IeSF Newsletter - vol24 www.ie-sf.com 2012. 2. 10

‘Sport Accord Affiliation’ Project

Global Data

IeSF Headline

[ Member Nation Reports ]

Swiss

Israel

SA

Romania

[ Interview ]

Won-suk Oh, Secretary General of IeSF

[ zoom-in ]

RIOT GAMES KOREA

[ opinion ]

- Real State of Excessive Immersion toGame

- Strength in Numbers

Currently, IeSF is knocking on the door ofSport Accord (previously known as GAISF, theGeneral Association of International SportsFederations) which is the umbrella organizationfor both Olympic and non-Olympic sports aswell as organizers of sporting events and sport-related international federations. The mainobjective of this project is to promote e-sportsfield with support of Sport Accord and to provepublic confidence and prestige of IeSF in theworld. Currently, Sport Accord counts 105members.- 90 international sports federations governingspecific sports (Full members)- 15 who are conducting activities related to theinternational sports federations (Associatemembers)

1. Benefits of the projectSince Sports Accord represents its members invarious international commissions and councils,IeSF may benefit from its position as anumbrella organization within the internationalcommunity to promote IeSF’s interests, tofacilitate partnerships and to voice our concernsas a member. Thus, practically, it will inclinepublic confidence of IeSF globally, enhancecohesion between member associations andtheir governments, ease the support ofgovernmental fund and sponsorship, andenhance the status of e-sports by recognizing itas regular sports.

2. Project plans & processRegarding this issue, IeSF is planning to obtainfull membership of Sport Accord by the year of2013. We have been preparing all the necessarystudy, activities and diplomatic/political thingsduring 2011, and we will collect all thenecessary documents and proof of activities,and activate the project plan during 2012. Theprocess of the project plan is as follows:

4. Cooperation from IeSF members In order to make this project done, efforts of all members are required. Therefore,IeSF would like to request cooperation of our respectful members in order toprepare and complete the application to Sport Accord in the future. The list belowis the request that our members need to provide for Sport Accord application. Itwill be greatly appreciated if you send listed things in accordance with the formthat we sent you via e-mail.1) Current address and phone number of your association2) Current number of registered e-Sports player3) Copy of official document for organization’s registration

※ If you have further question, Please contact limcw@ie-sf.org.

Dear all members!We expect all of you are busy with making business plans for the New Year, and hope all may go well duringthe year. As we are making progress for our new businesses of 2012, we have requested several issues for allmembers, but the progress of submission is being delayed. All of them have sent to you via e-mail. For smoothprocess of our business, once again, we ask your active and immediate cooperation for things stated below:

1. Media Resource Survey for press and broadcaster (Refer to the applicable format sent via e-mail)2. 2012 Business Plan of your organization (Refer to the applicable format sent via e-mail)3. 2012 Title Polling (Refer to the applicable format sent via e-mail) – Due on 10th of Feb4. Survey for Sport Accord Affiliation Project (Refer to the applicable format sent via e-mail)

Once again, we courteously ask and expect your immediate action for submission of applicable information,and appreciate members who already submitted information for your quick response.

IeSF Notice for Members

2012. 2. 10 Member Nation Reports

Anticipation for Swiss e-Sports in 2012 Dario Salice, President of the “Swiss E-Sports Federation”

