The esports industry, also known as the competitive video game industry, has experienced exponential growth over the years. Some of it has to do with the changing demographics, as people who used to play games at a young age can now enjoy a completely new experience brought on by professional video game competitions, but there’s more that goes into that.

In the last decade, the esports world has been making its presence known in the mainstream media, but it has also gained some serious traction in the world of betting. If you were to search for Vegas NFL odds, you would find yourself only a couple of clicks away from looking at esports betting markets, which only shows how far the esports industry has come.

Over the years, esports has morphed into one of the most popular competitions amongst bettors. Many online betting sites, including BetUS, have acknowledged that and didn’t hesitate to incorporate esports betting markets into their sites, but there’s more than just the betting side of things that keep pushing the esports forward as it looks to cement its status as one of the most exciting industries heading into 2022.

Esports Become a Medal Event at the Asian Games 2022

Many people stand by their idea that “esports is not a sport,” but merely kids playing video games while other kids watch them. That may be true – esports professional players don’t have to run as fast as football players, nor do they have to jump as high as basketball players.

Still, suppose we are technical about it. In that case, the definition of a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”

Hence, by that definition, esports definitely is a sport. And beyond the description, esports competitions have many similarities to sporting events, and as of late, that includes a medal event.

The continuous growth of esports’ popularity has sparked interest by the global competitive gaming community, eventually leading to what is now billed as one of the most significant milestones the esports world has achieved. As revealed, esports will be a medal event at the upcoming 2022 Asian Games, slated for September 2022.

The event, which is held every four years, and is by some recognized as the Asian version of the Olympic Games, will be the first major sporting event to recognize esports as a discipline, with cash prizes and medals.

This, however, is not the first time Asian games introduced esports, as video game competitions were already present at the tournament in 2018. Albeit, it will be the first time that Asian Games will fully incorporate esports into the event, featuring seven esports titles.

As revealed, the 2022 Asian games will hold competitions for Street Fighter V, Dota 2, League of Legends, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile, FIFA, Dream Three Kingdom 2, and Arena of Valor.

The Industry Continues to Boom

The COVID-19 pandemic, which halted almost every industry and sports entertainment venture, hasn’t had much of an effect on esports. 

Admittedly, offline events had to be canceled, and there are still very few that happen; however, unlike other sporting events, esports had the option to continue with online play.

It’s more than fair to say that the global pandemic helped esports grow in 2021, largely because it had left the industry largely unaffected. And it shows in the gross revenue produced in 2020, 2021, and the projected numbers heading into 2022.

The esports industry managed $1,1 billion in 2020, with those numbers growing exponentially in 2021. The industry experts are projecting esports’ revenue to reach $1,8 billion by the end of the year, with projections for 2022 showing even more exciting numbers.

2022 promises to be a monstrous year for esports, with early projections estimating the total revenue at $2,5 billion. To put it into perspective, that’s a 38.9% increase from 2021.

While those are only projections, they are based on the increased viewership of esports around the world. And since there is no end in sight of the global pandemic and the possibility of returning back to “normal life,” the prospect of seeing esports further grow in 2022 and beyond seems like a real possibility.

Betting on Esports

But it’s not only the esports viewership numbers that continue to grow but also its popularity on online bookies. Nowadays, you won’t find a single bookmaker that doesn’t offer lines on esports events.

While some are still very cautious about offering markets on esports, most reputable brands have gone all-in into the world of competitive video games in 2021.

Big betting brands such as BetUS offer esports betting on almost any esports title imaginable as a response to the COVID pandemic, which effectively shut down most of the professional sporting leagues. And having nothing to offer to its customers, bookies had to resort to starting exploring new opportunities – of which there were plenty in esports.

With time, esports betting gained serious traction, as bettors who never thought of playing a bet on a video game now started betting on esports and began following the scene.

By introducing something new and refreshing to their offer, the bookmakers reduced the losses from missing out on accepting bets on sporting events and found a new revenue stream that is here to stay.

As we move into 2022, betting companies have fully embraced the idea of offering esports betting, opening a new market niche that was barely touched pre-pandemic.

And with the continuous growth of esports popularity, it’s more than fair to say that online betting companies will continue expanding their esports betting offers, effectively helping the industry grow for years to come.

The esports space saw a colossal withdrawal in prize cash in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, stopping the eye-popping handbag numbers that were beginning to get standard consideration.

After an almost 30% leap from 2018 to 2019 that left last year’s prize cash added up to at $211M USD, this year came in at a generally irrelevant $65.5M. That is a drop of about 69% in one year.

The discouraged payouts will probably proceed in 2021 on the grounds that the world isn’t relied upon to have returned to a feeling of business as usual till the center piece of the year, dispossessing numerous occasions that might have occurred in Q1 and Q2.

