The Diversity Of Esports: A Defining Factor In IGaming Industry
The Esports industry is booming with skilled gamers playing competitively just like in traditional sports. Esports is not a typical trend among unemployed youth. In fact, it is a real investable industry that anyone can have a stake. Millions of people across the globe watch Esports online thanks to the available esports platforms. The sector promises countless ways of monetization. From ticket sales, sponsorships, advertising, merchandizing, and licensing, there are numerous areas for growth.
The popularity of individual esports games changes from time to time. But the top ten dominant games on streaming sites may remain constant. For instance, the League of Legends has held a top rank for the most watched esports for a long time. Unlike traditional sports tournaments like FIFA, esports genres involve multiplayer battle arenas over the internet. A player controls a specific character in a team and must fight the main building of the opponent. Esports competitions use real-time strategies whereby the player designs their army to dominate over a map. The game could also be a first-person shooter where the participant firefights across the map.
The Most Watched Esports Games
The majority of games in esports are PC titles that are categorized into a few genres. One of the popular categories in terms of participation is the MOBAs e.g. DotA2, League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, and Smite. MOBA games have a complex game play and seem complicated for viewers who don’t have basic knowledge of how to play. Another game that is riding the waves in esports is the Counter Strike: Global Offensive. This is a multiplayer first-person shooter game. The popularity of MOBAs can be attributed to the fact that they involve not only the skill but also higher level strategies and team play than mobile games.
Who are the Involved Parties in the Esports Landscape?
The landscape is not always easy to navigate. The main parties in the industry include:
• Players
Players in esports specialize in particular games and rise through ranks. Being a top player is not an easy feat. It takes extensive development of skills and winning through cutthroat competitions. Renowned players can train for up to 14 hours every day to master their multi-tasking capabilities and quick reflexes. The most talented esports players pursue their careers through live streaming on YouTube and other platforms. They also play professionally in worldwide tournaments playing against top teams.
• Teams
All professional players have to join teams during multi-player competitions. They can also play solo when competing for prizes and cash. Every team has a specialty game to compete for say Dota. They usually have a multitude of followers on social media. Examples of popular esports teams include Optic Gaming, Evil Geniuses, and Fnatic.
• Organizations
Every great team in esports must be recruited by an organization. An organization is basically a group of teams that specialize in respective video games but operate under one umbrella. Examples of organizations (orgs) include TSM, NRG, and Cloud9.
• Leagues
Like in any other form of sports, esports teams compete in league tournaments. The leagues are sponsored by companies like the Electronic Sports League (ESL), and Major League Gaming. The Pro League of CS: GO is sponsored by ESL.
Dozens of fans are drawn by the launching of esports leagues. Take for instance the League of Legends Championship that sold over 15,000 seats within just one hour in 2016 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Today, the biggest esports tournaments are almost as huge as normal sports events.