First off, what does e-sport mean?
Let’s get this out of the way: e-sport means electronic sport. Basically, it’s playing video games competitively. Years ago, people started debating whether it deserved to be called a sport or not. They are still debating now. We’re really better off skipping this. Let’s move on to more interesting things instead.
Chess is considered a sport. Why shouldn’t video games?
Are all video games e-sports?
On an old-school computer, on a video console like a PlayStation, on a handheld console like a DS or PSP, on a shiny new cell phone - everybody plays video games. But that doesn’t mean all of these are e-sports. Playing Snake on your Nokia can hardly be called so. Actually, hardcore fans are often busy arguing that their favorite game is the best, and that the rest definitely doesn’t qualify as e-sport. Like the one above, it’s a neverending debate. The shortest answer is this one : as soon as you’re competing against another human being and trying really hard to win, you’re into e-sport. No matter the quality of the game itself. Does that mean all games are of even interest? Clearly not, but it’s up to you to find out which ones suit you best.
Pong, the first and best e-sport?
No other game comes close in terms of balance.
People around you are playing
If you’re playing, you already know this. If you’re not, look around you - friends, family. Some of them, maybe many, are playing e-sports. At a mate’s place with an Xbox or a PlayStation, playing some fighting game. At home with their computer, playing online with other people. At the internet café, playing strategy or shooter games with friends while eating a sandwich. Some are probably devoting a lot of time to it. Some may have teammates they meet online several times a week to play. Some might even be very skilled at it.
Even girls play e-sports too!
And it’s becoming mainstream
Playing e-sport is not a rarity, or reserved to freaks. Actually, it’s becoming more and more mainstream. Especially now, with World of Warcraft boasting twelve million subscribers and even claiming some celebs. In this TV show, Mila Kunis, a not-so-unknown actress, gets really passionnate about WoW. That’s remarkable in itself, but we also learn something very interesting. The presentator doesn’t play WoW, but it happens his son does. He watched him play a few times already. Do you think that’s coincidence? It’s not. E-sport is right next to everyone.
Featuring Keanu Reeves and WoW wasn’t enough though.
The Day the Earth Stood Still isn’t going to make history.
Everybody should at least try to get the big picture about e-sport. It’s going to be huge - we’ll talk about this later - and it’s always better to understand what’s going on. Maybe this little article helped you doing so. There will be more to come shortly. In the meantime, why not play some games yourself? That’s the best way to find out! You could be very surprised. Read more!
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