Uniting geeks and gaming buffs across the globe, eSports has transformed from a niche past time to a worldwide phenomenon watched by millions. Taking the world of gaming by storm, it comes as no surprise that it has become a million-dollar industry with European football teams like Paris Saint Germain, Ajax FC, Manchester City having their own eSport teams, while others from the NBA to Coca-Cola and ESPN trying to tap into this business. In recent years, it has landed on our shores, setting local gaming enthusiasts abuzz and amassing fans. But with so much hype out there and various debates on the topic, you might be wondering what's all the fuss about. Or perhaps you're intrigued? Whatever your sentiment, here we go into the highs and lows of what it is that makes professional video gaming such a big business.

So what exactly are eSports and why are they so important?


Remember the days when video games used to be played inside the four walls of a room and were enjoyed individually? Things have changed. Short for electronic sports, eSports are, in essence, organised, multiplayer video game competitions and tournaments, often mimicking traditional sports by using similar tournament formats and regulations, while at times, they may even have professional players that are employed under contracts. Today, massive, international eSport tournaments that attract large crowds are hosted in big arenas, where well-known gamers battle each other for the glory and big cash prize, while fans from all over the world flock to watch the action on large screens or tune in to follow the game online in the comfort of their own home. Whereas eSports as an industry may have truly boomed in the late 2000s, the first video game competition dates back as early as 1972, when a bunch of students at Stanford University competed on a round of Spacewar. The grand prize was an annual subscription to the acclaimed, pop culture magazine, Rolling Stone. Little did these kids know that their casual match would lead to a gaming revolution and would pave the way for modern day tournaments. The first gaming contest was staged by Atari in New York City in 1980 attracting 10,000 participants, but the Internet's advent is what truly connected gamers around the world and solidified further gaming's popularity. The eGaming industry, however, shares more than just its name with its traditional counterpart. Just like any conventional sport like football, tennis or rugby, every competitive video game has its own set of rules and objectives, while each requires a particular skill set. So how does it work and who sets the rules? From game developers to competition organisers and advisory services, many and varied organisations are involved in eGaming, but publishers and developers are the ones who set rules and penalties, which are then enforced during eSport leagues. In addition, organisations such as the Esports integrity Coalition (ESIC) and the World Esports Association (WESA) have also worked towards setting up regulations and recommendations for the prevention of match manipulation and betting fraud amongst other things. But what's hot about eGaming is not just its increasing popularity. Revenue is big too. Global eSports earning reached ＄493 million in 2016, increased to ＄655 million in 2017, while it is expected to exceed ＄900 million this year. Most of this revenue comes from investments by major companies, as well as celebrities like Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Rock Fox and others, together with sponsorships, prize money and merchandise.

A sport or just a mind game?

The concept of sports evokes images of physical exertion, skill and precision carried out by an individual or a team either out in open air or indoors in a gym or sports court. A set of predefined rules must be adhered to, while the sport is played for building stamina and physique, for enjoyment and on occasions, as a job. In contrast, eSports spring to mind scenes of teens, sweating it out on their gaming chair, eyes glued on the screen. Sure there is the element of competition and perhaps even a hint of exertion if you consider the physical strain fingers undergo when manoeuvring the keyboard. So where does this leave professional video gaming and can it be considered a sport? This question has certainly been a bone of contention since the Space Invaders Championship in the 1980s. For instance, in the UK, eSports are considered a game like the likes of chess and bridge, yet some arguments point to the fact that gaming, just like sports, requires careful planning, precise timing and skilful execution. In effect, several eGaming events have been run alongside traditional sport competitions, such as the Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) and most notably, during the 2018 Winter Olympics, professional games were brought to play StarCraft II and Steep prior to the opening of the games, whereas five South Korean gamers participated in the Olympic Torch Relay. Certain countries also appear to make great efforts to solidify video games onto the same level playing field as sports. Back in 2013, Danny 'Shiphtur' Le, a top LoL player received an American P-1A visa, usually given to internationally recognised pro athletes, whereas in 2014, Turkey began issuing eSports licences to players certified as professionals. What is more, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering to incorporate it into future Olympic games. As expected, the violent nature of certain games has raised more than a few eyebrows just as much as the aggressive behaviour and rule violations by some players, while there are still ethical and legal issues that need to be ironed out by the IOC. However, the committee has maintained that any approvals will revolve around games that simulate real sports such as the FIFA or NBA 2K series.

