eSports Players Research Articles

What psychological factors predict long-term success in esports?

The competitive play of digital games, esports, has attracted worldwide attention of hundreds of millions of young people. Although esports players are known to practice in similar ways to other athletes, it remains largely unknown what factors contribute to high performance and to what degree. In the present confirmatory study, our goal is to test whether deliberate practice theory, which has successfully been applied to other sports earlier, can also predict high esports performance. In addition, based on current theory and pilot findings, we predict several gaming-related, personality, and cognitive variables to play crucial roles in long-term esports success. The results will be useful for esports teams, coaches, and all individuals pursuing success in esports.

Dietary behavior of video game players and esports players in Germany: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundVideo gaming and competitive gaming (esports) are gaining more and more recognition in society as well as in research. Increasingly, health-related topics are the focus of research on video game and esports players. Although video gaming is often associated with energy drinks and fast food, no studies have yet examined the players’ dietary behavior. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the dietary behavior and additional health-related data of video game players and esports players in Germany.MethodsBetween July and October 2020, 817 participants (87.1% male; 24.2 ± 6.9 years), divided into video game players and esports players, were surveyed via an online questionnaire about their dietary, health, and gaming behaviors. Descriptive statistics were performed on all questions. To investigate statistically significant differences between video game players and esports players, the Mann–Whitney-U-Test and Kruskall-Wallis-Test were used. Partial Spearman correlations were used to examine possible associations between dietary behavior, health status, well-being, and video game playing time.ResultsWater was the primary source of fluid intake for the players (10.9 ± 7.0 l/week). The average weekly consumption of energy drinks was 0.4 ± 0.9 L. Energy drinks (rho = 0.14; p < 0.01) as well as soft drinks (rho = 0.14; p < 0.01) are positively correlated with the video game playing time. Participants ate 7.5 ± 10.4 servings of fast food per month, which has a positive association with video game playing time (rho = 0.13; p < 0.01). In contrast, vegetables (1.7 ± 1.6 servings/day) and fruits (0.9 ± 1.0 servings/day) are eaten almost daily.ConclusionIn this survey, the dietary behavior of video game players and esports players is similar to that of the German general population. Nevertheless, there is a need for improvement. Especially energy drinks, which are already documented to have adverse health effects, should be limited. In addition, the consumption of fast food and meat should also be reduced, and healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables should be increased instead. Early education and support regarding the associated risks with unhealthy foods is important within the target group.

Setting the Research Agenda of the eSports Revolution

A titan of popular culture and commerce, the positive trend lines of eSports audiences, participation and commercial output run counter to those of many traditional sports. Despite the reluctance of the uninitiated to consider them ‘sports,’ eSports continues to evolve, grappling with similar issues emerging from advancements in technology, ethics, inclusion, and the incursions of brands into this identity-driven entertainment industry. These issues and more warrant the attention of sports management scholars. Thus, a deeper scholarly understanding is achieved through examining a diverse range of perspectives, including understanding eSports players themselves, how they interact, the health and wellness challenges they face, and how the industry is impacted by the necessary commercial involvement of big brands. In synthesizing these insights with traditional sports management knowledge organisations, brands, and policy makers can contribute to fostering an industry that has captured the interests of many millions across the globe.

Safer esports for players, spectators, and bettors: Issues, challenges, and policy recommendations.

The present paper provides an overview of the possible risks, harms, and challenges that might arise with the development of the esports field and pose a threat to professional esports players, spectators, bettors and videogame players, including underage players. These include physical and mental health issues, gambling and gambling-like elements associated with videogames and esports, the challenges arising from pursuing a career in esports, the unique difficulties women face, and a need for supporting professional esports players. It briefly discusses possible responses and suggestions regarding how to address and mitigate these negative consequences. It emphasizes the need for cooperation and collaboration between various stakeholders: researchers, policymakers, regulators, the gaming industry, esports organizations, healthcare and treatment providers, educational institutes and the need for further evidence-based information.

