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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
Discover the path to the big leagues It's time to prove all those people who said "video games are a waste of time" wrong. Esports has rewarded top gamers with prize money, glory, and even college scholarships. Want to get in on the action? This book puts you on the path to get your share of the growing world of esports. It helps you figure out the gear you need to be competitive, the games that drive esports, how to break into competitive play, and how to use online platforms to get attention. Written by the esports program director at the first Division I university to field an esports team, this book defines and demystifies the complex world of competitive video gaming. * Get the gear for your first esports battles * Gain recognition for your skills online or in tournaments * Discover the path to earning scholarships in esports * Build your online identity Get the insider tips you need to make your name in the esports universe.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020
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Esports For Dummies®
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
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Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020934234
ISBN 978-1-119-65059-1; ISBN 978-1-119-65056-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-65061-4 (ebk)
Esports For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Esports For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Esports
Chapter 1: What Are Esports?
Defining Esports
Being a Gamer versus an Esport Player
Chapter 2: Gearing Up to Play
Discovering PC Must-Haves for Esports
Deciding Whether to Build or to Buy
Considering Three Levels of PC Power and Expense
Setting Up for Today’s Console Gaming
Playing Big: Nothing Says Esports Like a Large TV
Picking Your Peripherals
Part 2: The Games You'll Play
Chapter 3: Playing RTS Games and MOBAs
Grasping the RTS Genre
Understanding the Basics of a MOBA
Getting in the League (of Legends)
Counting on Dota 2
Earning Valor in the Arena (
AoV
)
Smiting Your Enemies with
SMITE
The Future of the MOBA
Chapter 4: Taking Aim at First-Person Shooters
Understanding the First-Person Shooter (FPS)
Navigating FPS Esports Titles
Chapter 5: Finish Him! Playing Fighting Games
Fighting One on One: The Basics of the Fighting-Game Genre
Grappling with the Major Fighting Games
Accessing the Fighting-Game World
Going Out to Pick a Competitive Fight
Chapter 6: It’s Madden Season! Playing Sports Simulations
Simulating Sports: Making Physical Games into Video Games
Differentiating Esports Gamers and Sports Gamers
Madden Football:
Tackling a Gaming Juggernaut
Hooping It Up in
NBA 2K:
Starting Your Career as a Baller
Checking In with Other Sports Sims
Playing Esports with Cars: Racing Games and
Rocket League
Chapter 7: Playing Battle Royale Games
Watching Fans Make Esports History:
Minecraft Hunger Games
Going 1 versus 99 with
PUBG
Spending a Couple of Weeks with
Fortnite
Climbing to the Top of
Apex Legends
Running into issues in the 1-versus-99 Format
Chapter 8: Playing Hearthstone and Other Digital Card Games
Collecting to Win with CCGs
Gathering around the Hearth(Stone): The Standard for Esports CCGs
Playing on Your Phone
Part 3: Community and College Gaming
Chapter 9: Finding Online and Local Places to Play
Starting the Process: What You Need
Setting Up Your Accounts
Finding Local Competition
Chapter 10: Getting Your Name in the Game
Choosing a Gamer Tag That Lets You Be You
Twitter: Making Friends in 280 Characters
Diving into Instagram: A Picture Says 2,200 Characters
Using Group Discussions: You Haven’t Reddit All Yet
Joining the Horde on Discord
Streaming Games on Twitch (the New TV)
Streaming Games on YouTube
Chapter 11: Exploring Collegiate Esports
Taking Stock of Your Options for College Esports
Knowing the Competitive Opportunities in the Collegiate Realm
Scouting a Potential College for Esports
Deciding Where to Go: Scholarships and Other Considerations
Part 4: Making a Life and a Living in Esports
Chapter 12: The Path to Pro in Esports
Calculating the Odds of a Professional Career in Esports
Having What It Takes to Be a Professional
Playing Solo Games versus Team Games
Joining an Esports Team or Organization
Being Seen at the Biggest Esports Events
Charting the Path to Pro in Your Game of Choice
Contending with Other Day-to-Day Realities as an Esports Professional
Living Your Life after Professional Esports
Chapter 13: Getting Involved (or Finding a Career) in Esports
Getting Involved as a Volunteer
Paying the Bills: Jobs in Esports
Plotting the Path to an Esports Job
Chapter 14: Creating a Brand for Streaming
Understanding Your Equipment Needs
Setting Up to Stream
Establishing a Theme for Your Stream
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Chapter 15: The Ten Games Every Esports Player Should Know
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Dota 2
Fortnite
Hearthstone
League of Legends
Overwatch
Rocket League
StarCraft II
Street Fighter V
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Chapter 16: Ten Esports Games You Might Have Missed
Apex Legends
Arena of Valor
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
Clash Royale
Gears 5
Killer Instinct
Teamfight Tactics
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Mortal Kombat 11
Rainbow Six Siege
Chapter 17: Ten Esports Influencers to Follow
Chopping It Up with Ninja
Guarding Lanes with Arteezy
Faking the Funk with Faker
Knocking ’em Down with FalleN
Dealing a Hand with Firebat
Fighting Like a Girl with Mystik
Hiding in the Shadows with Shroud
Zerging with Scarlett
Stringing Together Combos with SonicFox
Smashing Goals with SquishyMuffinz
Index
About the Author
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Original Release Date and Date of Last Update for Major Esports Titles
TABLE 1-2 Twitch Streamers and Viewers for the Five Most Popular Esports
*
TABLE 1-3 Registered Average Monthly Players and Prize Money for the Five Most P...
