If you are into the sports and gaming scene, two of the newest terms that you might have heard of are esports and virtual sports. While both are the new niche of gaming and playing sports all thanks to the advancement of technology, they are, in fact, two entirely different things. Still, the good news is that if you are an avid sports bettor, there are now options that can let you bet on both new kinds of sports!
However, not all bookies are offering esports and virtual sports betting, or at least not yet. This means you must be on the lookout which ones are offering these, and which one has the best deals for you. For that, you need good reviews that discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each bookie. One example is a review explaining what are the main pros and cons of the GreatOdds.
In the meantime, it would be a good idea to have yourself fully educated on what esports and virtual sports here. Here are the things you need to know about these two new ways of playing and betting on sports.
What are virtual sports?
Virtual sports are the same kind of sports that we know, but the only difference is that it is played on a computer and is automated through a program coded to let the virtual “players” play the game without any human control. The earliest version of what we know today as virtual sports can be traced back to 1961 when someone named John Burgeson coded a game that ran a fantasy baseball game. The game back then was for an old IBM 1620 computer. The game that he developed involved two baseball teams that play on their own. The results are determined by a programmed algorithm that randomizes all elements of the game and thus gives out a random result, too. Back then, this first-ever virtual sports game was only at the size of 20KB.
Today, virtual sports are still made with the same core concepts and elements that the game Burgeson made had. The games are played according to the individual states of the players and teams and based on that, the results are randomized through the use of the algorithm now known as RNG or random number generation.
What is Esports?
Esports is the competitive playing of video games. Back in the day, the apple only played video games as a form of hobby or a way of entertainment. Eventually, gamers started to gather and play together in events and competitions, and later on, games started being played competitively.
The first game that was played competitively in a huge event, and thus considered by many as the firs-ever esports, was Atari’s “Space Invaders.” In 1980, the major event for the game that was called “The Space Invaders Championship” was held and more than 10,000 players attended. Players fought each other in a competitive setup for the first time.
Now, more games across different genres and gaming platforms are played competitively. You have MOBA–or massive online battle arena games such as Riot Games’s “League of Legends,” shooters such as “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG),” and mobile games such as “Mobile Legends” and “Call of Duty Mobile.”
Final Thoughts
Technology made virtual sports and esports possible. However, that is not the end for the two niches for as long as technology continues to grow and get more developed, one can only expect for more ways to game and even more ways to bet to be introduced in the coming years. What further innovations will come to esports and virtual sports, one can only wait with excitement and eager anticipation.
