Just like the rest of the globe, Melbourne based photographers aren’t exactly in hot demand right now. Luckily, I’ve been writing a whole bunch. Here’s another one for Homecourt Mag.
It’s day 3005 of quarantine. Interstate players are pummelling your outmatched squad. The rival set floated two uncontested jumpers, plucked a steal and posterized your star. Coach benched you for verbally flaying your teammates. The GM is a microsecond from stress-induced hernia. While you scan the animated screen for salvation, fans fiercely lament last year’s defeat. As Esports inch closer to sweat-stained reality, the NBA2K League nears main stage.
If you’re over 25, a familiar reaction to Esports is a scoff and a shrug. Competitive gaming still hasn’t shaken the stigma of nerdiness. To the uninitiated, there’s an Orwellian vibe to seeing players emotionally break down over virtual competition.
Like Jazz music and long hair before it, digital contests immediately divide generations. After all, it’s not “real” is it? Matches are streamed and the arenas animated, but 2019’s billion dollar profit was bona-fide. Shaq, Magic and Jordan are industry investors, plus team owners like Mark Cuban.
Esports is a recent fixation in the West, but old news to Asian fans. South Korea has been hip since the early 2000s. Strategy blockbusters StarCraft and Warcraft 3 are broadcast to thousands on 24 hour networks. With franchises Dota2, Fortnite and League of Legends ascending globally, spectator gaming has hit pop culture.