TABLE 1-4
Overwatch
Ladder Rankings
*
Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 Major FPS Esports Titles and Their Biggest Annual Event
TABLE 4-2 The Founding
Call of Duty
League Teams
TABLE 4-3 The Current
Overwatch
League Teams
Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 EVO 2019 Titles
Chapter 6
TABLE 6-1 NBA 2K League Teams, Cities, and Affiliations
Chapter 8
TABLE 8-1 Hearthstone Classes, Hero, and Hero Powers
TABLE 8-2 The Cost of Building a Top-Tier Standard
Hearthstone
Deck in 2019
Chapter 9
TABLE 9-1 Services Needed to Play Top Esports Titles
Chapter 12
TABLE 12-1 The Number of Players at the Highest Level in Top Esports
TABLE 12-2 Some Top-Tier Professional Esports Events
Chapter 13
TABLE 13-1 Major Esports Jobs
Chapter 14
TABLE 14-1 Upload Speeds Needed for Streaming
*
TABLE 14-2 Themes for Streaming
TABLE 14-3 Meanings of Primary Colors in Sports
List of Illustrations
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The most basic form of a MOBA map.
FIGURE 3-2:
League of Legends
in action.
FIGURE 3-3:
League of Legends
patch 9.21 tier list by Mobalytics.
FIGURE 3-4:
Dota 2
gameplay.
FIGURE 3-5:
Arena of Valor
gameplay.
FIGURE 3-6:
SMITE
in action.
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: The IEM Beijing 2019
CS:GO
final bracket.
FIGURE 4-2 The
Call of Duty
League website with the map of the locations of the...
FIGURE 4-3: Early in an
Overwatch
match, a player tries to track the opponents ...
FIGURE 4-4: The Maverick operator with numerous icons to indicate abilities fro...
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: The start of a
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.
FIGURE 5-2: Two combatants about to fight in 1993’s
Samurai Shodown.
FIGURE 5-3: Two combatants about to fight in the 2019 update of
Samurai Shodown
...
FIGURE 5-4: WWE Women’s Champion Becky Lynch knocks an opponent off the platfor...
FIGURE 5-5: Scorpion and Sub Zero go head to head in
Mortal Kombat 11.
FIGURE 5-6: A NetherRealm-styled Batman prepares for battle in
Injustice 2.
FIGURE 5-7: Fan-favorite villain Negan from
The Walking Dead
brings his bat Luc...
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1:
John Madden Football
(1988) compared with
Madden NFL 20
.
FIGURE 6-2: Anthony Davis and LeBron James in
NBA 2K20.
FIGURE 6-3: Your pal Phill in
NBA 2K
thanks to the MyNBA2K20 app.
FIGURE 6-4:
Mario Kart
in action.
FIGURE 6-5:
Rocket League
in action.
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: A player skydiving into a
PUBG
match.
FIGURE 7-2: A player locates a weapon in
Fortnite.
FIGURE 7-3: The profile for
Apex
Legends character Wraith from EA’s
Apex Legend
...
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: Early in a match of
Magic: The Gathering Arena.
FIGURE 8-2: The middle of a
Hearthstone
match, with numerous cards in play.
FIGURE 8-3: A page from the
Hearthstone
collection, showing several cards and t...
FIGURE 8-4: Shots of a
Clash Royale
battle fresh from the iPhone screen.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: The Battle.net launcher screen on the
Hearthstone
tab.
FIGURE 9-2: The Steam client, open to the
Dota 2
launch screen.
FIGURE 9-3: The library screen of the Epic launcher, ready to install
Fortnite.
