Photo courtesy Juba McCray
Online gaming enables participants to play a video game through the Internet or any other computer network available on consoles such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox. PC (personal computer), etc.
And it is wildly popular. According to e-Marketer’s 2016 report, there are 55.2 million online console gamers in the U.S. and it’s expected to grow by 3 percent in 2020.
Gaming is a trillion-dollar industry that is enjoyed by both adults and teens.
E-sports is huge when it comes to gaming. Just how professional athletes have the arena and stadiums packed, e-sports gamers attract fans trying to watch and see who is the best player.
Last year, the total e-sports prize money awarded out amounted to $110.6 million from a total of 3,765 tournaments, according to the esportsearnings.com.
E-sports has come a long way and will continue to grow to serve the booming gaming market. E-sports revenue is projected to hit $1.5 billion by 2020 and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
Many view gaming as a hobby, but it can also be a lucrative business. Sixteen-year-old Kyle Giersdorf, also known as Bugha, won $3 million at a tournament in New York competing in an online Fortnite tournament.
Richard Blevins, also known as Ninja, is famous for playing online games such as H1Z1, Apex Legends, and Fortnite. Blevins reportedly makes an average of $500,000 a month from YouTube, according to https://techiegamers.com.
Not only can online gaming bring in money it also can help you communicate with the new feature called game chat/ party chat. It allows you to either talk to your opponents or make private party chat lines to invite your family and friends to talk with you.
Video games have helped me with my social life and communication skills, as well giving me something to do when I’m bored. Attending college away from home has separated me from close friends and family. We all are in different cities pursing our dreams. The game chat allows my cousins to be in the chat party on the PS4 talking to each other while doing one of our favorite hobbies, gaming. Also, from speaking with other gamers on the PS4, a lot of people who play video games probably grew up shy and group party chat allows communication and interaction with others. The more a multiplayer gamer game chats, and then there are connections with people, and helping solve problems.
Online gaming is popular and only going to grow as technology improves. Soon there could be a business of professional game players. Some colleges are even offering students e-sports scholarships to attend their school.