BIOS: Technology Means Business

Internet games (also known as online games) are games that are played online via the Internet against other computer players. Some online games are ‘massively multiplayer’ games, which means that a large number of players participate simultaneously.

The two major genres are MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) such as Ultima Online or EverQuest and MMORTS (massively multiplayer online real-time strategy). Some networked multiplayer games do not even feature a single-player mode.

For example, MUDs and massively multiplayer online games are multiplayer games by definition. But First-person shooters and sports games have become very popular multiplayer games and games like Battlefield 1942 and Counter-Strike gained their fame despite not featuring extensive (or any) single-player plot or gameplay.

Electronic Sports (or eSports) is used as a general term used to describe computer and video games which are played as sports. Some also use the terms of competitive gaming, cyber-sports and v-sports but the most popular among players are gaming and e-sports. Games considered electronic sports are normally first-person shooter and real-time strategy games, which are played competitively at both amateur and professional stages.

Teenagers between 15 and 25 enlist into competitions, train themselves like athletes do, only that they become champions in a virtual world and stars in the real one. Their virtual world powers and computer skills may even bring them money, fame and recognition. And where do they go from there? A model or an athlete may become part of a campaign, hero of a book or of a movie, an icon, sometimes a role model or a charity promoter.

Would a gamer become more than a professional skilful player who managed to make some money promoting corporations? Things change faster in the virtual world and there always are new gamers and new strategies. We hooked up with Andrew Robbins, Managing Director, Electronics Sports League, to talk online gaming leagues.

To listen to the full interview, please click here. For more Podcasts, go to https://biosmagazine.co.uk/podcasts. Enjoy!