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: The Profile Edit screen on Twitter.
FIGURE 10-2: A Twitter post interface.
FIGURE 10-3: The Instagram Registration screen.
FIGURE 10-4: The registration page of Reddit.
FIGURE 10-5: The Discord Registration page.
FIGURE 10-6: The Twitch registration page.
FIGURE 10-7: A YouTube channel page.
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: Locating the YouTube Studio page from the User menu.
FIGURE 14-2: Streaming a
League of Legends
game with five players on each team.
FIGURE 14-3: Streaming a team
Hearthstone
game.
FIGURE 14-4: A decorative frame around the webcam feed on a stream.
FIGURE 14-5: Fun text, game-styled text, and serious text examples.
FIGURE 14-6: A standard, decorative, and styled font choice.
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
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Introduction
The last decade has belonged to esports. Whereas many industries face downturns, esports has been in a steady, almost exponential growth pattern since 2010. This past year, the League of Legends World Championship had more viewers than every sporting event but the Super Bowl. Franchises for the professional Overwatch League sold for $50 million. Esports is a exploding.
Yet, as a professional in the field, I am still asked almost daily, “What is esports?” People sometimes guess, “Is it like Madden?” The answer is yes, kind of, but also no. Esports involves competitive gaming, but the term represents so much more. The fact that you picked up this book means you’re curious. Within these pages, you can learn all about the esports world.
About This Book
Esports is a multifaceted ecosystem of players, developers, organizations, and fans. Entering into an esports conversation can be intimidating without knowing the lay of the land. Esports For Dummies means to give you exactly that: a basic overview of how the esports world works.
This book doesn’t have the space to make you an expert on esports, but it gives you the road map to navigate the terrain, and more than enough information to speak intelligently about it. It also offers guidance for developing a career as an esports professional, for players and others in the industry. Esports For Dummies can help you lock in on your own goals and know how to start developing expertise. The rest is up to you.
A word of caution: If your goal is to be a professional within the esports space, you don’t need to know every type of game or title, or how every organization runs. Most professionals focus on a specific game or specific genre of games and develop their skills based on that smaller subsection. Don’t feel like you need to know every single thing there is to know about esports games. Knowing too much about too many games but not having mastery over one game can make you less effective.
Because esports is growing at such a staggering rate, bear in mind that some parts of this book could become outdated within months of publication. If you find that information you read about here has changed, don’t feel misled. The esports world and details of various games and organizations change quickly. I was actually teaching a class on key esports titles when Fortnite was released, and I had a week to develop an entire new section of the class. Change is the nature of the beast. With this book, you discover the key information you need to know, and Google is your best friend for keeping abreast of the latest developments.
Foolish Assumptions
Because I get questions about esports almost every day, I try not to make too many assumptions. Here are the assumptions I do make about you:
You have high-speed Internet access and a computer (though I suggest computers you might buy).
You know how to connect all your devices to power and displays so that they can operate.
You know how to browse the Internet and visit web pages.
You know how to download and install games and software.
You have an email account.
You have access to all your passwords (email, computer, network).
Icons Used in This Book
Occasionally you encounter icons in the margins of this book’s text, and here’s what those icons mean:
The Tip icon marks tips (duh!) and shortcuts that you can use to make your esports activities easier.
This icon marks information that’s especially important to know. To siphon off the most important information in each chapter, just skim through these icons.
The Technical Stuff icon indicates information of a more technical nature that you can normally skip over unless you find yourself confused about what’s going on or want to know more.
The Warning icon tells you to watch out! It marks important information that may save you headaches.
Beyond the Book
In addition to the book itself, this product also comes with an online Cheat Sheet that includes a list of terms you encounter in the esports world, some professional esports teams to know about, and tips to get started playing a game called Clash Royale right from your smartphone or tablet. To get this Cheat Sheet, go to www.dummies.com and enter Esports For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box. Then scroll down the page that appears.
Where to Go from Here
Esports For Dummies is designed for you to read in any order you want; you don’t have to read it in linear fashion. If you’re not familiar with esports, however, I recommend that you read Chapter 1 first to find out what esports is all about. If you know that you’re interested in a particular game or type of game, you might want to start with the chapters in Part 2. To learn about streaming, Chapter 14 is the place to start. If you need equipment to play and want recommendations, Chapter 2 will come in handy.
Remember that esports is a big business, but it’s a business based on having fun! Dive in wherever you want and see where your interests take you. Remember that you can’t win if you don’t play, so play on!
