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When we think about sports, the images that often come to mind are those of athletes running on a track, scoring goals on a football field or hitting home runs in a baseball stadium. However, there’s another world of competitive play that has been gaining significant momentum over the last decade – the world of eSports.
eSports, short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming where individuals or teams compete against each other in various video games. This might seem like just fun and games to some, but it’s far more than that. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry with professional players who train rigorously, coaches who develop strategic game plans, and millions of fans worldwide.
A Brief History
The roots of eSports can be traced back to the 1970s and 1980s when arcade games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man were popular. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that eSports started to take off with the rise of online multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and StarCraft.
One significant milestone was in 2000 when the Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA) was formed to manage eSports in South Korea. The formation of this body legitimised eSports as a real sport in one country at least.
Types of Games
eSports encompasses a wide range of genres including real-time strategy (RTS), first-person shooter (FPS), multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), fighting games, racing games and more. Some popular eSports titles include League of Legends (LoL), Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Overwatch and Fortnite.
The Players
In professional eSports, players often belong to teams that are managed by companies. These players train for hours each day, honing their skills and strategies to compete in tournaments. Many of them even live together in training houses, similar to traditional sports teams.
Like traditional athletes, eSports players can have lucrative careers with salaries, sponsorships, and prize money from tournaments. However, it’s a highly competitive field with many aspiring players not making it to the professional level.
The Fans
eSports has amassed a large and passionate fan base around the world. These fans follow their favourite teams and players, watch live streams of matches on platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, attend live events in stadiums, and even bet on matches.
The Industry
The eSports industry is booming. According to Newzoo’s 2020 Global Esports Market Report, the global eSports market was set to exceed $1 billion in revenue for the first time in 2020. This includes revenue from media rights deals, advertising, sponsorships, merchandise sales and ticket sales for live events.
Big names in tech and entertainment have invested heavily in eSports. Amazon bought Twitch for nearly $1 billion in 2014. In 2015 Activision Blizzard established its own eSports division. Even traditional sports teams have gotten involved with NBA teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat owning or sponsoring eSports teams.
Conclusion
In conclusion,
The world of eSports is an exciting one that blurs the line between traditional sports and gaming. It’s a world filled with intense competition, strategic gameplay, dedicated training regimes – all underlined by a passionate community of gamers and fans. As technology continues to evolve and more people become aware of this digital sport phenomenon, there’s no telling how much further it will grow.