The eSports business and events in Malta

Malta has yet to find its place in the eSports industry, however, interest has grown and the business has seen a steady surge in popularity thanks to the numerous competitions and events held. One of the most successful initiatives has been the GO Malta Esports Festival which was first held in 2012. Hosted annually, the festival has become an iconic staple for the local gaming community and this year's edition is set to be the largest event of its kind. Taking place in the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre in Ta' Qali, the festival will feature foreign professional players, a large central stage, an Expo area, as well as a career convention area. Another popular eGaming tournament is the Nova series, a local competition that has become a flagship LAN event. Featuring some of the world's top-ranked teams and with a massive prize pool of ＄150,000, this year's event will see a large number of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive fans joining in the fun. Yet, events and tournaments are not the only things that have helped make the business more mainstream. A Malta eSports Forum has been set up, which has helped to introduce the local public to the eSports world, while workshops are also on the rise, such as the boot camp held a few months ago which saw a number of youngsters practising for three to six hours a day to hone in their skills. What is more, gaming communities such as the likes of Gamers have worked hard to solidify gaming's local audience, while the eSport events organiser Quickfire has been behind successful events. The ultimate go-to place among gamers, the Gamers Lounge is a LAN cafe and hardware store where gaming lovers can enjoy hours of practice using high-end gaming stations and quality peripherals. The fact that eSports is big, is a well-known fact even locally. With the objective to tap into this lucrative world, the government aims to transform Malta into an eSports hub, attracting professional video gaming teams, enthusiasts and spectators, as well as developers and international events. The island is regarded as an attractive contender for becoming a melting pot of business opportunities due to its infrastructure, numerous hospitality facilities, the work environment and tax climate, just as it has been for the iGaming industry and now with Blockchain.

Top eSports games

From real-time strategy (RTS) and first-person shooter (FPS) to fighting and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), game genres differ in purpose and scope, however, they all have a clear winner or loser. The most dominant titles in the industry include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty, Overwatch, Fortnite Battle Royale and StarCarft II. Want to know more? Here are some further details on the top eSport games at the moment.
League of Legends: a.k.a. LoL, this game surpasses all others and is in the lead when it comes to popularity. Featuring five players on each team who control a number of characters with a variety of abilities and attributes, the game's goal is to push forward, capturing and eventually destroying the opposing team's base. The game's active and constantly increasing fan base has transformed it into a competitive game with League Championship Series (LCS) organised in the US and Europe that feature 10 professional teams in each continent and several competitions in regions such as China and South Korea, culminating with the annual World Championship. This year's League of Legends World Championship was, in fact, the most watched eSports event in history, with a peak concurrent viewership of over 200 million fans in China alone. Hearthstone: the game has certainly hyped the digital collectable card game (CCG) genre since its release back in 2014, so much so that it has joined the eSport family and has a number of cash prize tournaments being organised on its behalf. A turn-based card game between two opponents, Hearthstone players use decks of 30 cards together with a selected hero that has some form of power. The goal is simple - destroy your opponent's hero.
Call of Duty: a first-person shooter video game, Call of Duty is a franchise with numerous series and several spin-off games, particularly popular in the US and Europe. Hosting monthly events, these reach a climax with the Call of Duty World League Championships whereby 32 teams play the latest series in the franchise. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is the most recent newcomer and features multiplayer combat, as well as exciting updates.
Defense of the Ancients 2: otherwise known as DOTA 2, two teams of five unique hero characters battle it out with the aim to defend their own separate ancient structure inside their base. DOTA also holds an annual tournament called The International, where the world's top players compete for prize pools that reach well into the millions. In local tournaments, other games take centre stage, with the first-person shooter variety being at the forefront, such as Battalion 1944 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. One more is PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), a multiplayer battle royale game that incorporates survival, explorations and scavenging elements and which has skyrocketed to the top of the charts due to its livestreams, content creation and purchases and support. Lastly, the ultimate sport simulating title in the world, the FIFA eWorld Cup has taken the local community by storm. After all who can forget Kurt - Kurt0411 - Fenech's epic qualifier positioning in the semi-finals in London which saw him cash out $20,000? He may not have won the top spot and prize, but his positioning was enough to send Maltese die-hard fans buzzing with excitement.

Would you like to join the fun?

Although Malta continues being one of the few countries in Europe to have a limited amount of full-time professional athletes, local talent is not lacking and this also applies within the gaming community. A number of Maltese just like Kurt mentioned above and others, have attempted to turn pro and have ventured into the international competitive scene, whereas a number of them have managed to reach the very top rankings of specific games, pocketing earnings well into the €1,000s. This has given hope to numerous amateurs on the island who would like to turn their passion into a bankable job. Although doing so might not be as impossible as you may think, it is easier said than done.

 So if we've piqued your interest, you might be wondering what you need to do to set your foot in this industry's door. Before even thinking of participating in the big matches though, you have to start small. Join online communities and remember that practice makes perfect. Some professional players train up to 14 hours a day to improve their agility and reflexes, so refine your gaming skills by purchasing a couple of games and equip yourself with peripherals that will help you achieve your goals. If, on the other hand, you'd like to join the growing pool of spectators, head to websites of local events and get hold of tickets. For international tournaments, sites like Twitch and YouTube Gaming are ideal places where you can easily stream these events online. Enjoying unprecedented growth and having shaken the traditional sports industry to its core, eSports has managed to bring video gaming into the mainstream, giving the digital generation its own voice. And although still in its infancy, the industry in Malta is gathering steam and is set to be the next big thing.