Part 1
Getting Started with Esports
IN THIS PART …
Understand what esports are.
Prepare and gather all the gear you need to play esports.
Chapter 2
Gearing Up to Play
IN THIS CHAPTER
Building an esports PC to fit your needs
Selecting the best gaming consoles
Choosing your esports TV
Loading up on your peripherals and controllers
When you decide to dive into the world of esports, you may find that the computer and video game systems you have on hand don’t measure up to the level of performance you want. To dominate the competition, you need quality hardware.
That isn’t to say that you need an extremely expensive computer. Although PCs exist that retail for more than $8,000, you don’t need to spend nearly that much to be competitive. The secret is in looking for the right components. You have many items to think about beyond the PC, too, such as all the peripherals (keyboard, mouse, and headset, among others).
In this chapter, you find out about all the gear you need to have great gaming experiences, whether you’re playing competitively or just on your home turf. The chapter also delves into the best types of televisions for esports, along with gaming consoles and controllers.
As you read this chapter, you see that I mention the specific gear I use. Don’t take any of what I’m saying as a blanket endorsement of the gear I take into virtual battle. I’m not trying to push any particular product. At the same time, I did pick the gear I carry for a reason, and I hope that talking through those reasons can help you to make your own selections.
Discovering PC Must-Haves for Esports
For the majority of esports players, the most important preparation you can make for playing is picking the right computer. Although a great many different options are available, for esports, you want to focus on a few specific key elements: a powerful processor, a high-quality graphics card, a versatile networking card, and a gaming-quality monitor.
Computer processor
As a general rule, you want to get the fastest computer processor you can afford for your esports gaming rig. That said, you shouldn’t target the newest, fastest processor on the market unless you have money to burn. The newest processors always have premium pricing. If you shop for the processor just one step below the fastest, you can save yourself significant money. For example, at the time of this writing, PC Magazine lists the Intel Core i9-9980XE Extreme Edition for $1,999, but the slightly lower-powered Intel i9-9900K for $499 (see https://www.pcmag.com/roundup/366303/the-best-cpus). Although the 9980XE is faster, the speed difference isn’t nearly significant enough to pay four times the price.
Computer processor information can quickly become confusing. Reading the name and specifications for a processor isn’t difficult as long as you know what you’re looking at. All this information, however, varies by manufacturer and line. Your best bet while shopping is to look at benchmarks and reviews to see how machines perform. You can use sites like CPU Boss (http://cpuboss.com/) to compare processors.
You want to know five aspects of any PC processor you look at:
Who is the manufacturer?
If the processor isn’t made by AMD or Intel, steer clear. Intel processors are considered more favorable, but most AMD products perform just as well. If it’s from some other company, avoid it for gaming.
What is the clock speed?
This is the single biggest indicator of how fast the computer processes data, but it is also dependent on the processor’s generation and manufacturer. For example, a 3.5GHz Intel Core i9 might not be slower than an AMD 4 GHz Ryzen. To get exact numbers, you have to dig deeper. But a 4 GHz AMD Ryzen is much faster than a 3.5 GHz AMD Ryzen.
How many cores does the processor have?
Possessing more processor cores means that the computer has the capability to run more processes. How much this issue matters across lines can be debated because speed and general processor power usually mean more for gaming than the number of cores, but when looking at processors within a line (for example, if you are shopping for an Intel Core i9), the more cores, the better.
Can the processor multithread?
A processor that can multithread can run more than one process on a core at any given time. Multithreading can double your computer’s processing capability.
Is the processor locked or can it be overclocked?
In some cases, you can set a computer to attempt to run faster than its listed clock speed. Some games and software can make this happen.
Graphics card
The next most important consideration for an esports computer is the graphics processor card. Being able to compete at the highest level is all about resolution and refresh rate. You want high resolution and high frame rate. The standard for esports as of early 2020 is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080. For top esports titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch, this card is more than powerful enough, but the GeForce RTX 2080 has hit the market and is a popular card. Alternative video cards are on the market as well, but almost all esports professionals favor the NVIDIA GeForce. You’re well advised to go with a version of the 2080.
You have various options from which to choose for the GeForce 2080 card, but you should always favor more memory and more cooling options.
Networking card
Also critical to an esports machine is the networking card. For most computer users, whatever networking card comes with the system will likely suffice. In esports, however, the difference of a tenth of a millisecond of speed can be the difference between victory and defeat. You should not plan to play highly competitive games over a Wi-Fi network. You should play from a wired connection, with a network card like the Killer Ethernet E3000 card, an adapter that allows for 10/100/1000 Mbps so that the card can prioritize your network access and keep your ping (time from your machine to the game) and latency (delay from your input to the information leaving your machine and entering the network) as low as possible.
