Why Esports?

With the rise of competitive gaming, you may be wondering: why esports? Why are people so into watching other people play video games? In this post, we’ll explore the rise of esports and some of the reasons why it’s become so popular.

What are Esports?

Esports are a form of organized, competitive video gaming, typically between professional players. Tournaments are typically sponsored by gaming companies or large organizations, with prize money awarded to the top finishers. Esports have grown in popularity in recent years, with spectators watching professional matches online or in person.

The Games

The first Esports games appeared in the early 1990s, with popular titles such as Quake and Street Fighter II. These games were played mostly by hardcore gamers and did not have a large audience. However, the late 1990s saw the rise of multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games such as StarCraft and Warcraft III, which attracted a larger audience.

Today, there are hundreds of Esports games played at the professional level. The most popular ones are listed below:

-League of Legends
-Dota 2
-Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
-Overwatch
-Hearthstone
-StarCraft II

These games are played in tournaments all over the world, with prize pools that can reach tens of millions of dollars. The biggest tournament is The International, which is organized by Valve (the company that makes Dota 2) and has a prize pool of over $30 million.

The Players

The professionalization of esports is drawing in participants from around the globe at an increasing rate. Each day, more and more skilled gamers are dedicating their time to becoming the best at their game of choice. The majority of esports athletes are aged 18-34, with a split almost evenly between male and female participants.

While most professional sports have strict age limits, in esports there is no maximum age limit for athletes. As long as gamers can perform at a high level, they can find a place on an esports team. This has led to a number of older players joining the ranks of professional gamers, sometimes even in leadership positions.

The most popular games in esports are first-person shooters (FPS), real-time strategy (RTS), multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), and fighting games (FG). These genres make up the vast majority of tournaments and leagues across the world. FPS games like Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Call of Duty are some of the most widely played titles, while League of Legends and Dota 2 dominate the RTS and MOBA categories respectively. In fighting games, titles like Street Fighter V, Super Smash Bros., and Mortal Kombat 11 garner the most attention from both professional and casual players alike.

The Tournaments

Players compete in esports tournaments all over the world, with most of the large tournaments taking place in Asia, North America, and Europe. There are several different types of tournaments that players can compete in. The most common type of tournament is the single-elimination tournament, also known as a knockout tournament. This type of tournament means that once a player loses a match, they are out of the tournament. A good example of a single-elimination tournament is The International, which is an annual Dota 2 tournament.

Other types of tournaments include double-elimination tournaments and round-robin tournaments. In a double-elimination tournament, players are only out of the tournament once they have lost two matches. A round-robin tournament is where each player plays every other player in their group and the standings are determined by how many matches each player won. The most common type of esports tournament is the league format, where teams compete in matches over the course of several weeks or months to try and win a championship at the end of it all.

Why Esports?

The popularity of Esports has been on the rise in recent years. More and more people are getting into playing and watching competitive video games. But why Esports? Why are people so interested in this relatively new form of entertainment? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons.

The Benefits

Esports can provide a number of benefits for participants, including:

-Improved mental and physical health
-A sense of community and belonging
-An opportunity to earn money and scholarships
-Improved communication and teamwork skills
-An outlet for creativity and self-expression

The Opportunities

The esports industry is still in its infancy, but it’s already generated billions of dollars in revenue and attracted hundreds of millions of viewers. And it shows no signs of slowing down.

As the industry continues to grow, so do the opportunities for those looking to get involved. Here are just a few of the ways you can get involved in esports:

-As a player: If you’re good at video games, you can make a career out of playing them professionally. The best players in the world earn millions of dollars through prize money, sponsorships, and streaming deals.
-As a coach: As an esports coach, you’ll help players improve their game and develop strategies for winning matches. Coaches also typically work with teams on their mental game, helping players deal with the pressure of competition.
-As a content creator: If you’re creative and have a passion for gaming, you can create esports content like videos, articles, or stream highlights. You can also work as an announcer or host for esports events.
-As a manager or agent: If you’re good at networking and have an eye for talent, you can work as an esports manager or agent. You’ll help players find sponsorships and set up appearances, and negotiate contracts on their behalf.
-As a marketer: As an esports marketer, you’ll promote professional gamers and teams to potential fans and sponsors. You’ll also develop marketing campaigns and create social media content.
-In other roles: There are plenty of other ways to get involved in esports without being a player or content creator. You could work as an event organizer, referee, photographer, or graphic designer. Or you could start your own esports organization or business

The Future

The future of esports is looking incredibly bright. According to a report by Goldman Sachs, the esports industry is on track to generate $3 billion in revenue by 2022. This rapid growth is being driven by a perfect storm of factors, including the increasing popularity of online streaming platforms like Twitch, the rise of mobile gaming, and the massive amounts of prize money being offered at competitive events.

What’s more, traditional sports leagues are beginning to take notice of esports and eye it as a potential revenue stream. For example, the NBA has launched its own league for professional gamers, and several soccer clubs have signed professional gamers to their clubs. It’s only a matter of time before other traditional sports leagues follow suit.

With all this growth and attention, it’s clear that esports is here to stay. If you’re thinking about getting involved in the world of competitive gaming, now is the perfect time!