Swiss reports

Less than four weeks ago the end of 2011 came up and I looked back toreflect about what has been going on in Switzerland regarding electronicsports. This review gave me a lot of promising memories which make mebelieve that Swiss e-sports is starting to get back on its feet. I didn’t havethis feeling for a couple of years, so this was very special for me to see.Not even a month has passed since then and I try to take a look forward.This is not easy, without getting too much influence from the freshreview. In life, and especially in e-sports things can change so much thatsomething which was perfectly true last week, doesn’t have to be validtomorrow. If I’m allowed to make a wish list for the year 2012 and whatit will bring to the e-sport community in Switzerland, it would probablylook like this:1) Community activityI appreciate many things the community accomplished over the past 12months. I followed clans like My Insanity, Binary Evasion and BrokenArrow over the past month and have seen that not only Starcraft broughtthem a boost of motivation to compete within tournaments in Switzerlandand other countries. But besides Starcraft, the second difference is“awareness”. Clans became much more aware that they have to take theirvisions in their own hands to be successful. The mentioned clans andcertainly others as well showed creativity to get attention from thecommunity and create a fan-base around them, which I haven’t seen in awhile from e-sport teams in Switzerland. Not only the clans did evolveover the past 12 month, but also other community members showed anincreasing amount of activity. LAN-Parties which have been thebackbone of our e-sport movement over many years went throughsomething like a“renaissance” in 2011. Event Organizers which gainedsome experience over the past couple of years showed a good deal ofcontinuity and new organizations came up to create events for thecommunity. When I spoke to our LAN-Ambassador Beny K I get thefeeling which this new generation of “LAN people” are motivated tobring back the events they loved, when they were attending BYOCs. Ihope that this level of motivation and activity will continue to grow andevolve in 2012as it did over the past 12 months. I’m sure that the SwissE-Sports Federation will be able to contribute its part and provide thecommunity with the support it deserves. The awareness that thecommunity has to work hard to improve e-sports is a great step towardsthat direction.2) (Positive) Media attentionMedia coverage about Gaming and e-sports did change a lot over the pastfew years. Journalists who wanted to get attention by writing falseprejudices about gaming where faced by harsh criticism from theirreaders. A new generation of journalists is coming up, which themselvesgrew up with video games. The perspective of those young authors is adifferent one, and acknowledges the benefits of games much more thantheir predecessors. I hope that e-sport will get more regular mediaattention in 2012. When I consider that the e-sport movement must be inits “teenage-years” by now, I’d like to see more articles about competitivegaming on sports pages and cultural essays more than on the usual “tech-page” or “new stuff from around the world”. In 2012 I had the chance tobe a part on some good articles about electronic sports published inpapers, news-pages etc

The effort for more (positive) media attention will be pushed much moreby the Swiss E-Sports Federation, but needs the support from the wholecommunity which has to create the content and activity needed, that goodmessages can be broadcasted into the non-e-sports-world.3) International activityThinking about the international e-sports federation (IeSF), I hope that theorganization will keep on evolving not only in size but especially in theiractivities. The IeSF World Championship has been established and is animportant part of the international schedule for the Swiss e-sport athletes.The IeSF also has other area of activity, which I’m looking forward tocontribute. The establishment of relations towards traditional SportsOrganizations like IOC and Sports Accord are steps to make IeSF and e-sports, in general, much more stable and recognized.4) Positive e-sports awareness in the publicLast but not least I hope that the positive awareness of electronic sportsand gaming in general will continue to improve. Not only positive mediaattention, but also a good attitude from the e-sport community will beimportant for this improvement. People who have the chance to attend ane-sport event always rest impressed with how well behaved and positivethe atmosphere is. Just a couple of days ago, I spoke to two bartendersworking in a Pub where a Barcraft-Event took place for the second timein two months. Even though the bar was packed with (mostly male)gamers, they never experienced such an easy and peaceful atmosphere inthat place. Every time I take people to such events they are impressed bythe fact that so many gamers with different cultural and religiousbackground can spend days and weekends on such small space withouthaving any trouble.If we can communicate this awareness to the public, a big step towardsthe acceptance of electronic sports has been done. I’m very much looking forward to this new year of competitive gaming.The Swiss E-Sports Federation created an internal motto last year, called“reboot”. I’m wondering what will be the motto for 2012.

Dario Salice, President of the “Swiss E-Sports Federation”

Member Nation Reports

Israeli Electronic Sports Association News Nitzan Dikshtein “Israel E-Sports Federation”

Israel reports

Israeli e-Sports tournament - Hanukkah 2011On December 25th 2011 on Hanukkah holiday a major e-Sports event washeld at Modiin city near Jerusalem, more than 1,500 players andspectators attended the Event making it the biggest Gaming event in Israelfor 2011. The tournaments were in the games StarCraft2, Counter-StrikeSource and also a CoD:MW 3 tournament which was a big success. TheIeSA didn’t take part in the event organization but was supporting it byadvertising through our media, advising the organizers and supporting atthe event itself.

ESL to continue its activities in IsraelOn January 12th, ESL, the biggest e-Sports league has stopped itsactivities in Israel due to end of contract with the local Gaming site"Vgames". The IeSA contacted ESL management in order to continue itsactivity in Israel and eventually IeSA owner Nitzan Dikshtein took uponhimself the rights to operate ESL’s leagues and tournaments in the country,giving the Israeli e-Sports players the opportunity to continue playing withglobal players on a daily bases.