CONSIDERING PRICE AND LONGEVITY
You will have important decisions to make about the concept of trying to buy a machine that is “future proof.” One option is to seek a top-end system that is expected to last for several (5–10) years. Although this longevity is certainly possible, your decision also involves a gamble because you obviously can’t see the future and know what might be developed next. Computer companies, likewise, cannot know for certain what will advance, so even systems with price tags above $8,000 are not a sure bet to last more than 2–3 years.
The other option is to buy a machine that is ready for current competition but might be obsolete sooner. To give you a sense of where most professionals and collegiate players position themselves, people generally expect a PC to last two to three years in competitive esports before technology advances enough to need a replacement (or an upgrade of many of the key components). Sticking with that pattern can allow you to buy a computer in the $1,500–$2,000 range. Purchasing at the other end of the current retail spectrum may result in needing to replace your computer less often, but consider that an $8,000 computer would need to last you four times as long as a $2,000 machine to be worth it.
Deciding Whether to Build or to Buy
It is beyond the scope of this book to show you how to build a PC. If you are interested in learning to build a PC, or if you already know how, you will find yourself at a crossroads as you consider your esports PC: Should you make your own or buy a prebuilt one?
Considering the pros and cons of the DIY esports computer
You can experience two major benefits from building your own esports rig. The first is that you can save money. In many cases, you can save quite a bit of money, in fact, because you can choose your parts from various suppliers online. You can also choose what to spend big on and what to minimize. The other major advantage is that you can choose when and what to upgrade. That flexibility can mean that your machine may last longer than it typically would.
If you built the computer you are currently using, you can even replace a few key components and be ready for esports competition. Some games in particular, like League of Legends or Hearthstone, can be played with much less powerful overall computer systems.
Building your own machine comes with potential pitfalls, though. The first is that it’s up to you to ensure that all the parts you buy will work together. Sadly, that’s not always the case. It also falls on your shoulders to make sure that you put things together correctly, and if you make a mistake, it’s your responsibility to figure out what is incorrect and to fix it or replace the defective piece. You also find yourself without a warranty to cover the machine.
Buying a prebuilt computer
Another alternative to building your own machine is to buy a prebuilt one. The only real detriments to buying a prebuilt machine are that you will spend more money than you would on the parts alone (if you built your own), and you won’t get the satisfaction of assembling it yourself. Assuming that you’re not itching for a DIY project and you’re not so budget strapped that you need to get the absolute lowest price, buying a preassembled esports computer is much safer than building your own. You don’t take a chance on incompatibility of the individual components; the machines undergo a rigorous presale testing process that you couldn’t replicate on your own without risking damage; and, most important, not having to assemble it yourself removes the chance of user error, which can be particularly hazardous when working with computer components.
If you decide to buy a prebuilt computer, you still have a wide range of hardware options to choose from. Many companies offer gaming and esports computers, from brands that exist to cater to gamers, such as Alienware, Razer, and Omen, which build high-end PCs, to companies like iBUYPOWER or CyberPowerPC, which build machines targeted to gamers but allow them to choose among a variety of components.
People often say that in buying a computer from Alienware or Razer, you’re paying for the logo and branding. Although you can certainly find cheaper alternatives, if you’re not a person who tinkers with computers, you’re best off going with a company with a reputation and a product that you like. Having a multiple-year warranty in particular is beneficial if you are considering a two- to three-year replacement schedule. Never being out of warranty means having no unexpected expenses pop up.
Also, just between you and me, there’s something to be said for the cool factor of high-end gaming PCs. Part of enjoying the esports world is enjoying the look and feel of your technology. Make sure to think through whether you see yourself as a DIY gamer; or as a budget-conscious gamer who seeks to avoid corporate logo–laden machines from big name companies like Dell (which owns Alienware) or HP (which owns Omen); or as someone who wants a machine with all the lights and logos and bells and whistles. Only you can determine the right answer as to what you want in a computer, but remember that your PC will be your home in the esports world. You should think of it the way athletes think of their equipment.
Considering Three Levels of PC Power and Expense
The previous sections in this chapter consider whether to build your new esports rig from scratch, buy from a company that assembles machines and lets you pick your components, or buy a high-end build from one of the major companies. After you make your decision, you need to figure out how much you want to spend and how much computer you want. Bear in mind that I’m just talking about the computer itself — the tower, as some call it. I talk about monitors and peripherals later in the chapter.
