Into competitive gaming? Read all about the rise of the industry behind it + Career Opportunities!
From pro gamers to total newbies, everyone is absolutely fascinated by how massive the esports industry has become today. The industry has become so unstoppable that it is expected to surpass 2.5 billion dollars by 2022! Join us on a trip to the past to see what lead to this incredible market explosion.
1972–1980-First Esports Tournament: With all the futuristic esport tournaments being held in vast stadiums and huge arenas across the world today, you’ll find it hard to believe that it all first began at the laboratory of a university! At the time, the University of Stanford was one of the very few places that had such sophisticated software to run the game. A gaming event was held among the students who battled it out in the Sci-Fi combat game ‘SpaceWars’. This provided the momentum to kick start the first official gaming tournament, ‘Space Invaders Championship’ later in 1980, which saw a participation of almost 10,000 players.
1990s-Major boom in the origin of Esports: The new decade came with the emergence of the indispensable World Wide Web, and of course, this meant better communication among the players and major developments in large-scale gaming. The internet accelerated the popularity of computer games, and major companies like Nintendo and Blockbuster began sponsoring video game world championships. Because of the accessibility everyone now had, the growth in the industry was unimaginable!
2000s-The new millennium: Along with the euphoria of the new millennium came the technological boom, which led to esports being seen in more corners of the world. Infamous tournament hosts such as the World Cyber Games and the Electronic Sports World Cup debuted, and soon Major League Gaming (MLG) was launched in 2002. MLG is one of the world’s most prominent hosts in esports even today. In the beginning, games like Age of Empires, Starcraft, and Warcraft III ruled the world. Soon, the first popular MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), Defense of the Ancients (Dota) claimed the throne! It was then followed by more immensely popular games like Counter-Strike, and the infamous League of Legends which made sure to continue the reign of the MOBA genre.
2010s-The next breakthrough? Streaming platforms: With the birth of famous streaming platforms like ‘Twitch’, game viewership skyrocketed! Large scale tournaments and game streamers began to use it to reach more people around the globe as the audience could now jump right into the action from the comfort of their homes. By the end of the decade, Player’s Unknown Battleground (PUBG) pushed the Battle Royale genre to the market. The Fortnite World Cup was held in 2019 and boasted a prize pool of 100 million $ with over 2 million spectators. The League of Legends World Championship final was also held in 2019 which peaked at 4 million viewers!
Fast forward to the present, many more games like FIFA, Overwatch and Dota2 are now trending in the market, with prominent competitive gaming teams shaping the industry while sweeping multi-million dollar annual salaries. By 2023, the Indian Federation of Sports Gaming reports that esports will reach a cumulative revenue of INR 11,900 crore!
How to make a career in E-Sports?
Companies in the esport industry will definitely need more workforce as the market is ever-growing, but it is also quite competitive. A career in esports is not limited to becoming a professional gamer only; there are various other fields like journalism, content creation, playtester, tournament host, caster, publisher and marketing advisor. So if you are someone who enjoys some hard-fought glory and is thinking of getting into this side of the world, here are some guidelines that can set you in the right direction.
Attend Tournaments and Events to get in Touch with Sponsors -
An effective way of getting started with your esports career is to attract attention at tournaments and let sponsors know you. Many sponsors often look for representatives and even though other competitors are eyeing such positions, if you’re able to show how eager and influential you are, there is very little chance of getting turned down.
Be Educated on the Ways of Esports -
Did you know that there are universities around the world that offer courses about esports gaming? Yeah, and there are many online certification courses too. This is an excellent way to start a career in this industry as you will learn from established and specialized organizations.
Pick a Particular Niche that Suits your Skill Set the Most —
This is very important; not every game is for everyone and not every esports career is for everyone. If gaming is not something that suits your talent, explore and choose other areas to dip your fingers in.
Offer Your Services for an Established Team —
If you don’t want to start your own streaming channel, join up with an established team. Apart from getting the chance to join a team that already has sponsors and a salary, you will also learn the nooks and crannies of how gamers compete. Practice makes perfect. No esports organization will let you have the opportunity of working for them if you don’t show them what you’re capable of doing or your previous work. This is why practising and improving your set of skills constantly should be second nature. Let your work talk for you!
Well then, if you’ve enjoyed the ride, don’t forget to give us claps below! Thank you, and happy reading!
Credit : Javali Murari — Team E-Cell ABV-IIITM Gwalior
