The arrival of the World wide web and the increasing focus on multiplayer gaming has pushed
games into areas that previously were dominated by arcades. While some genres are much more suited to the single-player experience, the number of games that are incorporating online multiplayer elements is increasing. As these games flourish, so do the number of gamers who are inclined to see if they're better than everyone else. Competitive gaming doesn't quite have the same level of respect as competitive chess and the like, but it is starting to develop a strong following. In particular, a few select titles stand out from the rest as having very well-developed competitive communities.
The squad-based "League of Legends," which originated from the renowned "Warcraft III" custom map "Defense of the Ancients," is starting to become popular amongst gaming communities. Even if it still has a lot to achieve when compared to its predecessors in markets outside of Europe and the US, it obviously has a lot of potential for future growth. The gameplay's flaws has been fixed, dealing with limitations that were found in the original. Like most games, LoL introduced the creation of clans and it has made its presence known in professional competitive arenas, even overpowering DoTA in most major tournaments.
"Counter-Strike" still holds the title as the most widely popular competitive FPS on the market. It managed to evolve into a bigger hit that the game it was coded on, hence its continuous success in various online games competitions, even outliving other big names such as "Unreal Tournament" and "Quake 3," not to mention an endless list of FPS titles that have been released since. There have been plenty of updates, but the core of the game remains as is. This, according to many, is actually the thing that makes it so engaging to play.
Fans waited for over a decade for the second installment of "StarCraft", and it was well worth it. When "StarCraft II" was released, it replaced the original as the go-to game for strategy players of competitive online games. The end product can be compared to a much more complex and engaging version of chess. Players constantly discover detailed strategies for the game itself and in the meta-game.
"Street Fighter IV" is an excellent bet for online games that go one-on-one. The long-overdue addition is an improved version of its predecessor. It brings back the appeal of the classic cast of "Street Fighter II", while sticking to the roots of strategic combat of the original series.
