Where to start?! The world of eSports (also known as "pro gaming" or "competitive gaming") is a complex and intimidating ones at times. It can be difficult to break it down into a readable guide for people who are completely new to the scene. Unfortunately, there is also a shortage of information available and it can be a great deal of work to try and get into the scene in any capacity. This guide is to bridge this gap and act as an introduction into the realm of eSports, both within Ireland and internationally. The documentary FRAG sums things up quite well so there may be some overlap if you have seen the movie (and if you haven't I would recommend watching it: Trailer). Don't be completely put off by that trailer. A gamer's life can be quite turbulent but a gamer's life can also be an exciting prospect as they travel to exotic locations such as Dubai, Las Vegas and China among others, meet people from around the world and are given the chance to take a hobby to the next level with the prospect of a salary, sponsorships and cash prizes. There are a number of ways to be involved in eSports: as a spectator, a player, a team manager, a journalist, or as a shoutcaster (commentator). There is a lot to take in but this guide should give you a foundation of knowledge to build upon.

The basic premise of eSports is that gamers take part in tournaments, either online or on LAN. Players often pay an entry fee which is one way that tournament organisers generate revenue. In return, players compete for cash or hardware prizes. Sponsors play an important role in eSports as both tournaments and players / teams can benefit from a cash injection from a sponsor. Sponsors look upon this as a marketing opportunity to increase brand awareness, interact with their target market and hopefully back the right teams and tournaments that will reflect upon them positively. If you prefer video to text then HERE is a clip for you (footage from FRAG).

It can be difficult to predict what games will be used within a competitive aspect and even more difficult to tell how long games will last. Starcraft has been used in the competitive circuit for close to ten years but despite having a global following it is predominantly used in Asia. Quake 3 has also been used competitively for the last ten years but has a less stable history. It was dropped by the Cyberathlete Professional League in favour of Counter-Strike, abandoned by many tournament organisations in favour of Quake 4 before coming back into the fold as of late until it will be replaced by what is effectively Quake 3 v.2.0 (i.e. Quake Live). On the other side of the coin is Painkiller. Despite popularity with some professional gamers and being at the centre of large prize funds, Painkiller did not last. It certainly was not helped that the CPL gained an almost exclusive licence which meant that if any other tournament (with a prize fund greater than $2,000) wanted to use Painkiller, they had to gain permission from the CPL. So it can be seen that many pro gamers lead a turbulent life. This is also illustrated by the closure of the Championship Gaming Series. This league had media backing, financial prowess and people were busy planning for Season 3, yet the league suddenly closed. What may put food on the table one day can be cast aside in favour of games with prettier graphics or more sponsor power backing it. This in turn means that many players must be able to adopt and adapt to many different games if they want to be able to remain competitive. 

One of the most renowned professional gamers, Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel has competed in  and won tournaments in a number of games including Aliens vs Predator 2, Quake 3, Quake 4,  Painkiller and Doom 3. Other CVs of professional gamers read no differently. Sometimes in order to make a living, sacrifices must be made - sometimes this includes playing games that they do not actually enjoy (although this is not a phenomenon that is limited to the eSports scene). In spite of this, some players do quite well for themselves and it is reported that successful players can earn in excess of $100,000 per year. This is based on prize money alone and does not include contracted salaries or sponsorship deals. To use an earlier example, Fatal1ty has won approximately $500,000 in prize money, signed a number of lucritive sponsorship deals and worked on behalf of the Championship Gaming Series in a deal that is reported to have netted him $2.5m.

The scene in Korea is seen as the pinnacle of eSports and what the global scene needs to aspire to be like. Players are contracted, formal leagues are in place, and spectators are willing to travel with huge interest in events. There is structured TV coverage and in-depth online coverage (that receives a large number of views). The South Korean gaming TV station, MBC Game, is reported to have 12 million subscribers for example! The same article states that 2.3 million people watched the final of the World eSports Games in 2006. Some players capture the imagination and adoration of the public as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lewis Hamilton, for example, do - Grubby (Warcraft 3) is one of these loved players. Fans will often wait outside venues in the hope of catching a glimpse of their idols, gifts are sent to players' dressing rooms and some are propositioned for marraige. There is a 'Korean e-Sports Players Association' which calculates ranking points monthly. While in eSports in general it is necessary to place in the top 5 at least in order to earn a respectable salary, it is said that average Starcraft players in Korea can make a good living while earning a star-status. There is a structure in place that many organisations in the West can only dream about for now. Even shoutcasters have fanbases and careers! To say that eSports is big in China and Korea would be a huge understatement. 

There are a number of sites that cover eSports or broadcast tournament footage. What sites you frequent can depend on what games you follow or what you would like to know more about. eSports.ie is probably too obvious to mention as a source of news, coverage and articles but I will highlight it regardless. When starting out, it may be a good idea to be on the outside looking in; browse around and get a feel for the community, the feelings towards fames and the coverage that a site provides. After all, forewarned is forearmed. Gamers are not always the most forgiving unfortunately. Posts on GotFrag about Quake will probably be ignored while questions or news posts on ESReality about Counter-Strike will require some sort of flame retardant clothing! On the broadcast front, QuadV is a good place to start as it features footage of a variety of games and tournaments, experienced and knowledgeable shoutcasters and a Video on Demand service so that you can watch any tournament or any game at any time. Even teams have taken to posting news items and providing a general coverage of the eSports world; SK-Gaming and mYm are two such teams. But the best way to find out is to explore and ask about. There is no definitive list and you will probably encounter new sites all the time, each with something different to offer.

eSports is starting to gain recognition in the mainstream media too. The book 'Game Boys' grew from a news story for the New York Times when a journalist was asked to cover an event that was taking place locally. It was for a gimmicky piece and he expected a certain stereotype but found so much more. Sky and Eurosport were responsible for broadcasting the CGS Seasons in Europe while DirecTV covered the CGS Region 1 Season and World Finals for the United States. G4 were to obtain the coverage rights for Season 3 but unfortunately, the CGS closed its doors. RTE and TV3 have run coverage clips regarding the World Cyber Games in Ireland while members of the Irish team have appeared on TodayFM, The Den and have been interviewed for the daily news. The BBC has stepped up coverage over time with featured articles and interviews. There was a noticeable increase in coverage after Birmingham Salvo won the World Finals in the second season of the CGS. MTV ran a show entitled "True Life: I'm A Professional Gamer" which featured  Fatal1ty. The company behind the World Cyber Games is about to embark on a Reality TV show that will feature gamers living in a house and competing against one another for the chance to win $100,000. The Major League Gaming series is sponsored by Dr. Pepper and covered by ESPN. On top of this, there are articles, documentaries, TV spots and more all dedicated to eSports.  Even the latest edition of the Reality show "Survivor" features a pro gamer (Ken - Super Smash Bros. Melee - who also appeared on the "True Life: I'm A Professional Gamer" series). 

There is one thing to note if you are to last in the world of eSports. Learning acronyms is a must! This goes beyond what has crept into mainstream usage such as "lol". In eSports, whatever can be shortened usually is. Team names, sponsors and tournaments all get the same treatment and it is important to be able to get used to these and adapt as you go. So here is a crash course to get you started:

CPL - Cyberathlete Professional League
CGS - Championship Gaming Series
ESWC - Electronic Sports World Cup
WCG - World Cyber Games
mYm - Meet Your Makers
CoD - Call of Duty
WoW - World of Warcraft