Ultimate Guide to eSports

You may have heard of eSports by now; the fast-growing industry is sweeping its way through the nation. But what's behind all the buzz, and how does eSports actually work? Here you'll get the guide to eSports, product recommendations, and everything you need to know to take part in the gaming craze.

What is eSports?

The "e" in eSports stands for "electronic" and refers to competitive gaming, video games that is. eSports are similar to conventional sports in that players are competing against each other and there are public games, rules, and spectators.

What are eSports games?

eSports games are tournaments with multiple players competing for money. The players can be amateurs or pros. These tournaments do not need to take place in person, as everything is virtual. Players can take part by playing either one-on-one like in Call of Duty or in teams like in League of Legends.

Some of the most popular eSports games, where players can compete in tournaments and win the highest amount of prize money, are Dota 2, Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Arena of Valor.¹

The different games can vary greatly in rules and technique. But for every video game, a certain dexterity and knowledge base are required for success. Just like with anything, practice makes perfect. And practice is what transforms these players into pros.

In eSports, the game is co-ed, meaning men and women can play together. And while the industry began as pretty male-dominated, female representation is growing over the years. In 2020, women made up 41% of all gamers in the US, and they make up an even larger percentage of the gamer demographic in Asia (40-45%).² This may be one factor influencing the recent trend in the industry where female characters in games are becoming heroines rather than the ones needing saving.

In the early years of the industry, female characters were far and few between. And even when they did exist, they were often hyper-sexualized. But in 2020, The Feminist Frequency reported that 18% of games released that year featured female characters.² This is a big improvement from previous years, and hopefully is reflective of more inclusion in the gaming industry for the future.

Today, there are some very strong female characters in popular games. Some of these include Chun-Li from the Street Fighter series, Mirana the Princess of the Moon from Dota, and Tracer from Overwatch. All of these female characters have become prominent figures in the gaming world, and their characters represent strong players and fighters rather than passive female characters awaiting saving from male characters.

What is the difference between eSports and gaming?

The major difference between eSports and gaming is that eSports is competitive. Gaming is the general term used to refer to any kind of video game play, including recreational. While eSports specifically refers to competitive gaming where professionals play for cash prizes.

Who watches eSports?

Anyone is welcome to watch eSports games, and they do. In the past few years, the global eSports audience consisted of roughly equal numbers of eSports enthusiasts and occasional viewers.³ The occasional viewers in the audience actually outnumbered the enthusiasts, proving that the games can be enjoyed by all.

The eSports audience is relatively young compared to other industries. 32% of viewers are between 16 and 24 years old, while another 30% are aged 25-34.³ The eSports audience is also largely male, 72% to be exact.⁴ But the number of female viewers has been on the rise, thanks to more female representation in the industry.

Who has an eSports team?

The eSports industry has grown and expanded, all the way into traditional sports teams. Many famous Soccer clubs have their own eSports wings. Some examples include Manchester City and FC Barcelona. These real-life sports teams have eSports divisions in which they create teams and play. Some of them will play eSports games that reflect traditional sports, like eFootball, but they also dabble in other kinds of eSports games like League of Legends and Rocket League.

And it's not just soccer, many famous NBA teams are owners of eSports teams too. Currently, seventeen different NBA teams have invested in NBA 2K eSports teams. While it's popular for traditional sports teams to invest in the virtual version of their sport, some teams are starting to venture out into other types of games. Teams like The Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have all invested in League of Legends teams. And because traditional sports teams have a lot of money and resources, their eSports teams do quite well.

Aside from Soccer clubs and national basketball teams, various celebrities are co-owners of eSports teams too. Musical artist Drake and famous music manager Scooter Braun are co-owners of the giant 100 Thieves eSports team.⁵

And finally, many corporations and business moguls have taken part in the eSports craze as well. Companies like Comcast and Asus have recently invested in teams for games like Overwatch and League of Legends. Additionally, billionaires like Alisher Usmanov (Russia's richest man) and Dan Gilbert have invested in the industry.

What are the best drinks for gamers?

It may not seem like eSports players need to watch their nutrient intake and stay hydrated like traditional athletes, but playing in eSports tournaments actually does require a large amount of energy and endurance. eSports players need to be able to focus for long periods of time and perform. Players are often practicing or playing for tournaments for hours on end, and thus need to be properly hydrated and energized.

Some drinks that are great for eSports athletes are Nootropics. These supplements are designed to stimulate the brain and enhance performance. They are also called "Smart Drugs" and are best known to enhance cognitive performance. Nootropics increase cognitive functions such as memory, creativity, motivation, and attention. The supplements have even been used to treat memory disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. ⁶ They traditionally come in powder form and are mixed with water to create the ultimate drink for gamers. Some Nootropics formulas, like Myprotein's Command line, come with additional ingredients to boost energy and performance like vitamins and minerals.

The Command line is unique in that its products are created by nutritional experts and adhere to the highest quality standards. Command adds additional ingredients to their Nootropics to give gamers a supplement that will cover all the bases. With caffeine, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C, Command Nootropics support players in every aspect- cognitive function, vision, fatigue, and focus. Our Nootropics also contain no added sugar, because the goal is to stimulate athletes in a healthy way, and not give an unnecessary sugar rush that will cause a crash later.

We offer grape and lemon-lime flavored Nootropics that taste great and will give you that extra boost you need to perform. Our Nootropics come in powder form and are easily dissolved in water.