Before the term eSports was coined, the competitive video game scene rarely left the confines of individual living rooms and arcades. Some companies hosted nation-wide video game competitions, but these events were handled as marketing and PR stunts and their legacies have been mostly forgotten. Join 2015 Nintendo World Championship finalist Chris Bidwell on a trip through the history of these proto-eSports events, and learn about the impact these championships had on modern eSports and the gaming industry at large.