4 facts that will change the way you think of e-Sports
What can be labeled a sport and what cannot? The definition is getting looser all the time, and with good reason. If golf and race car driving are sports, then why not pool and ping pong? Why not gaming?
There’s a natural tendency to think that a sport must include some sort of strenuous physical activity at which players can excel and show off the wondrous capabilities of the human body. True, gaming is somewhat lacking in this element when compared to football or tennis. But, as we’ll see, even gaming can be physically demanding and for those on the pro-tour, gaming is just as serious as any other sport. Here are 5 facts to help you see professional e-Sports in a new light.
1. It’s not really one sport, it’s many
While basketball, hockey, and curling all follow one individual set of rules, e-Sports can be more easily compared to all other sports put together. That’s because each game played on the professional circuit is entirely different, requiring unique skills and strategies. This makes e-Sports the most diverse sporting platforms in the world.
Lightning fast reflexes are important for most games, but something like Call of Duty requires good teamwork using more-or-less real-world battle tactics while Starcraft is all about strategy and economy management. What’s more, each game has a different sensitivity and balance to its controls, requiring players to practice endlessly on the one game they hope to dominate.
2. Gamers are athletes
No, most professional gamers probably can’t beat Usain Bolt in a 100-meter dash, but can Usain Bolt handle the wear and tear of 15-hour days in front of a computer? Probably not. That may sound like a joke, but professional gaming is demanding both mentally and physically for players.
Training routines are long, hard and never-ending. Retiring gamers sometimes have to deal with the effects of carpal tunnel, insomnia or weak backs rather than bad knees or a blown-out arm. Overcoming this issues and staying on top of their game means that gamers have to stay focused not just on the game, but also their own bodies.
3. Pro-gaming is massive
Pro-gamers come together from literally every corner of the globe to compete in truly massive gaming events. Just because it’s not on ESPN doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Asia leads the world in pro-gaming, with an established industry that brings in hundreds of millions of dollars annually. More and more people are tuning in online via services like Twitch that allow you to watch your favorite competitions and broadcasters from wherever you choose.
4. Exciting evolution
Traditional sports evolve relatively slowly. Sure, baseball is a lot different now than it was in the 1920s, but that’s thanks to slow, incremental improvements in bat design, ball manufacturing, and fashionable tactics, not to mention the small rule changes that might occur every decade or so.
But pro-gamers have to adapt to new realities on an ongoing basis with the release of sequels, patches, and updates or some other new development that made everything obsolete that came before it. This constant change adds an element of excitement to gaming that no other sport can boast of.
Professional gaming is also gaining a boost with the introduction of BUFF. With BUFF, pro gamers can earn BUFF coins just for practicing what they love. Those coins can be used to purchase virtual items that will help them on their path to big victories, or they can even be exchanged for traditional currencies. We all know the rules of the traditional sport. E-Sports is ever-shifting and still has lots of room for exploration. It’s where all the excitement is.