Relationship Between Physical Activity, Healthy Lifestyle Behavior And Physical Fitness Of Palu City Esport Players

Research Objectives 1) Analyze the Level of Physical Fitness 2) Analyze the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness. 3) Analyze the relationship between healthy living behaviour and physical fitness. 4) Analyzing the relationship between physical activity, healthy living behaviour and physical fitness in Palu City sports players. This research is a quantitative correlational study; the sample in this study was esports players in Palu City, totalling 160 people. Data collection techniques and instruments used include questionnaires and multistage fitness test documentation. The variables in this study are physical activity, healthy living behaviour and physical fitness. Data analysis techniques use prerequisite tests and hypothesis testing. The results in this study are 1) The physical fitness level of esports players in Palu City is in a good category with a percentage of 76%. 2) The relationship between physical activity and physical fitness is in the weak correlation category. 3) The relationship between living behaviour and physical fitness is in the fragile correlation category. 4) The relationship between physical activity, healthy living behaviour, and physical fitness is in the weak correlation category. The conclusion of this study shows that the physical fitness level of Palu City sport players is in the sufficient category; the lack of physical activity and the application of healthy living behaviours greatly affect the quality of physical fitness of Palu City esports players

E-Sports Events as a New Trend in Tourism

Since the concept of tourism has a multifaceted structure, many activities could be evaluated within the scope of tourism activities. Electronic sports events could also be evaluated in this context. E-sports events such as Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Valorant and Dota 2 bring users together through many gaming platforms. Thus, when e-sports events are considered as event tourism, these events could lead to tourism movements. It is seen that e-sports players and e-sports viewers travel to the destinations where the event is held. Especially the destinations where these events are organized could provide an advantage in terms of touristic recognition. This study is a conceptual study that predicts that e-sports events will be among the new trends of tourism. This study has been carried out in order to reveal an idea on the effects of e-sports events on the tourism sector. Therefore, systematic literature review has been applied in this study. As a result of the literature review, it has been concluded that e-sports activities could have positive effects on the tourism sector.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE NEW YOUTH PROTECTION LAW AND ESPORTS IN SWITZERLAND

The Swiss esports industry has seen rapid development and a sharp increase in the number of esports players. For instance, Swisscom and PostFinance have officially entered the esports market in Switzerland. Against this backdrop, the Swiss Federal Council approved the Draft Law on Youth Protection for Film and Video Games (LYPFV) on 11 September 2020. This draft law may have a significant impact on the Swiss esports industry, as it could apply to the video game industry. Once in force, it will play a crucial role in protecting young Swiss esports players from negative consequences such as game addiction, violent and sexual content, sexual harassment, and hate speech in esports. To achieve this, it imposes certain restrictions, such as age limitations for access to video games that contain violent and sexual content. In light of these developments, this article provides a brief overview of the new youth protection law that applies to the Swiss esports industry.

An imagery-based intervention for managing anxiety in esports

Abstract The popularity and commercial success of videogames in the current era has given rise to a new type of competition: electronic sports (or esports). Researchers have proposed that esports players would benefit greatly from the applied sport psychology work typically conducted with traditional athletes and more specifically from evidence-based interventions. Imagery interventions have proven beneficial for the traditional athlete at managing anxiety in competitive settings, and in fact League of Legends players have noted the importance of mental skills, including imagery, to achieving optimal performance. The aim of the current paper is to provide practitioners with an imagery intervention specifically designed for managing anxiety in League of Legends players. Three 30-min workshops are described wherein the practitioner follows the three phases of Psychological Skills Training; education, acquisition and practice.

LANGUE DES JEUNES: THE USE OF GREETINGS BY E-SPORTS PLAYERS

One of the media used by teenagers to greet each other is electronic sports. Through e-sports, teenagers wave greetings and express their thoughts in words or sentences. The greeting is closely related to the name and designation used to address people. This qualitative descriptive study discusses e-sports players' greetings, especially those on the E-sport Podcast YouTube channel. The data were collected from five transcribed videos by note-taking. Then, they were analyzed using the theory of greeting according to the theory of Crystal (1997) and Kridalaksana (1980). Finally, the data were presented in tabulation for easy understanding. Based on the data analysis, the greetings used by e-sport players include personal names, pronouns, other nouns, kinship, and other words to show annoyance or anger.