No. 1 – Android Casino: $9.6M

The approach of cell phones and cell phones has made internet gaming simpler and more advantageous for top android casinos. We currently have all our number one club games accessible readily available. No doubt, the Android OS overwhelms the worldwide cell phone market. Thus, there are more Android gamers on the planet presently. What’s more, this makes the Android gambling club market exceptionally huge and invigorating.

In case you’re an Android client searching for portable club to play with your gadget, you are on the right page. On this page, we have made a nitty gritty aide on the best gambling club online android destinations and applications. You will likewise find the accessible android club games and different advantages you can appreciate by playing with your gadget. There are an assortment of android club destinations and applications to play at. A considerable lot of them offer astounding gaming administrations and energizing promotions. We have made a rundown of the best accessible ones underneath.

No. 2 – Dota 2: $8.87M

With the pandemic constraining the deferral of the current year’s The International, Dota 2 saw a gigantic drop-off from last year true to form. Subsequent to giving out a huge take last year that almost arrived at $50M, this year came in at a generally insignificant $8.87M.

2021 uncovered exactly how dependent Dota’s esports importance is without that record-breaking TI prize pool every year. Without critical local area pressing factor and outsider coordinators moving forward, Dota would have fallen a lot further down the rundown.

The central issue confronting this title in 2021 is what will befall that over-enormous title handbag. Valve actually raised more than $40M for the 2020 TI prior to delaying to August 2021 and has not expressed what will occur with that cash. There could be a situation where that cash gets moved into the following year’s crowdfunding exertion and we see a solitary occasion prize pool outperform $80M.

No. 3 – League of Legends: $8.00M

The world’s most famous esport by viewership measurements had the option to a great extent persist through the pandemic – though through generally online-just matches – and League of Legends in this manner hopped from No. 6 last year to the third opening this year since it didn’t see a significant drop-off in prize cash. Subsequent to paying out $9M last year, League just saw a slight drop to $8M this year.

Group of Legends is one of a handful of the esports where, notwithstanding the huge sums disseminated, prize cash by and large takes a secondary lounge to the renown of contest. Gone are the times of the main prize granted at an occasion being the curiosity goliath check worth thousands. All things being equal, the exceptionally desired Summoner’s Cup prize becomes the overwhelming focus at the World Championship while its beneficiaries unobtrusively rake in more than $100K each after the confetti has completed the process of falling.

No. 4 – Fortnite: $7.87M

Epic Games’ well known fight royale title dropped from last year’s top space to No. 4 this year in enormous part since it had no Fortnite World Cup in 2020 because of the pandemic. The occasion in 2019 acquired, indeed, epic media consideration subsequent to giving $3 million to then 16-year-old champ Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf.

Yet, Epic has consistently had what’s apparent in the business to be a finnicky relationship with esports, and presently the organization is proceeding to ease off of its already overwhelming position. Epic has effectively reported there will be no disconnected competitions for Fortnite in 2021, which means no World Cup indeed. While the distributer has the assets to support Fortnite back to the top anytime, without a critical reinvestment in 2022 the game is probably going to keep tumbling out for the count of esports pertinence.

No. 5 – Call of Duty: $6.27M

With the presentation of the recently geo-found and diversified Call of Duty League in 2021, the game generally stood its ground in the current year’s positioning when contrasted with last, with a leap of three openings and just a slight downtick in prize payout. Not at all like the Overwatch League, the Call of Duty League submitted from the beginning to holding a competition style structure like its pre-establishment model.

This implied that every seven day stretch of contest expected to pay out its own prize pool notwithstanding the $4.6M Activision Blizzard given out for the debut CDL title. In another break from the OWL, Activision Blizzard additionally dedicated critical assets to an open semi-genius biological system for Call of Duty to run corresponding to the CDL. The biggest of these competitions paid out $250K.

No. 6 – Rainbow Six Siege: $5.02M

Rainbow Six Siege was one of only a handful of exceptional titles to pay out more in the pandemic-tormented year than it did last year, with $5.02M in 2020 versus $4.1M in 2019. This was to a great extent because of the game’s big showdown, the Six Invitational, being held toward the beginning of February before most of the world’s COVID lockdown. That occasion alone paid out $3M, up from $2M in the earlier year.

Rainbow Six was one of the solitary games in all of 2021 to have its greatest competition face to face, and hence partook in the consequences of its proceeded with year over year development more than most titles.

No. 7 – Overwatch: $4.36M

The Overwatch League needed to move to online-just play this year because of the pandemic, obliterating its host group model goals that should take off in full power this year. The game actually had a strong prize payout, yet the cash was not exactly 50% of last year’s take, which came in at $9.59M, and it has dropped from the position of No. 5 last year therefore.

