The upsurge of E-Sports #e-Sports #isitreallyasport #whatissport #competitive #prizepool

E-Sports as known as competitive gaming or 'pro-gaming' is a recognised term for multi-player video game competitions. The players who are involved in the competitive scene are now recognised as professionals, which are entitled to a salary and an appropriate working environment. The upsurge of the E-Sports scene was embarked by the early games of CS 1.6 and DOTA, where the majority of the classic online games provided for the most of the small tournaments held in the early 2000s.

The most common video games with electronic sports are real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooting and multiplayer online battle arena. The consoles used in tournaments may include normal computers, ps3, ps4, Xbox 360 and early Nintendo units.

With the increase popularity of competitive gaming, there is an increase number of sponsored tournaments around to world that host international competition. Tournaments such as the International DOTA 2 Championship, the League of Legends World Championship, the Battle.net World Championship, the Evolution Championship Series, the Intel Extreme Masters, provide online live broadcasts of the gameplay and a generous prize pool for the qualified competitors.

It is estimated that 71 million people worldwide watched some sort of competitive gaming. The significant figure of viewers are contributed by the increasing availability of online streaming media services, such as YouTube and Twitch.tv.

BUT are e-Sports really sports?
The classification of video gaming has been pertinently controversial, as gaming lacks the physical extensions required to participate in the 'sport'. The traditional sense of 'sport' comprises of 'physical activities with outdoor playing elements', which contradicts the indoor gameplay of e-Sports - where players are literally sitting there and play games!

However, the terminology of e-Sports has broadened over the years due to its increased popularity. E-Sports have argued to be consist the elements of 'planning, timing and execution' and these basic concepts are also entrenched in the traditional sports. The lack of 'physical activities' of e-Sports is further debated, as professional gamers are required to have superior mind-muscle connection and reflexes to perform at the highest level of play.

-Kenny (43801641)