ESPORTS L2 U1 - Master

ESPORTS

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

STARTER ACTIVITY

✅ Find classmates who match each box on your bingo sheet. 🗣 Ask them a question to check if they match (e.g. “Have you watched an esports tournament?”). ✍️ If they match, write their name in the box. 🧍 Only one name per box - no repeats! 🕒 First to complete a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) shouts “BINGO!” 🤔 Be honest, have fun, and talk to new people!

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

LET'S CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

Question: What's the difference between a competitive game and an esport? Join the new Discord server for MidKent College https://discord.gg/dyQPfSuM

1. Right click your name on the right side
2. Edit Server Profiile
3. Change your name to your name as it appears on the MidKent College System, followed by your gamertag.

Example: Ziggy Orzeszek | nvc

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

LEARNING INTENTIONS

• Gain an understanding of both the content and requirements of Unit 1
• Identify and describe a number of esports genres and games, in addition to why you think some of them are successful

• Determine who is the fastest student in the classroom

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

UNIT 1 OVERVIEW

Learning Aims

• Investigate different genres of esports games

• Explore different professional esports teams​

• Examine esports tournaments and leagues​

A B C

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

WHAT'S INVOLVED

This unit comprises of two assignments.​ The first will have you research and evaluate the different games and genres that exist in esports and why they are successful (or not)?​ The second will have you research and evaluate a number of esports teams, using examples of tournaments to justify their successes. We will concentrate on different sections in different weeks and, to start, you will look at the different genre of games used in Esports.​ ​

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

FIRST: GRASSROOTS

The Oxford dictionary gives a very simple definition for grassroots: It’s ordinary people in society or in an organization. What does the term “grassroots” mean in relation to esports? Spend some time researching this topic and collecting some bullet points to describe what it is and why it’s important.

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

WHAT ARE ESPORTS?

Esports is a term to describe competitive video gaming. Like traditional sports, it usually has an engaging spectator element and is often incentivised with rewards for placing well. Similar to traditional sports, esports as an industry has players, coaches, teams, tournaments, broadcasts, regulatory bodies, national and government departments. Esports is global, even featured as part of the Olympics (with an asterisk that we'll explore later)! Focusing on grassroots is crucial for esports because most fans start as players, meaning a healthy player base directly fuels viewership, community growth, and long-term sustainability. Strong grassroots ecosystems also nurture future talent and create deeper loyalty between players, fans, and the game itself. The main difference to most traditional sports, beyond virtual versus physical, is that the games played by esports professionals are constantly changing and evolving. What do you think we mean by constantly changing and evolving?

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

Changing and evolving: Constant updates keep games balanced and competitive - and often mean more money for the companies making them!

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

That's not to say traditional sport doesn't change or evolve, it just happens at a much slower rate.

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

THE GAMES AND GENRES OF ESPORTS

Esports would not exist without game developers and publishers. Games are grouped into different genres. Just like films or TV shows can be classed as action, comedy, or drama, games are placed into categories that describe their style of play. For example, Valorant is a First Person Shooter, while Fortnite is a Battle Royale. These genres help us understand the type of game and how it is played. Some of the individual skills needed include reflexes, decision making and strategy, whilst team skills include communication, teamwork and leadership. We categorize these skills into "micro" and "macro", but more on that later!

INTRODUCTION TO ESPORTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

Whilst watching: Think about all the jobs being done on and off camera, and how easy it is for audiences to understand the game!

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

LESSON 2

Under 140 ms – Superhuman / Suspect

• Often indicates hardware-assisted input, or luck.

140–170 ms – Professional Tier

• Typical for former or current professional FPS players.
• Reflects high-level hand-eye coordination and near-instant stimulus processing. Sustained performance in this range is an indicator of elite-level gameplay reflexes.

170–190 ms – Competitive Gamer

• Common among serious gamers or aim training enthusiasts.
• Shows quick reaction with good consistency. Strong enough for fast-paced shooters and high-level play.

190–220 ms – Gamer Average

• Solid range for casual to regular gamers.
• May show occasional delay under pressure but capable of competitive response speed.

220–250 ms – General Population Average adult response time

• Normal for people without gaming experience or regular reaction training.

250+ ms – Slower Range

• May indicate age-related slowing, lack of sleep/focus, or unfamiliarity with the test.
• Often seen in non-gamers or individuals new to digital interfaces.

INDIVIDUAL TASK

Today I want to find out how fast you are! Reaction time is just one part of high-level gameplay. Prediction, positioning and decision-making are equally important!

Note: Mouse polling rate (Hz), click latency, and monitor refresh rate (e.g. 60Hz vs 240Hz) can significantly affect test results. Try it at home and see how you compare!

ESPORTS GAMES, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS

ESPORTS

LESSON 1

GROUP TASK

Work in teams of 4 to explore the world of competitive games and esports titles.

1. List 4-6 major esports genres (e.g. FPS, MOBA, Sports Sim) across the top of your flip chart paper.
2. Add as many competitive or esports games as you can under each genre heading.
3. If you can remember the games' developer, add that too.
4. Stretch Goal - Add extra insight next to selected games:
• What Platform's can you play on (PC, console, mobile)?
• How is it played competitively? How do you win?

• What is the Age rating?
• Is it Free-to-Play?
• How easy or difficult is it to watch?
• What do you think makes it successful?

🔁 Prefer a different layout? Feel free to use a spider diagram or another method if it helps your group organise better.