Who Owns Esports Talk?
Contents
Esports Talk is a rapidly growing esports media outlet. But who owns Esports Talk?
The Landscape of Esports
Esports Talk is a website dedicated to the discussion, analysis, and promotion of esports. It was founded in 2014 by a group of passionate gamers who saw the potential for esports to become a mainstream form of entertainment. Over the years, Esports Talk has grown into a respected voice in the esports community. But who owns it?
The Different Types of Esports
There are different types of esports. Some of the most popular games in esports are first-person shooters (FPS), Dota 2, League of Legends (LOL), and Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO). There are also real-time strategy games (RTS), sports games, and fighting games.
The first-person shooter genre is one of the most popular genres in gaming. It is also one of the most popular genres in esports. FPS games usually involve two teams fighting each other in an arena-style map. The most popular FPS game in esports is Counter Strike: Global Offensive.
Dota 2 is a MOBA game that was released by Valve in 2013. The game has two teams of five players who fight each other on a three-lane map. The objective of the game is to destroy the enemy’s ancient structure. LOL is another MOBA game that was released by Riot Games in 2009. LOL also has two teams of five players who fight each other on a three-lane map. The objective of the game is to destroy the enemy’s nexus structure.
Sports games are another popular genre in gaming and esports. The most popular sports game in esports is FIFA. FIFA is a soccer game that was released by EA Sports in 1993. FIFA tournaments are held all over the world and they usually have large prize pools.
Fighting games are also popular in gaming and esports. The most popular fighting game in esports is Street Fighter V. Street Fighter Vwas released by Capcom in 2016 and it has a large competitive scene all over the world.
The Different Tiers of Esports
There are four different types of esports:
1. Casual esports: Also known as social esports, these are the most basic type of esports and usually involve people playing for fun with little to no competitive element. Think of games like Minecraft or Tetris.
2. Competitive esports: These are the most traditional type of esports and involve people playing against each other in order to win prizes or settle disputes. Most traditional sports, like football or basketball, would fall into this category.
3. Professional esports: These are esports where people play for a living. Players in professional leagues typically have sponsorships and earn salaries, just like traditional athletes do.
4. Grassroots esports: Grassroots esports are a bit different from the other three types in that they involve people playing for the love of the game with little to no monetary prize involved. Games like Super Smash Bros. or Pokemon would fall into this category.
The Different Aspects of Esports
Esports is a form of competition using video games. The first esports competition took place in 1972 at Stanford University. Since then, esports has grown into a global phenomenon with professional teams and players, big money tournaments, and millions of fans. While the majority of esports fans are male, the demographics are changing and women are becoming more involved in the scene.
The Games
The most popular games in esports right now are:
-League of Legends (MOBA)
-Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (FPS)
-Overwatch (FPS)
-Dota 2 (MOBA)
-Hearthstone (CCG)
Other games with large esports scenes are:
-Starcraft II
-Rocket League
-Super Smash Bros.
-Rainbow Six Siege
While there are many games with small professional scenes, the games listed above make up the overwhelming majority of esports.
The Tournaments
While many sports have a single governing body, esports is fought on many fronts by numerous organizations. The largest and most influential of these is the Electronic Sports League or ESL. They host competitions all over the world with prize pools in the millions of dollars. The winner of the Overwatch World Cup 2018 was Sweden and they took home a cool $250,000. Not too shabby for a day’s work! Other notable tournaments include the Intel Extreme Masters, The International, and the League of Legends World Championship.
The Teams
In esports, teams are usually composed of anywhere between two to ten players, who play one or more games within a particular discipline. Games that are commonly played by esports teams include first-person shooters (FPS), real-time strategy (RTS), multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), fighting, and card games. The roles within an esports team vary depending on the game being played. For example, in an FPS game such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the roles on a typical team would be rifler, AWPer, lurker, support, and in-game leader. In a MOBA such as Dota 2 or League of Legends, the roles typically consist of carry, midlaner, offlaner, support, and jungler.
The most successful esports teams are usually sponsored by large companies that provide the team with financial backing and brand recognition. In return for their sponsorship, these companies often have a say in the management and direction of the team. Some of the most well-known and successful esports teams include Cloud9, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, Evil Geniuses (EG), Team SoloMid (TSM), Team Liquid (TL), and Astralis.