While Activision Blizzard disseminated a comparative amount of more than $3M for its season-finishing competition, the vital shift to online play affected the games stage-based rivalry cycle, lessening the quantity of alliance wide contests which had recently finished in enormous payouts themselves.

No. 8 – PUBG: $4M

Some time ago PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS could possibly turn into a forerunner in the esports space. Notwithstanding, after numerous restructurings of its esports foundation and the flight of a few conspicuous esports groups from the space, the game seems to have subsided into a lower rung. 2021 was expected to be another chance for PUBG to zero in on global contest, yet the COVID-19 pandemic messed up that arrangement before it could make headway.

The game just paid out about a third in 2021 from what it did in 2019, dropping in the rankings four openings year over year from No. 4 out of 2019.

No. 9 – Hearthstone: $3.73M

Activision Blizzard’s computerized collectible game makes it onto the current year’s rundown following a prominent nonattendance last year. Hearthstone, which came in at $3.73M, is the lone game in the advanced collectible card classification to make it onto the rundown, however it has new contest to keep an eye out for from Riot Games’ Legends of Runeterra.

While Activision Blizzard keeps on centering the vast majority of its energy and assets on its diversified alliances, Riot Games is consistently and fastidiously increase esports interest in its fresher titles, including LoR. That combined with the ascent of other rivalry like Magic Arena (which made the rundown last year) implies that Hearthstone’s status as the undisputed lord of games is presently more being referred to than any time in recent memory.

No. 10 – Rocket League: $2.63M

Recently onto the rundown this year is Psyonix Studios title Rocket League, which given out $2.63M in prize cash throughout the year through its Rocket League Championship Series. The vehicle soccer match, which paid out $3.040M in prize cash last year, is viewed as a title with great development potential.

Psyonix submitted $4.5M to the latest RLCS season, which will close in 2021. With more prize cash than any time in recent memory streaming into a redid, open environment, Rocket League is ready to ascend the rankings one year from now.

When some of Europe’s biggest soccer clubs become involved, it’s a sure sign that there is money to be made. Soccer’s voracious appetite for money is legendary and when it comes to exploiting market segments, few sporting organisations are better than soccer clubs.

Paris St Germain, Santos, Manchester City, West Ham United, Ajax, Besiktas and Schalke are just some of the clubs involved. When leagues begin partnerships, it’s a sign of more investment to come.

City signed their first eSports player others are ahead of that curve. For the clubs, it’s all about brand exposure. Tara Warren, executive director of communications at West Ham, explained that digital and tech are the club’s priorities as far as brand awareness is concerned. eSports and the professional game enjoy a symbiotic relationship.

So too do other sports and the burgeoning eSports, which is of little surprise when the market is estimated by some analysts to be worth $1bn in 2018. Global sport finance specialists, Deloitte, offers more caution, predicting significant – but smaller – growth, a point with which the Financial Times agrees.

It’s clear that some areas of eSports are more established than others. While the winners of the Interactive FIFA World Cup receive £20,000, the winning team at the International Dota 2 Championships get £6.7m. To put it into context, the winner of the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon 2017 will walk away with a cheque for £2.2m. According to the BBC, the total prize money won globally in 2016 was a staggering $93.3m.

Premier League involvement may see the FIFA money increase; 600m players worldwide mean that each year’s new version of the game pulls in more money than the previous edition.

And if you’re still not convinced eSports is the real deal, consider this. An ESL Gaming initiative, in co-operation with NADA and working toward WADA recognition, is to outlaw the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED) which blight other sports. eSports has arrived.

Taking Advantage Of The Tools To Hand

All this from humble beginnings when groups of players met at conventions for multi-player tournaments. Now, most online bookmakers offer a full market on events, while Betway Sports made the headlines last year when they became lead sponsor of Ninjas in Pyjamas, one of the world’s most famous eSports teams.

Despite the money involved, there’s still a perception in the wider world, that eSports is a fad, a new toy whose novelty will soon wear off. Nothing could be further from the truth; eSports will evolve in the same way other professional sports did.

It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that the UK bought into American football. Since then, it has grown through a path of two steps forward, one back. Now more popular than ever, the Super Bowl is becoming an ‘event’ in its own right in these green and pleasant lands.

eSports is unlikely to follow a similar trajectory. It’s very nature puts it front and centre of the technological world we live in today. Any advancements are likely to pull eSports along with them, giving it an immediate advantage on those which went before.

There’s little sign of the growth stalling. It may slow down in coming years but with studios producing games deliberately designed for the eSports, as well as the domestic markets, the signs are that there is much more to come.

