If you’re reading this, you’re most likely one of the Players in Esports who enjoys playing video games. And with the growing popularity of Esports, it’s not hard to see why. From casual players to professional gamers, everyone can enjoy the benefits of playing video games. Whether you play on a PC or console, there is something for everyone.
In fact, the number of people who play video games in the world is expected to reach 1 billion by 2020. With so many people getting into Esports and gaming as a whole, it makes sense that some unique challenges have arisen from this growth. Let’s take a look at the top 5 benefits and challenges in Esports for Players:
Benefits in Esports
If you’re like most Players in Esports, you enjoy gaming because it allows you to be among like-minded individuals who can share their interests without judgement. Now, if you’re an Esports competitor, you’ll find that you can do just that. Many competitive Esports titles bring people together around a common interest. Whether it’s a game like League of Legends, Overwatch, Hearthstone, or CS: GO, you’ll find a large community just waiting to be part of.
Another benefit of Esports is that it can help you make money. Depending on the game and platform, you can earn money through sponsorships and advertising. Some Esports titles even have premium membership options that allow you to play for free and earn money by watching adverts.
The benefits of a professional experience
One of the best things about Esports is that it brings together all the benefits of professional sports. Specifically, Esports caters to Players in Esports that desire to be involved in the competition. This can be found throughout all aspects of Esports, from the competitive nature of the games to the ranking system used by most platforms.
Competitive games like League of Legends, Dota 2, or Overwatch have competitive rankings where Players in Esports “grade” their performance as they play. This ranking system can then be compared to other players. This can be very helpful, as it determines how much you get paid or sponsored for your next game.
The benefits of teamwork
Whether you’re playing a strategy game like Starcraft 2 or CS: GO or fighting in a fighting game like Street Fighter, you’ll find that you can benefit from teamwork. In fact, many competitive Esports titles revolve around teamwork because of the way that they’re designed.
You’ll find that team-oriented titles like League of Legends, Dota 2, or CS: GO are designed around a five-on-five format, where all Players in Esports have a specific role to fill. In fighting games, like Street Fighter and Injustice, teamwork is even more important because it’s the only way to defeat your opponent.
Challenges in Esports: cheating and fraud
Due to the growing popularity of Esports, the challenge of cheating and fraud is a top-of-mind issue for many Esports competitors. While many players in Esports hope to get a glimpse of what Esports is like by streaming their gameplay, this isn’t always possible. If you want to compete in a professional capacity, you’ll likely have to participate in official tournaments.
There, you’ll find that you can be excluded based on rules that include cheating, fraud, and other activities that are against the rules of the Esports competition. While the challenge of cheating and fraud is often brought up as a challenge, it can also be a benefit. Especially when it comes to forcing Esports competitions towards more stringent rules.
The challenge: lack of funding
The challenge of lack of funding is also an issue that many Esports competitors face. While many competitive gaming titles receive funding from sponsorships, cash prizes, and merchandise sales, many Esports competitions do not receive funding. This means that the money being put into these competitions is typically the money of the Players in Esports, rather than an organization or organization.
While the challenge of lack of funding is a common topic in the Esports world, it’s also a challenge that can benefit players. The lack of funding in Esports competitions can leave room for more diverse rule sets and gameplay styles, as well as more creative competition formats.
The final blow: the risk of injury
Finally, the final blow in Esports is the risk of injury. Similar to other sports where players risk injury, Esports competitors can experience a variety of injuries like chronic pain, injuries, or surgeries. If you participate in a physical sport like football or wrestling, you’re likely familiar with these risks. However, Esports is a more strenuous activity than many physical sports.
Therefore, you can also experience chronic pain in your joints, back, and more. If you’re participating in Esports, you can reduce this risk by taking breaks and reducing the amount of time you spend in intense activities.
Conclusion
Whether you play for fun or for profit, Esports has something for everyone. From competitive gameplay to team-oriented experiences, Esports has something for every type of gamer. However, this growth has brought some unique challenges. From cheating and fraud to the lack of funding, playing Esports can be a rewarding experience – as long as you’re able to navigate them.
