Video game competition: simulators are becoming part of esports
A farming simulator has launched its own esports competition with a €250,000 prize pool for the winners.
Video game competitions – esports – continue their commercial and cultural expansion, particularly in recent years through the creation of dedicated esports teams.
While some iconic video games were designed to benefit a community of players and spectators for tournament organization, more original titles are also beginning to integrate into esports. This is the case with Farming Simulator.
A farming simulation game, this franchise boasts a considerable community; the 2019 edition has already attracted over one million players after just one month on the market.
This considerable and consistent figure across all titles in the franchise places Farming Simulator among the few games eligible for competitive organization.
In fact, only video games with a large community can integrate into the esports business model.
Farming Simulator: E-sports is in the meadow
Following an initial experiment in 2018 called “Farming Simulator Championship,” Giants Software, the game’s publisher, announced on January 23rd the creation of a professional competitive league offering a total prize pool of €250,000 to the winning teams.
Ten tournaments will be organized across Europe, notably at Gamescom and Paris Games Week. Partnerships with computer equipment manufacturers—Logitech and Intel—and a new version of the game will be released to promote the league.
One of the publisher’s objectives is to attract a new audience to the esports community, which represented a market of $906 million in 2018, shared between sponsorship investments, advertising, and broadcasting rights.
Gameplay and the construction of esports competition
The creation of the first esports competition for Farming Simulator came about unexpectedly.
While Farming Simulator has traditionally focused on multiplayer titles like Counter-Strike, Fortnite, and League of Legends, it has gradually met all the criteria required to be considered an esports title.
Indeed, it has benefited from a large and stable player community for about ten years.
Furthermore, the game’s gameplay has been adapted for competitive play.
While Farming Simulator focuses on managing a farm, earning money, and investing that money in equipment for more efficient farm maintenance, Farming Simulator League pits teams of players against each other in completing specific tasks and objectives.
In both formats, the games involve two teams of three players.
Generally, Farming Simulator League revolves around completing a specific task, such as hay harvesting. The two teams work together to clear their field, gather their hay, and store it.
Some events have adopted a racing approach, while others have used a points system.
While simulation games are generally meant to be realistic, Farming Simulator League blends elements of the main game by adding features like air-powered boosts.
The Farming Simulator League adopts a standard esports circuit approach. Teams earn points through a series of events to qualify for larger events, the most important of which is the annual Farming Simulator League World Championship.
Who are the Farming Simulator esports players?
Farming Simulator esports occupies a unique space, somewhat separate from the rest of the esports world.
While Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, and other titles each have teams of players within a meme club, none of these invest in Farming Simulator esports competitions.
The vast majority of top teams are sponsored by agricultural equipment companies such as John Deere Gaming and BEDNAR Team.
In terms of players, the vast majority of top Farming Simulator esports competitors come from Germany.
Six of the top eight teams in the 2020 Farming Simulator League World Championship were composed entirely of German players.
