Technology has significantly revolutionized every aspect of human existence, including how we play games, unlike the traditional gaming experience, where games are confined to physical arenas and conventional sporting events. Esports, also known as electronic sports, specialize in competitive video gaming. It is a worldwide phenomenon captivating fans, players, and investors. Esports encompasses a wide range of video games that cut across many genres. The rise of Esports has redesigned sports and entertainment, generating billions in revenue yearly. In 2022, the Olympic Council of Asia(OCA), a body responsible for organizing and managing Asian games, decided to include Esports as part of the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The decision by the Olympic Council of Asia to include Esports was an explicit confirmation of the rise and cultural relevance of esports. This article will look at this historic event’s history, significance, and challenges.
Brief History of Esports
The history of esports can be traced to early 1972 when home consoles became common in most homes. The first esports competition, the Space Invaders, was held with over 100,000 participants nationwide. In the early 1990s, games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter grew in popularity. Series of competitions and tournaments were held, attracting thousands of gamers worldwide.
The legendary Starcraft 2 tournament on PC emerged in 1998. It had more than 50 million online viewers. A large majority of those participated through a platform known as Twitch. Fast forward to the 2000s, esports gained serious momentum worldwide. In 2006, an esports event was televised for the first time on the USA Halo 2 network.
Broadcasting esports didn’t do much to help the industry until the advent of Twitch in 2011. Twitch made it easy for games to engage with their audiences actively. Today, professional gamers use streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch to build their fan bases and earn income.
Significance of the Inclusion of Esports at the Asian Games in 2022
The decision by the Olympic Council of Asia to include esports at the Hangzhou Asian games that took place at Hangzhou in 2022 as a medal event is a huge milestone for the industry. Esports featured in 7 competitions: Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile Asian Games Version, Street Fighter V, and EA SPORTS’ FIFA-branded soccer game.
The inclusion marked a turning point in sports history as it recognized the importance of esports and its place on the global stage. This shows a glimpse of a future where esports would continue to grow and get more recognition from major world sports tournaments. The industry has the potential to grow, develop new genres, and attract more players, investors, and viewers worldwide. This historic event is significant as it recognizes the hard work, commitment, and time required to succeed in competitive gaming.
The Impact of this Inclusion on the Traditional Sports Landscape
The inclusion of Esport in Asian games has the potential to affect the traditional sports landscape in various ways and increase involvement in options like the best NZ online casinos. To discuss a few, let’s look at the following:
Increased Popularity
Including Esports in the 19th Asian Games by the Olympic Council of Asia marks a significant step towards recognizing competitive gaming as a respected sport.
Many people with little or no idea about Esports were drawn into developing an interest in the sport after it was recognized as a medal event at the Asian Games in 2022. This has drawn millions of viewers and investors into competitive gaming. This surge in interest from the general public can potentially divert people from conventional sports.
Sponsorship
Esports has evolved tremendously over the years. The recent inclusion has drawn many investors, gamers, and audiences into esports. This surge in investors and gamers has brought huge investment and sponsorship to esports. This has the potential to affect the revenue and streams of traditional sports.
What Games are Played and Different Medal Winners
Being the first of its kind at the Hangzhou Asian games, the Esports featured various games that cut across many genres. Esports featured in 7 competitions: the Arena of Valor Asian Games version, dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, League of Legends, PUBG mobile Asian games version, Street Fighter V, and EA Sports’ FIFA-branded soccer game.
China came to the top of the medal chart with five medals. South Korea, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei had four medals each.
Challenges of Esports
The rapid growth of Esports is not left without its challenges and controversies, that can be drawn from them. One of such challenges is the lack of governance and regulation to maintain the relevance and integrity of this sport. Secondly, the issues of toxicity and bullying in online gaming have raised many concerns to overlook. Lastly, there is still a huge controversy or debate about whether esports should be categorized as real sports.
Conclusion
Including esports in Asian games in Hangzhou 2022 marked a special moment for online games. The decision was a clear confirmation of the relevance and growth of the sport. With immense potential to attract more players, investors, and viewers, esports has taken center stage at Asian games.
