Rocket League and the Fantastic Concept of Sports Games

Ages ago, when it seemed slightly relevant, I scribbled down some thoughts on E-Sports, and their growing popularity. I say 'growing' when 'exploding' was probably a more apt term. The resulting piece was essentially a quick look at StarCraft in South Korea, and how it was utterly ingrained in the culture of the country. Apart from your average, relatively popular E-Sports such as LoL, DoTA 2 and the aforementioned StarCraft, there seemed to be few games which could actually maintain a solid competitive community. Even if a game had a thriving E-Sports scene, they had an incredibly high barrier to entry, (understandably, of course).

Even games which were focused on a future of competitive play, like ShootMania Storm have somewhat vanished into thin air, and games focused on groundbreaking accessibility such as Smite are still part of the traditional MOBA genre, and are subsequently avoided by casual players. I've thought for quite a while, that an ideal E-Sports title, one which is easily understandable, fun to both play and watch, would have to be based around something really simple; something like a sports game. Enter Rocket League.

By basing itself on a familiar sport, Rocket League has instantly made itself recognisable and understandable. It's far from an actual sports game, like FIFA or NBA 2K, but it doesn't need to be. Unlike some MOBAs, in which the rules or objectives aren't crystal clear, it takes very little patience or understanding to know that a giant ball should be placed in an opposing goal. Granted, it isn't shaping a unique identity for E-Sports by borrowing from physical variants, but it makes the rules evident, the gameplay familiar, and the matches fun. Gloss over the lack of credibility offered to games by real-world sports, and you can make an experience which everyone and their elderly relatives can enjoy. 

Skilled players are certainly present in Rocket League, just as they are in Heroes of the Storm or Smite. However, the diversity within the player-base of Rocket League is much, much greater. For example, see exhibit A below:

And then note the improvement after a few hours of gameplay:

This self-sufficient cycle of interest is something which traditional MOBAs seem to be lacking: new players get the game due to its simple rules and enjoyable gameplay, play with other new players, and eventually move up the ranks after witnessing some different play-styles and tactics in the game itself. Elements of this are a part of MOBAs, but in a game like Rocket League, it's wonderfully simple to understand, and woefully hard to master. You go from boosting around the pitch, merely attempting to hit the ball, to scoring with beautifully timed mid-air touches.

This kind of familiar gameplay has created an almost immediate interest from the E-Sports community. Take a look at this game between Cosmic Aftershock and Kings of Urban, in the grand final of a MLG tournament, and bare witness to the possibilities of such a relatively simple game. Take football, (not soccer), give it cars, some boost and the ability to defy gravity and drive up walls, and you've got a cracking game, and a cracking E-Sport.

Given that the game, and the competition surrounding it, was still in its infancy, you can surely forgive the presentation, but a look at the core mechanics and the utterly fantastic finish will surely convince you somewhat, that Rocket League may just bring E-Sports to the masses in all of its spontaneous and explosive glory.

With many games focusing on E-Sports as a pre-release strategy, I'm still surprised that they still remain missing from TV. Of course, they have a home, and an immense following online, but will the concept gain true legitimacy until it has made its way onto the screens of family living rooms?

Honestly, no; many, many E-Sports have already gained followings and viewing figures equivalent, or better than, many American TV networks. In a future which seems to be happily hosting the rise of gaming, E-Sports are simply the next logical step, hence why Rocket League has my praise for creating a simple and enjoyable stepping stone to more traditional forms of virtual competition. 

Just as you need a bat and ball to partake in cricket, all you need now to enter the E-Sports scene is a PC or console, and an internet connection. And in 2015, who hasn't?