At some point in time, we've all been in contact with video games. Whether you've casually walked past an arcade once, or you've been playing since a kid, there's no denying that the world of video games and eSports is a rapidly growing industry. We're talking an ever-growing schedule of massive tournaments, where prize money for winning teams is reaching into the millions of dollars. That being said, it time to pay attention to the colossal gaming world. To help fill us in, we grabbed a video-gaming expert, Gino Gigante who is the founder of NYC eSports station and internet café Waypoint. Below, he filled us in on the basics of eSports and the future of gaming.
Starting off, how did you get your start in gaming, and where did the idea for Waypoint Café come from?
I got my start in gaming, back in high school when Apple released a way for people to do podcasts. My friends and I did video game news and reviews, but that ended once I left for college. I still continued doing reviews for small outlets and some freelance stuff. I also did podcasts for a group called Geekfist - it was a general nerd culture podcast that would rotate between comics, gaming, and tabletop. The idea for Waypoint always remained in my mind as a place for people to come and play games. I went to LAN Parties back in the day and they were always fun. I thought PC cafes in Europe were cool, so I wanted something like that here in the US.
For those who might not know, can you briefly explain the world of pro eSports? How it works, the different type of games, and how it differs from console gaming?
eSports as it's called, actually has a start deep in fighting games and old arcade games. Back when there used to be a lot of arcades, the fighting games especially here in NYC were the biggest competitions. Then as games like Quake came out and Counter Strike, the focus started switching from arcade machines and local spots to online gaming, especially with LAN parties like Quake Con and Dream Hack. I would break eSports down into 3 categories for professional gamers. There are the RTS/MOBA skill-based games which are based on strategies like those employed in war gaming. Then there are fighters, which employ strategies seen in martial arts, reading opponents movements, understanding character mechanics, and hit boxes and frames. Fighting games are more of a one-man-show kind of game, so while there are teams, it's mostly people following one or two major players. Some examples of these players are JWong and Daigo. Then there are shooters like CSGO and Overwatch. These are team-based games –normally teams of 5– but in Overwatch's case, teams of 6. This is where eSports in my opinion flourishes, because we can see how well people mesh and work together to achieve a common goal. There are many different ways to host tourneys, most use a point system, but Overwatch is using a league idea similar to the NFL system.
As for PC versus console, it really depends on the game. Most are run using PC but fighters mainly use consoles.
What are some of the major games played in eSports and who are a few of the top players?
The Major games played right now are League of Legends, DOTA2, Overwatch, HearthStone, Counter Strike Global Offensive, Rocket League, Smash Brothers, Tekken, Street Fighter, Arms, and Splattoon. There are more but I would say these are some of the majors within medium sized communities. There is some growth for games like PUBG and some mobile games.
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Since eSports are competitive sports, where can people watch? And what kind of crowds do tournaments draw?
Most people watch streams if they cannot attend the physical tournament. Venues vary, but some sports stadiums have been used. Actual arenas have been built for eSports as well. Some are hosted in hotels and convention centers with grand finals held in sports arenas. If you cannot attend, there are various streaming platforms from Twitch to Mixer to Youtube. For crowds, it's hard to tell since it really does depend on the game.
During the shoot we talked a bit about going pro, and how it really is a full-time job. Can tell us a bit about the insane training schedule and what a day of a professional gamer might look like?
I have never gone pro but I have heard from some pros on twitter and their interviews that it is treated like a full-time job. We're talking about 8 hours plus a day playing, scrimmaging, and discussing patches strategies and what not. For some teams, it's hard because they're spread globally. Then there are the online tourney schedules and general life issues as well. I know for the Overwatch League, one of the teams practices about 15 hours a day.
What are you looking forward to seeing happen in eSports? Are there any up and coming trends you see happening in 2018?
In terms of eSports I would like to see it grow as it has been doing, but not to forget about the community that helped get it here. I'm scared of a lot of money being thrown around and no one knowing what to do with it, or investors thinking they can cash in and out really quick. That frightens me since they don't understand the nuances of the community. I think I would like to see it grow at a more stable rate then the fast rate it's going. I would like to see a more stable net for players once they retire and not have to just live off of winnings. Finally, I would like to see more places in the world showing eSports on their TV's, like bars and what not.
Owning your own Internet café in NYC, how is the gaming community different here from places overseas?
Owning the cafe I have learned that a lot of people are quick to discredit how these things work because of online gaming. The community that has been showing up though has been great. People really do enjoy coming together with their friends and playing the games they love since it's easier to play next to your friend. People miss local co-op a lot, and we give them that here through LANs and what not. The biggest difference overseas is convincing people to come here, not everyone overseas has the space for high-end gaming machines. Most people, especially in Asia either have laptops or use their phone as their day to day device, and don't have huge towers with graphics cards and liquid cooled CPUS. Now it's also about going out to hang out with friends at a place. That's the reason why arcades are still huge in Japan and Hong Kong. It's a thing to do for everyone, not just kids.
With the rise of VR and AR games happening in both console and mobile gaming, do you see it eventually playing a role within competitive gaming?
I do see it now that CES HTC announced the VIVE Pro which is wireless, and there are VR cups and arcades popping up everywhere now. Personally I am not a huge fan of VR, more so because of the equipment and wearing glasses and the amount of space it takes. But, I do enjoy what the technology holds for the future. In terms of competitive gaming though, I am not sure where it could find its niche since it has such a high cost of entry, and requires very specific hardware and space to use properly. On the other hand, it might be better but we need to get over two huge hurdles. One being better battery life or we have wireless charging over waves readily available, and also, information streaming via wireless connections need to be much more secure, then we can move forward with the AR technologies.
This might be a loaded question, but being a game reviewer yourself, what’s your favorite game of all time, and why?
After all my reviewing, my favorite game of all time that I keep going back to even when it gets ported to newer consoles are actually 3 games. The first is Metal Slug 3, which is a gorgeous arcade game. Next would be Touhou 16 Double Dealing Character for technical mechanics. Finally the game that started me on video games, Blaster Master. I have played Blaster Master, which was just redone for the Nintendo Switch and 3DS since the beginning. There are other games that I do love but these 3 are the ones I will always consider great games.
For more information, follow the Waypoint café on IG here.
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