Cybersports is a new form of sporting competition conducted primarily through electronic systems, particularly video and computer games. Like traditional sports, cybersports is about teamwork, skill, practice and strategy. However, instead of playing outside, participants compete in video games.
For some players, according to https://jackgrid.com, cybersport has become a professional career despite criticism and negative perceptions of gaming culture. If a player is able to make a living from prize money, salaries and sponsorship, they are considered a professional. Australian cybersport teams are formed from professional gamers and people aspiring to become professional gamers. To understand this unusual field, we have prepared a review article.
Cybersports is a competitive game of video games that competes at a professional level and often awards prize money to those who succeed. Although organised online and offline competitions have existed in video games for many years, it is a part of gaming that is evolving rapidly. World of Warcraft, Overwatch, League of Legends, Dota 2, Fortnite and Super Smash Bros are some examples of cybersports.
Typically, video game broadcasts also include the voice-over of the player(s). Viewers’ attention is drawn to the techniques and strategies the player uses to survive to the end and win the game.
An analytical question that fits this topic is: Is cybersport part of a larger business model? This research question will open up different perspectives on the recognition of cybersports and could lead to further research on how developers can improve their computer games to compete in tournaments. It could also be a good opportunity to develop new games adapted for the competitive gaming scene, and it would be interesting to see if the design of the game mode actually affects the popularity of a game as a cybersport.
Over the past few years, cybersport in Australia has consistently shown growth. The most notable factor contributing to the growth has been the rollout of high-speed broadband in major cities, bringing more people to the sport. Combined with the National Broadband Network, which is expected to launch in the coming years, this is critical infrastructure for continued growth.
The growth of cybersports can also be seen in the content produced. Online competitions are now streamed live in high definition. There are also free video-on-demand services such as Twitch and YouTube that give teams and players the opportunity to earn revenue from revenue sharing and subscriptions. The pinnacle of eSports is getting a television broadcast.
Australian competitive gaming was recently featured on national TV channel SBS as part of the CGPL CounterStrike Championship, and ESL Australia has also recently partnered with Channel 7 TV to showcase its content on the big screen.
In 2017, the Australian sports market was valued at $2.3 billion. Of course, 2 years later that figure has surely increased. The Australian sports market is absolutely huge. Most Australians grow up playing some form of sport, be it professional, amateur or even a quick game of backyard cricket.
With so much emphasis on sport, it is no surprise that sport and the teams within it hold a special place in the hearts of many Australians. This is important to emphasise as it contrasts with the entertainment industry, where there is much less at stake than in traditional sport. This difference becomes incredibly important when you consider the recent rapid growth of cybersport in Australia.
Significant investor funding, international competitions and the creation of structured competitions have made the last few years some of the most successful in Australian cybersport. This has led to several teams and players representing Australia on the international stage.
Consider what it means for Australia’s sporting culture when a well-known traditional sporting organisation such as the Adelaide Crows creates a cybersport team. Cybersport in Australia is already challenging the conventions of what Australians consider to be real sport, and given the pace of its development, it won’t be long before cybersport is considered an equal to traditional sport in Australia.
Australia has excellent internet and good connectivity, which makes playing video games and even watching cyber sports an easy task. This is further supported by the fact that many cybersports organisations and leagues have a presence in Australia. The best example of this is the Overwatch Contenders league for Australia and the Pacific region.
Even before the release of Overwatch, game developer Blizzard announced that a league would be created for Oceania, which at the time was unheard of for a major developer of a popular game. Now around 8 organisations already have teams in place for the league and some of them are not even affiliated with traditional sports, which shows the interest in cyber sports from many parties.
An overlooked aspect of infrastructure is having a place to eat and sleep between games if the tournament is offline. Many LAN tournaments and even Overwatch Contenders leagues have brought teams from different states to Sydney without any support in terms of accommodation, forcing players out of their comfort zones and with only a few hours to prepare for the game – something that would never happen with traditional sports, and eventually shouldn’t happen with cybersports either.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
