In many ways, planning a large e-sports or gaming event relies on all the same events-planning fundamentals that any other type of large public event requires. There is a budget to settle on, safety to be accounted for, and a venue to book. But there are also several things about planning an e-sports event that are unique, normally involving the technology being used and the precise video game that the contestants will be playing (as well as any legal considerations associated with that).

There is also the potential scale of e-sports events to consider. For example, large scale e-sports events typically draw sizeable crowds, and depending on what type of event you are actually organising, crowd management, safety and, of course, catering for the audience adds a whole other dimension to the planning involved in an e-sports event, with duties typically being split between the general and the e-sports-specific. Of course, there’s always something like Captain Cooks casino login, which is an ideal option for online gambling.

Why E-sports?

Besides the significant level of popularity that e-sports have already achieved – and the large audiences that the largest e-sports events have the potential to draw – organising an e-sports event is still a strategy for those looking to the future and hoping to capitalise on the next big thing. Already popular, e-sports are projected to only become more of a phenomenon, and it doesn’t take particularly long to work out why.

The reason e-sports are a wise investment for those in event planning is precisely the advance of a phenomenon we have already seen playing out for the last thirty to forty years. In the world of video games, technology moves fast, consoles are updated, games become more immersive, and new technologies are brought to bear on the gaming world.

The next big shift – in fact, one that is already happening – is the increased integration of more and more immersive virtual reality technology into the realm of e-sports and video gaming events. This is something that has the potential to make e-sports an incredibly immersive and exciting experience for the spectator as well as the participant. Where virtual reality is concerned, we are still not far off the ground level, and so the smart entrepreneur should be taking notice.

E-sports – and video gaming in general – has consistently shown itself to be one of those industries all but dragged along by advances in the relevant technology. And video game technology is not something to stand still for even a second. Instead, the entire video gaming industry is in a constant state of rapid advancement. This, of course, makes e-sports very popular, but it is also the nature of video gaming that makes investing in the industry particularly attractive.

For example, e-sports events are not just restricted to the physical location at which they are hosted. In fact, this whole industry is based upon the transcendence of physical space. E-sports events not only can be watched remotely but can be participated in remotely; such events can be linked up with others happening at the same time and audience participation itself can even take on a remote cyber element. All of this means that e-sports are a particularly good opportunity for companies to promote attractive new technological products, raise funds, and bolster brand awareness across a large global community. Everything is connected in the world of gaming, so any e-sports event promotes a lucrative global cyberculture at the same time.

What is Expected of an E-sports Event?

So, what is expect of an e-sports event? Well, the first thing you should always consider is, of course, logistics and safety. You should hire a physical venue in which to host the event and then follow all the usual safety procedures typical of a venue hosting any type of event. Naturally, this includes fire safety and crowd management. There are also the safety concerns associated with so many technologies in close proximity. You might find yourself having to tick all the usual boxes here, for example ensuring the proper use of laptop asset labels, taping down excess wiring, and so on. If you have any experience in events planning, this will be familiar territory.

The second consideration will be the organisation of all the elements that are more specific to e-sports and video gaming. You need to provide the right equipment, of course, and the actual contestants is an element that you might have to work to attract. If you are hosting a regional tournament with low-level teams and e-sports participants of little international renown, then you naturally have somewhat less to take care of than if you’re trying to attract famous players for a serious tournament. In this latter case, you will need to make sure that they are well accommodated, and that things like riders and special requests are catered for. 

Beyond these basics, what audiences (or potential audiences) will expect from your e-sports event rather depends on what type of e-sports event it is. There are several different kinds, from gaming conventions to interconnected competitions linked up with other physical locations. Are we talking sporting games, role playing games, round-based one-on-one games, or massive multiplayers?

Top Tips and Advice for Organising an E-sports Event

So, with the several preliminary considerations out of the way, here follows some usual general advice which will help you organise a winning e-sports competition:

Technology is a Draw

We have mentioned already the practicalities of providing the right technology for the participants, but it should also be noted that that technology needs to have an appeal for the audience too. You should try to foster a sense of virtual interaction with the game world – no audience member wants to simply peer over someone’s shoulder at a screen. Décor should match the game being played.

Interactivity is Essential

Closely related to the previous point is the need for e-sports events to be interactive. There are many ways the audience can interact with the actual game. There can be virtual polls to show audience support for specific players, you could dispense hardware such as LED bracelets which trigger lighting effects in line with what is actually happening in the game, and so on.

Create a Physical Game World

And here we are talking about décor. Audience members want to feel immersed in the world of the game, not simply like they are watching other people play. We have already made the point about décor and the importance of ensuring it matches the game. However, you should also try to keep everything incongruent with the aesthetics of the game itself to a minimum. Dress staff as if they just stepped out of the game, serve food and refreshments that are in some way related, and so on. There is plenty of room to be creative here.

Engage in Influencer Marketing

E-sports is an online world and the people who enjoy e-sports are thoroughly internet people and typically young. This means that the support of social media influencers will be a massive part of your marketing for the event. It is helpful if the influencer you target is also in some way connected to the game or plays it themselves. Such people will require little incentive to effectively advertise for you on the massive platforms which they typically command.

In summary, e-sports are riding the crest of a wave of popularity that, quite honestly, only seems to get bigger and faster. Although it has actually been around for a while, this is still a golden time for the smart entrepreneur and event planner to get onboard.