Perhaps the biggest danger is the internal perception. With prize money commanding staggering sums, there is bound to be a schism at some point. Those who want the ‘purity’ of their eSports retained will reach a point where the mainstream popularity is too much for them. A bit like fans of a band who after years of working the club circuit make it big but some resent their ‘precious’ being popular.

The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Unlimited

That won’t matter much in the overall scheme of things. As eSports gains in popularity and the additions outweigh the churn of players, there is no problem. BI Intelligence reported that 300m people “tune in” to eSports today, with projects of 500m by 2020. With that kind of reach, the cliff edge seems some way off.

It’s important to remember that as an industry, professional eSports is less than a decade old. Amateur level occupies the same level as Comicon, where the participants are viewed as obsessives. Professionalism confers a different status and in a young industry, there are still plenty of revenue streams to exploit.

Indeed, there are more games to exploit. The genres may be well defined but the games themselves are limited by technology and human imagination. So long as the studios come up with original ideas, as well as iterations of games which capture the imagination of the players, there is a market for eSports.

The Call of Duty franchise rose into the spotlight when it was first released in 2003 as a standalone game of the same name. Since then, publisher Activision and a set of four developers – Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software – have been constantly raising the standard of first-person shooter games. Its cross-platform support, superior graphics, and regular updates have unleashed a multiplayer frenzy among the gaming community that is rivalled only by a few other shooter titles.

Few video game franchises have been as influential as Call of Duty and even fewer have defined an entire gaming era where first-person shooters are the go-to genre for gamers across the world.

Overall, seventeen Call of Duty games make up the franchise – excluding the remastered versions for newer platforms. The next instalment – Call of Duty: Vanguard – will be released in November 2021 on all active gaming platforms. Here, we look at five of the most cherished and celebrated titles within the Call of Duty series –

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Release – November 8, 2011)

The Modern Warfare series culminated in 2011 when the third and final instalment of the series came out with a bang. Although it did not surpass the quality of its predecessor titles, Modern Warfare 3 set the tone for what was about to come, rather than what the franchise had already experimented with. Although the campaign was decent with about 6 hours of game time, the multiplayer experience held onto fans until Black Ops II was released later in 2012.

• Call of Duty: World at War (Release – November 9, 2010)

The fifth name in the Call of Duty series returns to the World War setting with a mesmerizing campaign mode that takes one to the Eastern and Western fronts – focusing on events such as the Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Okinawa, and the Battle of Berlin. Treyarch, the game developer, did a fantastic job on the multiplayer front too but it is the diverse and lengthy campaign mode that takes the cake.

5. Call of Duty Original Trilogy (Release – 2003 to 2006)

The original trilogy is a classic that truly set things flowing. With special mention to the sequel and the third title in the series, this is where it all started for Call of Duty. The first part released in 2003 is known by older gamers as the best war game in video games history, followed by the sequel. Although the third party didn’t garner as much acclaim as the previous two games, the series did what no shooter did before – bring the World War setting into play.

4. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Release – November 9, 2010)

The Black Ops series began on a high note and signaled the versatility the Call of Duty franchise had in its arsenal. This is the game when the zombies’ mode first took shape and has stuck on until now. The Cold War theme was extremely well presented with an unforgettable multiplayer experience that is to this day applauded. It set the tone for the series that has seen four instalments, ending with the Black Ops 4 title in 2018.

3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Release – October 25, 2019)

The consoles and PCs of this generation were treated to a flawless rendition of Modern Warfare, although it is not part of the series that was released first more than a decade ago. With exquisite graphics, amazing controls, and a brilliant storyline, Modern Warfare is simply a spectacular standalone title worthy of being one of the best shooter games. It offers a next-gen gaming experience for fans of the series and takes them on a ride as never before.

2. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Release – November 5, 2007)

Many will argue this title to have deserved the first place and it certainly is a close call. It is no secret as to how influential and stunning the first instalment of the Modern Warfare series turned out to be. The brilliant level design is met by an outstanding storyline that is rivalled by a few other shooter games, thanks to the developers’ intention to step out of its World War setting and offer something new to audiences. An unmissable game that stands worthy of being a standalone title but rather sets new standards for a series revered until this day.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Release – November 10, 2009)

Arguably the greatest ever entry in the Call of Duty series emerged in 2009 when Activision brought to life a game that revolutionized the first-person shooter genre with its impeccable campaign, addictive multiplayer, and a variety of playing modes that would engage gamers for over a decade. Just when no one believed the franchise to top its predecessor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, its direct sequel gripped shooter fans like never before. It is a timeless classic not to be missed if you are a fan of first-person shooters.