The Players
While professional athletes receive a salary from their team or organization, esports athletes are typically paid a salary by their team, with some organizations providing additional bonuses or prize money based on tournament performance. In order to qualify for the salary, players must usually commit to a certain number of hours of practice per week and sign a contract that outlines their rights and obligations as members of the team.
Players usually form teams with other players in order to compete in tournaments, though there are some individual competitions as well. Tournaments typically have large cash prizes for the winning teams, which can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The largest prize pools in esports history have reached over $30 million.
In addition to prize money, many professional gamers also make money through sponsorships and endorsement deals. These deals can be worth tens of thousands of dollars per year, and the top players can earn millions of dollars per year through these deals and tournament winnings.
The Future of Esports
Esports Talk has been a driving force in the esports industry for the past few years. The company has been successful in hosting a number of events and tournaments. However, the future of the company is uncertain.
The Growth of Esports
With the industry skyrocketing in value and tournaments selling out arenas usually used for traditional sports, it’s no wonder that some are predicting that esports will one day rival traditional sports in popularity. And while it’s still early days for esports, the industry is already seeing explosive growth.
According to a report from Newzoo, the global esports economy will reach $696 million in 2017, a year-on-year growth of 41.3%. By 2020, the report predicts that the industry will be worth $1.5 billion.
Much of this growth is being driven by big investments from traditional sports teams and organizations, as well as from brands and advertisers who are eager to reach the lucrative millennial demographic. For example, NBA team owners Jerry Reinsdorf (Chicago Bulls) and Peter Guber (Golden State Warriors) have both invested in esports organizations, while Coca-Cola has sponsored numerous tournaments and leagues.
With so much money flowing into the industry, it’s no surprise that some are predicting that esports will one day rival traditional sports in terms of popularity and viewership. In fact, Goldman Sachs has estimated that by 2022, there could be as many as 300 million regular viewers of esports around the world.
The Challenges of Esports
The challenges of esports are multifaceted and complex. First, there is the question of who owns esports. While there are some big names in the industry, such as Blizzard, Riot Games, and Valve, the reality is that esports is still an emerging field with no real clear leader. This can make it difficult for new companies to break into the market and for existing companies to establish themselves as major players.
Second, there is the issue of monetization. While some esport tournaments offer large cash prizes, the vast majority do not. This means that most professional gamers have to supplement their incomes through other means, such as sponsorships or streaming services like Twitch. However, this can be difficult to do if you are not part of a major team or organization.
Third, there is the challenge of regulation. Because esports is still a relatively new industry, there are no real established rules or regulations around it. This can make it difficult for companies and organizations to know how to operate in this space. Additionally, because esports is often played online, there are also concerns about cheating and other forms of cheating that can occur.
Fourth, there is the issue of fandom. While many traditional sports fans are beginning to take notice of esports, the reality is that most people still do not understand or follow it regularly. This can be a barrier to entry for new fans and can also make it difficult for companies to market their products and services to this audience.
Finally, there is the challenge of media coverage. While some mainstream media outlets are starting to cover esports tournaments and events, the reality is that most still do not understand or know much about it. This lack of understanding can make it difficult for companies to get their message out there and for fans to find information about their favorite teams and players
The Potential of Esports
Though it seems like esports has come out of nowhere to become a global phenomenon, the truth is that the seeds of competitive gaming were planted many years ago. It all started with simple arcade games like “Pac-Man” and ” Donkey Kong,” which became popular in the 1980s. These early games laid the groundwork for today’s massive esports industry by establishing gaming as a legitimate form of entertainment.
The 1990s saw the birth of professional gaming leagues, which allowed players to compete for prizes and sponsorship deals. The most iconic moment in early esports history occurred in 1997, when 18-year-old Danish player Jonathon Wendel — known by his gamertag “Fatal1ty” — took first place in the Cyberathlete Professional League World Championships, winning a $50,000 grand prize.
This event proved that professional gaming could be viable on a global scale, and it set the stage for the explosive growth of esports in the years to come. Today, there are dozens of professional esports leagues all around the world, featuring hundreds of different games. And with millions of dollars up for grabs in prize pools, top gamers can now earn salaries comparable to those of traditional professional athletes.