Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/6ou8gWpS9ns?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

Whether it’s a well known game like Fortnite or one with a more humble presence like Novibet online rouletteLinks to an external site., most games have some sort of a point system. And where there’s a point system, there’s a competition to be made out of it. In this digital age, the world of Electronic Sports (also known as Esports) and professional gaming is quickly becoming a mainstream talking point. Not too long ago, the idea that someone could earn a living from playing video games would likely have been laughed at, but now video game tournaments are more than capable of awarding large cash prizes and find themselves becoming international affairs with an adoring global audience.

Esports covers a wide range of game and event types. Generally however, it is defined as a regional or international video game event in which professionals and amateurs can compete with one another. It’s possible to find all sorts of competitions from retro classics such as Super Mario Brothers and Tetris to newer titles such as Halo and Overwatch. This diversity is a huge boon to the Esport market since that allows it to attract a wider audience and there’s likely to be something for just about everybody. The current global Esport marketLinks to an external site. is estimated to be worth over a billion dollars, which considering the relative short history of video games themselves, is nothing short of impressive. So how did Esports manage to become such a big deal?

How Did Esports Become A Thing?

The earliest recorded instanceLinks to an external site. resembling an Esport was a 1972 event hosted by Stanford University, in which five students competed in a Spacewar tournament for the prize of a year-long subscription for Rolling Stone. Although small, that tournament opened the floodgates for more organizations to hold similar competition and in 1982 a dedicated firm (Twin Cities) that recorded the high score of various video games and published the results to the Guinness Book of World Records. From then on, the future of competitive gaming could only continue to get brighter as TV shows such as Starcade introduced mainstream audiences to the idea of arcade game competitions.

1991 was another huge year in the history of competitive gaming as tournaments for games such as Street Fighter II relied on face to face action against competitors compared to high scores. Furthermore as the internet found widespread use in the 90s, this led to the rise of online streaming platforms such as twitch as well as a boom in online forums and websites which could be devoted to video games. The internet also allowed for larger competitions which spanned across a larger geographical range to take place since the internet allowed players from just about anywhere to take part in online competitions. 

In the 2000s, the popularity of competitive gaming quickly snowballed to immense proportionsLinks to an external site.. With the rise of gaming channels on popular social media sites such as YouTube, this led to some people turning their gaming channel into a full-time job. All of a sudden, making a job via gaming seemed to be a lot more plausible compared to even a few decades ago. Additionally, tournament hosts such as Major League Gaming and World Cyber Games started to be able to hold larger tournaments as more companies started to recognize the potential of the competitive gaming market and were willing to act as sponsors for such events due to their ability to pull in viewers from all over the world (and thus allowing the company to reach a larger potential customer base). This led to larger prize pools that were in the millions and suddenly competitive gaming wasn’t just a way to make a living, but potentially a way for you to make a name for yourself and to earn a pretty penny. 

Why Are Esports So Popular?

In the modern digital age, the simple answer is that it’s an extremely accessibleLinks to an external site. form of entertainment. Streaming services such as twitch allow players to stream their games and for audience members to interact with the players. Other sites such as YouTube are also able to host recorded video content for viewers to re-watch and dissect games that were previously played. 

Streaming has the additional benefit of adding a layer of personal intimacy as the real time reactions of the streamer are caught on camera and as such dedicated fans will see go through a streamer’s triumphs and setbacks together with them. This leads to a more personal connection between the audience and the streamer. Even professional gaming teams often hold streams for fans to watch to showcase their competition preparations. This allows them to build up a wider audience base and helps the audience to get to know the team better. This works in their favor when they try to catch the eye of potential sponsors and brings in more viewers when the competition itself is streamed. 

Competitive gaming is arguably a market that is still in its fledgling state. With the rapid improvements made to video games and the technology they use, it is highly likely that the nature of Esports still has room to grow and evolve. Nonetheless, we cannot deny its success in the modern day and the widespread it will likely continue to have in the future.