As one of the top-selling franchises in the world, Call of Duty is a popular esports venture for many gamers out there. Operated by Activision Blizzard, the Call of Duty World League (CDL) is a franchised competition for professional players, which is available to bet on at most sports bookmakers. For example, Asiabet.org has compiled a list of Call of Duty esports betting tips, a place where a wealth of information and strategies on betting markets and odds can be found.

The franchise has grown leaps and bounds since first coming into the picture about two decades ago. Call of Duty is rightly one of the torchbearers of the gaming industry and the action genre.

It’s not uncommon to see a game with a huge focus on microtransactions, after all that is now what many games strive toward by offering a title for either a lower cost or free and padding the rest of the expense with cosmetic microtransactions that impact the way you look to other players, but some take it a little further than that. There are games you’d expect to come with consistent payment requirements like these casino options at the best casinos but expecting the same from a new game focussed on a younger audience is a different matter entirely.

The game is a multiplayer online battle arena styled game, much like popular esports titles League of Legends and DotA2, but with the style and theme it is certainly aimed towards a much younger player base. These genres typically do have a number of different monetisation strategies in place, but no more than two or three, and usually are either cosmetics, battle pass systems, gacha pulls (like a slot machine), character purchases (very standard), or gameplay boosting items. Rather than just having a combination of a couple, Unite features all of these options.

Currently the progression system to unlock characters is considered very slow taking months to unlock a single playable character, making it almost necessary to purchase with a real transaction instead, and will become particularly troublesome if the developers decide to release more characters at a later date. The gameplay boosting items are a problem too, pay-to-win is a method some games use to encourage what are known as whales to spend big, and with systems that encourage you to spend more for stat boosts it could lead to a younger more pliable audience making big deposits in order to gain stat boosts that give a very real advantage in game.

It isn’t so much a problem with this singular title however, as it has become a standard practice across all gaming and something that is growing in concern as there are often big paywalls that prevent certain players from reaching a certain level within the game – items or systems that are tied behind long gameplay is one thing, but with huge benefits only being available to those willing to spend a huge amount of money is another thing entirely. Over time these features will likely start to change and either become better or worse, but there are many warnings starting to appear for players particularly at risk to avoid the title until changes are made and made a little more sustainable, but more often than not money will talk and those who have already spent considerably on the game will continue to push the game forward, even with predatory monetisation techniques.

It’s often asked what’s the best way to end a basketball season, and there are quite a few opinions out there. Some live for the NBA playoffs, while others prefer March Madness. You even have those who ignore the real game and instead prefer to play the likes of NBA2K19. For us, it’s all about the college game and March Madness.

So what can we expect this year? Well, the answer to that is to expect anything. It really is one of those seasons when anything can happen and that’s why there’s so much excitement around this year’s finals. It also makes it one of the most interesting NCAA tournament for those who like a little wager on the game.

Of course, while betting on the NBA is a thing, the NCAA is new ground for some. Even so, it’s one of the busiest periods of the year for sportsbooks, as fans bet on who will be the next shining light to make the step up to the NBA.

This year we’re likely to see Baylor as the overall top seed, while the Bears are running them pretty close, as are San Diego State.

Interestingly, neither San Diego nor Baylor have ever been No.1 seed, so this throws up all kinds of questions. Can they handle the pressure? Will the weight of expectation be too much for them? It’s too early to call a winner or even who will progress beyond the first game, but it sure will be a great tournament to watch with several teams in incredible form.

As for players, there are a few individuals worth keeping an eye on even if their teams don’t go too deep in the tournament. James Wiseman of Memphis is expected to be the top-ranked prospect when it comes to the NBA draft. Cole Anthony of the Tar Heels and Isaiah Stewart of the Huskies are also exciting players to watch and could pull their teams through single-handedly!

But you know what? We could sit here and analyze the hell out of player stats and team form, but that’s not what this tournament is all about. It’s called March Madness for a reason, and the excitement that builds up around the tournament is like nothing else you’ll experience. So grab your popcorn and sodas, and settle in for a wild few weeks of incredible basketball and a few surprises. Pure entertainment at its very best. 

One would be hard pressed nowadays to find a game that doesn’t offer the player some degree of online functionality. With big budget, triple-A releases being developed with online in mind, taking advantage of the large, cult like followings that online games garner, more and more money is being spent on an aspect that was once an afterthought. Online gaming, however; thanks to the competitive nature of human beings; has spawned a thriving community of competitions, championships and tournaments, played on a variety of titles. With these competitions on the upswing, we mulled over why exactly gaming competitions have gotten so big.

It’s not just competitive spirit and cyberspace self-worth that has spawned tournaments, however. The Call of Duty World Championships, held this spring, had a total prize pool of $1,000,000, and in 2011, the Battlefield 3 Worldwide Conquest Tournament had a prize of $1,600,000; quite the prize for what is, to the untrained observer, playing a computer game. With this much on offer, players that thought they were good at the game whilst playing for fun are enticed to take it that step further. Meanwhile, with such big prizes on the line, publicity is generated and game copies are sold; the benefits are shared by consumer, publisher and developer.