Game-Freak gaming club has opened a new branchThe Israeli Gaming club "Game-Freak" widened its activity by opening anew branch in Modiin city. The club has 20 Strong gaming computers, andhundreds of gamers visit there every week to attend local tournaments andlearn about the IeSA and e-Sports in general. The club, which is theheadquarters of the IeSA, is working along with parents of young gamers toencourage good behavior, promote the importance of school studies andteach them as well about e-Sports and its future as a Real sport.

Israeli e-Sports Championship 2012 – A Done Deal.The IeSA is happy to announce that the Israeli e-Sports Championshipwhich will take place at Hod-Hasharon city for the second time on august of2012. Last week Hod-Hasharon city council had signed a contract to hostand support the event that will take place in the city just like in 2010 andexpected to attract more than 5,000 Gamers and spectators from all over thecountry. The IeSA is working to finalize the event details; a website will belunched in the following months and the countdown to the event will beginthen.

Romania E-Sport 2012 'e-Sport Championship'

Romania E-Sports Federation

Romania reports

After 10 years of organizing e-sport events in Romania, it’s time to reinventourselves and make e-sports a mainstream activity, involving as manypeople as possible while having all events broadcasted. That’s why, for thefirst time in our history, we will run a complete year-round of e-sportactivities that will include all the national and international events. Basicallyour esports events in 2012 will run from February to mid-December.Our national championships will now be part of the “Romania e-SportChampionship” event, with 2 seasons / year, each season consisting of 18weeks of online and offline events, featuring most played titles in Romania:Counter-Strike 1.6, DOTA2, FIFA12, Starcraft2 and League of Legends.Alongside our national competition, we will also host Romanian qualifiersfor all the international e-sport events that we are affiliated with:

Dreamhack Romania 2012World Cyber Games 2012 RomaniaWCG Euro Championship 2012 RomaniaInternational E-Sport Federation 2012 World Championship RomaniaqualifierBased on the huge success of DreamHack Balkan 2011, I am proud toannounce that Romania will be again one of the few European countries thatwill host a DreamHack event in 2012.

DreamHack Romania 2012 will be our biggest event ever, with huge prizesand the first global e-sport event hosted in Romania, with players attendingfrom Asia, North America and Europe.All the action in 2012 will be broadcasted online via PGL TV, followingRomanian players in all national and international events, offering non-stopaction throughout the year.After a great 2011, we are working hard to have a lot of Romanian playersattending international events and getting a place on the podium.

Member Nation Reports

When Gaming Partnerships WorkMixed Chicks (South African Online Multi Gaming Organization)

South Africa reports

Robert 'PandaTank' Botha was awarded the title of e-Sports Player of the Year2011 by Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

I caught up with Colin Webster (The president of MSSA) and Matt 'fluke' Merksto talk about StarCraft and competitive gaming in SA.

Colin Webster president of MSSA

Lola: On what basis was PandaTank chosen as eSports Player of the Year?

CW: “At the end of every year, the MSSA’s Management Board gives out awardsto deserving individuals. In 2011 the Management Board felt that Rob Bothadeserved the title of e-Sports player of the year. The award is given out on afairly holistic approach. Not only did Rob win the MSSA’s online league, but hedemonstrated true character at the National Team Trials and at the 2011International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) World Championship. Without doubt,Rob exemplifies what an e-Sports gamer should be – kind, courteous, focusedand competitive. His results at the 2011 IeSF Championship were also part ofwhy he was chosen as e-Sports Player of the Year. Rob is the first South Africanthat has passed through the group stages of an international championship andhas finished in the top eight since the early 2000’s.

Lola: What does the MSSA plan for StarCraft 2 SA?

CW: “There is no doubt that StarCraft II is one of the most important games inthe world. Thus the MSSA shall treat it as such. The MSSA shall introduce thegame into the official inter-school league in order to help develop a wider andstronger player base. At the same time the MSSA is fully committed to sendinggamers to represent South Africa in StarCraft II at both the IeSF and IeDF WorldChampionships. Depending on finances, the MSSA may also be in a position tosend gamers to represent South Africans at other international championships aswell. Thus in 2012 the MSSA expects to see even more gamers earn schoolprovincial colours, senior provincial colours and Protea Colours for the game.”

Lola: What has your experience with the SA StarCaft community been like?

