The rise of organized, competitive video gaming, colloquially known as esports, has taken the world by storm in recent years, creating an industry valued in the billions and watched by millions of fans around the world. But this phenomenon didn’t just appear overnight. The history of esports stretches back decades, with roots connected to the very origins of video games and competitive gaming itself. To understand how we got here, we must first recognize that the desire to compete and gamify has been part of human culture for millennia.
Ancient Origins: The Beginnings of Competitive Gaming
Before we had Super Smash Bros, Xbox, and PlayStation, humans engaged in other various games to satisfy that desire for competition. In ancient civilizations, games were more than just pastimes; they often had religious or cultural significance.
- The Egyptian game Senet, for example, was seen as a spiritual representation of the journey to the afterlife.
- The Mesoamerican ballgame, which involved elements of sport and ritual, was used as a proxy for war.
- In East Asia, the game of Go was played by political and military elites to sharpen their strategic thinking and mental acuity.
- The Olympic Games, originating in ancient Greece included athletic events like running, wrestling, and chariot racing, providing a way for individuals to demonstrate physical prowess and mental resilience
While these early games and events are far removed from the digital video games and high-tech esports arenas of today, they reflect the deep-rooted human drive to use games as tools for competition, strategy, and skill-building. Some historians even argue that gaming was a catalyst in the development of human societies. Evolving from these rudimentary foundations, this drive for gaming and competition would eventually find its way into the digital realm.
The First Video Games: How It All Began
When did esports begin? To answer this, we first need to explore the origins of video games themselves. The very first electronic game, known as the cathode-ray tube amusement device, was invented in 1947 by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. It allowed players to control a light beam with dials to simulate firing artillery, marking the earliest form of an interactive game. Although never released to the public, this creation laid the groundwork for future gaming innovations.
By the early 1960s, the history of video games took a major step forward with the creation of Spacewar!, the first multiplayer computer game. Developed on the PDP-1 computer at MIT, Spacewar! featured two players controlling spaceships battling against each other in real-time. This multiplayer interaction was a precursor to the competitive gaming we see in esports today.
The Birth of Esports: The First Esports Tournament
What was the first esports game? In 1972, just a decade after the creation of Spacewar!, the first esports tournament was held at Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Known as the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics, this event was sponsored by Rolling Stone magazine and is widely regarded as the first esports competition in history. Participants competed to see who could achieve the highest scores in the game Spacewar!, and the winner received a year-long subscription to Rolling Stone as a prize.
While the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics was a small, niche event, it marked the official birth of competitive video gaming. This laid the foundation for what would later become a massive global phenomenon.
The Rise of Gaming Consoles and the Popularity of Competitive Gaming
As video games gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, gaming consoles played a crucial role in the development of competitive gaming. The release of systems like the Atari 2600 and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) introduced a new era of video games that could be played at home. During this time, arcade games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Street Fighter also gained massive followings, sparking the first waves of gaming competitions.
The 1980s saw the rise of organized video game tournaments, with the 1980 Atari National Space Invaders Championship becoming one of the earliest examples of large-scale competitive gaming. This tournament drew thousands of participants across the United States, signaling the potential of competitive gaming as an organized activity.
The history of gaming consoles continued to evolve in the 1990s with the release of the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64, both of which brought more advanced graphics, gameplay, and multiplayer options. During this time, the introduction of online multiplayer games like Quake and StarCraft further fueled the growing interest in competitive gaming.
When Did Esports Become Popular?
While competitive gaming had been around since the 1970s, when did esports become popular on a global scale? The 2000s are often seen as the turning point. With the rise of broadband internet and online multiplayer games, esports transformed from small tournaments to international events. Games like StarCraft in South Korea and Counter-Strike in the United States drew thousands of players and spectators alike, with professional teams forming and cash prizes becoming a regular feature.
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By 2010, games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Overwatch propelled esports into mainstream consciousness. These games offered complex strategies, exciting gameplay, and enormous fan followings, resulting in large-scale international competitions. The League of Legends World Championship, for instance, has become one of the most-watched esports events globally, with millions tuning in to watch the best teams battle for victory.
The Growth of the Esports Industry
Esports truly hit its stride in the 2010s, as streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming gave fans unprecedented access to watch their favorite teams and players. In 2019, the history of esports took a major leap when the industry reached $1 billion in total revenue for the first time. Meanwhile, viewership numbers skyrocketed, with the esports audience growing from 235 million in 2015 to 443 million in 2019.
In addition to rising viewership, investment in esports from venture capitalists and advertisers helped to legitimize the industry. ESPN, once known exclusively for traditional sports coverage, began broadcasting major esports events, helping to bring competitive gaming into the same arena as professional sports.
Esports in Education and Career Opportunities
As esports continues to grow, its impact extends beyond just entertainment. Many schools and universities now offer programs and scholarships in esports, recognizing the potential for students to turn their passion for gaming into lucrative careers. Students can pursue roles as professional gamers, team managers, event organizers, and even content creators. This shift has opened up new educational pathways for young people interested in the gaming industry.
Esports also ties in closely with the growing importance of technology and coding education. Just as students once learned to play physical sports, they are now learning how to create games, manage teams, and broadcast matches. To learn more about the vast landscape of opportunities in esports, check out our Careers in Esports podcast where we interview professionals who turned their passions for gaming into successful careers.
The Future of Esports and Competitive Gaming
As the history of esports continues to unfold, the future looks brighter than ever. With advances in technology, the games of tomorrow will likely offer even more complex, immersive experiences for both players and viewers. Gaming consoles will continue to evolve, offering faster processing power, more realistic graphics, and enhanced connectivity for multiplayer gaming.
In the coming years, we can expect to see further integration between gaming, coding, and education, allowing students to both play and create the games that will define the next generation of esports. As technology advances, the potential for new esports experiences—from virtual reality competitions to AI-driven games—is limitless. If you're looking to harness the power of esports to help your students grow, consider joining the US Academic Esports League, a comprehensive educational esports program combining exciting competition with academic curriculum.
Conclusion
From the first games in ancient civilizations to the massive tournaments of today, the history of esports reflects the human drive for competition and innovation. What started with early games like Spacewar! has grown into a multi-billion-dollar global industry, with millions of fans tuning in to watch their favorite players and teams.
As esports continues to grow in popularity, there’s never been a better time for students, educators, and professionals to get involved in this cutting-edge industry. Whether through playing, coding, or creating the games of tomorrow, the world of esports offers limitless opportunities for those with the passion and drive to succeed.
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