When Esports Started and Why It’s Taking Over the World

Esports has been around for a while, but it’s only recently that it has started to take over the world. Here’s a look at when esports started and why it’s becoming so popular.

Origins of Esports

Esports, also known as electronic sports, competitive (video) gaming, or pro gaming, is a form of sport competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. 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.

The first video game tournament

The first video game tournament took place on October 19, 1972, at Stanford University. The event was organized by student Kevin Bates and attracted 10 participants who competed in the game Spacewar. The winner, Bill Harrison, took home a year’s subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

While this was certainly a landmark moment in gaming history, it would be another two decades before competitive gaming began to take off on a global scale. The next major development came in 1980 with the launch of the U.S. National Video Game Team, which was sponsored by Atari and tasked with promoting the company’s games around the world.

This was followed by the release of Space Invaders in 1978, which became a smash hit in arcades across Japan. This led to the first major esports tournament in that country, which took place in 1980 and featured a massive prize pool of $1 million (equivalent to over $3 million today).

The 1980s also saw the birth of professional gaming organizations like Twin Galaxies and the World Game Championships, which helped to promote and organize large-scale tournaments. It was during this decade that players like Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe emerged as stars of the competitive gaming scene.

The 1990s saw Esports begin to gain more mainstream attention, with tournaments like Nintendo’s World Championships and theStreet Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting Championship attracting large audiences. This was also the decade that saw the launch of popular Esports titles like StarCraft and Counter-Strike.

Today, Esports is a multi-billion dollar industry with millions of fans around the world. Major tournaments like The International (Dota 2), League of Legends World Championship, and Overwatch World Cup attract huge crowds and generate huge prize pools. And with traditional sports organizations like NBA and NFL investing in Esports leagues, it’s clear that this phenomenon is here to stay.

The rise of competitive gaming

The term “esports” covers a wide range of video game competitions. The most common video games in esports are first-person shooters (FPS), real-time strategy (RTS), multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), and fighting games.

Esports began in the 1970s with Atari’s Space Invaders Championship, which drew more than 10,000 participants across the United States. Competitive gaming gained popularity in the 1990s with the rise of internet connectivity and faster computers, which allowed gamers to connect and play with each other online. This led to the development of well-known competitive titles such as Quake and Starcraft.

The early 2000s saw the birth of professional esports organizations, which helped to structure and promote competitive gaming leagues and tournaments. These organizations provided a platform for top gamers to showcase their talents and earn prize money. In 2002, South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recognized esports as a form of official sport, further legitimizing competitive gaming.

Since then, esports has grown rapidly in popularity around the world. The global esports economy is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2020, according to research firm Newzoo. This growth is being driven by rising investment from game publishers, brands, media companies, and even traditional sports organizations.

With its large global audience and lucrative business opportunities, esports is poised to take over the world of competitive gaming.

The Growth of Esports

Though it has only recently become a household name, esports have been around for almost as long as video games have. The earliest esports events date back to the 1970s when arcade games started to become popular. These early competitions were mostly local affairs, however, and it would be many years before esports began to grow into the global phenomenon it is today. So, what caused this growth? In this article, we’ll explore the history of esports and some of the factors that have contributed to its recent explosion in popularity.

The birth of professional gaming

The origins of esports lie in the birth of professional gaming. In the early days of video gaming, matches were mostly a matter of two friends battling it out on a single console in their living room. As time passed, local LAN parties became more popular and larger tournaments hosted by companies like Major League Gaming (MLG) and Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) started to spring up. These tournaments saw fierce competition between players as they fought for cash prizes, which in turn led to the rise of professional gamers who practiced incessantly to hone their skills.

The growth of esports leagues and tournaments

Since the early 2000s, esports has grown from a niche hobby to a multi-million dollar industry, with professional leagues and tournaments all over the world. This explosive growth is due to a number of factors, including the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, the increasing popularity of competitive gaming, and the growing prize pools for professional tournaments.

Today, there are dozens of professional esports leagues and tournaments, with millions of dollars up for grabs in prize money. The most popular games in the esports scene include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Fortnite. And with the 2020 Olympics set to feature competitive gaming for the first time ever, it’s clear that esports is here to stay.