Online gaming doesn’t have to be a high-definition, bullet-ridden endeavour, however. Take online casino mobile providers. These companies have been enjoying enormous growth of recent, thanks in part to the lifting of the taboo of gambling across society and the rise in mobile gaming apps. Casino games obviously lend themselves to tournaments, and as such competitions are regularly held, testing the competitors’ mettle across a variety of games; blackjack, roulette, poker, to name but a few; as huge prizes hang in the balance. These competitions are so popular that continent-wide and worldwide competitions are regularly held, satisfying the competitive desires of many whilst simultaneously making many individuals rather wealthy!

 

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Turtle Beach is a brand that’s long been in the headset game, and they have had their fair share of competition. The Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament headset, as its name suggests, targets gamers who aim to play at a professional level. This Headset is uses a strong frame of metal, that encompasses most of the headset. Though the usual areas still have other parts such as the ear cup covers. But overall at first glance it seems to be a headset meant to survive consistent use.

A feature that I truly appreciated was the ability to pop off the ear cushions and with the flip of a switch cause an indent in them that’s designed to allow glasses to be worn comfortably with the headset. This actually removed pressure, where other headsets would create after long use. During gaming the headset sounds great at any rate, personally I would have like some more on the low ends but with its design offering impressive noise cancelling that helps to make its output more impressive. And the clarity of the mic paired with the TAC create clear precise audio for you and your team.

The Elite package comes with the Tactical Audio Controller (TAC) which adds even more options by using a Powered mixer. The TAC headset offers simulated 7.1 surround sound through 16 surround sound presets. If you’re an upcoming eSports star, the Elite Pro headset is slowing making its way up to the standard for audio. Now the Price tag is on the high end but a lower price would mean losing out on features. Final verdict is that with a little lower price it could be the Must-Have for the year.

 

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Since the advent of online gaming, the industry has changed immeasurably. While it was once the case that “gaming” meant arcade style games you’d play in an entertainment venue or a console game, the term is now used to denote a variety of genres.

From mobile simulators and online casino games to virtual reality products, the gaming industry is now awash with options and that can make choosing the right game for you a tough task. Fortunately, as is often the way on the Internet, there’s a plethora of sites, services and apps out there that will help you find the best game for.

Read the Word of Others

“Caught Reading” (CC BY 2.0) by  Jayel Aheram 

One of most effective ways to get a handle on the gaming market is to use a comparison site. Much like the ones you’d see in the insurance or travel industry, casino comparison sites not only provide reviews and ratings but direct links to the top operators in the industry.

For example, if you’re looking for a high quality online casino in Canada then a site such as Bonus.ca is your best bet.  When you’re searching for a place where money is a big part of your gaming experience it pays to listen to the words of others as it literally won’t cost you anything.

Indeed, when take a look at what sort of bonus offers you can pick up as a Canadian casino gamer by using a site such as Bonus.ca, you’re effectively using the collective experience of thousands to help you might the right choice.

Watch the Action Live

“Twitch.TV offices” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  docpop 

Another way to check out the top games in the industry is to head over to Twitch. The streaming service has long been the home of the world’s top gamers and through their streams you can learn about the finer points of the latest PC and console games on the market.

Whether you’re a World of Warcraft wannabe or curious about Call of Duty, Twitch streamers will give you real-time insights into the latest games on the market so you can find your favourites with ease.

Play for Free

“Free Button” (CC BY 2.0) by  GotCredit 

The final way to find your perfect game without having to spend money is to play for free. When you search through the any app store you’ll now find that most of the leading games can be played for free.

Using the “freemium” model, app developers are now encouraging people to try their main features of their games for free before committing to them financially.

Of course, you can continue to play many of these games for free, but their structure is designed to make you purchase add-ons and credits. However, if you use this dynamic to explore the options available in the mobile world, then you’ll be able to find what you want without wasting money unnecessarily.

The gaming world is booming and that means you can now entertain yourself in a myriad of ways. Whether it’s gaming on the move, betting online or battling in a virtual world via your PC, there’s now more choice than ever and the best way to find what you’re looking for is to read, watch and play.

