You've probably heard the term since mainstream media is increasingly covering the realm of video games these days. However, if you're unsure what esports is, we've got you covered.
In essence, esports is a word that refers to competitive gaming at a professional level, with elite esports players often being the best in the world at their particular games. Competitive gaming isn't a new notion by any means, but having professional video game players compete for a livelihood in a similar manner to conventional sports is, at least in the Western world. If you're new to the world of esports, we're here to assist you and answer the question: What is esports?
What exactly is esports?
Simply said, esports is competitive gaming at a high level. It consists of professional teams of individuals competing in games against each other and earning large amounts of money as rewards on a regular basis. Esports athletes, like football or basketball players, are hired to play for a number of different organizations. These teams train and compete in their respective sports in the same way that a footballer or other athlete would. Depending on the game they play – from shooters like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive esports and Call of Duty esports to a wide range of other genres like sports games and battle royale games – there will be a number of tournaments and events each year with prize pools ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
Almost every competitive esports organization will have a number of teams playing various games. Fnatic, for example, was established in 2004 and now has teams competing in ten different games, including Fortnite esports, League of Legends esports, and PUBG Mobile esports. G2 esports, Team SoloMid, Team Liquid, and many more are examples of elite organizations.
What steps does a game need to become an eSport?
Any multiplayer game may be turned into an eSport, but nearly all of the most popular games right now, such as Dota 2 esports and Overwatch esports, are designed to be fun to play first and foremost. With the help of both game developers and the community, a competitive scene develops over time.
Enjoyability and balance are two factors that contribute to a game's success as an eSport. The first is simple: if a game isn't pleasant to play, it won't be enjoyable to watch, and players will soon lose interest. Balance, on the other hand, is crucial since else the game would become boring. In Counter-Strike, for example, if one pistol was clearly superior to the others, no one would use the others, and each round would become extremely monotonous. Rocket League esports is an example of a nearly-perfect experience in terms of balance. Apart from the vehicle, which has no impact on gameplay anyway, everyone is on an equal playing field, resulting in a high skill ceiling and a concept that is approachable to beginners since it is just football with flying cars.
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What is the best way to get started watching esports?
There is no universal way to watch esports events, although the vast majority will be broadcast on Twitch. The website Esports Calendar is a useful resource for finding particular events that are going place for the larger games in the esports sector. Almost every esports event, whether it's the largest yearly tournament or a regional qualification for a league, will be broadcast live.
The "watch" option on the right-hand side of each listed event allows you to access most streams, although the calendar only shows the top games. For other games, just google the title followed by "esports" and you'll be sent to the appropriate page. Fighting games like Street Fighter esports and Tekken esports, as well as Apex Legends esports, PUBG esports, Rocket League esports, Rainbow Six Siege esports, and FIFA 20 esports, are among the main games not covered by Esports Calendar.
How to Get Started in Esports
Most games include rated modes and playlists that you can access directly from the game. You'll be matched with other players online, and this mode will frequently – but not always – have somewhat different regulations than the regular game, such as limitations or various timers. But, for the most part, it'll be the game you're already acquainted with.
If you've gotten to the point where you're consistently winning in rated play, you're probably ready to move ahead. This is where each game differs, since titles with first-party esports support from the developer, such as Fortnite's in-game tournament system, will have a simple way to participate.
Other games, such as Call of Duty and Rocket League, will depend on third-party platforms to offer esports services, such as Gamebattles, ESL, or FACEIT. All three operate in the same manner, by allowing players to participate in leagues and tournaments. Each one has its own quirks, but the idea is that you can connect your online ID, whether it's PSN, Xbox Live, or one of the numerous PC sites. You may then sign up for leagues and look for a competitive match. Don't worry about feeling obligated; most free-to-enter leagues operate on a "play whenever you like" basis rather than having planned match-ups. Cash prizes are often offered, and if your ultimate aim is to play in LAN tournaments in person, you must first prove yourself in these online battles.
After that, after you've proved yourself as a single player or formed a team, you'll be able to compete in open qualifiers – which will have set match times and be more organized – to determine whether you have what it takes to make it as a full-fledged pro. Usually, these will be online as well, although each game is different, and there may be local events, such as Call of Duty's City Circuit, where anybody may represent one of the franchised teams. It cannot be overstated, however, that the details of each game will vary, so be sure to do your homework. There's a possibility you'll get signed to an organization if you're talented enough and perform well when it counts, and then the sky's the limit!