Characteristics of the gut microbiome in esports players compared with those in physical education students and professional athletes.

Esports is a category of competitive video games that, in many aspects, may be similar to traditional sports; however, the gut microbiota composition of players has not been yet studied. Here, we investigated the composition and function of the gut microbiota, as well as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and amino acids, in a group of 109 well-characterized Polish male esports players. The results were compared with two reference groups: 25 endurance athletes and 36 healthy students of physical education. DNA and metabolites isolated from fecal samples were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Physical activity and nutritional measures were evaluated by questionnaire. Although anthropometric, physical activity and nutritional measures differentiated esports players from students, there were no differences in bacterial diversity, the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, the composition of enterotype clusters, metagenome functional content, or SCFA concentrations. However, there were significant differences between esports players and students with respect to nine bacterial species and nine amino acids. By contrast, all of the above-mentioned measures differentiated professional athletes from esports players and students, with 45 bacteria differentiating professional athletes from the former and 31 from the latter. The only species differentiating all three experimental groups was Parabacteroides distasonis, showing the lowest and highest abundance in esports players and athletes, respectively. Our study confirms the marked impact of intense exercise training on gut microbial structure and function. Differences in lifestyle and dietary habits between esports players and physical education students appear to not have a major effect on the gut microbiota.

Transitioning Out of Esports: Exploring the Experiences of Professional Esports Players in South Korea

This study explored the experiences of retired esports players, focusing particularly on their transition out of esports. Utilizing a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with four retired professional esports players in South Korea. A thematic analysis revealed four recurring themes: career pressure and uncertainty, lack of preretirement planning, demand for mentorship support, and necessity for a realistic perspective on talent. The findings indicated that significant pressure and financial insecurity during their careers often catalyzed the players’ decisions to retire. Players were unprepared for postesports life due to inadequate preretirement planning. This study highlights the crucial roles of mentorship and realistic talent assessments in facilitating smoother career transitions. The main contribution of this research lies in its empirical evidence, which stresses the need for structured support systems for esports players transitioning out of professional gaming. Stakeholders within the esports industry can utilize these findings to formulate policies and programs aimed at providing financial assistance, career planning, mentorship, and guidance to players during their careers and upon retirement. The outcomes of this study can serve as a foundation for future research by clarifying the necessity for broader investigations into the experiences of esports players and the development of practical strategies to mitigate their transition challenges.

Istraživanje karakteristika ličnosti - esportaši u poređenju sa sportašima

The primary aim of the paper is to conduct research on the personality traits in esport players and athletes, in addition to confirming differences in personality between the two examined groups. The research has been conducted on 67 (N=67) examinees, 30 of whom are semi-professional or professional esports players who participate in state-level and regional-level competitions. The remaining 37 examinees are the highest-ranked athletes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. T-test, a type of inferential statistic, has been used to determine statistical differences in disposition between the arithmetic means of the two groups, using the BFI-44 (a=0.78) measuring instrument. It has been anticipated that esports players would be ranked lower on Extraversion (E), Agreeableness (A), and Conscientiousness (C), but higher on the Neuroticism (N) and Openness (O) dimensions compared to athletes. The research indicates that four of the five hypotheses have been confirmed - on the scale of Extraversion (E) with significance levels of p=.000 (p&lt;0.0001); Agreeableness (A) showing p=.002 (p&lt;0.01); Neuroticism (N) showing p=.042 (p&lt;0.05); and Conscientiousness (C) showing significance levels of p=.004 (p&lt;0.01) The fifth hypothesis was not confirmed on this sample. The results gathered on this sample could significantly contribute to understanding the differences between esports players and athletes.