 

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“The Best of the Worst of the Great Outdoors”

NEW BERLIN, WI (July 3, 2014) – Illusionist and magician Penn Jillette is teaming with Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor television for American sportsmen and women, for the launch of the network’s newest original program Camp Stew,exclusively premiering on Thursday, July 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Camp Stew – a reference to a favorite hunters’ dish comprised of a mishmash of ingredients including ground beef, chicken, pork, beans, corn, tomatoes and other additions – on Sportsman Channel will comprise of a variety of clips from all facets of the outdoor lifestyle. The new and exciting 10-episode program will showcase some of the craziest outdoor videos ever recorded, with Penn adding his unique brand of commentary to these incredible clips. Each 30-minute episode will feature host commentary from Penn Jillette in front of clips of some of the wildest adventures ever caught on tape.

Clips will include footage involving “Girls and Guns,” “Backyard Rambos,” “Wild Hunts and Cold Outdoors,” “Outdoor Pranks,” “Unreal Shots,” and many more scenes that will elicit a smile, offer a grimace, and even educate. Camp Stew is the third show produced in conjunction with Sportsman Channel and Pilgrim Studios. Executive Producers are Craig Piligian, Jake Shelton and Brett Boydstun.

“A series never tasted so good.  This show will entertain and engage viewers with the sometimes amazing and sometimes humorous side of the outdoor lifestyle,” said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming and production for Sportsman Channel. “Having Penn Jillette as the host of Camp Stew is magic!”

“I’m happy to be a part of the Sportsman Channel family,” added Jillette, a noted firearms enthusiast and second amendment advocate. “I’m way excited to host Camp Stew, a show about serious outdoor fails. No camera tricks, no magic, just plain funny real-life wackiness in the great outdoors.”

Additionally, Sportsman Channel has engaged John Deere in a significant partnership for the duration of Camp Stew. John Deereis one of the biggest and most respected brands in the world and will provide a presence in Camp Stew throughout the third quarter.

Sportsman Channel is a part of the nation’s largest multimedia company targeting and created exclusively to serve the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Sportsman Channel is dedicated to providing the most entertaining and informative hunting, shooting and fishing multimedia content while also promoting conservation and the tradition of the sportsman lifestyle.

Join the Twitter conversation @SPORTSMANchnl and let your voice be heard by using #CampStewTV.

About Pilgrim Studios: Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Studios produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted programming for television, including hit series Fast N’ Loud, Street Outlaws and #BikerLive for Discovery; Ghost Hunters and The Wil Wheaton Project for Syfy; The Ultimate Fighter for FOX Sports 1; Down East Dickering for History; Orange County Choppers and Swamp Pawn for CMT; Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s and Raising Whitley for OWN (Pilgrim also produced the eight-part documentary Lindsayfor the network); David Tutera: Unveiled for WEtv; Wicked Tuna and its new spin-off, Wicked Tuna: North vs. South, for National Geographic Channel; and Bring It! for Lifetime. In the scripted realm, Pilgrim’s original movies for Lifetime include Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy; Abducted: The Carlina White Story, which earned a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing In A Motion Picture; and the crime thriller Stalkers.  Among Pilgrim’s current scripted projects is the pilot Recovery Road for ABC Family, starring Samantha Logan.

About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman HD is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to honoring a lifestyle that is celebrated by millions of Americans. The leader in outdoor television, Sportsman Channel delivers entertaining and informative programming that embraces outdoor adventure, hunting and fishing, and reveals it through unique, surprising and authentic storytelling. Sportsman Channel embraces the attitude of  “Red, Wild & Blue America” – where the American Spirit and Great Outdoors are celebrated in equal measure. The network also is dedicated to promoting our nation’s military heroes and veterans, as well as providing a voice for conservation throughout the United States.Sportsman Channel reaches more than 36 million U.S. television households. Stay connected to Sportsman Channel online at www.thesportsmanchannel.com; Facebook, (facebook.com/sportsmanchannel); Twitter (twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl and twitter.com/SportsmanPR) and YouTube (youtube.com/TheSportsmanChannel).

To find Sportsman Channel in your area click here.

Major League Gaming Pro Circuit
Gaylord Palms Hotel
Orlando, FL – October 14-16, 2011

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the Major League Gaming (MLG) event held in Orlando, FL, at the beautiful Gaylord Palms Hotel. The Major League Gaming event is a tournament event that brings hardcore gamers together to compete in tournaments against each other.

MLG was founded in 2002 by Sundance DiGiovann and Mike Sepso, who wanted to bring computer and console game tournaments to a competitive and spectator market. They have partnered with PlayStation and have many sponsors such as Sony Ericsson and Alienware who provide the computers and monitors, and Dr. Pepper and Stride gum who not only sponsor the organization but also provide free samples at the events.

The event it’s self is very well organized, allowing for amateur players to play against already established professional players after competing against each other. The games are displayed on large screens above the players so the audience can watch from a “spectator” perspective. There was a section for “Halo: Reach” for the Xbox 360, “Call of Duty: Black Ops” on PlayStation 3, and “StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty” on the PC. The excitement of the audience was so intense as the competitors get into watching the players competed, clapping and shouting with as much enthusiasm as a rock concert.

