2013 eSports: A Year In Review

The moments that made 2013

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

2013 has seen a sea change in eSports. Not only are more people playing competitive games but perhaps more importantly, more people are watching competitive gaming than ever before. The big eSports news of 2012 was just how much cash was being infused into Twitch, Major League Gaming, Riot Games (makers of League of Legends) and 2013 saw the rewards. With large ESPN quality championships, huge viewer numbers on live-streaming broadcasts and the largest prize pools in the young sports history.

In this, the 30-year anniversary of the start of competitive gaming, let's wrap up some of the stories that show the current state of eSports in 2013 and where the sport is going in the year to come.

Know your roots

Walter “The Ref” Day, founder of Twin Galaxies arcade in Ottumwa, Iowa has worked his entire life to make competitive gaming a professional sport. The globally recognized “father of competitive gaming” held the first Video Game World Championships 30 years ago this past January.

In an interview earlier this year with Complex, Day isn't holding onto the arcade past. Seeing how gaming has evolved over the past 30 years he sees it as good for the gamer:

“eSports is the natural evolution of competitive gaming. Now that the growing power of the online infrastructure supports high-level bandwidth, that facilitates the creation of a worldwide spectator sport. There is no reason why sponsors, advertisers, players and professional teams can't flourish. Major League Gaming (MLG) is a prime example of eSports being successful.”

Why a visa matters

2013 saw the first two international eSports athletes official recognized by the U.S. Government as such. Why is that important? Before being granted the P-1A visa earlier this year to “temporarily to perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete” many international gamers like South Korean Kim Dong Hwan (AKA Startcraft II pro viOLet) had been denied entry into the country, putting his career and livelihood on the line.

This step to officially professionalize eSports in America means more top-level international gamers competing. Which hopefully means more exciting live events stateside.

DOTA 2 for the masses

Multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) games like League of Legends have provided a whole new way to competitively play online games. This year saw the official release of the similarly made but hugely polished Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2) released completely free from developer Valve.

All that players need to be competitive is a reasonably new computer and an internet connection and lots of time to practice. This hugely lowers the gate of entry for anyone who wants to try their hand at the title. Not that everyone is going to master the massive subtleties of gameplay and become pro gamers overnight but the fact that more gamers are playing means more appreciation for the pros.

Getting through the first few hours of DOTA 2 will definitely game a gamer appreciate the awe-inspiring organization of the next DOTA 2 International match.

EVO proves fighting games are still alive

The 2013 Evolution Championship Series (EVO) was the most-watched fighting game tournament ever broadcast. Thanks to the mass appeal of streaming services like Twitch.tv fans can get their stick and button mashing fix. Over 1.7 million viewers tuned in during the weekend event with hundreds of thousands watching the live finales. On top of that this year's level of competition was incredibly high. Showing that even older games are subject to shake-ups in the sport. EVO 2013 was the best show yet in the series 11-year history.

Big money

2013 not only broke records for viewers but also for the cold hard cash pro gamers could walk away with. The DOTA 2 International created a prize pool of over $2.8 million while season 3 of League of Legends World Championship winners could walk away with over 2 million clams. In a year that saw the very first competitive tournament for Call of Duty: Ghosts, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Championship handed out over a million bucks.

So yes, the prize pools are getting bigger. But the big news is that most of the cash raised for competitions like The International were raised through voluntary in-game purchases from players of DOTA 2. eSports support isn't just coming from corporations but has taken to its grass-roots fan base.

Tie-ins. Sometimes you just need a McNiP

eSports teams already have the chance to get some major sponsors. Red Bull sponsors some of the best live competitive gaming yet while Coca-Cola sponsors League of Legends competitions. Microsoft and Activision have long been eSports sponsors, as well as Stride, Doritos, Alienware and a plethora of chip and PC manufacturers. But what about fast food? Sometimes you just need a McNiP.

McDonalds in Sweden introduced a limited time hamburger to their fall menu – apparently it has seasonal menus – after an eSports enthusiast entered the name of his favorite team and won a burger naming competition. Behold the McNiP, the Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) burger named after the legendary Counter-Strike team. McDonald’s already sponsor the Olympics why not tie-in with a group of people who might actually eat the food? The great hope is to see a Na'Vi McDonald's tie-in. Make it a chili bowl and call it Diretide.

Better Commentators

If you've been following eSports for five or more years you remember the bad old days of eSport commentators. Back then commentators picked sides and the general feeling of the broadcast was amateur at best. Commentators would just yell at the teams “you suck!” Can you imagine that in any other sport? Luckily 2013 saw the fruition of years of change aligning eSport commentating with the likes of other pro sports.

While eSports is still still looking for its John Madden or Marv Albert the level of ESPN quality commentating actually adds to the experience, a big change from eSports frothy, bitchy past. Networks like Major League Gaming (MLG) put a shine and polish on eSports that hope to easily cross the boundaries into the mainstream.

Red Bull NYC

Red Bull Battlegrounds in New York City this year deserves recognition for doing a couple of things. One, for bringing eSports to a city that loves sports and gaming, but also giving a taste to the fans of what we've been missing out on the East coast. Battlegrounds ESPN-style show and spare-no-expense setup along with excellent commentating is exactly where eSports needs to be going in 2014 to make it an even better sport to watch.

Riot Games

The developers of League of Legends kicked-off the first multimillion dollar tournaments in eSports history but beyond big events Riot Games is getting organized. By looking beyond single blow-out competitions and focusing on a set season schedule with stable pro salaries the league will grow enormously. Riot games League of Legends is a free game and as such they want to support the underdog dream. That means not just focusing on the pros but getting the everyman gamer a fighting chance. The other big news is Riot is going to be building the very first eSports stadiums, with weekly matches in Los Angeles and Cologne, Germany.

2014; Here we come

While tons of new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games are coming out in 2014, it's hard to know which ones are going to make it to the big show. Valve's DOTA 2 International is still the biggest competition around Riot Games League of Legends is heading to South Korea – the gaming Mecca – for its 2014 championships which are sure to be exciting. Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 both were released late in 2013 and as they both get some competitive footing we're going to see some serious tactical shooter domination in the year to come.

If you love competitive sports but haven’t gotten into eSports yet. 2013 was competitive gaming meeting you half-way. With better teams, bigger prize-pools and excellent commentating there has never been a better time to get in on the action.