By Alex Lim International Coordinator at International e-Sports Federation
It has already been 2 years since I started working in International e-Sports Federation (IeSF). I had worked in the sports market for several years before I jumped into esports market. I think, by the time I faced e-sports, that I got little too sick and tired of sports market being bourgeois as chasing materialism. Thus, e-sports came to me as a sort of fresh shock. e-Sport seemed absolutely future oriented and attracting alternative sports.
For past 2 years, I have been communicating with e-sports organizations from more than 40 nations, and invited 17 member nations into IeSF. Also, with the issue of esports, I have discussed and dealt with international sports governing bodies, and have shared words with numerous parties in game and e-sports market. It always came down to the fact that e-sports is sort of attraction, and now, it has grown up as to be handled on major daily newspaper and broadcaster such as New York Times, CBS and ESPN. Now, it is expected to leap further.
However, now I am looking at the dark side of e-sports. Might it be the reason because e-sports, different from other sports, was derived from games, the material created by market? It seems that e-sport is more affected by flow of economic principles. For sure, passions that the e-sports tournament organizers and gamers participating in it show are always admirable. However, I cannot just ignore the feeling that something is lost in e-sports, and I think that is basic philosophy which constitutes the grass root and provides the direction.
I believe that this basic philosophy will be the criteria to judge whether e-sports would be either simple entertainment or real sports in the future. For sure, today’s e-sport is the best entertainment for gamers. That’s why people show enthusiasm toward such global e-sports event as MLG and Dreamhack.
It might be understandable for games and e-sports event to launch in the U.S and Europe since they are the major markets in the world and profit generators for the gaming companies. However, with profit aside, there are silent generations and communities somewhere in the jungles and favelas of Africa and South America, who are closely watching unfold for the launch of this games and e-sports events. However, it seems that no one cares because they have no premium account with the game companies or access to online banking to pre order these games. We cannot just look on unconcernedly at these “LEFT OUT” gamers.
e-Sport has been continuously growing up for past 10 years with the concerns and cares of fans and gamers. As cultural contents such as arts, music, movies and sports should be equally to all, e-sports and games should more concern on the left out part. Now, I have another goal. With IeSF, I will keep on inviting more nations into IeSF, and provide more opportunities that these left out gamers come out to the international stage and meet others and share friendship.