Why Esports is Taking Over the World

Esports has become a global phenomenon with tournaments taking place all over the world. Fans flock to stadiums to watch their favorite teams compete for huge prize pools. But how did it all start? Let’s take a look at the history of esports and find out how it has become the phenomenon it is today.

The global appeal of esports

The global appeal of esports is undeniable. According to Newzoo, the worldwide esports economy will reach $696 million in 2017, up 38% from last year. By 2020, that number is expected to balloon to $1.5 billion. The majority of that revenue will come from sponsorships and advertising, with North America and China leading the way.

There are a number of factors driving this rapid growth. First and foremost is the increasing popularity of streaming services like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, which have created a new generation of esport stars and given rise to professional leagues like the Overwatch League and the North American League of Legends Championship Series.

Another factor is the increasing amount of investment from traditional sports leagues and organizations. The NBA has launched its own professional esports league, while NFL teams like the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles have signed professional gamers to their organizations.

And finally, there’s simply the fact that esports is an incredibly fun and exciting spectator sport. Whether you’re watching a team of professional gamers battle it out in a first-person shooter or a group of enthusiasts duke it out in a strategy game, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The prize money in esports

The prize money in esports has been on the rise ever since the first tournaments were held in the early 2010s. In 2012, the prize money for League of Legends tournaments was $5 million. In 2013, it was $11 million. By 2014, it had increased to $19 million. And in 2015, the prize money for Dota 2 tournaments was $61 million.

The largest esports tournament in terms of prize money is The International, which is a Dota 2 tournament that is organized by Valve Corporation. The prize pool for The International 2018 was $25.5 million. The winning team, OG, took home $11.2 million.

There are many reasons why the prize money in esports has been increasing at such a rapid pace. For one thing, there are more and more tournaments being held each year. Additionally, more and more companies are sponsoring esports teams and tournaments. And as the popularity of esports continues to grow, so does the amount of money that is being invested into the industry.

There are a few factors that are driving the growth of esports. One is that there is a growing number of people who are interested in watching competitive gaming. In 2012, there were approximately 200 million viewers of esports worldwide. By 2013, that number had increased to 300 million. And by 2014, it was 400 million. In 2015, there were 500 million viewers of esports worldwide.

Another factor that is driving the growth of esports is the increasing amount of money that companies are investing into the industry. In 2012, companies investeed $130 million into esports through sponsorships and advertising deals. By 2013, that number had increased to $206 million . And by 2014 , it was $278 million . In 2015 , companies invested $694 million into esports .

The final factor that is driving the growth of esports is the increasing amount of prize money that is being awarded at tournaments . As more and more companies invest into esports , they are also increasing the amount of money that they are putting up for prize pools at tournaments . This has led to a situation where some tournament prizepools have become very large . For example , The International 2018 had a prize pool of $25 . 5 million .

The popularity of esports

The idea of people playing video games professionally is nothing new. In the early days of video gaming, there were already competitions and prizes, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s that esports started to take off. The first notable esports event was held in 1997 and featured the game Quake. Since then, the competitive gaming scene has exploded in popularity, with events being held all over the world and prize pools often reaching into the millions of dollars.

While many traditional sports fans may not understand the appeal, there are a number of reasons why esports have become so popular. For one, they are incredibly easy to watch. Unlike traditional sports where you need to be physically present to see the action, all you need to do to watch an esports match is fire up a streaming service like Twitch or YouTube. This makes it easy for people to follow their favorite players and teams without having to leave their homes or make a special trip to see them compete.

Another reason for the popularity of esports is that they offer something for everyone. There are dozens of different games being played at a professional level, so no matter what your taste is, there’s bound to be an esport out there for you. From first-person shooters like Counter-Strike to multiplayer online battle arenas like League of Legends, there’s an esport for every type of gamer.

Finally, one of the biggest reasons why esports have become so popular is because of the money involved. top professional gamers can earn millions of dollars from prize money, sponsorships, and endorsement deals. This attracts a lot of talented players who are looking to make a career out of playing video games and helps to make the esport scene even more competitive.