Electronic sports, or “eSports,” a competitive play of video games, have been on the rise in recent years.

eSports events have received millions of views from around the world through the Internet, while live tournaments bring thousands to convention centers to see their favorite players, teams, and most importantly, the games themselves. The atmosphere of live events can match that of a traditional sport like football or baseball. Fans cheer on their favorites teams and players while tensely watching the match unfold before their eyes.

What might a match include? There are competitive strategy games where professional players go head to head against one another commanding armies with the intent of destroying their foe’s base. In other games, teams of professional players battle one another, either through modern weaponry, like the game Counter-Strike, or through outlandish characters and magic, as seen in League of Legends. Not only are competitive games popular, but they are also lucrative.

The prize pools for some of the largest tournaments can reach millions of dollars. “The International,” a tournament featuring the game Dota 2 currently has a prize pool around 2.8 million dollars. Professional players and teams have big name sponsors behind them. Companies such as Asus and Razer sponsor eSports teams, allowing them to pay players salaries and host more tournaments. In recent years the eSports scene has become more popular than ever before.

International events allow more people to experience the exciting nature of eSports. Countries such as South Korea and Sweden broadcast competitive gaming on national television. There are even higher education courses in South Korea where one can receive degrees in competitive gaming.

Larger events are executed with the same level of quality as NFL matches. There are play by play commentators alongside analysts speaking over the matches and describing the action going on, while trained cameramen direct live footage. Broadcasters have extensive knowledge of the specific game that they are commentating on; they’ll go into detail about a player’s performance and provide analysis about the current play.

Of course, there always will be drama with professional players. Gossip and rumors spread throughout the internet, and fans argue on their favorite teams just as Yankees or Red Sox fans would. While perhaps not as physically intense as more traditional sports, the dedicated players of eSports are both entertainers and professionals.

The phenomenon behind the rise of eSports is something that anyone with an interest in video games should look into. From fighting to strategy games, there is always something for everyone to enjoy.