CW: “I have found my interaction with the gamers who play StarCraft II to bemost rewarding as the gamers with whom I have dealt, tend to be highlymotivated and intelligent individuals.”

Lola: In your opinion how do the SA players compare to international players?

CW: “My biggest regret is that we as South Africans cannot interact more withinternational players than what we do. Our gamers probably have more guts thanthe international players – just because of the obstacles they have to overcome.However, the international players have a distinct advantage, as no doubt Robwill tell you, as they all know each other on a face-to-face level and are thusmore able to exchange ideas.”

Lola: The MSSA has taken a lot of negativity from especially the SAcompetitive community. Why do you continue to support and develop e-Sportsin SA?

CW: “Sure there are some gamers who are not members of the MSSA who

have been very negative to the MSSA, and yes, the MSSA does do thingsdifferently, but what the MSSA is seeing at the moment is a strong and steadygrowth, not only among the schools, but among clans that continually attackedthe MSSA and everything it stands for. It should be remembered that the MSSAis a Universitas and that none of the office-bearers are paid in anyway for theirtime and trouble. The MSSA remains an instrument of its members and reflectsthe wishes and choices of the majority of its members.Personally, I get a great deal of enjoyment of seeing gamers do well out of whatthey enjoy. When you consider that at Wits University alone, seven students havebeen awarded their full university colours (full blues) for their achievements, andthat gamers are now eligible to earn Sports Bursaries, you will realize what theMSSA has done for the gamer. Many schools now too award School Colours togamers which just help to enable the potential of learners who play e-Sports. Theadvantages of earning Protea Colours and representing South Africa too have agreat effect on the individual – and that is why I do it! There are many anecdotesthat I could share, but one of the stories that immediately springs to mind is whenthe MSSA awarded Protea Colours to a gamer, and the gamers’ mother beamedand exclaimed, “I didn’t know that he was that good!” What is even moreinteresting about this anecdote is that the mother so mentioned also had ProteaColours – but in a different sporting code! “The recognition and accreditation of e-Sports as an accredited sport, does not justhave benefits for the publishers, but have immense benefits for the youth. Insteadof just spending hours aimlessly playing games, the gamer can now chart out amore focused approach. For example when I was young (long before the adventof PC’s) I was a competitive swimmer and used to do up to 14 000 meters a day.The training taught me many life skills which, to this day I still hold dear. Had Ijust spent all those hours just ‘chilling’ at our home pool, the hours would havebeen wasted, with very few lessons learnt.Thus gamers can have goals and ambitions, and through the system ofchampionships, colours, and awards have something very real at the end of theday which has enriched their lives, and even used on a CV.”

Lola: Last year you teamed up with PolarfluKe to host a Starcraft 2 provincialchampionship. What has your experience with this partnership been like?

CW: “PolarfluKe was incredible! PolarfluKe is more than able to run achampionship to the highest possible level. Testament to its ability is how manytop international gamers are now playing in the leagues. All one has to do is readdifferent fora (forums) to see the praise that it gets from overseas clans. WithoutPolarfluKe's help and dedication, it is unlikely that Rob Botha would haveattended the IeSF Championships and that Jason von Belkum would haveattended the IeSMoD Championships. It is the silent hard workers likePolarfluKe who are always there, always making other people achieve theirdreams.”

Closing thoughtsIn the SA competitive gaming community we can share a lot of stories abouthow difficult the road has been for us. Players face unnecessary drama and ragefrom within the community, clans hardly stick together and sponsorships arehard to come by, to name but a few.But then there are stories like these that make it all worth our while, that give ushope. The partnership of PandaTank, MSSA and PolarfluKe has shown us that itis possible to achieve what every competitive player wants – the opportunities tocompete at the highest level and the recognition for achievements earned.Letting go of your prejudices does have its benefits.

INTERVIEW

Finding a continuousgrowth model to developeSports globally

Won-suk Oh, Secretary General of IeSF

The results of the 3rd of 5 year long term plan will be appearing gradually.

