The World of Esports
Introduction: From a working adult to a kindergarten kid, one can always find them engrossed in their smartphone or laptop. Out of the many activities they do with these gadgets, online gaming is one of the most popular and interesting activity. As the older generation wisely pointed out, most people spend their time playing online video games than actually going out and playing in a ground because the former is more comfortable and easier.
The customized gaming chair, noise cancelling headphones and all immersive gaming experience have made online gaming a daily activity in people’s lives. This world of competitive online video gaming is referred to as esports and according to a report by KPMG, the esports industry in India is expected to grow to INR 11,900 crore (approximately $1.6 billion) by 2025.
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Table of Contents
Essential Aspects of Esports:
To gain more understanding of the world of esports, we need to look at the various aspects that are essentials in the area. The most important are the players, around 95% of the teenagers are actively involved in online video gaming. Although esports have gained popularity in the 2000s, they have existed since 1972. With its enormous reach and increasing popularity, many young people have chosen their career in esports and there are notable players from each country who earn thousands of dollars.
The corporate giants such as Super Smash Bros., Valve, Epic Games who develop these games are the pioneers for the growth of the industry. Then come the teams and the leagues, where these players become part of a global team and compete in various league competitions. Some popular leagues include PUBG, Fortnite World Cup, DOTA2, League of Legends among many others. Esports competitions have also become popular in multi genre conventions around the world.
These games take place in a multiplayer setting and with the advent of online streaming services, they are watched by worldwide spectators. All the buzz around esports is due to the viewership which is brought in by the online streaming services such as YouTube and Twitch by Amazon. To put it in simpler words, it’s like a virtual cricket stadium, where the professionals play, and the audience watch and cheer. It is interesting to note that there were around 450 million total viewers of esports in 2019 and women were more than 30% of the audience.
These esports gather around 15 million peak viewers, 40 million competitors and prize money ranging from $50,000 to $35 million. Many governing bodies have also been incorporated to represent esports on a national or regional basis. One such is the International Esports Federation which was established in 2008 to promote and govern esports in the southeastern Asian region.
Increasing Traction of Esports:
Esports has gained so much relevance in the current scenario, especially during the Covid-19 global lockdown that World Esports Day takes place on the 21st of October and the entire esporting community, players, organisers, corporates, sponsors, and audience unite to celebrate the online sport. In India, esports have been gaining traction since 2000s and the increased availability of smartphones and wide reach of internet have made esports a household activity. Many professional esports teams have emerged from the country and have represented India in international tournaments.
Drawbacks of Esports:
Even though it is a widely popular activity, many challenges in the form of lack of funding, lack of government recognition are yet to be overcome by the industry. The industry has its upside due to its enormous revenue generating capacity and global reach, but many studies highlight the negative impact on the health of the gamers. Prolonged sitting, staring at the screen and loud music affect the brain and the body. Many gamers usually complain of problematic sleep cycle and poor body posture.
Many international colleges have now started giving scholarships for esports champions and while it might help young population to get into a college, it also leads to the justification of the long hours spent before the gaming consoles. In this scenario, regulation by the parents, government, and the gamer itself is necessary. Esports may be a part of a teenager’s daily routine, but care is to be taken that it doesn’t become their single engaging activity.
Conclusion:
Esports were once considered nerdy and niche but have evolved to be a virtual global gaming phenomenon and it is changing the sporting landscape. While it has got pros to it, one must count in the downside affects as well and venture into the activity.
