The world of video game tournaments is chock full of tales of conquest. Computer experts who got one over on us all by going in nerds and coming away with plump bank accounts. Traditionally these "nerds" are young people, teenagers and young adults. People too young to purchase alcohol or even cigarettes have led the video gaming industry. But the industry has matured, and so has its players. Never fear, video games are still all the rage - someone in more than 65 percent of all households plays, according to the Entertainment Software Association.
Video games considered to be Real Time Strategy, First Person Shooter games, and Racing games, are call Electronic Sports. Initially played individually or in pairs at home on a gaming console, these games can now be played online with other people in neighboring communities, or in other countries. Tournaments have been organized and played online by Massively Multiple player Online Role Playing Games Massively Multiple-player Online Role Playing Games and can be played for cash. World of War-craft Global Arena, one of the most popular games, brought a sizable first prize of ,000 in 2010. Not a bad payout for participating in a game you can play from your basement.
For many years, expert gamers sharpened their talents any place that would welcome them - from campus living quarters to dank basements. When finally large companies realized the immeasurable prospect for promoting their merchandise to this rapidly growing sect, video gaming launched from basement to sky tower in an instant. Massively Multiple-player Online Role Playing Games utilize Avatars, or personalized characters, to allow the game player to move through the gaming environment interacting with other players and the virtual ecosystem itself. The object is for the gamer to control his or her Avatar as it combats various monsters, assassins, and terrorists, usually with the theme of good vs. Evil. The Avatar usually must also collect hidden objects for experience and points throughout the game. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be an "expert" to play in these tournaments - there is room for all to enjoy the fun of online gaming.
It is sometimes questioned by non-gamers whether or not the money played for online is genuine. It absolutely is real. Players add money into a trust fund using either their bank card, an e-check, or Pay Pal. This form of real-money play is legal because video games depend on skill rather than chance. In the past decade quite a few people made large sums of money playing video games full time. In 2008 the video gaming industry brought in more than million in sales. It seems there are plenty of opportunities in this field for those with quick fingers and fast reflexes. Another area in which there is growing demand is Video Game Testers. Because video game popularity is at an all time high, video game companies are under a lot of pressure to thrust new games out to the public in record times. This means they do not have enough time to thoroughly test them. This is where Video Game Testers come in. Gaming Geeks volunteer to play and test the newest games before they are released to the general public and report to the publisher any glitches in the games. They get to play new games before anybody else, and the publishers get their games tested - it's a win-win situation. As video game tournaments are massively popular, the International Olympic Committee has evaluated Electronic Sports for inclusion as an Olympic sport.