Won-suk Oh, Secretary General of IeSF(International E-sports Federation) whohas been working in IeSF since 2009, announced that the plan for IeSF to beInternational Sports Federation in 2013 would begin to take concrete shape. The plan is to increase the number of members up to 45 and prepare for theregistration and to cooperate with International Sports Federation like ICO orFIFA. Additionally, They will standardize global e-sports and build cooperationflexibly with civil e-sports events."The biggest role of IeSF is to build constantly available infrastructure. We try toour best to support and deal with civil e-sports events having difficulty in holdingunprofitable events. "

Although Won-suk Oh, Secretary-General of IeSF, is taking a step forward tomake a cooperative relationship with civil e-sports hosts, he is still being carefulthat it might make them misunderstand because IESF is under development now.If IeSF could help reach a satisfactory settlement civil e-sports hosts face, itwould be desirable to consider solutions and develop each other.

What we have been constantly discussing is to choose the game company and thegame genre. We have acknowledged that there have been still lots of differentviewpoints toward e-sports. IeSF will play a leading role in solving the problemabout the game genre with continuous conversation.

Cooperation with company having the game title is the key to developing e-sports. IeSF has always been trying to deal with lots of problems. Take MOU withHanbitsoft for example, it would be a meaningful work to start to discuss e-sportswith game company despite discontinuity under various conditions.

IeSF is planning to discuss game title with company and narrow differentviewpoints between the game company and affiliates by putting all the ideastogether.

IeSF has been discussing the game title and dealing with intellectual propertyrights. In 2010 International e-sports symposium, experts collected opinions andtried to come to an agreement via continuous relationship with company havingthe game title. As a result, we led it to success even there were inevitableproblems due to structural matters. We are doing our best to lead to the sounddevelopment of e-sports by holding an Asia, Europe conference, a symposiumand general meeting to improve communications with our affiliates.

One of IeSF's Long term goals is to stand on its feet. To do this, IeSF will haveimplemented a plan to decide each national role and who will pay for over a longperiod of time since 2012. Won-suk Oh, Secretary-General of IESF, is expectingthat It could not only lay foundation to continue these kinds of efforts developinge-sports but also help acquire its independence."Not a few affiliates play a major role but every affiliate would participate indiscussing the most efficient way to improve. "

Won-suk Oh, Secretary-General of IeESF, suggested IeSF should make afoundation for every affiliate to help and develop each other mutually in 2012.

Improvement will proceed automatically while some countries having poor infrastructures learn the system, so he said IeSF wouldn't proceed rapidly. We could belooking forward for IeSF to showing its own growth model for the public andunity in 2012.

"Achieving the result of standardizing e-sportswith five sections. Aim at being internationalsports federation in 2013"

zoom in

Revitalizing e-sportsindustry with LOLStarting the regular e-sports league in March-Can be the biggest hit ever like “Starcraft”?

e-sports game industry in Korea has turned around again and is risingnow despite the downtime of e-sports industry. League of Legend, one ofthe biggest hit game titles both in Korea and all over the world, will bereleased soon in the regular game league.Riot Games Korea promoting “League of Legend” to be the main title ofe-sports announced that the regular league of “League of Legend” will beheld on On-gamenet TV in March. Both Korea and overseas market facedwith downtime of e-sports are now looking forward to the launch. Gameofficials have been expecting that “League of Legend” in 2000s willrevitalize e-sports industry as “Starcraft” did in 90s.We’ve visited Riot Games Korea to check the ongoing projects and theorganizations of “League of Legend”.

Riot Games Korea, established in 2011, is made up of 30 members with the CEO, Jinho Lee.Riot Games Korea and has quickly become a leading global developer and publisher,successfully launching their debut title, League of Legends last December in Korea.

Starting the regular league of LOL in MarchRiot Games Korea has always been making relentless efforts and moved the business forwardquickly as domestic service of “League of Legend” started within 3 months after the launch ofKorea and new launch of e-sports league would only take three months to hold.The most remarkable business of Riot Games is of course e-sports business. They have beenbroadcasting ”LOL Night Show” and “LOL Invitational” on On-gamenet TV since January ofthis year.Jinho Oh, CEO of Riot Games Korea, announced that those games would be relatively high-quality and our users, a domestic branch and company officials would be very satisfied withthat.There will be another big event with the game show on the air. In early March of this year, thefall league of “League of Legend” will be held with the prize of 2 hundred million won. Thisleague will be held quarterly and the semi-finals will be carried live on On-game.net TV duringprime time.The launch of regular league has caught the attention of many, users and game officialsexpecting revitalization of e-sports.Jinho Oh, CEO of Riot Games Korea, said “It is rewarding to launch the league itself. I hopeevery league goes well and users enjoy the game.”

