Electronic Sports, eSports, are multiplayer video game competitions that involve gamers playing against each other individually or in a team. It has been existing for decades but has recently gained popularity because of increased viewership and other reasons. As a result, there have been massive tournaments that attracted the top gamers from across the world. The cash prizes up for grabs in these competitions show why they are so revered.
To enhance the buzz, online casinos have incorporated them allowing gamblers to bet on them. Hence, as you proceed to play crypto roulette australia, you can catch a glimpse of your favourite eSports and bet on your desired team. This phenomenon is recognised across the continents since it is comparable to traditional sports. It involves athletes competing against each other for a prize. The only difference is that eSports gamers play on a screen while other sportspeople play in different arenas.
History of Esports
eSports may seem new, but nothing can be further from the truth. It has been in existence for decades though it has recently gone mainstream. The earliest video game competition happened in the 1970s at Stanford University, where students took part in Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics for a chance to win a one-year Rolling Stone subscription. Sega also held an arcade game competition in Japan that was aimed at boosting sales.
These were the earliest known competitions in the world of e-Sports. By the 90s, there had been several electronic sports competitions, and some of them were aired on national TV. However, the backbone of eSports, as we know it now, was built in the 2000s in Asia. South Korea was among the first countries to go mainstream with the formation of the Korean eSports Association. It held competitions for Warcraft III and StarCraft, which were televised on cable TV. Other countries like Germany and the US also followed suit.
By 2010, the sport had grown significantly leading to increased viewership, number of competitions, and prize money. Tournaments like the Major League Gaming and the World Cyber Games began in this era. The entry of Twitch, an online streaming service, into the world of eSports, was a breakthrough that fanned the boom. It streamed competitions live with Dota 2 and League of Legends being the most popular games.
The rise of e-Sports since then has been on a meteoric rise. There have been massive tournaments with big money. Twitch currently has over 20 billion users who watch eSports regularly. Other platforms like YouTube are also popular for these games.
The Top Esports to Watch
The eSports realm is mainly dominated by team-based games. The most popular games to pay attention to include the following:
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- Overwatch
- Fortnite
- PUBG
- Call of Duty
- Valorant
- StarCraft II
These are the biggest games based on the number of viewers, the teams that play them, and the size of the prize money. Besides, these numbers keep growing, so we can only expect more from them.
Becoming an Esports Player
Players participate in eSports in teams. Just as in other sports, the teams have contracted players who earn a salary and other benefits from their gaming exploits. You will earn more if you are good enough to join the top teams, which include the following:
- Team Liquid
- Evil Geniuses
- Newbee
- Invictus Gaming
- OG
- Natus Vincere
These teams are all worth millions of dollars. They have gained fame and popularity from the tournaments they have won. Becoming an e-Sports player requires a lot of effort and self-discipline. The gamers spend hours on video games practising to improve their performances. With millions of dollars up for grabs, these players do not leave anything to chance. The top players tend to spend 10 to 15 hours practising. They depend on quick reaction times and a mastery of the games to beat their opponents. This can only be gained through practice.
Also, several gamers start playing from childhood. The competition forces even the best players to be keen to avoid being overtaken.
Since eSports is quite demanding, players are expected to maintain their physical, emotional, and mental health. They are expected to stick to a strict schedule to honour their matches, so ill health must not be a hindrance. The sedentary lifestyle makes them prone to chronic diseases like Diabetes. They also spend time in dark rooms and bright screens, which affects their eyes. Finally, they suffer from lower back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries due to posture and long sitting hours.
Hence, you must be willing to meet its demands if you want to engage in this sport. Thankfully, the teams prioritise their players’ health and find ways of keeping them fit.
ESports is taking the world by storm. It is experiencing a massive boom currently, but it is not very new. These games have been there for decades and continue to gain viewership courtesy of streaming services like Twitch. Nothing is more fun than earning from your favourite videogame.
