Description: Is eSport a real sport? Competition and money in big esport. Virtual reality in esport boosts the sensations of athletes but what are the obstacles for mass implementation? Parents don’t need to worry if you spent too much time playing cybersports.
The Controversial Phenomenon of eSports
There is no doubt about the fact that Chess is a sport. So why does e-sport still have a controversial association with sports?
Many parents worry that their children spend a lot of time exposed to computers. They have no idea that their offsprings don’t just coach potatoeing in a chair, but are having the best time of their lives. Perhaps with the prospect of further growth, even.
Generally speaking, those who are older often forbid their next generations to do something they didn’t do or don’t understand themselves. The older ones are worried that computers will do to us what television has already done to them.
You have to distinguish between two things: eSports and the gaming industry. ESport is content that can be consumed with the word “watch”, it has a competitive spirit, people cheer for the participants, analyze the successes and failures, and even make bets.
In simple words, you can add any eSports event to the soccer, hockey, golf, or figure skating competition you watch on TV. Even though the battlefield is virtual, the range of emotions one gets is real. The pain of defeat is real, the joy of victory is real, and so is the real money from a successfully made bet.
Fun Facts about Cyber Sport
- Aside from the serious mental preparation for the match, eSports players also undergo significant physical training. This sport puts a lot of stress, especially on the skeleton and the muscles of the back.
- ESrsports competitions are held in real arenas attended by hundreds of thousands of fans, and the advertising market for the events is approaching $2 billion.
- The dawn of cybersports was in the 1970s before the internet age, born in universities in the United States.
- The mecca of eSports is South Korea, and the country’s government established the eSports Department.
- The prize pool for the international Dota 2 Cup was more than $25 million.
- Increasingly, young faces of eSports are becoming brand ambassadors, alongside bloggers and ticktockers, as their recognition among the younger generation is much higher than that of celebrities of the old echelon.
- The gamechanger name in eSports is Johan Sundstein aka N0tail. He is from Denmark. This guy made 6938436$ playing DOTA2 in a position of support. He was born in 1993 and started his professional career in 2012 at the age of 19, already having a positive reputation in certain circles.
- Currently, eSport players form into teams.
- The rating exists not only for players but also for their clans.
Virtual Reality‘s Place in eSports
Virtual Reality has not become a gamechanger for cybersports, of course, but it has definitely expanded its boundaries and quality.
Moreover, virtual reality hardware has freed the player’s hands and made them more agile, which is important in this kind of activity. The players’ mobility may contribute to the inclusion of eSports in the list of official sports and competitions in the future.
Like many sports, eSports players need equipment. In addition to desktop computers, the following gadgets and IoT streaming possibilities are required:
- Virtual Reality headsets.
- A quality microphone.
- Advanced computer furniture.
- The latest gaming consoles.
In addition to gadgets, an eSport athlete needs a place where one can fully devote oneself to the activity. A comfortable area will be needed because players sit for 8 to 12 hours a day.
What is the Future of VR in eSports
The Bottom Line
Even though virtual reality is still in its infancy, it has already found its application in the area of eSports. And if so far this is just an enhanced experience for those who can afford it, we hope that in the future VR software development will become a loophole, thanks to which people with disabilities or mental difficulties will also come to the sport.
Obstacles on the Way
The most important obstacle for the development of eSports in virtual reality is its narrowness and expensive cost. Not everyone can afford to buy a costly headset for playing in virtual reality. This applies both to the eSports players and their fans. You will have to put out $400 to $500 just for the headset, to begin with.
Then you will need an expensive gaming computer or console, which also costs over $ 500.
Also, note that the main age range of players and fans are teenagers and young people who are just taking their first steps towards financial success in this area. This is why there are so few people making their way into this niche.
Virtual reality also limits the number of people involved in the event. So while a desktop computer, tablet, or even a smartphone is enough for regular streaming, not everyone will get access to Virtual Reality because of the high cost of a headset, without which it is impossible to immerse yourself in the process.
Conclusion
We have already realized that eSports is no longer just fun for the boys in front of the computer. It’s a big and serious phenomenon. It attracts more and more attention each year. Along with the attention come the crowds, the fans, and the big money.
Virtual reality is a niche product that is very expensive on its own. It definitely benefits eSports athletes. Thanks to VR, they can move during the game. And in general, the range of feelings and emotions when using virtual reality during a cyber game is on many levels higher.
However, developers should think twice if they want to implement VR in this type of activity. Whereas, the bandwidth of players and viewers needs to be thought about. Cut the cost of equipment or introduce it to the masses in another way.
