Power to the People: How eSports Goes Mainstream

eSports -- playing or watching video games for glory and prizes -- is a booming but still nascent industry. There are over 188 million eSports fans worldwide, with an estimated 240 million by 2018. eSports viewership is predicted to surpass that of the NFL by 2017. In fact, According to ESPN, 27 million people tuned in to watch the 2014 finals of the League of Legends World Championship - that’s more than watched the final game of the World Series (23.5 million) or the NBA Finals (18 million).

But here’s the problem: eSports is essentially a spectator sport. So, for eSports to really explode, focus needs to change from the “best-of-the-best” to the common competitor.

If they want to participate -- not just watch -- an eSports fan has one of three options:

In my opinion, game makers and tournament organizers need to recognize the “non-pro” as the next evolution of competitive gaming. This is how eSports will move beyond spectator status.

We call these non-pro gamers “mid-core competitors.” They have more talent and time than the average gamer, but have regular 9-5 jobs, families and commitments. They can’t move into a house with nine other pro gamers. They don’t have sponsors, or advertisers or team jerseys. The current Big Tournament system is where companies like Riot (makers of the hugely popular League of Legends game) have historically focused their attention.

It is impossible for the mid-core competitor to go up against dedicated professionals who scrimmage and play almost every waking hour. The Big Tournament system dooms millions of these passionate players to sit in front of their TVs and monitors and watch someone else play for glory and prizes.

What’s needed are services that remove the noise and friction of Big Tournament brackets. Services that enable the mid-core competitor to find fair matches with honest outcomes. Where competition is instant and head-to-head. Where entry fees are modest and the prizes are just enough to make things interesting.  It’s kinda like your regular poker night with friends!

This new competitive format creates an environment where players of all skill levels can play against their peers. A little bit of money on the line heightens the experience, but isn’t the sole purpose of playing. This puts the mid-core competitor square on the playing field instead of on the sidelines.

As eSports and pro players gain popular attention, more and more gamers want to be like them. Golf took off when Tiger Woods became a media sensation. More people took interest and started playing. The same thing is happening with eSports. We are at the beginning of the next evolution and growth of eSports as a real sport, and by having opportunities for "regular" players to participate, it adds fuel to the fire for rapid growth, now and in the future.