Welcome to the eSports 101 FAQ Forum. Ask any eSports related question, or post questions and or answers and they may just make it into our offical Frequently Asked Questions. --
Here are the first round of questions and answers:
What is eSports? Is video gaming really a professional sport? Are people making money doing this? Are people watching?
eSports (electronic sports) is video games played competitively. Yes, people DO make money playing video games and millions enjoy spectating said "matches". Professional gaming leagues, including Major League Gaming and the Championship Gaming Gaming Series, offer full time, contracted pay to their players. Other LAN and online leagues also offer prize monies as well. Players like Jonathan "Fatal1ty" Wendal and teams such as Complexity, SK, 3D and more have reached international fame status and earn well into six figures from prize winnings and sponsorships. You can see just what kind of money some teams are making right here.
How can I watch the pros play?
There are many ways to watch or spectate video game matches. Many games can be viewed through some type of spectator mode built into the game itself. Meaning you will need to own a copy of the game but the benefits of viewing games this way are tremendous. HLTV is available for Counter Strike 1.6 matches and Source TV can be used to spectate CS:Source and TF2 matches
Most spectator modes in games also record replays or demos. These replays can be played back at anytime. Demos and replays are available for download in many places on the internet such as here at GotFrag, team and league pages as well. Replays and demos require that you own the game to playback.
There are also a number of ways to view matches and more through video and audio internet shoutcasting. GotFrag TV provides video coverage including live matches with professional commentary, interviews, match analysis and so much more. GotFrag TV also offers Video on Demand recordings of all live and recorded broadcasts. Check out GotFrag TV by clicking here.
How do I go pro? Where would I start?
Right here at GotFrag is not a bad place to start learning about becoming a professional gamer. Most players begin with choosing a game they prefer, be it first person tactical shooter, real time strategy games, or one versus one dueler/deathmatch games. Play progresses to online public servers where you can make contacts with others in your similiar skill level.
Teams and players communicate in a variety of ways with IRC (internet relay chat), being one of the main forms of communication for PC Gaming. Most professional teams have a channel on IRC and often recruit players from these channels for the team. There are also channels dedicated soley to recruitment and finding scrims(practic matches). Once you have a game, team chosen and practiced, league play (see below) would be the next logical step.
How do I join a team?
For the majority of games, you'll begin with looking for a team to play with. Most eSports games are team-based, therefore you must be able to effectivly, and easily communicate with your teammates. If you think you have what it takes, you can begin looking for those extra players to complete your group.
For the most part, you can find a team, or recruit in IRC. The server most used is irc.gamesurge.net(www.gamesurge.net ). The channels differ for each game, therefore it can be frustrating at first to find the right one. A list of channels for finding players/teams and practice matches can be found in the eSports 101 IRC How To.
Most professional teams and organizations also communicate through and host a channel on some form of voice communication client such as Ventrillo or Team Speak. These voice applications are often used in-game in lieu of the actual game voice comms. You will need headphones/speakers and a microphone to use these applications.
What is a league? How do I join a league?
Leagues are organized tournament structures that host, schedule and in some cases pay out money to winners. Much like bowling or softball leagues, these leagues were started for fun and have developed into professional leagues. There are many different leagues with different games and gametypes. Most leagues have a free amateur division that allows basically anyone to play. The easiest way to join or find information about a league is to visit their website. Some leagues are played soley online, some on LAN (see below)or a combination of both. Some of the more popular leagues with amatuer and pro divisions are listed below.
CAL - (Online league) One of the most popular leagues for newer players is CAL (Cyberathelete Amateur League). CAL is popular because it's free to play, and you can earn an enormous wealth of knowledge from playing. You really have nothing to lose by signing up. You can begin playing in CAL by creating a team at the beginning of a season, you'll begin in CAL-Open, and progress as you win matches.
CEVO - (Online league) Another popular league is CEVO (Cyber Evolution). This league is popular because it's a pay to play league, that offers cash prizes to the winners. You can start a CEVO team by registering your team at the beginning of a season, and paying the fees required to join. You begin CEVO in the Amateur bracket, and as you win matches, you advance. Primarily a PC game league.
MLG - (Pro LAN league) Major League Gaming. This is a professional gaming league built aound console gaming. Players enter into contracts through qualifiers and invitation.Primarily a console game league.
CGS - (Pro LAN league) Championship Gaming Series. Made for DirecTV. Another professional league built around qualification tournaments and a player draft. Base player salary is $30,000 anually. PC, console combination league.
ESWC - (Pro LAN league) Olympic style, nation versus nation, world wide tournament for honor and prize money. Built around qualification tournaments. PC, console combination league.
WCG - (Pro LAN league) Another Olympic style, nation versus nation, world wide tournament for honor and prize money. Built around qualification tournaments. Sponsored by Samsung. PC, console combination league.
What is a LAN?
Local Area Network. LAN has a broad meaning when pertaining to eSports. Basically its the gathering of more than one gamer in a single location, connected together on a single network to play multiplayer games. This can be anywhere from a neighborhood group of a few friends, to the huge LAN networks of professional league tournaments and events with thousands of gamers on one network.
What is the difference between PC games and console games?
PC games are played on a personal computer whereas console games are played on game consoles such as Playstation, Xbox etc. GotFrag concentrates mostly on PC gaming.
Where can I find a list of links to helpful eSports sites?
I did not find the answer I was looking for. What now?
You can go to the GotFrag eSports FAQ Forum and ask your question there. We also encourage everyone to use the forum to ask further questions and or answers to add to this FAQ. The GotFrag Wiki also provides a large amount of information directly related to eSports. You can also search this community submitted fact database.
How to join an HLTV server ?? I f I have CS1.6 nstaled on my comp then is it enough to show me the particular server that i wish , eg. i want to view a fnatic v. MYM match...how do I proceed ??
