Streaming platforms such as Twitch and Mixer add even more viewers to the mix.Ĭontrary to stereotypes involving teenage boys and young men, ESA (Entertainment Software Association) research indicates that in the US the average gamer is 34 years old, and women represent 45% of the demographic. An entire media ecosystem has sprung up around the gaming industry, with e-sports or electronic sports tournaments broadcast on cable television attracting nearly 400 million viewers each year. Fortnite? Overwatch? League of Legends? If you’ve heard of these games but don’t know an aim-bot from a wall-hack (let alone ESP), read on to understand why some ordinary folks feel like a fish out of water in competitive matches - and why that matters.Īs of 2018, video games represent one of the most lucrative businesses in the world, generating more than $43 billion in revenue in the United States alone.