E-Spor Bileşenleri Derleme Çalışması: Sistematik Derleme

The rapid development of technology news has affected all areas as well as sports news and has caused new arrival. Both playing and watching competitive video games and computer games have created the concept of electronic sports. One of the most important features is to play individually and as a team and to require natural sports. At least 400 million people in the world are e-sports viewers, more than 100 million people are e-sports players and at least 7 million people in our country are e-sports players and viewers. With the development of technology, we see the effect of this development in sports and sports branches. With the improvements made in the field of internet and technology and the expansion of the current network platform, the name ESports (electronic sports), which has emerged as a new sports field, has now become a profession, and invested in countries. It also appears as one of the investment channels. In this field, which is based on games and develops such a global impact from day to day, the age of the individuals who are interested in the professional framework is one of the areas that should be considered. Big companies making sponsorship agreements with serious expenditures, called the game framework of this field, and revealing the conceptual information of this field, which continues to be influential today. To the literature to guide academic studies in the field of e-sports.

Exploration of Internet Gaming Disorder Among the Esports Community

As of 2014, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) as a condition for further study. There are questions about the validity of the current diagnostic criteria, particularly when distinguishing IGD from avid or professional gaming. This study aims to explore the validity of the DSM-5 criteria for IGD, establish prevalence rates, and identify predictive factors of IGD within the esports community. A sample of 147 esports players completed an online survey comprising of an IGD measure (Internet Gaming Disorder Scale 9—Short Form [IGDS9-SF]) based on the DSM-5 criteria, and a range of health, and demographic questions. The IGDS9-SF significantly correlated with psychological distress and disability (impairment in daily functioning). An exploratory factor analysis confirmed the IGDS9-SF criterion loaded onto a single factor. Using the 32-point cutoff for IGD on the IGDS9-SF, findings indicated that 11.64% of nonprofessional esports players and 5.26% of professional esports players met IGD cutoffs. Level of disability was the only significant predictor of reaching the IGD cutoff. These findings support the DSM-5 conceptualization of IGD within the esports community and identify a potential larger risk for nonprofessional players. The clinical implications and future directions for research as result of these findings are discussed.

Physical Exercise and Performance in Esports Players: An Initial Systematic Review

Background: Participation in esports (excluding active video games) has raised concerns due to its sedentary nature and the potential negative effects this may have on player health. As well, research suggests that physical activity (PA)/exercise improves specific cognitive skills that have been identified as positive contributors to esports performance. The aim of this systematic review was to assess whether evidence supports that PA/exercise positively impacts esports player performance. Methods: The systematic literature search comprised PubMed, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science up until March 31, 2022. An additional search included reference list searching, citation searching, and hand searching. Results: Emerging evidence suggests that PA/exercise as an intervention may have a positive effect on esports performance. While it appears that the majority of esports players believe PA/exercise to be beneficial to esports performance, only a minority currently undertake PA/exercise for the purpose of improving esports performance. Conclusion: Although further controlled experimental research is necessary, results highlight that PA/exercise may positively correlate with esports performance. These effects are consistent with the majority of player perceptions that PA/exercise is beneficial to esports performance. Qualified fitness and health professionals should be utilized to implement training to enhance esports performance, improve health, and extend player career length.

The Effects of Different Types of Training on Cognitive Performance in Professional Esports Players

Over the past decade, the number of studies on cognitive performance in esports has increased in line with its popularity. Cognitive functions like task switching, information processing, attention, and memory have been identified as an integral part of cognitive performance. In parallel, different types of training, ranging from physical to a combination of cognitive and motor tasks, have emerged as promising strategies to improve cognitive function and thus performance of esports players. However, only acute high-intensity interval training was studied in esports players and exclusively in recreational players. Due to the lack of specialized training programs for esports coaches, the small number of professional esports players and the relative youth of professional esports practice, there is a large gap in the literature regarding cognitive performance training methods to improve the cognitive performance of professional esports players. Based on these results, the present invited commentary encourages further studies to be conducted among professional esports players. Indeed, research perspectives are necessary to develop training protocols and optimal training schedules to improve professional esports players’ performance. In addition, this commentary supports the collaboration between academic and professional esports organizations. Finally, we provide recommendations to allow a win-win condition for both researchers and professional esports players in the future.

