201004

In this Issue:

Although games became more and more popular in Switzerland, over the past years,

there still are a lot of prejudices towards them. Specially Action games like Counter-

Strike, Quake etc. suffer from a lack of understanding. Surprisingly these prejudices

aren’t that strong within the population itself, but rather on the political level. The

political class in Switzerland consists of a large majority who don’t know much about

new medias and especially about games.

Last year, a member of the National Council filed a political motion to “prohibit killer

games” by law on a national level. The group she’s been representing argued with the

“fact” that videogames with violent content have a proven influence on young people

as well on grown-ups. Such a motion can be filed by any member of the parliament

(the parliament is elected by the public) and has to be voted on. In September 2009, the

large chamber of the Swiss parliament, accepted the motion. The media, industry and

the whole gaming community was really surprised by that decision. No one took this

motion really serious.

As a second step, the smaller part of the Parliament had to decide on this law, for it to

pass to the Federal Assembly. Still being under shock from the first step, the motion

Switzerland

Tough times for games

in Switzerland …

By Dario Salice


IeSF meets Norwegian delegation

MSSA’s support for school

eSports activity in Austria

Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League

e -Sports referee of KeSPA

What’s new?

People of this month

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pass to the Federal Assembly. Still being under shock from the first step, the motion

made in September 2009, no one wanted to have anything undone to prevent it for

proceed to the Federal Assembly.

The Swiss e-sports Federation (SESF) initiated an alliance together with political

parties (young socialists and the Swiss pirate party) and many organizations from the

gaming- and e-sports-community to run a petition to send a message, that this motion is

not the right way to go. With this petition, the alliance achieved a good echo from the

medias as well as from some politicians. In addition to the alliance, other government

funded organizations as well as all young-parties (from left to right) brought a clear

message against this motion and for as constructive association with video games.

On the 18th of March 2010 the smaller chamber of the Parliament decided to pass this

motion to the Federal Assembly. In spite of all the messages from the public, the

medias and political young parties, they accepted to motion to work on a law, which

should prohibit “games with violent content”.

Due to the Swiss system, motions accepted by the two chambers of the parliament

aren’t valid instantly. The Federal Assembly first has to elaborate a proposal, which

then has to pass both chambers of the parliament until it gets approved as a national

law. After a law is passed from the parliament, there still is the chance to file a

referendum against it, which has to be signed by 50’000 Swiss people within 100 days.

If this is achieved and counted as valid, the law will be made available for a public

vote, where all Swiss voters can decide on it. Since the people are considered as the

highest authority in Switzerland, this would be a binding decision.

Due to the following steps, which still have to get passed until such a law would be

approved in Switzerland, there are some good chances, that the alliance and other

organization will be declined or reduced to an acceptable level. But it also means, that

a lot of work, energy and resources will be needed to get to this goal.

*After reviewing this situation together with IeSF members, Oh Won Suk,

secretary-general of IeSF, decided to take an action on this issue by sending

official letter or arranging a meeting with the Swiss government.

In this Issue:







What’s new?


Norway

On 15 March, IeSF was invited to Norway delegation meeting at Somerset Hotel

during their visit in South Korea. Oh Won Suk, secretary-general of IeSF had a

presentation to explain the deputation of IeSF vision and goal. They showed their

interests in IeSF and would keep having a good relationship with IeSF in the future.

IeSF achieved good results through the meeting, opening new door to Scandinavian

countries not only Norway but Sweden. IeSF was also invited to the residence of

Norwegian ambassador the following day, having a private meeting with Norwegian

ambassador, game publishers, association official and so on. ‘SnowCastle’ which plans

to establish Norwegian e-Sports association does necessary steps to be an IeSF

member at the moment.

IeSF meets Norwegian delegationBy Hei-Eun, Kim

Chinese Taipei

The Biggest Scale,

the Longest Game Season and

the Highest Prize in Taiwan

By Ellie

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For promoting E-Sport all over in Taiwan and establishing a completed E-Sport syste

m, Taiwan eSports League (TeSL) has been holding an amateur game with the biggest

scale, the longest game season and the highest prize since March 2010.

“Professional eSport Super League” held by TeSL and broadcast by ESPN has

received impressive TV rating and numerous response from gamers. With the belief of

a perfect E-Sport gaming system requiring both amateur and professional games, TeSL

will be holding “Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League” by touring Taiwan and using

integration so all amateur E-Sport players can be improved and developed by attending

leagues.

Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League will be divided into Spring and Fall games and be

on tour in the Northern, Middle and Southern Taiwan from March to November 2010.

Currently the confirmed touring games are Crazy Racing, SF Online, and Counter

Strike On-line which are held at 7pm every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in

Taipei, Taichung, and Kauhsiung. Each game has up to 36 rounds and prize of US7,000

dollars for each round.

By Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League, TeSL hopes to prepare the rule of three levels as

baseball or basketball games and contribute the accomplishment for those players

interested in E-Sport so it can develop more potential players. Hence, a completed

E-Sport environment is created and getting better.

If you want to read full text, please visit IeSF website www.ie-sf.com

(e-players at the Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League )

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), one of the IeSF members, is continuing with its

development of gaming at underprivileged schools in South Africa. The latest school to

so benefit from this program is Sefikeng Primary School that is situated to the north of

Johannesburg.

The children are encouraged to participate in both boardgames, such as the every

popular game of Morabaraba, and eSports. It is hoped that through these very programs

that players will become proficient in gaming. Through such proficiency, players can

earn provincial and national colours and hopefully obtain bursaries to study further at

MSSA supports

underprivileged schoolSouth Africa

(Students of Sedikeng Primary School with MSSA)

By Colin Webster

In this Issue:







What’s new?


earn provincial and national colours and hopefully obtain bursaries to study further at

university.

