA games pit two teams against each other with each team trying to destroy the other team’s base. Popular MOBA games include Dota 2 and League of Legends (LoL).

Fighting games: As the name suggests, fighting games pit two players against each other in one-on-one combat. Notable examples include Mortal Kombat X and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

The History of Esports

The origins of esports are tricky to pinpoint, but we can piece together a pretty clear history starting with the professionalization of video gaming in the 1970s. This is when players started to form teams and compete in organized tournaments for cash prizes, with the most notable early event being Space Invaders Championship held in 1980.

In the 1990s, PC gaming started to take off with games like Quake, Doom and Starcraft. This led to the formation of professional leagues and competitions with large prize pools, viewerships in the millions and even sponsorship from companies like Coca-Cola. The late 1990s also saw the advent of live streaming services like Twitch, which allowed people to watch esports matches online.

The 2000s were a big decade for esports. The International Olympic Committee stated that they would recognize esports as a sports discipline, leading to the formation of international governing bodies like the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF). This decade also saw the start of well-known esports tournaments like Major League Gaming (MLG) and Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), which are still running today.

More recently, we’ve seen huge growth in both the popularity and prize money available in competitive gaming. Fortnite World Cup had a $30 million prize pool this year, while last year’s Dota 2 International had a record-breaking $34 million up for grabs. With numbers like these, it’s no wonder that so many people are interested in getting involved in esports!

How to Get Into Esports

Esports, also known as electronic sports, competitive (video) gaming, or pro gaming, is a form of sport where players compete in video games. Esports often take the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players. The most common video games genres in esports are real-time strategy (RTS), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting, and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). Tournaments such as The International, the League of Legends World Championship, the Evolution Championship Series and the Intel Extreme Masters provide live broadcasts of esports competitions and have large prize pools.

Competitive gaming has existed for years, but it was only in recent years that it has begun to reach mainstream audiences through live streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming. This popularity has led to the rise of professional Esports leagues and tournaments with players from all over the world competing for large prize pools.

Getting into Esports can be a daunting task, but with our comprehensive guide, you’ll be on your way to becoming a pro gamer in no time!

The Pros and Cons of Esports

The Pros and Cons of Esports

Like any field, esports has its own unique set of pros and cons. Understanding these can help you make a more informed decision about whether or not pursuing a career in esports is right for you.

PROS:
1.Can be extremely lucrative- Top esports athletes can earn millions of dollars per year from prize money, sponsorships, and endorsement deals.
2.Offers more opportunities for women- While women are still vastly outnumbered by men in the esports scene, the industry is much more inviting and accommodating to women than traditional sports. This is gradually changing as the popularity of esports continues to grow.
3.No age limit- There is no age limit in esports, so even older athletes can continue to compete at a high level if they so choose.
4.You can make a living doing what you love- If you’re passionate about video games and competition, pursuing a career in esports allows you to turn your hobby into a full-time job.
5.You can compete from anywhere in the world- Unlike traditional sports, you don’t need to be in a specific location to compete in esports. As long as you have an internet connection, you can participate in tournaments and events from anywhere in the world.
CONS:
1.It is a highly competitive field- The top tier of esports is filled with extremely talented athletes who have been playing for years. This can make it difficult for newcomers to break into the scene and find success.
2.$1 million prize pools aren’t guaranteed- Unlike traditional sports leagues, there is no guarantee that any given tournament will have a large prize pool. This means that even successful professional gamers may not be able to earn a living wage from playing video games alone.
3The hours are long and unpredictable- Professional gamers often spend upwards of 40 hours per week practicing and competing in tournaments. This can be both mentally and physically draining, especially if you don’t have a set schedule or down time between events

The Different Roles in Esports

Like any sport, there are different playing positions in esports with unique rules for each. here are the five main roles typically found on an esports team:

The Carry: Also known as the “hard carry,” this player is responsible for doing the majority of the damage for the team. They need to be able to survive in fights and have high burst damage to take down opponents quickly.

The Support: As the name suggests, this player’s job is to support their teammates by healing them, providing crowd control (CC), and buffing their stats. Supports typically don’t do as much damage as other players on the team but are a crucial part of any victory.