PC room business, the secret to the successBoth their own business and organizational structures differentiate Riot Games from othergame company; First, they have been pushing ahead with both businesses focused on PC Roomand e-sports to expand game industry. Second, Organizational structure is also different.Riot Games Korea consists of three departments; game operation, marketing communication,strategic planning. Game operation team is in charge of customer support, translation,engineers. Marketing communication team is promoting e-sports and PC room businesses. Andstrategic planning team takes responsibility of whole company, HR and financial affairs and soon….This strategic structure is one of the successful reasons for the fast-growing company and PCroom business has an important note in the Korean market.We could easily find lots of users playing “League of Legend” in Korean PC room these days.One of company officials said “Franchising League of Legend Premium PC rooms would helplay the groundwork for the huge success of game.”In some ways, It is also reported that it would be nominal; relatively low profits compared withthe number of concurrent users and subscribers of “League of Legend”.Riot Games Korea officials said “our company puts the priority on not profits but joy for users.

User-oriented managementIt is impossible that paid items of “League of Legend” could have an influence on deciding theoutcome of game. The game would be designed for users without paid items to enjoy the gameand only a few items like skins or champions could be chosen selectively to pay.Jinho Oh, CEO said “Providing joy for users is significant to us, not profit itself” and “Ourcompany game developers made differs from others”Riot Games headquarter said “consumer satisfaction is much more important than profits inKorea”With the support of US headquarter, Riot Games Korea will keep on running user orientedbusiness.Jinho Oh, CEO said we are so sorry for not answering every questions occasionally, we arestepping forward with better performance step by step by hiring more operating team memberssoon to figure out all problems.

What is “League of Legend”?“League of Legend” is a big hit title with over 32 million subscribers all over the world andconcurrency totaling over 1.3 million players. “League of Legend” is a kind of “MultiplayerOnline Battle Arena” genre, focused on strategies against the rival team to win the battle, mixedwell with role-playing and strategic factors.The biggest appeal is various and balanced champions. Users can choose their championsconsidering races, character, skill, gender on their taste among over 80.

Jinho oh, CEO of Riot Games Korea

Executives in a meeting regarding website strategies

e-sports league planning meeting (total purse of 200million won)

opinion

Cares weigh heavily upon my heart. It even tears me apart that thesituation is running toward wrong direction.A definition for the word, addiction, by a famed doctor just crossesthrough my head. He says that ‘addiction’ is a phenomenon happeningwhen our body continuously desires or performs more than necessary.For instance, sugar addiction is a behavior of our body seeking tointake sugar than need be, and exercise addiction happens when ourbody attempts to exercise than need be. Namely it becomes troublewhen it crosses the line, but the behavior itself is not the problem.Seeking for fun, pleasure and amusement are essential part of humanbehavior for human living. Nay, perhaps human live for the pursuit ofhappiness. I don’t understand why they are making the error ‘to break abutterfly on a wheel,’ although there definitely are factors of happinesswhich game gives us. Prior to arguing about game addiction of youths,if you are a real parent truly worrying about your children, it is properto seriously deliberate what the interest and pleasure for them are priorto anything. There are huge gap and difference between the world thatwe used to live (industrial society) and the world that currentgeneration is living (information-oriented society). Thus, the amusingfactor for old generation and one for young generation are totallydifferentiated. Then, it would be more appropriate to activelyparticipate in what our children are exuberating with them, rather thanchiding and deterring them for their own amusing factor. I certainlyknow it is a lot more effective and powerful resolution from my directexperiences. For my son, a college student who is keeping his end up,since my son was elementary school student which is 10 years ago, Iwas an ‘irresponsible’ father in the tone of recent criticism on games,who have unlimitedly supported game CDs as he wanted. The onlydifference is that I was able to talk with my son about games as I gotinterested in games. My son still plays games when he is stressed out. Ihave never told him to stop plying them. Also, either my son has neveraddicted to them, or stood against me with this issue. Thus, I alwaystell my son, “I am not your leader, but a mentor. You should enjoy yourlife, and what you need to do is do what you like to do. I will always bethe fence of the playground where you gambol just gladly.”The reason why I dwelt on my personal story is due to the questionwhether the older generations currently worrying about game addictionproperly understand and definite amusing factors of our youths.

