An all-star lineup of analysts and casters spend hours discussing the approaching game. A massive crowd screams out as two teams enter the stadium. As the players take their seats, the crowd roars out again. It is time for a game of Dota 2!
Yes, the Seattle Key Arena was filled this last week, not for a sport, not for a concert, but for a video game tournament. Many people might be perplexed. Why are people watching video games? How are people making money off this? Wait, how big is the prize pool?
This year the Dota 2 international boasts a massive prize pool of over $18 million. The tournament has attracted professional teams from around the world to compete sponsored by companies like Monster, Redbull, Alienware and more. If you haven't heard of esports before, get ready because every year these tournaments are only getting bigger and bigger. To help with your introduction to esports here are some common questions answered.
1. Who even pays attention to this stuff?
This question may appear insulting, however, it is understandable. Most people see video games as strictly a wasteful hobby that only teenagers partake in. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. The largest group of video gamers are people over the age of 36, and every region in the world has an esports presence. This presence expands past the top tier teams and includes smaller tournaments that thousands of semi-professionals compete in. On a weekly basis League of Legends season games attract hundreds of thousands of viewers and larger tournaments attract millions.
2. Why?
We like video games. They are games just like football, soccer and chess. We enjoy playing them, and we enjoy watching people playing them at the highest level. Many might say that it is just a video game and shouldn't be taken so seriously, but the same argument can be applied to football. Yet, no one questions why people put cheese on their head and spend tons of money to get good seats at a football game.
3. Do I need to play to understand and enjoy the watching the game?
Of course not! People enjoy soccer without playing and the same goes for esports. Their is a growing community of people who only play occasionally or have never played. This community has been supported by the wealth of introductory materials provided for newer players in most competitive games. Some games like Dota 2, even have "Noobie" streams with casters who tailor their commentary to people newer to the community.
4. Can I do some betting?
Yes you can! If you're newer to esports, you should be a little careful before placing your first bets, but there are many legitimate sites that people use on a daily basis.
5. Are there many live events?
Live events aren't quite as frequent as sporting events, but there are many smaller tournament in Europe and Asia on a regular basis, with larger tournaments happening on roughly a monthly basis. Keep in mind, this is for one game. If you follow multiple games then you could probably spend an every day of your life at different live tournaments around the world.
6. What esport game should I start with?
Esport is a broad term that includes any video game played professionally. This includes Call of Duty, League of Legends, Street Fighter and many more. My suggestion for the newest of the new is to start with highlight videos. Watch as crowds scream and casters freak out over amazing plays to see what all the excitement is about. After watching a few highlight videos of different games, you'll be able to figure out which game appeals to you most. After that you just have to figure out which team is your favorite!
Whether or not you become an esports addict after reading this article isn't important. What is important is that people know that esports is a serious developed industry with millions of active fans and it is only getting bigger.