The Roamer: This position is a mix between a support and a carry. The roamer helps out their teammates when needed but also independently looks for opportunities to get kills. They need to be very versatile and adaptable to whatever is happening in the game.

The Solo Laner: As the name suggests, this player goes off on their own in one of the three lanes (top, middle, or bottom) and tries to stay alive while farming minions (the computer-controlled creatures that spawn periodically and walk down each lane). The goal is to level up quickly and get strong enough to take on opponents who are trying to do the same thing in their own lanes.

The Jungler: This player roams around the space between the lanes (the “jungle”) killing neutral monsters for extra gold and experience. They also gank (ambush) enemy players who are alone in their lanes, which can give their teammates an advantage.

The Different Tournaments in Esports

The Different Tournaments in Esports

Just like traditional sports, there are many different tournaments that take place in the world of esports. Depending on the game, these tournaments can be offline or online, large or small, and with varying degrees of prize money. While some of the most popular tournaments are run by the game developers themselves, such as Blizzard’s Overwatch League or Riot Games’ League of Legends Championship Series, others are independent and organized by third-party companies. Here are some of the most popular esports tournaments:

The International: This is an annual Dota 2 tournament organized by Valve Corporation, the developers of Dota 2. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious and well-funded events in all of esports, with the 2019 prize pool totaling over $34 million.

Fortnite World Cup: This is a tournament for the battle royale game Fortnite that was first held in 2019. It had a prize pool of $30 million, making it the largest single event in esports history at the time. The 2020 event is set to have an even bigger prize pool of $100 million.

League of Legends World Championship: This is an annual tournament for League of Legends that is organized by Riot Games. It is considered to be one if not the most prestigious event in all of esports, with a 2019 prize pool of over $2 million.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships: These are biannual tournaments for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that are organized by Valve Corporation. They have become some of the most watched events in all of esports, with a combined total prize pool over $34 million across all 13 events.

The Different Leagues in Esports

Just like traditional sports, esports has a variety of leagues catering to different skill levels. The differencing factor, however, is that esports leagues are almost exclusively digital. Think of it like this: the NFL is to football as the Overwatch League is to Overwatch.

The three most popular esports games--League of Legends, Overwatch, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive--all have leagues with a global reach that anyone can join. Below is a description of the three primary types of leagues in esports:

Professional Leagues: The top-level competitive circuit for each game where the best players in the world compete for prizes worth millions of dollars. To join a professional league, players must try out and be drafted or signed by one of the league’s teams. The two most popular professional leagues are the Overwatch League (OWL) and the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).

Semi-professional Leagues: Lower-level competitive circuits for each game where less skilled players can still compete for smaller prizes. The term “semi-professional” is used because many of these players also play part-time or full-time jobs outside of gaming. To join a semi-professional league, players must try out and be drafted or signed by one of the league’s teams. A few popular semi-professional leagues are the North American League of Legends Challenger Series (NA LCS) and the Halo Championship Series (HCS).

Amateur Leagues: Competitive circuits for each game where amateur players can compete against each other for fun and bragging rights. These leagues are designed for players who want to test their skills but don’t necessarily want to commit to a professional or semi-professional career in gaming. To join an amateur league, players simply sign up and are placed on a team with other amateur players. A few popular amateur leagues are Go4LoL and GameBattles.

The Different Games in Esports

Esports is a term used to describe organized, competitive video gaming. These can be played either online between individuals or teams, or offline in front of a live audience. There are many different games in the esports world, ranging from first-person shooters to real-time strategy games, and each game requires different skills and strategies to succeed.

Some of the most popular esports games include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, and StarCraft II. These games are played at the highest levels by professional gamers who make a living from playing them. For aspiring esports athletes, it is important to choose a game that you are passionate about and have a good understanding of how to play it at a competitive level.

While there are many different games in esports, they can broadly be grouped into two main categories: team games and individual games. Team games are typically played between two teams of five players, while individual games are played between two players or one player against an AI opponent.

Team Games:
-Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
-Dota 2
-League of Legends
-Overwatch
-Team Fortress 2Individual Games:
-StarCraft II
-Hearthstone
– Heroes of the Storm