EPTI’ll start off by thanking my roommate for having enough tolerance to share a wall with someone who half the time bails on activities I probably once would, or keeps him awake in the early AM hours, because I’m either broadcasting or streaming. Oh and not kill me. If there is anyone that deserves to flip a table, it’s probably him.
It's hard to think that a little over a year ago, I didn't know what Team Liquid, Starcraft, GSL, etc all was. To be honest I was a total closet nerd in regards to games such as RTS's, or MMO's. All I was known for in the nerd department was logging countless hours of Madden, Fifa, Fight Night, COD, which I'm still pretty damn amazing in all of those games especially, Madden. Point aside, there was never a good comfort or I guess stigma that came with saying you play those games. I wouldn't exactly say that's just changed either, just now here and there a person does get curious and ask what exactly I do.
“I broadcast tournaments for Starcraft 2,” is starting to become one of my favorite lines. The look on peoples faces are priceless and usually are followed with an eerie response that sounds something like, “Wait you mean like…..tv...." Most of the time people are so baffled they can't provide an intelligent response such, " like the commentators you see in the NFL or NBA?" In an attempt to keep it simple I just tell them to imagine a sports cast and place that into a video game. Without actually seeing the cast in action, it's pointless to tell everyone that you're the producer, editor, director, music, color commentary, play by play commentary, pre game, post game, intermission, interviews, scheduling, manager, media, coverage and more. Thank god that once in a while you find a co-caster so you don't look dumb when you run out of ideas and funny stories of how you've been getting progressively anti-social lol.
Even today I found myself going into fan mode where I watched this current tournament called the IPL where there is a $106,000 prize pool. Where players from around the world we're flown in, accomidated, and taken care of. I saw branding and sponsors everywhere. I saw the 10's and 100's of thousands of viewers tune in to the broadcasts. I watched an NBA player Gordon Hayward compete. I took a step back and was just in awe, to see how far E-sports has come and grown.
Though ne of the biggest battles right now is to attempt to change people’s mentality from the basic thinking that all E-Sports is just playing video games. There is so much that goes into E-Sports it's even hard for me to list.
I guess I'll try to drop my E-Sports crash course.
The basic definition of E-Sports is playing video games competitively
There are 4 main personalities. Player, Fan, Coach, Broadcaster. The cool thing about E-Sports you can be all 4.
There is a huge community of people that are interested!
Just like in professional sports, there are also icons and celebrities too.
Just like in sports, there are teams.
Just like in sports, you have to practice to be good.
Just like in sports, there is coverage of events.
Just like in sports, there are sponsors and numbers of sponsors are growing.
Just like in sports, and this is recent players are starting to earn salaries.
* We're talking salaries that allow people to live normal lives on.
So I hope you're getting the general concept now.
As much as it’s growing in the US, E-sports are a huge part of culture in places like South Korea.
With hundreds upon hundreds of local to foreign competitions there’s much interaction between nationalities and cultures.
Living in the present day with the better technology it allows for players to game with players all over the world.
For myself, I play in the North American, European, and Korean realms.
This isn't just your everyday hobby or activity. For most it's a passion, for some it's their job, for some it's their life. All of the sudden this past year it's starting to become acceptable to become a 'nerd'.
As for myself I'm very proud that I'm part of this awesome movement if you want to call it. I'll take it as a compliment if you call me a nerd. I love it when people tell me I'm addicted to gaming. No duh, when someone is passionate about something they like of course their going to put as priority.
The best thing about this whole mini rant, I've probably covered just 1% of what E-sports really is.
It's 3am right now and my ideas are getting choppy so I'll probably leave it at that.
#Nerdchills
-Daniil
