"That 21st Century Trend Of E-Sports Gaming"
Cyber-Athletes
The Industry
What skills those taking part and the support teams will need to keep them ahead of the game?
The skill-sets for the e-sports industry range from having the ability to compete against the very best worldwide as a player or team. To the support teams: broadcasting, managing, presenting, product development, market research, business development, public relations and entrepreneurs.
Fabian Mallent - Manager and Coach - Unicorns of Love recently touched upon this challenge online on HASHTAG#SPORTSCONF. That there is a great requirement for e-sports players who wish to make a transition from a being a player into another field to be guided professionally. As the E-sports player’s career is on average about 2 to 3 years.
Here are a couple of the roles and skill-sets that are required with in the industry. With a brief example of the current companies maximising on the opportunities that are allowing the industry to boom.
Product Development
How the technology is changing is very fascinating. Currently developers are producing digital goggles for skiers. (RideOn's Indiegogo -
This product shows you digital content whilst snow boarding or skiing. By using integrated augmented reality. The technology shows you digital content whilst actually skiing in the real world. Thus allowing you to improve performance by navigating through gates that wouldn't actually exist otherwise without the technology.
On the other hand Virtuix Omni company have already identified a key area within the industry. By developing and producing a package focusing on virtual competitive gaming, augmented reality for entertainment, training, health, military, corporate and educational use.
The Ultimate Immersive Experience has opened the doors that steps Into The Next Generation Of Gaming that has been long anticipated by many gamers.
Omni has eliminated the negative impacts of being stationary and motion sickness. Transforming the experience of gaming by giving you control over your avatar with freedom of adventure and movement in a 360 environment physically in any games that uses traditional controls.
Previously controlling competitive games with by keyboards, mouses and controllers now allows you to move naturally within the Virtual worlds.
With the development of full VR Gaming Platform it has provided an unprecedented Gameplay that has been welcomed by many:
They have taken the idea to be immersed within the game virtually using the virtuix omni technology by developing the products required to take the e-sports player inside the actual games 360 environment allowing physical navigation.
By producing and developing the technology it allows us to utilise and manipulate the body in the virtual reality to our full capacity.
Companies such as Logitech manufactured products such as keyboards, mouses and headphones to increase the performance output from the players within competitive gaming. (Provide Picture)
The Skills Required For This Part Of The Industry are more specific and perhaps require a background as a game developer, product designer, product manufacturer, 3D engine programmer, or technician.
BSc in Games Design, Product Design, Engineering or Sport Science would be advantageous.
Market Research
The skills required for this part of the industry will require individuals or teams to perform data analysis, surveying, and finding new ways to collect information. Perhaps the ideal candidates will have good knowledge of the eSports demographic, market research background or even be good with numbers.
To specialise in eSports perhaps will require them to have a Bachelor's Degree in Business or Marketing or equivalent work experience would also be advantageous.
Here are two people who currently work within this part of the industry.
Peter Warman - CEO and Co-Founder - Newzoo
Public Relations
Ideally to work in this part of the industry the ideal candidates should have specific skill-sets and perhaps previous position with a gaming organisation.
Can range from experience with website structure, strategy, general marketing, exceptional written and oral communication skills, excellent proofreading and grammatical skills, web writing required experience with content management systems, networking, blogging / social media, presentation, spoken communication, crisis management, basic computer skills, google apps, internet research, experience with eSports topics and competitive gaming terms.
To specialise in eSports will require them to perhaps have a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Business or Marketing or equivalent work experience would also be advantageous.
This perhaps could be a transitional role from being a player to presenter. Rachel “Seltzer” Quirico - eSports Presenter
Management
The required skills in this part of the industry range from being a motivator, sociable, having good leadership skills, charisma, empathy and a mindset to manage office work and operations.
To have a good overall knowledge of the industry, management experience and good financial awareness perhaps would be ideal. There are many job roles within management however currently they’re all internally sourced.
For anyone to specialise in management perhaps will require them to have a Bachelor's Degree in Business or Marketing or equivalent previous experience as eSports player.
Fabian Mallent - Manager and Coach - Unicorns of Love
Managing Director of Pro Gaming, ESL - Micheal “Carmac” Blicharz
To Find Out More, Click On Interactive Icon!
Business Development
This is a vital role within eSports. This part of the industry will need business minded individuals to generate deals, obtain revenue through sponsorship and evolve the business model.
An example being whilst Streaming Online On Twitch - A lot of advertisement content is run off Twitch allowing the e-sports player to integrate the brands that sponsor them just as they are the broadcaster network. In turn allowing them to be interactive with their fans whilst building their own brand during the entire competitive gaming and generating another source of revenue.
Being able to analyse data, sociable, not being afraid to talk to people and knowing a good opportunity when seeing it. These are some of the vital skills required for development within eSports.
To specialise in this area will require candidates to perhaps have a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Business or Marketing also previous experience in eSports would also be advantageous.