Audience members are even allowed the option, for a minimal increase to their attendance fee, to play the games in separate areas on individual computers and console. This allows the opportunity for gamers who have not played the games before to experience them.

I made several attempts to try getting an interview with any of the professional gamers and since they were so busy most of the time playing games I was extremely fortunate to catch a few minutes with each Michael Cavanaugh and Cody “Wethy” Wetherald, who are both on teams sponsored by “QuanTic”.

 

Pro Gamer: Michael Cavanaugh, age 23

Desiree Yates: So Michael, how long have you been with your current team?
Michael Cavanaugh: About 6 years.

DY: When did you first start playing video games as a career?
MC: I started when I was in High School on “Halo 2” then “Halo: Reach”.

DY: From experience I understand there were a lot of major changes from “Halo 2” to “Halo: Reach”, such as the major increase in weapon choices. Do you think maybe the weapon choices has gone a little overboard?
MC: No, I don’t think they went overboard at all. In fact I think they were perfect. I like the new sprint feature and jet pack the most.

DY: So when did you sign on with MLG and can you tell us roughly how much you make playing console games professionally?
MC: I’ve been with MLG since July 2005 and contracted for $250,000 a year.

DY: Wow, impressive! Do you have your own sponsers?
MC: Yeah, RedBull, Apex Esports, partnered with Twitch.tv, and a few others. (National Guard)

DY: So you are here in Orlando, FL right now for this tournament. How do you like Orlando?
MC: I like Orlando because of the sights and activities and I am staying four more days after the competition with my girlfriend.

 

Pro Gamer: Cody “Wethy” Wetherald

Desiree Yates: So Cody, what team are you on and how long have you played on that team?
Cody “Wethy” Wetherald: I’ve been on “QuanTic LeveraGe” team since “Call of Duty: Black Ops” and “Modern Warfare II” and I’ve also been playing “Modern Warfare III”.

DY: So can you tell me a bit about your experience as a professional gamer?
CW: I travel with MLG and love these events. There has been a major increase in sponsorship and turnout (from spectators). This is an industry that is still growing and will never go away, it will keep getting bigger and bigger.

Both Michael Cavanaugh and Cody Wetherald only had so much time before they had to get into another game, but it was obvious by their big smiles and energy they absolutely loved what they do for a living. And who wouldn’t? There are kids and adults of all ages out there that would love a chance to play video games and get paid for it. I know I sure would!

While the games themselves were terrific and the competitions were, well, competitive, I found the announcers though to be rather amateur. They gave off the impression they were probably related to someone to get the position as an announcer. After speaking to a few of the spectators, there seemed to be a somewhat general consensus agreeing with my observation that everyone would appreciate a little more swag, other then the free “Dr. Pepper” drinks and samples of “Warheads” candy and “STRIDE” gum.

Overall I found the event to be a terrific opportunity to experience what the hardcore gamer can do when put to the test. Their reaction times are phenomenal and they clearly know every inch of every map on their specialized games. Having been addicted to “Halo 2” myself, I can definitely understand their drive to want to know everything they can to exploit their opportunity to get just one more win. The sense of achievement even with something as simple as winning a video game is one that gamers have experienced since the early arcade games…where kids would burn through quarter after quarter.

Games today are much easier then they were originally. Just play a game of “Zelda” and you will notice it. But in a sense gamers have not really changed much…we all love the games…we play the ones we love the most several times working out several angles and scenarios on the “RPG” games and continue to strive to kick the heck out of our friends and others. This industry may still be in it’s beginning stages in some ways, but from the location of the event, the increasing sponsors and attendance from spectators…it is obvious this industry will just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Media Mikes had the priveldge to interview some of the cast from the upcoming indie horror film called “Madision County”. The film is directed by Eric England and stars Ace Marrero, Colley Bailey, Adrienne Harrell, Matt Mercer,  Joanna Sotomura and Nick Principe (“Laid to Rest”) with the film’s makeup effects done by Almost Human (“Paranormal Activity 2”, “Devil”).

Ace Marrero

Joanna Sotomura

Synopsis:
“Madison County” is about a group of college kids that travel to a remote, mountain town called Madison County to interview the author of a tell-all book on the accounts of the grisly murders that happened in the town over two decades ago. Upon their arrival, the author is no where to be found and the townspeople state that they’ve “not seen him in years.” They also deny that Damien Ewell, the notorious murderer, ever existed and that the murders never happened. As the kids start to dig around to get their own answers, they come to find that the stories, and Damien, maybe more real than the townspeople are letting on

 

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