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If you are not yet convinced about the legitimacy of gaming as a career, consider the perspectives of the professional gamers themselves. A large number of them dropped out of school, not because their grades were unsatisfactory, but because they decided to be engaged in competitive gaming. To achieve that, however, one must devote long hours into practice and absorb public criticisms, but it is all worth it, for it is the price that one must pay to be the best. Successful e-Sports participants like Søren Bjerg, more commonly known as his in-game name “Bjergsen”, continue to gain social recognition today, reflecting the rise in popularity of e-Sports.

The dawn of the e-Sports age has begun and is shining at its brightest. Professional gaming has been declared as a legitimate career in North America, with the United States recognizing professional gamers as professional athletes, and the best part is that anyone can be part of it. Of course, the easiest way to be engaged in e-Sports is simply by watching it. There is nothing quite like tuning into an intense game of e-Sports with a passionate group, watching as Bjergsen makes intense plays with godlike reaction times, and listening as the stadium erupts with the roar of the crowd. This type of experience leaves anyone breathless and adrenalized, as with watching any other spectator sport.

So if you are interested in joining the e-Sports hype train, hop right in, because it is a fun ride that will not be terminating anytime soon.

E-Sports have come so far as to form partnerships with other genres of entertainment. For example, Imagine Dragons were invited to perform at the Season 4 LoL World Championship. In fact, Imagine Dragons admitted to playing and loving the game, and even released a new song, Warriors about League of Legends. This was beneficial for both sides, as Imagine Dragons gained exposure from League of Legends, and vice versa.

Did You Know...

Everyone who follows eSports knows about the hype associated with the competitions. Whether you compete or watch, everyone who is a part of eSports feels the excitement of competitive video gaming. However, the beginnings of eSports weren’t always this exciting. Competitive video gaming had existed since the 1980s, but only in small scale competitions which were scarce and not all that fun to watch. That changed in the 90s, when eSports went online.

When eSports hit the internet, competition became much more intense. People from around the world were able to play against each other, making it easier for people to claim the title of “Best in the world”. Professional gaming still existed before having online capabilities. There were a few gamers who were able to make money off of their hobby.

Since then, there have been many organisations and competitive video game tournaments. EVO (the Evolution Championship Series) is the most popular fighting game tournament in the world. Games like Street Fighter and Smash Bros have large fanbases and turnouts during this tournament. Competitive gaming has been growing in popular and continues

to grow today.

It wasn’t until 2010 when the video game company Blizzard Entertainment released Starcraft II, that

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