By Andie Katschthaler

Austria

eSports and gaming activities

in Austria

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In March 2010 the Austrian eSport Association (esvoe) was working on two major

eSports events.

One was the so-called Fernwärme eSports Soccer Cup, now in its third year. The

Soccer Cup is an eSport event tailored to Vienna’s energy provider “Fernwärme Wien”.

Like the name says it focuses mainly on a soccer game, FIFA 10, but participants could

also try their hand at the racing game Forza Motorsport 3 and Virtua Tennis 2009. The

tournament takes place over two days and is especially amateur-friendly because

player can choose to partake right there on-site, play the qualifications and try to make

it to the final games. In 2010 more than 300 people came to take part in and to see the

Soccer Cup.

The second event the esvoe was involved in was a cultural-scientific-esports

crossover event taking place in St. Pölten in Lower Austria – CyberLab 2010. Purpose

of the event was to examine the human element in the human-machine-computer

triangle. The academic part of the event was a symposium, the cultural part an art lab,

and the eSports part in which esvoe was highly involved was a huge LAN-party. About

200 gamers and gaming-interested people took part in the LAN-party.

e-Sport referee of KeSPASouth Korea

By Hei-Eun, Kim

Size and Composition

There are 24 e-Sports referees in South Korea. The referee is divided into three classes

based on experience and education. For example, the first class referees have at least

over 3 years career. Second class has 1 or 2 years. Anyone whose age over nineteen

can apply third class referees.

Difficulties

e-Sports referees struggle with problems arise from vague rules, lack of discretionary

power of referee itself, furious audience. There have been many disputes over

‘discretionary authority of referee’ but the problems are somehow solved.

International referees

When people hear the term ‘e-Sports referee’, it stimulates

people’s curiosity. To gratify the curiosity, IeSF seek Chang

Suk Jun, a first class referee of KeSPA (the Korean e-Sport

Association) and ask few questions.

Differences of e-Sports referee

“e-Sports referees are fairly similar to other sports referees

except they supervise matches in the electronic environment”

referee Chang said. Also he added that e-sports referees are

responsible for all of matches refereeing, recording,

broadcasting and etc unlike general sports referees who only

adjudicate matches. (Referee, Chang Suk Jun)

In this Issue:







What’s new?


International referees

It is a dream of every referee to be international referee. KeSPA also has vision of

fostering a leading role of referee, in compliance with IeSF’s constitution and policy,

so that it organizes a language program for global communication . Also it encourages

referee to study various games beloved by e-players, users around world to make them

to adjust unfamiliar games.

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What’s News?

Singapore

E-Sport in Singapore (ESA), one of IeSF members has accepted by its government as

a registered association in Singapore due to the endeavor of its staff. Let us celebrate

his great work!

Romania

The 26th Counter-Strike National Championship registration broken a new record –2

10 teams registered for the new Counter-Strike Season, proving again that Counter-

Strike is by far the most played game in Romania.

Associate member of IeSF, Indiiagames has approved by its government. Now it

is officially entitled to be a member of IeSF subject to final approval by general

meeting . On March 31, Vishal Gondal, CEO and founder of Indiagames will visit

IeSF headquarter to discuss future business.

India


Thomas von Treichel is recently elected as a president of the Germany eSports

association(E-SB) waiting for official confirmation of the court. IeSF interviewed him

to find out who he is.

Q. How long have you worked in e-Sports Industry?

My first contact with e-Sport and the Gaming Industry in general was 1998. I was

organizing a “Bring your own computer” event in Germany with the small size of 200

people. Within 3 years, this event grew to 2.500 people which was the biggest Gaming

Only BYOC these days in Europe. In 2000, I was hired by a German publisher and

developer until 2004 I was hired from Don S. Kim for ACE for handling the World

Cyber Games in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Q. Tell us about your association where you work.

The Germany eSport Association (E-SB) had a hard time the last month. Due to

several restructurings and suddenly drop outs of some people, we have been busy over

the last 6 months to set up the new board and a totally new structure including new

targets. Right now we have around 80.000 members, and we are waiting for the official

confirmation of the court that the new board and the new charter is accepted that we

can start working on the next steps.

Q. Tell us about your life out of your office.

It has been 3 years that I am married. My wife and I do many things together because

we share the same passions. I’m a roller coaster junkie as I always plan a trip to foreign

countries. For example, last time in Seoul I visited Lotte World. And if we want to

have it more relaxed,then a huge DVD and BluRay collection is waiting for us. Besides

that for sure, Games is an important part of my life, I have all actual and a lot of the

Germany

In this Issue:







What’s new?


that for sure, Games is an important part of my life, I have all actual and a lot of the

past consoles and a PC as well.

(Thomas with his wife at N tower in S. Korea)

Contact us

Editor

Hei-Eun, Kim

[email protected]

General Manager

Noha, Park

[email protected]

Deputy Manager

Mibu, Kim

[email protected]

5

Q. If you have last words to IeSF,

Please tell us.

I just want to tell Mr. Oh and all of his

team is doing a great Job. we have

already gathered all over the planet,

I’m sure that we can bring the

professionalism how e-Sport is already

handled in Korea to the whole world in

short time. Let’s keep on working on

this and show all the doubters that they

are wrong.

International e-Sports Federation

2F, 641-2, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea 131-080

Tel: +82 2 2016 4003

Documents

201004