For the uninitiated, eSports is competitive, team-based video gaming and, after years of languishing in the margins, is taking off big time and receiving the recognition and funding it deserves.
When gaming first became popular, many parents despaired that their transfixed offspring would never tear themselves away from the screens and controllers and ‘find something to do with their lives. A generation earlier, their own parents might have been saying precisely the same thing about watching television, and their parents would have nagged about afternoons wasted at movie theatres in turn.
What successive generations fail to acknowledge is that when something becomes popular, a whole industry grows around it, jobs are created, and meaningful opportunities are found with people working in a field they love. The video gaming industry has become a magnet for creative and tech people alike with university degrees devoted to the industry. However, these days, it is not only the people making and selling the games who are profiting; there is big money to be made from playing them, too.
Australia has hosted esports tournaments since the early 2000s; however, compared to its Asian neighbours, Australia still has some catching up to do both in terms of media coverage of the sector and professional development, team sponsorships, and events on offer. Australia currently hosts a tournament as part of ESL’s Extreme Masters CS:GO series, but the sector still has plenty of room for growth.
There is so much more to eSports than first-person shooter battles, and both the Commonwealth and Olympic organisations have been looking into the possibility of including the discipline as a medalling event in the future. The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, 2022 saw a parallel eSports event being staged. It was perfectly possible to check out the best sports betting app in Australia and place a wager on the country’s team.
While the IOC ruled out including eSports as an official event for the upcoming Olympics, that has not stopped eSports Australia from continuing to push for greater recognition. In addition, France’s President Macron has publicly praised esports and said he wants them to be included in some way or another. In May, he went on record to say he believed it would be a ‘historic opportunity’ for the country and announced plans to build a national esports eco-system and a major event will be held alongside the games.
Australia eSports better watch out that they do not lose their talent to competitive countries. France has invited international players to apply for talent visas, allowing them to use France as their home base for several years and compete in leagues there.
Team Australia are making their mark on the international circuit, and they competed in the World Championships in Romania earlier in the summer. Both men’s and women’s teams were eligible to play in the CS:GO segments, and the country was represented in eFootball too. The team has a glamourous ambassador in the form of Danielle “WhereisDanielle” Debrincat, a celebrated cosplayer who brought her fanbase out to cheer along the Aussie side.
There are so many eSports opportunities; if there is a game, people will find a way to play it competitively. Most tournaments and leagues in Australia are domestically focused – which is hardly surprising given the country’s geography. The most notable events to watch out for are the Acer High Schools Cup, The Australian Open Summer Smash, E-League Australia, ESL ANZ Champs, League of Legends Circuits Oceania, IEM Sydney and ESL Challenger DreamHack Melbourne.
DreamHack Festival had it all – it was a celebration of all things gaming, with the CS:GO professional event thrown in for good measure. However, you did not need to be a pro to enjoy what was on offer. The organisers promised merch music and even invited attendees to bring their own computers (BYOC) to a massive LAN event- LAN tickets included a port on the high-speed internet connection, power outlets and a chair. The organisers even let attendees bring their own chairs if they wanted to. No plans have yet been announced for 2024, but it is pretty certain it will be another great event for gamers and eSports enthusiasts.
While some eSports events focus on displaying players at the very top of their game, other events are more interested in the future and looking to see where the next talent will emerge. Later in October, The Gold Coast will host the Fuse eSport Festival, where schools are invited to compete, explore and connect.
The event is the country’s largest live school esports gathering. It features live competitions, retro gaming, racing simulators, VR and live competitions. The event is open to the public and hosts an education and industry conference over two days. The organisers are keen to see which school will be crowned National Champions, with schools competing across titles like MarioKart, SuperSmashBros, Just Dance 2023 and Rocket League. The National Finals will bring together State Champions from Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.
Anyone with an eye on the future of the leisure and entertainment sector needs to keep a lookout for the talent currently emerging from competitive video gaming. This is most definitely not child’s play but a pursuit to be taken seriously.