E-sports teams are striving to become more profitable, with the best players becoming marketing machines
teammates. They stream games on Amazon’s Twitch, listen to“casters” on YouTube, and go behind the scenes with—and even tip—their favourite players. It is an adrenalin-filled corollary to social media. The intense, year-round relationship between e-sports and its fan base should strike fear into the heart of the sports and entertainment industries whose core audiences are ageing fast. Trigger-happy 15-35 year-olds are literally calling the shots.
The line between e-sports and video gaming is blurry. Gaming long ago vaulted from the bedroom to big business. Its global revenues, estimated at almost $150bn this year, rival those of traditional sports. In America last year, the industry earned as much as Hollywood. E-sports is professional gaming, which builds on the huge popularity of competitive gaming among amateurs.
Take Team Liquid, a Los Angeles-based outfit that is one of the hottest teams in Katowice. A few years ago, itsmanager, Steve Perino, earned $500 a month, and would lie to people about his job because it was too obscure. His players, self-taught in their bedrooms, had exceptional talent but were sullen and insecure. Then they hit the big time. Liquid now has teams spanning 14 different video games, each with its own fan base .
E-sports teams are striving to become not only more professional, but more profitable. Riot Games, owned by China’s Tencent, which publishes League of Legends, last year revamped a North American league, in which teams bought slots for $10m from which they cannot be relegated. Similar to the National Basketball Association, such leagues attract sponsors and guarantee teams a steady income. The cash prizes from tournaments are huge: $150m in total last year.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
AT&T restructures WarnerMedia as it prepares to battle NetflixAT&T restructuring its WarnerMedia business, according to a memo sent to employees on Monday and seen by Reuters, as it girds for a streaming video battle with Netflix and Disney
Baca lebih lajut »
Nonprofit fires security company after video shows guards detaining homeless menVideo shows private security guards confront, detain homeless men.
Baca lebih lajut »
Video shows Giants CEO Baer knocking wife to groundSan Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer was captured on video pushing his wife to th...
Baca lebih lajut »
MLB notebook: Giants CEO Baer seen pushing wifeSan Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer was captured on video pushing his wife to th...
Baca lebih lajut »
YouTube to disable comments on most videos that include minorsThe announcement comes after major advertisers pulled their ads from the video platform following a viral video that showed comments on some videos sexualized minors.
Baca lebih lajut »