An estranged topic from my usual, i decided to try my hand at writing about something else.
Introduction
Gaming in total worldwide has brought in around $134 billion revenue (as of May 2018). This was proven to be more than TV, Film box office, and digital music. That is a lot of money, and a lot of people playing games- however there is more to gaming rather than just playing games for the sake of it, earning the bragging rights to mates.
Some people have aims to get on to the very top of the gaming ladder- the professional standard, where top gamers would make use of their most cunning strategies to outwit their opponents, and ultimately win the prize money.
This is called eSports- most people would begin to think it is an amount of people locked down their basements, sweating their pants out just to beat some virtual foe like some installment of South Park. But this is one of the massive upcoming, massively anticipated titles yet; big money wages just like in the top sports clubs, and glory up for grabs at each prestigious tournament’s summit.
How does ESports work?
ESports is very, very similar to what proper sports are like nowadays- fueled by money and reputation. The players are viewed as famous figures just like various sportsmen would be, people would see Juan DeBiedma (a professional Super Smash Bros player from America) up there with the likes of LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and other big sporting names.
The players earn big amounts, also similar to those of sportspeople’s huge earnings. For example a man named Johan Sundestein (The highest eSports earner) of Denmark- who plays Dota 2, has a baffling earning of $6,889,591.79 showcasing how much an eSports player can actually rack up whilst playing their games competitively.
As for what games are used, there are many types of competitions for several popular games that would require strategy and quick thinking to be able to execute the correct combination to win. Games include Dota 2, which is the most popular due to its strategic approach and its online compatibility. Counter Strike: Global Offensive is another popular and widely recognized name on the list- being a very popular in modern Slavic culture, many people from different countries have been known to play the game, thus making it another great and diverse game to be used.
As previously stated- money makes the eSports world go round. Teams buy players, offer contracts, and release players, just like your average premier league football team. Teams like FaZe and OpTic have great marketing values due to their big names- whilst some big football clubs have decided to invest in the fast growing industry, and have started up their own FIFA eFootball teams- hiring the best FIFA gamers from around the world to represent their teams on the virtual stage. It is a brilliant time for companies to begin to invest in the industry- it is not exactly matured just yet but is on the rise. A perfect opportunity for profit and another reason why it is currently all about money.
The life of an “eSports Athlete” is not an easy one, as an amateur gamer would have. They are not slacking all night, and day gathering little to no sleep at all while feasting on family size packs of Flaming hot Doritos, washing it down with energy drinks. The top gamers would actually spend time training and coming up with different strategies to use in upcoming games, getting used to them, then integrating it into their already vast range of gaming skills, memorized within their brain. Many would be shocked to know that those elite gamers have their own backroom staff- ranging from nutritionists to coaches, helping them balance their daily food intake, mental health, and even keep fit. Most people would think fitness is the least of their worries- but reaction times and mental capability is an essential and huge part of success.
Statistics and Facts
ESports is currently infamous for involving large amounts of money. Similar to other sports, it is fueled by cash, and prize money is grossly overinflated. A big opportunity for big cash prizes for not only the people taking part- but also the companies investing in the sport.
Here are the cash prizes from some eSports tournaments held in 2016.
· ELEAGUE season 1 - $1.6 million
· ESL one cologne - $1 million
· MLG Major championship - $1 million
· eSports championship series season 1 - $764k
Above you can see how much more the prize money has increased over the ages. Some of the best players would later scale the tournament and take the glorious prize home.
The prize money for Dota 2 TI5 tournament had a an eye watering prize of $18.4 million, which is $8.4 million more than the massive cricket World Cup, and the Golf Master’s tournament, which are both $10 million respectively, however looking quite small compared to that of the Dota 2 tournament. In 1972 the winner of the first ever eSports tournament, took home a yearly subscription to a magazine, whilst his more modern, nowadays counterpart racks up to $4 million into his bank account after emerging victorious.
Viewing figures are becoming bigger each year- it’s almost replicating real life sports. For the hardcore fans- who travel to the events, they are held in state-of-the-art arenas around the globe. The competition is commonly lit up with strobe lights, fireworks, and loud, hyping, commentators. The eWorld cup 2019- which Mohammed Harkous (Germany) won, had over 47 million views, which shows more and more people are having their awareness captured by the unique nature of what eSports actually is, and even how the whole industry works and is presented.
A lot of positivity surrounds the future, not only because it is interesting- also because it’s extremely easy to access. People can easily access viewing of the madness by tuning in via twitch, or YouTube then be able to see the competitions using streams. This means interested viewers are able to watch their favorite eSportspeople compete from the comfort of their own couches, gaming seats, or beds.
More brands and even famous athletes are being sucked into the frenzy. Football teams from the top divisions in the world are beginning to form their own eTeams to compete for glory and additional successes in the form of eSports titles. This gives the opportunity for young players to be able to represent their favorite teams. Famous people e.g. Former Germany international footballer Mesut Ozil, have formed their own eSports academies to boost their reputation and cash flow. They are expensive, but risky investments.
The conclusion
The facts are all there, and the figures are at an all-time high. Its heavy money involvement has morphed it into a very good investment and business opportunities and a potential way of generating even more income for companies, sports clubs, and sole traders alike- research by Newzoo showing there was a baffling 33% increase in business investment in eSports in 2017. In terms of individuality, the prizes for winning tournaments and sometimes only merely competing in them, have also seen a rapid rise.
Viewership adds to this ideal, eSports seeing a 19.3% increase of viewers year over year, catching up quickly to its physical counterparts. More and more people are becoming aware of this trend, thus joining in and jumping on the bandwagon. New gamers are making their mark after discovering they are able to test their skills against the world, which not only helps the eSports industry gain viewing figures and reputation, but also the games and their producers, who will be more inclined to appeal to such an audience for the almost endless income.
The industry is still young, despite its already massive fan base, this is an excellent time to have a look and be involved in all the action. The final answer to the overall question of this passage is quite clear- yes the eSports industry has a big future, and now is the time for brands, people, and other important figures to make their mark.