eSports Industry Research Articles

E-sporda Transfer, Sözleşme ve Çalışma İlişkileri: League of Legends Oyunu Üzerine Nitel Bir Araştırma

The aim of this study was to reveal the transfer processes, contracts and labor capital, relations, and working conditions of esports players within the electronic sports sector in Turkey. The findings obtained, it was aimed to identify the deficiencies in the esports industry and contribute to this field. Our study was designed according to the qualitative method and the semi-structured interview technique was used. Interviews were held online via Discord and Whatsapp in February 2021 and August 2021. The sample group of the study consisted of 13 participants who have retired or continue to wear uniforms in esports clubs. As a result of the findings obtained; there was no intermediary in the transfer process, the transfer process varied depending on the career of the player, esports players did not have information about social security, career times were shorter than in traditional sports, esports players were worried about the future, working hours were flexible, and there were some disputes between the esports players and esports teams. The results have been determined, such as the tendency of esports players to seek their rights on social media.

The show must go on: Why Korea lost its first-mover advantage in Esports and how it can become a major player again

Korea was once a first mover in the field of esports and could have been the top esports powerhouse due to its unrivaled information and communications technology infrastructure and cultural base in esports. However, Korea now lags behind late movers in the field. China is striving to dominate the industry by replicating Korea's primary strategies, and U.S. game developers are strengthening their control of intellectual properties (IPs). This study reviewed the decline of Korea's esports industry in the global market and proposed measures that could revive it. We employed a qualitative method using relevant literature, secondary data from industry reports and government publications, and expert interviews. To this end, we applied first-mover advantages and late-mover advantages as a theoretical lens. The findings of this study suggest that owning solid IP resources will guarantee the scalability of the esports business. Recovering platform sovereignty is the main agenda for Korea as it maintains and supports the esports industry. Furthermore, educational support for career development is necessary as the esports industry expands. Therefore, systemic approaches from three different stakeholders (i.e., industry, government, and academia) are required to restore Korea's leadership in the esports industry.

The Attention Economy and Esports: An Econometric Analysis of Twitch Viewership

With the expansion of the esports industry, there is a growing body of literature examining the motivations and behaviors of consumers and participants. The current study advances this line of research by considering esports consumption through an economic framework, which has been underutilized in this context. Specifically, the “attention economy” is introduced as a theoretical approach—which operates with the understanding that due to increased connectivity and availability of information, it is the attention of consumers that becomes a scarce resource for which organizations must compete. Using data from the Twitch streaming platform, the results of econometric analysis further highlight the importance of structural factors in drawing attention from online viewers. As such, this research advances the theoretical and empirical understanding of online viewership behaviors, while also providing important ramifications for both esports and traditional sport organizations attempting to capture the attention of users in the digital realm.

China and E-sports in the Digital Era

The contemporary digital era cannot be conceived of without information and communication technologies permeating all aspects of the community and economy. The production of electronic commodities and e-commerce are the foundations of the digital economy and e-sports form one of its components. China has the most significant e-sports industry in the world, with profits estimated to reach US$385 million in 2021, compared to the rest of the world, where revenue is expected to reach just US$252.5 million. The importance of e-sports to China's digital economy is becoming more evident over time. This article provides details of e-sports in China, from its historical background to the contemporary situation. Keywords: China’s e-sports, China’s revenue, Digital era, E-sports, Sports industry

“Starting from scratch to looking really clean and professional”: how students’ productive labor legitimizes collegiate esports

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the relationship between student productive labor, or the creation of media content like podcasts or graphic designs, and the institutionalization of collegiate esports. Through 19 semi-structured interviews with students and professionals involved in different areas around collegiate esports, we found that students’ productive labor was a key force in the institutionalization of collegiate esports that generated value for university institutions, the collegiate esports program, and themselves. Student journalists, shoutcasters, and graphic designers perform immaterial labor (Lazzarato, M., 1996 Immaterial labour. Radical thought in Italy: A potential politics, 133–47) that combines technical expertise and familiarity with esports cultural norms to produce content for their university programs. Students reported their excitement to pursue careers throughout the esports industry while acknowledging the stiff competition and precarious nature of employment, resonating with Bulut’s (2020, A precarious game: The illusion of dream jobs in the video game industry) discussion of ludopolitics to examine who can play games versus who can work in the game industry. The article thus addresses the benefits, and risks, inherent in colleges’ reliance on student labor to structure and promote their nascent esports programs.

Research on the Current Situation and Countermeasures of Employment Demand in China’s E-Sports Industry

The main purpose of this paper is to study the status of employment demand of China’s e-sports industry, and give reasonable suggestions for these situations. In this article, the data analysis method is used to analyze the geographical structure, job structure and salary structure of the Chinese e-sports talent market. The main research results of this paper are that there is a serious imbalance in the talent demand structure of China's e-sports industry, regional gap, and huge gap in positions. Based on the findings, several suggestions are given on the different part of the industry chain.

