The History of Esports

Esports has grown into a billion-dollar industry involving players, viewers, and professionals. Its journey began with video game competitions, overcoming many challenges to become a promising global phenomenon.

Origins of Esports

• 1972 - First recorded video game competition at Stanford University, known as the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics.
  • Featured the game Spacewar!, developed in 1962 by Steve Russell and others.
  • Participants competed for a Rolling Stone Magazine subscription.
  • Marked the beginning of organized competitive gaming.

Spacewar!

• One of the earliest video games, popular among programmers.
• Played on the DEC PDP-1 minicomputer.
• Involved maneuvering spaceships around a star's gravity well, using strategies involving realistic physics.

Arcade Era

• 1974 - Sega held the All Japan TV Game Championships to promote arcade games.
• TV shows like Starcade and competitions in games like Vs. Super Mario Bros. popularized arcade gaming.

Rise of Online Gaming

• 1988 - Netrek, one of the first online multiplayer games, allowed remote play, setting the stage for internet-based esports.

Early Video Game Tournaments

• 1997 - The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) established.
  • Pioneered league-based esports tournaments.
• QuakeCon (1996) - Celebrated ZeniMax Media IPs with a unique BYOC format.
• Professional Gamers League - Sponsored by major companies like Microsoft, held tournaments for games like Starcraft and Quake.

South Korea: Esports Capital

• Early 2000s - South Korea emerged as a leader in esports due to internet connectivity and popular PC bangs.
• Starcraft: Brood War fueled esports culture, leading to organized competitive play and professional teams.

Iconic Esports Moments

• Evo Moment 37 (2004) - Known as the Daigo Parry, a legendary moment in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike competition.

Modern Era of Esports

Twitch

• Dominates esports live streaming, pivotal in popularizing esports tournaments.
• Launched as a gaming-focused channel of Justin.tv in 2011.
• Acquired by Amazon in 2014, consistently growing its viewership.

Riot Games

• Achieved a breakthrough by securing P1-A visas for League of Legends players, recognizing esports as a legitimate sport.

Different Paths to Success

• Dota 2 - Notable for its massive prize pools, especially The International tournaments.
• CS:GO - Maintains its status as a top FPS esports title, with Majors being key events.
• League of Legends - The top esports title with a structured ecosystem and high viewership.
• Overwatch League - Franchised, city-based league contributing to esports' global reach.
• Battle Royale Games - Games like Fortnite and PUBG:M expanded esports into new formats with large player bases.

Future of Esports

• Esports continues to evolve with new game genres and technological advancements.
• Expected to see changes in investment and possibilities of integration into events like the Olympics.

Esports stands as a testament to the evolving nature of competitive gaming and its integration into mainstream culture.