This book studies the full history of competitive gaming from the 1970s to the 2010s against the background of the arrival of the electronic and computer age, and explores the role of competitive gaming in the development of the video game industry.

Lu Zhouxiang is an Associate Professor within the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland.

1. Introduction / 2. The Early Years / 3. The Golden Age / 4. From PvC to PvP / 5. The Esports Age / 6. Conclusion