Competitive games, or “E-sports,” have been gaining traction for years. What began as an enthusiast’s hobby has developed into a serious enterprise, with as much as $100,000 in prize money being awarded at major events.
At any given moment, battle.net, the largest PC online gaming network, claims an average of 1 million users online, many of whom are honing their skills to compete in professional arenas.
The Major League Gaming (MLG) is the largest North American competitive league and boasts a substantial audience. Founded in 2002 and based off of traditional sports models, the league promotes 700,000 online competitive matches each month.
The MLG also holds six Pro Circuit annual events that take place in major cities such as L.A. and New York. During these events, crowds bunch into convention centers to watch live tournament matches of Halo and Starcraft 2. In 2010 alone, the MLG boasted roughly 600,000 unique views per average live pro event.
Organized gaming leagues have been formalized since the ’80s. The first national team was formed in 1983, when Twin Galaxies, the first official game scorekeepers, formed the National Video Game team for an episode of NBC’s That’s Incredible.
At the time, players wrestled over top scores in Donkey Kong and Pac-Man. The originals are still around, but competitive play now centers on team-cooperative play from games like Call of Duty, or pure strategy in games such as Starcraft 2.
Traditionally, online competition was relegated to LAN (local area network) matches with small groups of friends, but recently international sponsors are bringing competition out of the basement and into the spotlight. Household brands such as Dr. Pepper and Bic are now backing pro circuit players, making it possible for gamers to support themselves on their virtual skills.
In the last decade, larger leagues have formed domestic and foreign partnerships to promote a unified community devoted to e-sportsmanship.
“Our goal is to expand the global footprint,” Katie Goldberg, vice president of Communications for MLG.
Many competitive leagues foster these “minor leagues” to serve as training grounds, but also to provide level footing where gamers can master their skills. It is common for players to be evaluated by top-ranked teams that stalk the brackets in search of promising new talent. It’s a highly sought-after commodity, just like any sport.
So while competitive gaming may not be as recognizable as basketball or soccer, give it a few years. Next time your friends are scrambling to tune into “the game,” they might be referring to a Team Fortress match.
Ryan Carpe will be attending the MLG Pro Circuit Tournament in Columbus, June 3-5, and will be hopelessly outgunned. If you want to give him some tips, email him at rc336801@ohiou.edu.
