WS Oh / Secretary General of IeSF
It was when I was working as vice-president of international game tournament organizing company. In beginning of 2002, during my visit to Malaysia, I happened to have a chance to join Minister of Ministry of Sports and Youth for a dinner, as he came to the local event for congratulatory speech. In fact, in those days, people were little too unfamiliar with the concept of e-sports. Thus, it was honor to have a Minister of a nation at the event, but also, was a bit stressful. During the banquet, I nerved myself to ask him, “There are still doubtful perspectives for e-sports even in Korea, the suzerain of e-sports. Then, wasn’t it quite awkward to present at such event as a Minister of a nation?” He answered flatly, “I got to know that the game is a sort of gate for IT through communicating with my kids. These kids access, communicate with and learn IT through games. If the situation is getting more like distinctive culture for our younger generation no one can defy, I’d rather say it is right for older generation or the government to change mind, and to lead our kids to positive direction for them to learn and face it right.” He also said, “Thus, supporting your esteemed event which attempts to promote game tournament as proper sports is fairly reasonable action for me, and I am truly proud to be here. Even for the future, I expect that e-sports grow with proper direction.” Then, I realized that I had been even less sure about e-sports than he was, taking this opportunity, I became to have firmer faith on future of e-sports.
I am not sure whether the Minister was involved, but the President of Malaysia e-Sports Federation, at the IeSF 2011 Torch Lightening Ceremony, introduced the very first e-Sports Stadium constructed in Malaysia to us. Of course, it was not even comparable to our e-sports stadium, but still, I thought it was significant movement, and at the same time, I recalled the Minister. I still remember his confidence that he would do his best with the modest attitude, and he would take all the consequences.
It reflects a lot on the e-sports in the present. In my opinion, e-sports have not accomplished even its primary goal yet, such as activation of amateur activities which is grass roots of e-sports. It is time for the parties in e-sports filed to check whether there is any neglected or incomplete mission. Also, for establishing future plan, if there is any issues need results, they shall be attempted in the earliest time, and examined for its problems and solutions. There are bunch of issues that we have not reached for an answer yet, such as long term cooperation with publishers, exchanging referees and players among genres and titles, variation and unification of platforms, connection between professionals’ pool and amateur pool and etc. If we do not see an answer for the moment, I believe that the fastest way to find the answer is to confront and initiate it, and see.
As looking into the Online Global A match which was first time attempt for us, it seemed there was not any technical issues, but a lot of problems unexpected were detected as it started the matches, such as identification of players, tuning time differences, refinement of players, qualification of referees and etc. However, detecting all these issues will be nourishment for us to organize better and smoother global online league in the future.
There is no time for us to hesitate. In order to design more completed strategy in the future, we need to make outcomes in earliest time for the controversial issues.
A new e-Sports Stadium is under construction in Korea to be completed on end of 2012, and it will be established as the world biggest scale. Certainly, hardware is crucial part for e-sports as well as other sports; however, more important factor is an unshakable faith and substantial cooperation among parties. As mentioned at the beginning, the e-sports leaders shall have confidence and execution with the plan at the same time in order to overcome the problems and to create insight for the future. We shall complete things to be completed, and abandon things to be given up within the earliest time. Then, I hope, when e-sports stadium is completed, that Korea can show the whole world that it is true suzerain not only for the e-sports hardware, but also for the software and experiences.