Welcome to FAQ Forums!
What is eSports? Is video gaming really a professional sport? Are people making money doing this? Are people watching?
eSports (electronic sports) is video games played competitively. Yes, people DO make money playing video games and millions enjoy spectating said "matches". Professional gaming leagues, including Major League Gaming and the Championship Gaming Gaming Series, offer full time, contracted pay to their players. Other LAN and online leagues also offer prize monies as well. Players like Jonathan "Fatal1ty" Wendal and teams such as Complexity, SK, 3D and more have reached international fame status and earn well into six figures from prize winnings and sponsorships. You can see just what kind of money some teams are making right here.
How can I watch the pros play?
There are many ways to watch or spectate video game matches. Many games can be viewed through some type of spectator mode built into the game itself. Meaning you will need to own a copy of the game but the benefits of viewing games this way are tremendous. HLTV is available for Counter Strike 1.6 matches and Source TV can be used to spectate CS:Source and TF2 matches
Most spectator modes in games also record replays or demos. These replays can be played back at anytime. Demos and replays are available for download in many places on the internet such as here at GotFrag, team and league pages as well. Replays and demos require that you own the game to playback.
There are also a number of ways to view matches and more through video and audio internet shoutcasting. GotFrag TV provides video coverage including live matches with professional commentary, interviews, match analysis and so much more. GotFrag TV also offers Video on Demand recordings of all live and recorded broadcasts. Check out GotFrag TV by clicking here.
How do I go pro? Where would I start?
Right here at GotFrag is not a bad place to start learning about becoming a professional gamer. Most players begin with choosing a game they prefer, be it first person tactical shooter, real time strategy games, or one versus one dueler/deathmatch games. Play progresses to online public servers where you can make contacts with others in your similiar skill level.
Teams and players communicate in a variety of ways with IRC (internet relay chat), being one of the main forms of communication for PC Gaming. Most professional teams have a channel on IRC and often recruit players from these channels for the team. There are also channels dedicated soley to recruitment and finding scrims(practic matches). Once you have a game, team chosen and practiced, league play (see below) would be the next logical step.
How do I join a team?
For the majority of games, you'll begin with looking for a team to play with. Most eSports games are team-based, therefore you must be able to effectivly, and easily communicate with your teammates. If you think you have what it takes, you can begin looking for those extra players to complete your group.
For the most part, you can find a team, or recruit in IRC. The server most used is irc.gamesurge.net (www.gamesurge.net ). The channels differ for each game, therefore it can be frustrating at first to find the right one. A list of channels for finding players/teams and practice matches can be found in the eSports 101 IRC How To.
Most professional teams and organizations also communicate through and host a channel on some form of voice communication client such as Ventrillo or Team Speak. These voice applications are often used in-game in lieu of the actual game voice comms. You will need headphones/speakers and a microphone to use these applications.
What is a league? How do I join a league?
Leagues are organized tournament structures that host, schedule and in some cases pay out money to winners. Much like bowling or softball leagues, these leagues were started for fun and have developed into professional leagues. There are many different leagues with different games and gametypes. Most leagues have a free amateur division that allows basically anyone to play. The easiest way to join or find information about a league is to visit their website. Some leagues are played soley online, some on LAN (see below)or a combination of both. Some of the more popular leagues with amatuer and pro divisions are listed below.
CAL - (Online league) One of the most popular leagues for newer players is CAL (Cyberathelete Amateur League). CAL is popular because it's free to play, and you can earn an enormous wealth of knowledge from playing. You really have nothing to lose by signing up. You can begin playing in CAL by creating a team at the beginning of a season, you'll begin in CAL-Open, and progress as you win matches.
CEVO - (Online league) Another popular league is CEVO (Cyber Evolution). This league is popular because it's a pay to play league, that offers cash prizes to the winners. You can start a CEVO team by registering your team at the beginning of a season, and paying the fees required to join. You begin CEVO in the Amateur bracket, and as you win matches, you advance. Primarily a PC game league.
MLG - (Pro LAN league) Major League Gaming. This is a professional gaming league built aound console gaming. Players enter into contracts through qualifiers and invitation.Primarily a console game league.
CGS - (Pro LAN league) Championship Gaming Series. Made for DirecTV. Another professional league built around qualification tournaments and a player draft. Base player salary is $30,000 anually. PC, console combination league.
ESWC - (Pro LAN league) Olympic style, nation versus nation, world wide tournament for honor and prize money. Built around qualification tournaments. PC, console combination league.
WCG - (Pro LAN league) Another Olympic style, nation versus nation, world wide tournament for honor and prize money. Built around qualification tournaments. Sponsored by Samsung. PC, console combination league.
What is a LAN?
Local Area Network. LAN has a broad meaning when pertaining to eSports. Basically its the gathering of more than one gamer in a single location, connected together on a single network to play multiplayer games. This can be anywhere from a neighborhood group of a few friends, to the huge LAN networks of professional league tournaments and events with thousands of gamers on one network.
What is the difference between PC games and console games?
PC games are played on a personal computer whereas console games are played on game consoles such as Playstation, Xbox etc. GotFrag concentrates mostly on PC gaming.
Where can I find a list of links to helpful eSports sites?
www.gotfrag.com/portal/story/40459/
I did not find the answer I was looking for. What now?
You can go to the GotFrag eSports FAQ Forum and ask your question there. We also encourage everyone to use the forum to ask further questions and or answers to add to this FAQ. The GotFrag Wiki also provides a large amount of information directly related to eSports. You can also search this community submitted fact database.
I f I have CS1.6 nstaled on my comp then is it enough to show me the particular server that i wish , eg. i want to view a fnatic v. MYM match...how do I proceed ??
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