1 Benavides

Carlos Benavides
Prof. Jackie Hymes
English 113A
As the world progressives, new forms of entertainment are created that the older
generation do not understand and the new generation adore. In the recent years, electronic
sports(eSports) has been excelling its foundation to the mainstream. Investors from around the
world have been waving their cash to professionals who do not have a strong physical physique,
but toward those who sit down on a chair all day and play videogames. Although eSports is
played on a virtual world, it is a sport because the integrity of the game is identical traditional
sports.
Opposers of eSports propose many arguments why eSports is nothing more than a
videogame and why investors should stop throwing away their money.On a statistic on
debate.org, the general public say eSport is a sport; clenching the vote 61% yes, 39% no. The
general consensus of the opposers believe that sports requires physical activity, which is common
misconception. Physical activity does not define sport, it is more about competition. In the case
of eSports, it requires a lot strategy (macro play) akin to chess, which is considered a sport.
Another immense reason why eSports is unfavored is the chance of negative affects. In League
of Legends (LoL), ameteur players around the world funnel in all their resources into a attempt
to become a professional. In his article, Owning esports: Proprietary Rights in Computer
Gaming by DL Burt exemplifies players who want to reach to the top tend to be at risk of cyber
bullying or cause more harm to their future by not going to college. Burt conveys most amateurs
do not have a backup plan. Nicholas Haddad, a once pro player in LoL, is currently suffering
with Type 1 Bipolar Disorder as a result from attaining a significant amount of stress from

2 Benavides

playing. Haddad gives an overall statement from his damaged station, LCS (League
Championship Series) puts a ton of pressure on teenagers who mainly come right out of school
and are not always prepared to deal with such a drastic lifestyle change(From his facebook).
Being a professional in the eSport industry is a risk. In the recent years however, a player union
has been created for these upcoming athletes to feel more secure to pursue their dreams. Stephen
Ellis, a former pro player, has been incorporating his title to attain help from other sources to
form this player union. (mcvuk.com) This will ensure benefits for players to not be afraid of any
mess they might have to fear when being a professional. There tends to be aid from the
companies of the game for medical help, and even the clubs themselves (lolesports.com)
.Another inimical driving force is Cyber Bullying that may alter the lives of young individuals
playing their favorite game. The answer to cyber bullying is the company granting many
punishments and attempts to reform the offenders. In the case of popular video games, like LoL
or counterstrike, the companies offer chances for an offender to change their act, or suffer a loss
of entire progress in their game. Threatening isn't the primary solution, League of Legends
advocates people to be a proper teammate, rewarding them in virtual goods. For the victim, they
can permanently mute an offender or ask support to help them in their situation of their
respective game. In his article, The social side of gaming by Sabrine Trepte, video games in
general aid the introvert community, or unsocial people. Trepte illustrates video games is a way
of escaping to some. E-sports is very much similar to traditional sports, the main difference is
that the professionals play behind a monitor.

The interest of e-sports is ultimately because it's new, and a potential gold rush. As of
right now, no one can predict how far the video game sport can progress ; it already is
progressing twelve times faster than American football (espn.com) . In Korea, e-sports is already

3 Benavides

established as a sort high regarded by the government .The Korean e-sports Agency (KeSPA) has
many tournaments daily in Korea, even mobile games. Korean TV broadcasts reruns of old
tournaments and current tournaments . Highly regarded companies, like SamSung or Jin Air
sponsor these athletes to represent their industry in international tournaments. The domestic
success for e-sports is established in south Korea as a whole, it's time for the rest of the world.
Most universities in USA have esport clubs because of the many tournaments held for
universities. Even here in CSUN, students founded a e-sports club to participate in tournaments
that offer scholarships. The overall reason why e-sports attracts the interest of watching other
people play the game they like is because of competition. Akin to traditional sports, in the station
of e-sports, Americans have pride and love to watch their domestic team fight against
international powerhouses. Gordon Hayward and Rick fox from the NBA believe e-sports is a
sport with less physical training. It is a competitive team game, and requires not only one player
but all to win says Rick Fox. It requires a lot more strategy and not so much of psychical
energy, illustrates Gordon Hayward. With this credibility, in a overall sense, they viewed it as
game of chess, that requires a lot of trust in teammates and one's capability to perform in high
pressure situations. The sport is evolving, requiring integrity and diligent players, management
and contracts to maintain its title as a sport.

E-sports have many leagues for their respective game, which calls for mandatory
contracts and integrity players. The average salary varies from game to the club/team. These
athletes, in the minimum at least make enough for some leisure ( Howell ONeil, dailydot). Alike
traditional sports, no athletes share the same salary, but they are all offered security ( DL Burk).
The security they attain is to ensure they do not fall to a overhauling event. For example, A club
Meet Your Makers (League of Legends) or MYM,attempted to control their player, Marcin

4 Benavides

Wolski, to play for them when he wasn't able to. If Wolski didn't, the club will take over his
mother's house ( Richard Lewis). Obviously a event like this isn't acceptable, so in order to
maintain integrity, the club was heavily fined, and release the player from MYM jail. Another
concern is that videogames have the chance of bugs in programming(DL Burk). To compensate
with the potential corrupt program, games can either remake a scenario, the whole game even, or
have a system like football (soccer) card system. A athlete in traditional sports shares similar
forms of conditioning, and share the same mentality.

The life of a cyber athlete is less tiring physically, but it is more tiring mentally than a
traditional sport. In her article,Where Playing Video Games Is a Life by Jennifer Veale
interviews Choi Yeun Sung. Sung practices for eleven hours a day, I just practice as much as I
can, so I improve explains Sung. All cyber athletes are expected to be ready to practice a
exaggerated amount to reach the top.You need absolute mind control, says Ju Hoon, the coach
of Sung (sports psychology grad). Not to mention the potential lonerism, the life of a sport
athlete is a lot more strenuous and strict than a boy playing video games for fun.

All and all, eSports foundation has excelled to one of the most statically concurrent
viewership in the world. These cyber athletes, although less sweaty trains as hard as a
professional in the NBA. ESports has the credibility, to be considered a sport worldwide.

5 Benavides

Work Cited
Casselman, Ben, Resistance is futile: eSports is massive...and growing Espn.com. 06/10/2015
Cerrudo, Aileen, Should eSports be Considered as a Sport? inquirer.net . 05/26/2015
Veale, Jennifer, Where Playing Video Game Is a Life time.com 05/14/2015
Lewis, Richard, MYM threatened Kori with taking his mothers house Dailydot.com Feb 8,
2015.
Howell ONeil, Patrick, The 10 greatest players in eSports History Dailydot.com Aug 6, 2013.
Nicholas Haddad , Facebook, July 29, 2014
Trepte, Sabine The Social side of Gaming: How playing online computer games creates online
and offline social support year 2011, vol:28 iss:3 pg:832 -839

6 Benavides

DL Burt, Owning eSports : proprietary rights in computer gaming University of Pennsylvania

Law Review Volume 61 (issue 30 april 2013) pages 1535-1578