The Billion Dollar Business of Watching Others Play Video Games

[LowPrices.uk]

Hi Guys

Market Watch article on the billion dollar business of watching other people play video games:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/el...d=MW_story_recommended_default&Link=obnetwork

 

[fisicx]

So why is this any different to any other spectator event? It's not that different to going to the cinema or the theatre.

 

[LowPrices.uk]

It's not that different. I just thought it interesting how big a business live gaming is becoming. Gaming is such a huge sector now.

 

[MOIC]

There are competitions in china with the winner receiving GBP300,000.

Not small change for effectively doing what they love to do!

It's a booming sport/business/pastime/hobby.................or whatever you want to call it.

 

[toastking]

I couldn't believe it when I first heard of the large takeovers in the industry, but then you think back and its been popular, particularly in Asia, to spectate gaming as a kind of sporting event.

I do not see the appeal myself as I get bored watching others play games, but then I don't do a lot of gaming any more myself!

Its fascinating to see what people will spend their money on.

 

[Ahmad Abubaker1]

Esporting is becoming really big in the UK, Vice news had a documentary showing youngsters earning hundreds of thousands playing Fifa games and COD. It has become so popular that Wembley stadium and the royal Albert hall have hosted Esport matches with over 12000 spectators attending the matches, Crazy stuff.

 

[Sacha]

You can make decent money playing videogames and streaming it live on Twitch. With the combination of subscriptions ($5 a month per user) and donations (sometimes going into the $1000 and more mark) some people are getting rich playing games.

Really Twitch is an incredibly monetised service, people throw ridiculous amounts of money at players and don't mind watching highly targeted long adverts every hour or so (that the player can put on whenever they want). What's more it's the type of content that you can either invest heavily in and watch with your full concentration or you can have it on in the background whilst doing other work. Very easy watching.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I do not see the appeal myself as I get bored watching others play games, but then I don't do a lot of gaming any more myself!

If you watched some of them, you may understand. World class professional gamers are from another planet. The reaction speed, dexterity and intensity are just mindblowing.

I don't watch it myself, but I can certainly understand why many people find it so entertaining. When you have these teams of world class players fighting for huge cash prizes, it can get people on the edge of their seats.