HONG KONG — As fighting raged across the battlefield in a video game called Arena of Valor, the announcers could barely contain their enthusiasm. “That is going to be two kills for team Thailand!” said Caro Wang, an announcer who was calling a video game competition this week at the Asian Games in Indonesia. “Make that three, actually.”“Chinese Taipei counter-engaging!” added her fellow announcer, Jeff Chau, after a virtual character in a red cape shot an opponent with a bazooka-like gun. “Getting the kill, getting the snare.”Competitive video gaming is an exhibition sport this week at the Asian Games — perhaps the largest international exposure yet for an e-sports industry that is said to be worth nearly $1 billion. “E-sports” are scheduled to be upgraded to the status of a medal event at the next Asian Games, in 2022, and the International Olympic Committee has said it will consider eventually adding them to the Olympics.

Source: New York Times August 30, 2018 17:53 UTC