eSports or
Electronic Sports are organized tournaments in which contestants compete in
teams or against each other in video games. The rivalry between the competitors
(players) takes place both in the form of recreation, as well as on gaming
tournaments (the phenomenon of pro-gaming). E-sports history is associated with
the increasing popularity of online gaming in games like StarCraft,
Counter-Strike, Quake, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness and League of Legends.
Quake's popularity led to the creation in 1997, in the United States, of the
Cyberathlete Professional League. There are prestigious tournaments such as the
World Cyber Games and the Electronic Sports World Cup, and in Poland - Poznan
Game Arena and the Electronic Sports League. Individual computer games
of different genres, in which games being played between players, are called
disciplines. The most common game genres are MOBA, a real-time strategy,
fighting and a first person shooter.
Games are played live, and the audience can see the players
sitting in front of computers, tracking their moves on huge television screens
or through the internet. The increasing availability of online video streaming
platforms, particularly Twitch, has become central to current eSports
competitions. In 2014, sports broadcaster ESPN broadcast the “The International
finals” and it was the first time an eSports event was broadcast live on a
mainstream channel. eSports attracts a growing number of players in all ages,
due to diminishing physical barriers found in traditional sports, while keeping
the competitive spirit.
The International (Dota 2):
Intel Extreme Masters (Starcraft 2)
Electronic Sports World Cup (Counter-Strike: Global
Offensive)
Do you watch eSports tournaments?
What do you think about this kind of sport?
Comments
I think it is great way of spending time with friend, it is some kind way of competition. Important are trainings and practice to get skill, better than others. It require experience in the battles or other challenges, so... why not to organise tournaments? With rewards. Playing computer games is very, very popular nowadays so it is certain that, sponsors will support good team on public challenges.
Not only MMOs, but also racing or FPS games.
By the way did you see that?
http://pl.intelextrememasters.com/news/esl-announce-intelR-extreme-masters-stops-in-cologne-taipei-and-katowice/
I read it will be one of the biggest even connection with video games, in Poland (Katowice). Players will come from whole the World.
But besides this I agree that competing can be challenging. Every single competition needs hardworking, lots of practise, becoming a master in this narrow field. The same is with computer games. It is needed to spend hundreds of hours in front of computer and practise, practise and practise :) I know how much effort it has been put in getting to be so good in this. I only wonder if it's still a pleasure for a gamer? If so we can only be jealous, that they can do what they like, and be super successful in it :)
And about if there still a pleasure in what they do... well, for many. Yes. It's a challenge in which you can win or lose, i can't say if they have same pleasure from game like any casual player, but they must enjoy the challenge. However i red some articles about one guy who retire from esports and even casual gaming because he had enough. Same can go for normal sports. I knew person who was champion in swimming, but after 7 years he retired and never been to anything that has swimming pool in it.
I was really impressed by the audience in Katowice where Intel Extreme Masters tournament is organized: I did watch stream of League of Legends with Polish player - everytime he fragged (killed enemy) there was applause like on the National Stadium when Poland won with Germany.
But still, I agree that preparations are needed, lots of practice etc, I don't underrate this competition :)
How it differs from playing darts? You control mouse and keyboard the same way as you have to control darts.
And about the discussion. I think that the best comparison to eSports are Cue sports, also known as billiard sports :)
On this year's PGA fair I was nearby the LoL live tournament and what can I say... bunch of 13yo(looking at faces I can safely say: nerds) playing a video game, the rest cheering, having a good time with their junior high school friends(and few adults). In my opinion it is like everything - good when done in moderation :)
I don't watch live streams but sometimes I watch finals as they represent a great showdown of hard work, commitment and (some) talent. It's really something to win in a competition that big (based on the number of challengers).
In my opinion esports can move us to new way of watching events, in virtual world everything can be possible.
On the other hand, and maybe a little bit off topic, I will always agree with this campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phCSXKqKQuo
Tournaments, and professional players are like real sportsmen. Time that they spend playing its not the best model to follow for young gamers.
