E-Sports

Remember as a kid, growing up saying all you wanted to do was get paid for playing video games, and then when you got older you realised it was more of a dream that a potential reality? well step in the E-Sports, this is the name given to the professional arm of gaming, people getting paid, and paid well, to compete against others all over the world in their favoured craft. Streaming websites like Youtube and Twitch TV have made it possible for individuals to make a living simply by recording themselves playing live, and commentating on their work. They also release named merchandise and promote games on behalf of developers to gain public interest. some of them also become Instagram, twitter or media personalities as a result of their marketability.

Australia, known for their sporting passion has also jumped on to the trend, with football team Melbourne City FC signing Marcus Gomes, to a professional contract as the clubs first FIFA player. The money associated with E-Sports has gone on to increase over he years, with Defence of the Ancients 2 (DOTA) having paid out a staggering amount of over US$126,000,000 through various tournaments. These tournaments, which can be set up by a number of organisations boast a significant following, both in-person spectators as well as individuals streaming the competition. Intel, the computer technology company ran a tournament, called the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice, which features various games from Sports, First-Person Shooters and even anime like Mario Smash Brothers. This was the single largest E-Sports gathering, smashing the previous record with over 46 million viewers across a variety of platforms, over 15 million more than watched the Trump inauguration,  live attendance exceeded 176,000, about 100,000 more than the Superbowl.

E-Sports is an industry that is just beginning to take off. With computers and the internet becoming a mainstay in more and more homes across the world, anyone is able to try their hand at a plethora of different games and instantly challenge people from all over the world. With advances in technology running alongside the gaming industry, as well as continued increases in the popularity and money associated with the industry, E-Sports will continue to grow.

Content used
*In-Text Statistics - https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2017/03/16/46-million-watched-live-esports-event-10-million-more-than-trump-inauguration-broadcast/#f2d308b91f40
*Prize Money - https://addiktz.com/esports-in-numbers-the-top-10-highest-earning-esports-athletes-tournaments-and-games-in-2014-esports-infographic/
*DOTA 2 - https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dota-2-Reborn-Notebook-and-Desktop-Benchmarks.194972.0.html
*Stadium - https://www.redbull.com/za-en/mettlestate-esports-announcement


 - Chris