Esports, or electronic sport, is a form of competitive video game play. It has become a thriving industry. Some games have professional teams that compete in tournaments with big cash prizes. Typically, esports is viewed on television and online. These games often have their own rules and are protected by copyright.
Unlike physical sports, esports can be played anytime and anywhere thanks to modern technology. esports events are broadcast to a worldwide audience, allowing fans to watch from their home. In addition, players have a chance to win millions of dollars in prize money. Professional gaming is also a great business opportunity. There are many scholarships available for college students interested in pursuing a career in gaming.
Most esports are live streamed on free platforms. However, a small number of esports organizations, such as G2 esports, Team Liquid, or Intel Extreme Masters, are dedicated to fostering a professional esports scene.
The first official esports tournament was held in Los Angeles in 1980. Thousands of gamers attended the event, with some of them playing against each other. Street Fighter II, one of the most popular games of the 90s, introduced direct tournament-level face-offs. This format made esports more popular.
Today, esports is played by millions of people. While the overall esports industry is still a small fraction of the sports industry, it has grown rapidly over the last few years. By the end of 2016, the industry was predicted to be worth over USD 696 million. Newzoo forecasts a growth rate of 11.5% for the next five years.
Unlike traditional sports, esports require a high level of skill, eye-hand coordination, and strategic thinking. Esports competitors are typically young and male, and are expected to be at peak physical performance. They are also required to have a large amount of knowledge about the game’s tactics. During competitions, esports athletes experience a lot of stress and mental strain.
Unlike physical sports, there are no official governing bodies for esports. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes esports as a sport and promotes its non-discrimination, peace, and non-violence.
The IOC has defined criteria for competitive esports. Games must meet these standards to be recognized. Aside from ensuring that games meet IOC criteria, esports must also follow the rules of the Global Association of International Sports Federations.
Competitive esports must also fit the movement requirements of the Olympics. As such, a game’s balance is crucial to its success. If the game’s balance is off, the user experience will be uninspiring. Also, lag, which is the time it takes for the user’s input to be processed, can be a debilitating factor. Generally, a player’s experience can be hindered by lag as low as 100 milliseconds.
Despite its potential to revolutionize the way we perceive sports, esports has some important challenges. One of these is the lack of infrastructure. The majority of esports developers have not invested in serious infrastructure in Africa. Moreover, the African continent does not have enough servers to allow a full swath of the population to compete. Nevertheless, players in Africa can connect to European and North American servers to play.
