It has been over 50 years since one of the earliest documented video game tournaments occurred on the Stanford University campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, California. The last few decades have seen electronic sports, or eSports, evolve into a worldwide phenomenon of video game players competing professionally across varied genres. Corporate sponsorships have fueled this evolution, bringing substantial cash prizes and helping build a dedicated and ever-growing fan base.
The early days
Access to video gaming experiences mirrors the growth of eSports. In the 1970s and 1980s, most people had to physically visit a local establishment to see and play the available selection of dedicated arcade games in their uniquely designed, coin-operated cabinets. The high-score recording function featured in arcade video games led Twin Galaxies to compile the top results into a publicly accessible database. During this time, competitions centered around the most popular arcade games drew a dedicated following. Still, practical limits remained regarding widespread publicity and attendance.
The 1990s marked a significant shift in the gaming landscape. The golden age of arcade games gave way to increasingly capable console gaming systems connected to home televisions. This transition not only made gaming more accessible but also led to a surge in popularity, with more people discovering and participating competitively. Gaming console giants like Nintendo and Sega nurtured competitive in-person events, with the former organizing a world championship in 1990 that spanned several months and included regional competitions across 29 U.S. cities and age groups for pre-teens, teens, and adults.
LANs, broadband, and gaming
Computers and the networks that connect them have driven the development of the multiplayer gaming experience since the 1970s with landmark titles like Spasim and Maze War. Early game software developers found the low latency and high speeds offered by local area networks (LANs) made it relatively easy to implement a multiplayer experience between devices on the same network.
By the late 1990s, relatively fast broadband internet connections had become widely available at more affordable prices. However, the dramatically increased latency between distant broadband users proved a networking challenge for providing a seamless experience with the increasingly popular fast-paced multiplayer first-person shooter titles of the time, like Duke Nukem 3D and Quake. These games were among the first to implement client-side prediction, enabling them to offer a near LAN-like experience over the Internet, thereby expanding the reach and availability of competitive online multiplayer experiences.
The introduction of Microsoft’s Xbox game console in the early 2000s saw the integration of an Ethernet port for eventual connectivity to broadband internet and the company’s Xbox LIVE online gaming service, which provided downloads, updates, and competitive multiplayer matchmaking. Earlier consoles like the Sega Dreamcast offered cooperative multiplayer gameplay options using dial-up internet access that were more tolerant of network latency due to players competing against computer-controlled opponents rather than each other – i.e., player-vs-player (PvP).
Something for (almost) everyone
The diversity of eSports games is a testament to some titles’ longevity and software developers’ creativity to deliver timely and uniquely appealing takes on popular genres. One commonality among eSports games is real-time action. Turn-based games are growing in popularity in eSports. Still, today’s most popular games focus on real-time battles between players or teams.
First-person shooter games are well-represented within eSports and include titles like Counter-Strike (and its variants), Apex Legends, and Valorant. A sub-genre of first-person games known as battle royale (aka “last man standing”) includes widely played titles like Fortnite, PUBG: Battlegrounds, and Call of Duty: Warzone.
Real-time strategy (RTS) games remain a staple of eSports play and include worldwide classics like StarCraft. The sub-category of multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games like Dota 2 and League of Legends are prevalent RTS-style titles in which teams compete against each other, with each player controlling one of the team members.
Fighting simulation games like Street Fighter and Tekken remain popular eSports titles for their revered virtual combatants and 1v1 action. The last decade has also seen the rise within the eSports community of a unique “vehicular soccer game” called Rocket League. Rocket League boasts fast action in 1v1 to 4v4 formats and supports cross-platform play.
Tools of the trade
With a competitive PvP game that requires thorough knowledge and fast reflexes for success, the gamer’s choice of equipment can influence their performance and give them an edge. One benefit of console game systems over PCs is hardware consistency – a particular game console series provides similar performance for all users. However, modern game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X can drive TVs and monitors with refresh rates up to 120Hz, providing a faster on-screen response time and reduced motion blur. These game consoles also support variable refresh rates (VRR), minimizing image artifacts like screen tearing when paired with compatible displays.
