Why Esports Shouldn’t Be Compared to iGaming, Fantasy Sports, or Other Forms of Gaming.

Competitive gaming’s meteoric rise is the most significant phenomenon of the twenty-first century. Competitive gaming began as a pastime for many people, but it has since evolved into a highly professional and regulated system. The pandemic-affected year of 2020 proved to be a watershed moment for Esports, both in terms of greater interest and acceptance. Gaming became a feasible choice for amusement as people spent more time indoors. This phenomenal rise introduced competitive gaming to a whole new generation of devoted fans. Player engagement in competitive gaming, as well as viewership of Esports events, has increased dramatically.

Indian Esports accounted for roughly 4% of all online gaming users and 9.13 percent of total revenue in FY20, according to figures. The number of people watching Esports climbed to 17 million in 2020, and it is expected to reach 85 million by 2025. According to an EY analysis, India’s esports business is expected to quadruple in size to Rs 1,100 crore by 2025, up from Rs 250 crore now, with a compounded annual growth rate of 46 percent.
Esports should not be lumped together with iGaming, Fantasy, or other gaming genres, according to Tarun Gupta, Founder of Ultimate Battle.
Based on how the game is developed, how the game is played, and the degree of talent required to play these games, online games are largely grouped into the following categories:

1. Games based on cards (ex. Poker, Rummy)
2. Casual Games (ex. Pool, Bubble shooting)
3. Fantasy Games (ex. Fantasy Cricket, Fantasy Football)
4. Esports (ex. DOTA 2, BGMI, VALORANT)

In India, esports is often confused with fantasy sports, rummy, and other casual games. There’s no reason to think of these games as Esports. Esports are organized online and/or offline video game competitions that include traditional sports, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), real-time strategy (RTS), and fighting games, as well as first-person shooter (FPS) games. Esports games are created to provide a high-intensity competitive experience. The games contain a variety of components that not only make them sporting in nature, but also provide opportunities for gamers to learn about the game, improve their skills, and compete professionally.

Esports is a Real Sport for the Following Reasons:

Count the things that come to mind first when you think about sports. It would undoubtedly involve intense competition, physical exercise, fans, practice, and an adrenaline rush, among other things. Furthermore, we imagine an Esports player sitting at a desk all day, staring at a screen. Even though Esports do not require the same amount of physical activity as sports like football, athletes must have sufficient physical stamina, motor skills, and reflex to manage gaming equipment and compete effectively in the game.
Professional esports athletes put up the same level of effort, practice, and discipline as athletes in other sports. Despite all of the facts and data demonstrating Esports’ rapid growth in recent years, the question of “whether Esports can be classified as true sports or if it’s a sport at all” continues to be debated. Esports are gradually being recognized as a sport by international sporting bodies. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) recently stated that the Asian Games 2022 will include eight games, including FIFA, PUBG, and Dota2. Esports was a demonstration event in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, as you may recall.

Let’s look at the connections between Esports and traditional sports to see why they line up and make Esports a true sport.

Mechanics of the Game:

The rules and procedures that direct the gamer’s actions and interactions with the game are referred to as game mechanics. In terms of gameplay and strategic maneuvers, the richness and dynamics of in-game mechanisms for Esports game titles are just as lively as sports. Esports is a top-tier sporting event when you combine this with the richness of the game’s mechanics, which are always improving. Players in esports must grasp the game’s mechanics while also learning and honing game-specific talents. These game mechanics contribute to a more interesting and enjoyable gaming experience.

The Game’s Learning Curve:

Esports, like traditional sports, have a steep learning curve that helps players improve their skills and develop a better grasp of the game. As the player goes through the game, the curve steepens even further. As the difficulty levels rise, gamers must employ increasingly complex gameplay methods to fight and win. You’ll need to be the greatest in terms of gaming skills, team coordination, opponent research, critical thinking, and multitasking to excel in Esports.

Physical prowess and strategic thinking are two of the most important factors to consider:

If you look closer into Esports games, you’ll notice that they have a lot in common with traditional sports. Esports competitors are needed to maintain high levels of concentration during the game to make critical judgments under time constraints. In the case of Esports athletes, this is also true. Traditional sports necessitate a combination of athletic talents and scoring strategies. Esports, on the other hand, necessitates quick reactions, a thorough understanding of in-game mechanics, and the ability to adapt to changing dynamics of in-game strategy throughout gameplay. Only players with exceptional athletic ability and a keen understanding of game strategy can work together to strike at the proper moment. To master their actions on the keyboard and mouse while simultaneously cooperating with teammates, esports gamer practices and hones their abilities for hours. Esports athletes may make up to 400 keyboard and mouse movements per minute, which is four times faster than the typical person. Because both hands are moving at the same time and various portions of the brain are being used at the same time, the whole thing is asymmetrical.

Practice and Training is essential:

Professional esports players and traditional sports athletes have numerous commonalities in terms of practice and training. Esports professionals, like traditional sportsmen, are dedicated to greatness, perseverance, and a love for their sport. Furthermore, they both undergo physical and mental training to improve their athletic and gameplay abilities. Esports players put forth a lot of effort to physically and emotionally prepare for each competition they participate in.
To become a professional Esports player, you’ll need to put in a lot of time and effort. Esports players, like athletes in other sports, must possess attributes like concentration, precision, and execution, which can only be acquired through extensive in-game experience. The government needs to recognize this and put Esports under the tent of sports policies and legislation.