Real State of Excessive Immersion to Game

Won-suk OhSecretary General of IeSF

Also, the older generation should take a chance to reflect if they aresomehow addicted to something, such as golf addiction, workaddiction, or food addiction. As stated above, since addiction is theterm that the body and mind seek for something more than necessary, itis not to flatly deny the subject itself, but to treat to control themselves.There is also other perspective. In Russia, where the longer history ofe-sports exists, e-sports activities are recognized as effective activitiesto close and treat drug and alcohol addictions of youths, and activelysupported by the federal government. It is pitiful that some peoplecannot think in positive way, while other people sharing same historycope with the same phenomenon toward positive direction with activeparticipation. Moreover, in South Africa, e-sports are used as remedy tohelp student suffering from poverty by offering them scholarship toenter colleges, and providing occupation related to e-sports. It is alsogladly supported by education departments and schools. We shouldnotice there are diverse perspectiveIf pursuit of amusement is aninstinct of human beings, isn’t it better to induce youths to finddynamics of sports through games when they search for a subject torelease their stress.It is not possible to resolve the fundamental problem if we point outissues from the teeth forward, and look for easier answer such asobligating by laws. The older generation should concern in depth foryounger generation to seek for pleasure and pursue happiness in theirown way. Also, we rather not recklessly contradict the subject itself,but prepare specific and attentive resolution against addiction, in termsof excessive desire.Super-high speed information-oriented society, which oldergenerations have never experienced before, is here. Also, in the future,ultra fusion society, that nobody can anticipate, is approaching. It istotally wrong that the older generations just sit back with the face of ‘Iknow everything’, as decorating their old experience as plausibleexcuses with short knowledge, and tell our children ‘do this, and don’tdo that.’ We should rather come clean about our ignorance, and tryharder to share and experience of younger generations’ pursuit. If weattend together, communicate with each other, and laugh and enjoy, Ican undoubtedly say that there must be an answer.

This is not so much a problem of acceptance as it is how sports areorganised in Sweden. Without going into details which are nothing butconfusing e-sport will only become official and approved by thegovernment if enough people support it and demand that it shouldbecome a sport. This is one area where the strength of IeSF could be areal benefit to countries like Sweden. By working together withcountries where e-sport is an official sport we can show our politiciansthat e-sport is considered a proper sport elsewhere and convince themthat it should be the same way here.

At the last IeSF general meeting the member nations discussed howmany of us who had received government acknowledgement. This isan important question on an international level and every memberwhich has that status makes the IeSF stronger, so helping membernations like Sweden would not only make Sweden a stronger memberbut would also make the IeSF stronger. This may sound like a realcliché but as a federation we should really accept the concept ofstrength in numbers.

This is of course not the only way the IeSF can help individualmembers. All members have different difficulties, some which couldreally benefit from the support of other nations and the IeSF as awhole. If the IeSF really aims to become the official internationalfederation for e-sport we all have to chip in and help each other tomake ourselves stronger. This is not something we should do to benice, this is what a federation is all about.

Strength in Numbers

Svenska E-Sportföreningen(Swedish e-SportAssociation), Chairman,Magnus Jonsson

I often get the question which “real” sport most closely resembles e-sport. When I am finished with the unavoidable debate whether e-sports is a real sport or not I rarely come up with the same answer. Theanswer is that there is no other sport that resembles e-sport. This ismainly because different e-sports are so diverse. The only things whichgames like StarCraft and Halo is that they are both played on anelectronic devise and requires a lot of concentration. However, lookingat the organization of e-sports there is one sport that closely resemblese-sport and that is boxing. Just like boxing there is no officialfederation regulating the world of e-sports and no official worldchampionships. Many actors compete with each other to become thebiggest and best tournament in order to get some sort of unofficialworld championships status. I would very much like to see the IeSF asthat official body. I would also like to see the IeSF WorldChampionships as the official world championships even if I do notfind that as important. The road to becoming an official e-sportfederation is not a trivial one. Today the IeSF consists of 33 membercountries and this is a fine start, but it is only a start. So, where do wego from here?

The IeSF has always been about bringing countries together andthrough that cooperation become stronger and stronger for each newmember joining the federation. Some members are quite establishedwith government funding and approval while others are still strugglingto reach that status. As the chairman of the Swedish e-sport associationI can only start from our situation: In Sweden we have no governmentapproval and getting it would be really hard.