The Rise of Esports as a Mainstream Entertainment

Esports, or competitive video gaming — that quiet kid in the corner who finally gets up and wins all of first place at the talent show. Alas, what was once a hobby for basement dwellers has turned into an international sensation on par with the likes of traditional sports.

This time we will focus on esports and how it has taken the entertainment world by storm — virtual confetti & all, not to mention those gaming chairs!

Key Takeaways:

• History changed: Esports, which started out as simple video games back in the 1970s; is now one of top global entertainments with an audience approaching the hundreds of millions and revenues exceeding $2B+.
• Internet: the internet allowed people throughout the world to compete in real-time, on a scale that wasn’t thought possible before and vibrant communities which came from this.
• The First Esports League: The 2000s ushered in the first professional gaming league, starting to turn esports from casual fun into a serious competition.
• Esports enter the mainstream: Professional sports teams begin purchasing and investing in esports.
• Cultural & Educational: Esports has revolutionized education, with games being effectively used in learning to build skills and esports pros rigorously training akin traditional sports professionals.
• The Future: As with technology, ads on any medium are only going to get better in the future, moving forward we will see more advancements made into virtual reality and augmented reality esports making it a lot easier for people anywhere around the world to play games together.
• Career opportunities: the rise of esports has enabled a wide range of new careers, including pro gamers and associated roles in management, coaching, casting and event organization.
• Corporate Sponsorship and Media Coverage: Increased investment from major brands and mainstream media coverage indicates a bright future for esports, potentially leading to its inclusion in events like the Olympics.

These takeaways highlight the significant transformation of esports from a niche hobby to a prominent and respected form of entertainment.

A Brief Look Back in Time

Let’s rewind a bit. Pong, the video game involving tennis played on a screen with two-dimensional graphics which was similar to table Tennis and released in 1972 as an arcade standing out as one of the earliest successful marketing games.

Fast forward to the 90s and we still had super Mario Bros or tetris, but players would spend hours on a table fighting their score.

But soon enough we were only a couple of joystick wiggles away from something bigger.

Enter the Internet: The Ultimate Game-Changer

The internet just came along and like adding a our gaming engines. Overnight, it was more than just you versus a sprawling PC AI or your friends on the couch…you were facing off against foes four timezone away Then came the looses based on games like Counter-Strike and StarCraft, which advanced player abilities similar to how tribes shared desired dimers.

How you do know things are getting very, serious is when players begin arguing in online forums over which one of them has the cooler imaginary sword!

The Birth of Esports

Esports got boosted in early 2000’s just the exact turning moment. It was like video games graduated from “we all just do this for fun” to, well — maybe I can possibly pay my rent with this.

Not long after, professional gaming leagues were on the rise and tournaments like the World Cyber Games had audiences that could make a rock concert green with envy.

Players were making some real money — buy-a-whole-house-or-at-least-an-insane-game-rig levels of cash!

And finally in 2016 Over watch came into the picture as well which was kind of an icing on the cake for esports.

Over watch was designed to be an esport, birthing a dedicated competitive mode and the Over watch League scrolling out.

It was a whole new ball game (everybody loves good pun) that brought us companies vying to be sponsors.

Esports Goes Mainstream

Esports is more than a hobby; it’s part of our modern cultural zeitgeist. Competitions like the League of Legends World Championship or The International (Dota 2) get millions of views, on par with traditional big sports events — Super Bowl and alike.

Yes, you read that right! Esports is becoming football’s number one competitor, however if only they could tackle each other through the screen!

Traditional sports organizations have taken notice of this trend, as well. Esports efforts by working with leagues like the NBA 2K League and even teams in the NBA and NFL are good proof of that.

Really, did you expect one day to see professional video game players getting LeBron James status? They might be a cross-over yet: gamers playing basketball while still being aware of their high scores!!/

The Impact of Esports on Society

Not only is esports transforming the gaming landscape, but it’s making its way into education. Schools are starting to recognize that gaming can in fact be used as a great teaching device for important life skills.

Minecraft and other STEM learning games are now being played in classrooms. Building pixelated structures can have a radical effect on teaching kids math.

They will be like: You know what, if you can actually create a castle in the fucking virtual world…have those goddamn assignments done before I get to class.

In addition, esports athletes are starting to train like they were traditional professional sports players.

Not only are they going to the gym and planning, but people do it in high-stress settings.

The days of just having gamers seated in their pajamas for hours on end have long been forgotten.

They now find themselves with jerseys on, energy drinks in hand, and a niche follower rooted for their every move. Talk about leveling up!

What’s Next for Esports?

The future of esports is brighter than a rocket ride in Over watch with each passing advancing technology.

Both virtual reality and augmented the gaming experience are going into a higher steps.

Picture yourself watching a gaming tourney, and you can actually experience the game on screen. (At least, try not to trip over your cat.)

Esports are now available to the masses thanks in no small part to streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming.

Given major brands like Coca-Cola and Intel standing up as sponsors, it is financially sound.

There could be a day when these gamers will cover the Wall Street Journal and discuss the virtues of joystick techniques around Olympic committee meeting round table.

In Conclusion

The transformation of Esports from when it was a group of people playing in your friends basement has grown massively.

Now, it has become a sensation across the globe that draws in millions and makes billions. A fringe interest has since turned into a well rounded profession, offering scholarships and sponsorships.

Thus, be it a standard gamer or an esports enthusiast – here to exist is Esports for sure! And who knows, maybe one day it will be you in the world championship match drinking energy drinks and taking in all of your gaming glory.

Until then, pick up your controller and keep practicing; as always… it is not just a game; but truly a “lifestyle!”