Electronic Arts’ (EA) iconic Madden gaming series first took the excitement of the gridiron from stadiums and TV screens into the virtual world in 1988.
Three decades later, Madden is making something close to an end-around play, as match ups between the top-ranked electronic gamers are now regularly being shown by television networks. The hook for viewers? These elite players taking to the digital football field to block, tackle, pass and punt their way to six-figure cash prizes – often at events hosted in arenas with live audiences that number in the thousands.
This activity is known as eSports, and...