Esper
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The term and concept esper has existed in the field of parapsychology, and in the mainstream of science fiction, for some time, since the 1940s at least. Properly used, the term refers to an individual born capable of using telepathy and similar paranormal mental abilities; it apparently derives from extra-sensory perception ("ESP") via the English occupational suffix, thus being literally "ESP-er" with different capitalization.
Science fiction and espers
The concept of the esper appears often in science fiction, much less often in fantasy, and is actually used by name much less frequently than it is referred to. Especially salient appearances of psychic abilities, although never attended by the usual name for them, are in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, especially Second Foundation, where psychological research turns up a means of direct mental contact between humans which was lost with the development of language; in George Lucas' Star Wars films, where The Force, theological explanations to the contrary notwithstanding, is essentially esperism plus telekinesis (Jedi could practically be called a religious order of espers); and in Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear, which although not science fiction in a strict sense does contain the same view of the mental processes as Asimov described in the Foundation novels.
In fact, the idea of esperism is fairly common in all science fiction, almost certainly due to the high reverence in which Isaac Asimov was held by most other science-fiction authors. Even Lucas may well have derived the concept of paranormal abilities of this particular sort from Asimov, given that the concepts of a Galactic Empire, massive planet-smashing warships, a cityscape planet as the capital of the galaxy, and nobility and an agrarian economy in the distant future first appeared in major science fiction because of Asimov.
Esper in games
Esperism has appeared sporadically in science-fiction games from fairly early on, more often given its actual name in these than in most other SF sources. One especially remarkable case is the Avalon Hill board game (later adapted to computer systems) Star Command, in which characters formally called Espers are available as support troops in infantry squads, and have abilities more or less matching the psychological theories of what an esper would be capable of.
However, in certain circles, the word Esper is most familiar via the Square Co., Ltd. Super Famicom console role-playing game Final Fantasy VI (originally released as Final Fantasy III in North America), in which beings called "Espers" are essentially demigods who wield Dungeons and Dragons-esque magical abilities, and can be killed to allow these abilities to be transferred to others. Although weak, ubiquitous magical beings exist in Japanese folklore and mythology (kitsune, for example), there are no analogous beings in European myth or the English language; thus, the English translator of the game, Ted Woolsey, picked the closest word he could find, and that word happened to be "Esper." For more information regarding Espers in Final Fantasy VI, see Summon magic (Final Fantasy).