Competition can manifest itself in many forms; physical, mental, and now virtual. Competitive gaming has been around since we first put our initials on the leaderboard of an arcade machine.
But, the initiative of human competition has propelled competitive gaming into the modern forefront, where a multifaceted global phenomenon has taken shape. This shape is most commonly known as eSports.
Similarly to how we use the term “Sports” to incorporate all competitive physical games. “eSports” is the term used to accumulate all of the various competitions that take place on a virtual playing field. When betting intelligently on an eSport, it is best to educate oneself on the different types of eSports, the rules of the game and the players who compete.
Types of eSports:
eSports can break down into five different sub-categories, each simplified with the acronyms: MOBA, FPS, RTS, BR, and FG.
MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena is a team based game in which all five members with assigned roles work towards a collective goal; with the viewpoint being isometric or third-person. Hosting a wide selection of unique characters to use; items can be bought to increase the base stats of the user. The most popular titles of this type include League of Legends, DOTA 2, SMITE and Heros of the Storm. However, Heros of the Storm favors team play over item use. Therefore item based mechanics are not used.
FPS or First Person Shooter is another team based game. The viewpoint is in the first person, and gameplay revolves around various projectile based weapons. Popular titles of this genre include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, Rainbow 6 Seige, and the numerous Call of Duty titles.
RTS or Real Time Strategy is an individual player game. Only two players compete against each other at a given time. The perspective of the game is typically isometric, and mechanics vary from title to title. Popular titles in this category are StarCraft, StarCraft 2, and Clash of Clans.
BR or Battle Royal is a newly developing eSport. Battle Royal has seen tremendous growth in player base, creating a need for a competitive league. Popular titles include H1Z1, Fortnite and PUBG. However, many question the viability of BR because of the random nature of the core gameplay.
Lastly, FG or Fighting Games is precisely that. 2D or 3D Fighting Games that allow two individual players to fight against one another. Mechanics and technique can vary from game to game. Popular titles include Tekken, Street Fighter, DragonBall Fighter Z, and the diverse assortment of Super Smash Bros games.
Rules of the Game:
Before beginning to intelligently bet on eSports, knowing the rules of the game is vital. Regardless of the eSport’s sub-category listed above, not knowing crucial principals of the game can lead to foolish mistakes.
Every eSport has its own set of rules and regulations; due to the extensive list of said rules per each game, this article will not cover them for the sake of time. Tune-in to the various pro circuits of eSports and find which type of game suits you the most. Once you have that personal connection, learning the rules will help better your betting.
Players Who Compete:
Despite eSport’s advances, betting it is still remarkably primitive. The most common form of a wager in eSports is the Outcome Prediction or picking the better of the two teams that will be playing against one another. However, numerous betting websites are beginning to roll out new Fantasy League betting opportunities.
These Fantasy Leagues are structured similarly to those of Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball. Players earn points based off of in-game achievements, which in turn lead to an accumulative total. The individual with the most points at the end of an event wins. Thus, having an insight into the athletes and teams will lead to betting success.
Immersion is the Key:
When looking to bet on eSports or any Sport, the key to success is immersion. Enveloping yourself in the culture of the game, learning all aspects and striving to know more than the average fan. Betting is a prediction of what is to come. If you as an enthusiast of the game cannot visualize the things you bet on, the outcome will reflect as such.
eSports’ has become a way of life for individuals, much like the sports fans of the past. When choosing to bet on eSports, do it intelligently by knowing the types of eSports, the rules of the game, the players who compete and respecting the culture.