PC gaming systems with appropriate hardware can support even greater display refresh rates and resolutions than consoles. However, depending on a title’s visual complexity and hardware capabilities, competitive PC gamers often reduce a game’s resolution and graphical details to achieve increased frames per second for reduced latency and a more fluid presentation. The pro PC gamer’s desire for fast framerates is one reason for the lasting popularity of 24-inch 1080p monitors – they provide good pixel density, a more easily driven screen resolution compared to 1440p or 4K, and a relatively compact screen size that is easier to focus on in its entirety compared to larger-sized displays.
Many competitive games provide helpful audio cues that can give the attentive player greater situational awareness. A decent pair of earphones or headphones are standard eSports equipment and can dramatically improve audio perception and focus, especially in noisy or distracting environments. Gaming-orientated headsets with integrated microphones also assist with clear voice communication by minimizing potential interference from external speakers.
The popularity of console gaming has made console game controllers an appealing control option for PC gamers, too. Dedicated controller manufacturers go beyond the stock hardware with lightweight designs that offer more customizable control surfaces. Some PC gamers prefer to play with a mouse and keyboard control setup. Many companies specialize in hardware to reduce latency, improve response times, customize tactile feedback, and provide additional control options.
Cheating: cat and mouse
As with practically any competitive event throughout human history, cheating in video games is an ongoing and persistent war between game developers and those who desire to gain an advantage at any cost. In-person eSports events generally experience few incidents of cheating due to the ease of scrutinizing player behavior and the use of event-provided hardware. Online multiplayer gaming is where the most blatant cheating occurs, and most cheating occurs among PC users. The homogenous nature of game consoles makes the security of their hardware and software significantly more challenging to exploit compared to the nearly infinite combinations of PC hardware available.
The spectrum of video game cheating includes some gray areas, such as taking advantage of unpatched software quirks or glitches within the game environment, using programmable controllers or macros that enable tricky or otherwise impossible actions, or enabling now-common gaming display features such as a toggle to brighten dark environments or add a crosshair. More nefarious cheating tactics include enabling auto-aimers, allowing players to view opponents through walls or maintain a persistent location awareness, and automating actions such as gathering in-game resources.
More recently, machine-trained systems can enable difficult-to-detect cheats based on computer vision (CV) techniques – the YOLO Aimbot is one example. Combining these CV-based exploits with API calls to the operating system or adding custom device drivers can enable effective auto-fire mechanisms that target opposing players. Modern anti-cheat PC software struggles to keep up with this constantly evolving war where each side stands to make or lose millions of dollars in revenue.
MSI recently demonstrated a new gaming monitor that integrated a feature dubbed AI Skysight. This feature locates and continuously scans a game’s mini-map and generates on-screen markers to help players maintain situational awareness of opponents. However, it is unclear if or when MSI will release the PC software to enable this feature. Still, it is only a question of when other peripheral manufacturers will offer similar or even more advanced AI-based tools.
Back to the future
The rise in Internet use has made it easier to discover and enjoy video games of all types directly or through the play of countless content creators. Competition has long drawn humans together, and the future of eSports will continue to evolve new and unique experiences that will only expand the ranks of its devoted fans.
Robert is a technologist with over 20 years of experience testing and evaluating consumer electronics devices, primarily focusing on commercial and home theater equipment.
Robert's expertise as an audio-visual professional derives from testing and reviewing hundreds of related products, managing a successful AV test lab, and maintaining continuous education and certifications through organizations such as CEDIA, the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), and THX.
More recently, Robert has specialized in analyzing audio and video display systems, offering comprehensive feedback, and implementing corrective measures per industry standards. He aims to deliver an experience that reflects the artists' intent and provides coworkers and the public with clear, insightful product information.