EXAMINATION OF MENTAL STRENGTH IN RECREATIVE E-SPORTS PARTICIPANTS

Abstract: Aim: The aim of this research is to determine the personal developments that individuals between the ages of 18-45 (n=400) who are interested in e-sports in the recreational sense gain from e-sports and to examine the relationship between personal development and mental resilience, together with the effect of this development on their mental resilience. Method: Data collection tools used in the study; Demographic information form created by the researchers, 21st Century Skills and E-sports, Mental Resilience scale were used. In the research, face-to-face data collection method was used, and the related analyzes were carried out after the data obtained were arranged in the SPSS program. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the demographic characteristics of e-sports players. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the development of e-sports players and mental toughness, and regression analysis was used to determine the effect. Results: Considering the findings of the study, it is seen that as the development of those who are interested in e-sports in the field of recreation increases, their mental endurance levels increase positively. In addition, a significant relationship was found between e-sports development and mental toughness. Conclusion: As a result, it has been determined that as the development of e-sports of individuals who are interested in e-sports as recreational activities increases, the effect on mental resilience increases positively and significantly.

Stress Management Strategies in Esports: An Exploratory Online Survey on Applied Practice

Given the competitive nature of esports (e.g., maintaining focus and adaptive coping) and the increasing interest from practitioners in addressing stress management issues, empirical evidence on stress management strategies is needed that is tailored to the unique demands of esports. To ensure that ethical and professional standards are being met, it is important to first explore the factors that practitioners perceive to negatively impact the performance of esports players and the stress management strategies that are currently being used to support these players. Therefore, an online survey of 25 practitioners was conducted with results highlighting a variety of factors that were perceived to negatively impact players’ performance such as players’ ability to cope and lack of self-confidence. In addition, stress management strategies used before and after competition most frequently included strategies such as imagery, breathing techniques, and social support. Future research directions, limitations, and practical implications are discussed.

Taking Care of Toxicity: Challenges and Strategies for Inclusion in U.S. Collegiate Esports Programs

Collegiate esports programs are rapidly expanding across the United States, offering a meaningful location in which to study diversity, equity, and inclusion. Because educational institutions must legally provide equal opportunities for all students, collegiate esports programs may need to avoid gaming culture’s longstanding tendency toward toxic behavior and language. At the same time, it is unclear whether or how effectively collegiate programs currently promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, necessitating further exploration. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews with collegiate esports players, program directors, tournament organizers, and members of related student support organizations, this research identifies four challenges that collegiate esports programs currently face when trying to prevent toxicity and encourage broader cultures of care and inclusion: (a) ambiguous definitions of “toxicity,” (b) its normalization, (c) unclear reporting/response mechanisms for those facing harassment, and (d) the collegiate esports community’s insularity. We discuss each of these themes and their impacts individually, then provide initial recommendations for esports programs hoping to better care for their students.

Understanding Esports Teamplay as an Emergent Choreography

We, as analysts and researchers of game play, may be overlooking important aspects of players’ actions that may help us understand the interconnectedness of interactional resources, such as body, gaze, talk and avatar actions, in players’ gaming experiences. Players, from their perspective, do not necessarily concern themselves with making distinctions between, for example, off-screen and on-screen actions at all. They employ all, and whatever, interactional resources that are available to them to play together as a team. This may become especially salient in multiplayer esports games where players are geographically dispersed. This study analyses several Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) matches being played by esports teams, in an attempt to, from an ethnomethodological (EM) participant perspective, understand how teams coordinate, or choreograph, their game play as part of larger sequences of situationally emergent tactics. We incorporate an understanding of expanded choreography developed within the field of dance and draw on the structural possibilities of choreography, seeking to understand the actions, collaboration, and coordination in the players’ game play through analyzing interactional resources and movement qualities enacted when playing. Understanding individual players’ actions and team actions as part of a larger, emergent, choreography may help us to better realize how esports players in a team, intersubjectively, construct a ’mental map’ of current and next actions, which affect their own (individual) current and next actions.