I only wonder what does it takes to be good in esports. Is it about a real talent, good equipment (like in almost every sport :p)? I think you have to make decision pretty quick and practice a lot... Are competitors using their own equipment during tournament? Or is it kind of "the same" for everyone? Are there any restrictions?
I watched some eSports tournaments (I think you can even watch them on some Eurosport channels), however I don't enjoy being observer as much as being a player.
I think eSport is a sport of a future. There are even many companies (like Roccat) that make a huge amount of money releasing hardware equipment recommended by famous pro-gamers.
I still enjoy playing competetive games or team based, i can be good or bad in it, it doesn't matter as long as i have fun. I do no not look to play on master level, i prefer to enjoy and explore games and if it possible, mod one.
But i can't deny that everything which goes into supporting gaming industry is good for us, it helps stay on market and make it mainstream leading to production of more games!
But just like you said, people still go for accessories like mouses (Roccat), keyboards, headsets and other stuff which makes it comfy to play game.
P.S. Team Fortress 2 is indeed great team based game and still uphold this title. Shame Counter Strike doesn't go anywhere, even with changes in CS:GO
It has to do with other aspects and to deal with it, i think, it is parents who should find a proper way of finding balance for their kids. Don't forget we live in times were many young parents are mostly gamers or casualy play sometimes, it's not 80s or 90s were our parents didn't have any contact with video games.
Also, I am not really happy with the idea of e-sports. I am not an athlete myself, by all means, but it feels like that “professional gaming” is another excuse not to leave the house and do some physical activities. I am also not keen on calling chess a sport. I believe that real sport is the domain of fit people, while good reflexes or smarts can be used in a much more useful way. At this point it's better to become a game developer than a professional player.
In my opinion, gaming is not a sport!
I don't, I know better ways to waste my time.
What do you think about this kind of sport?
First of all, it is NOT a sport, there is no second.
Chess, bicycling, snooker, skiing, darts, car racing, athletics... all of these one are SPORTS. Are there any similarities among them?:) why not to add computer games to sport definition?
Im not computer players by the way;) it is just my objective opinion.
I like to driving car and watch WRC or F1.
If you would be very good in any game... don't you want to compete with others one? And watch how good are professional players?:) In my opinion its similar point of view.
It is true that physical sport can be better than sitting near screen, but it doesn't mean that all esports players are text book definition of skinny, wimpy nerds. Some of them play video games for money ( and money is all is that about). But when not, they do have normal life and do normal stuff.
I'd say look at esports as flashy cybernetic chess event. It's all about using your brain (strategy, reflexes, quickly calculating environment etc)
Never watched.
What do you think about this kind of sport?
It's hard for me to think of it as a sport, but assuming it should be considered that way, I don't find it interesting.
Once I’ve heard conversation of two people. They were talking about game and tournament about what you wrote. They were fascinating much more than me.
Firstly it’s not sport for me. In sport must occur physical activation. Not virtual but physical, real.
I think that rather not good. In my opinion this is bad way to spend my own free time.
I'm so not "e" that idea of eSport tournaments sounds ridiculous to me. Why do people stop living their true life and wants to be dwarfs, or even worse - soldiers in some kind of virtual reality ? I understand that sense of imagination is important but it's too much. We are not even talking about playing games... we are talking about huge audiences of people who watch other people play games.
I started playing Counter Strike: Global Offensive about two months ago and I've been hooked to this game since then.
Naturally I started beeing interested how proffesional players play and since Poland has one of the best teams in the world (Virtus.Pro - ESL Katowice 2014 Champions) it was easy to get involved. I've watched our team during some minor events and streams made by Pasha(Virtus.Pro player) on twitch but when I saw their previous match, a final which they won in Spodek Katowice, against most titled CS team - NiP, I just couldn't wait until next major tournament. It was this week, and ended yesterday. Polish team lost in semifinals against their oponents from Katowice but it was a great experiance.
I think e-sports would get more and more popular every year.
Here is my favourite moment from IEM Katowice 2014 finals - It shows polish player sNax beeing calm and sneaky as a ninja:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WV1-AklbEQ