Esports Industry, Video Game Industry and Economic Growth: An Empirical Research in China

Esports Industry, Video Game Industry and Economic Growth: An Empirical Research in China

Key private law problems of game-publishers in the eSports industry

Key private law problems of game-publishers in the eSports industry

Uloga ličnog brendiranja u esport industriji

In recent years, esports has gathered an audience of several million people (primarily members of the younger population) and all predictions indicate that this industry has the potential to become one of the strongest in the near future. As such, it is very interesting for companies that want to use its possibilities, to sponsor competitions, gamers, teams, advertise their brands, but also communicate with the target market. Among the most effective marketing strategies, the hiring of esports influencers, well-known esports gamers, who have a large fan base stands out. Influencers interact with their followers through social networks, but also during streaming sessions while playing digital games. By supporting and recommending digital games, various soft ware, hardware, as well as brands, which are not directly related to the esports (gaming) industry, they can influence the attitudes of fans (consumers) and their purchasing decisions. Personal branding can improve the image of an esports gamer (influencer), but only if activities are carefully planned and implemented. Adequate communication, meaningful and timely content that is placed in the digital environment, charisma, expertise, but also behavior in the real world, combined with healthy personal attitudes of the influencer, can make such a person the one that fans trust and whose recommendations (about brands) they want to hear, adopt and share with others. Therefore, the esports influencer becomes interesting for companies, which want to use his/her potential for marketing purposes.

Doping as a barrier in universal acceptance of esports

PurposeEsports has been emerging as a multi-billion dollar industry by attracting players, viewers, advertisers and investors across the globe. Even though there are plenty of professional titles present, only a few have been considered mainstream due to lack of formal governance mechanisms, presence of corruption and cheating mechanisms. “Doping” is one such practice where the players try to gain unfair advantage over their competitors, causing major hindrance in esports development. This qualitative study would draw insights from their perceptions about different doping mechanisms and possible recommendations to curb them.Design/methodology/approachThis study has analyzed the semi-structured interviews of selected esports professionals to draw insights from their perceptions about different doping mechanisms and possible recommendations to curb them. This qualitative study would explore the content of their interviews for extracting relevant themes and subthemes.FindingsThe findings of this study have made significant contributions to deeply lacking literature about the esports industry and barriers it faces in order to be considered as a legitimate sport. The study has extracted contemporary and new emerging themes about the rising trends in the industry and their impact on society and the way we see sports as a whole. Moreover, this study dwells upon the rampant drug abuse persisting in this industry and how it offers itself as a barrier to the legitimization of esports as a viable global industry.Originality/valueThis study provides an on-ground reality reports on esports and various malpractices rampant in the industry by conducting interviews with various industry professionals and analyzing them through a thematic analysis method using an inductive approach.

Some eating habits and physical activity of players performing in e-sports

Reading the rapidly growing popularity of video games and the accelerating growth of the esports industry requires research into its potential health benefits or harms. The amount of time that esports players spend sitting at computer equipment can have potential negative consequences, including a higher risk of injuries and chronic diseases, of the musculoskeletal system, primarily the muscles of the neck area and cervical spine, visual impairment, and carpal tunnel syndrome. A number of studies have shown that excessive addiction to video games can lead to a wide range of negative mental and then social consequences, such as loss of interest in external activities, social isolation, sleep disturbance, poor academic performance, irritability, aggression, family conflicts, dissatisfaction with everyday life, and decreased memory. Further research in this area is necessary to analyze information about the characteristics of eating behavior, level of physical activity, energy expenditure, body composition of e-sportsmen in order to identify possible potential for improving health, endurance indicators, and sports performance.

(Dis)Assembling eSports: Material Actors and Relational Networks in the Chinese eSports Industry

ABSTRACT Previous studies on eSports have essentially focused on its “sportiness” without giving attention to aspects such as media, information, and technology. By assessing the emerging research field of eSports through the lens of Actor-Network Theory, this study regards the Chinese eSports industry as an assemblage of heterogeneous elements. Accordingly, this study disassembles and unpacks eSports to understand how it is assembled, disassembled, and reassembled. Using research methods such as participant observation and in-depth interviews, this study evaluates the material actors and relational networks of the Chinese eSports industry to trace how the actors come to be assembled, how they associate and exercise force, and how they persist or decline each other's effects. Thus, it suggests that material actors and relational networks with an agency are not simply mediating, but also structuring eSports, indicating the explicit and implicit dynamics of power within the actor-network.

Characterization of E-sports in Colombia to 2020

During the last 15 years an era known as "the information and knowledge society" has begun (Vera, 2015). Evidence of this is the extensive development of information technologies in Colombia, which has shaped an entire eSports industry that has generated entrepreneurial opportunities and significant revenues. In other countries such as Spain, where eSports-related issues have been around for longer, the trend has been positive in economic and social terms: it is estimated that 3 out of every 4 children between 8 and 13 years old have a video game console at home, and play on average 25 minutes a day, or the equivalent of 152 hours a year (Castillo, 2007). Likewise, The Pew Internet & American Life Project estimates that 8 out of 10 American children have a video game console at home, that more than half have 2 or more, and that 66% of young people play or download games online (Lenhart, 2007). However, when comparing the above figures in Colombia, it is possible to note a technological lag that marks a distance from European and North American countries where there is a boom in eSports, where they are already considered official. This article aims to present a characterization of the eSports industry in Colombia to 2020, in order to contribute to the formalization of these sports in the country, which are currently experiencing a massive popularization from different social spheres. This research was carried out from a descriptive approach: an interview was conducted with the president of the Colombian Federation of eSports (Fedecolde), a content review of the website of that entity was made, its databases were accessed to identify proligas and proclubes that are constituted nationally by departments and municipalities. It was also useful to outline a profile of gamers from an online survey, and to establish the stakeholders that have been linked to the Federation. It can be concluded that the eSports industry in Colombia is incubating its best part: little by little it has achieved acceptance in society and young people are turning their attention to this type of initiatives that offer diverse possibilities for economic growth and different cultural practices.

Knowledge Management in the Esports Industry: Sustainability, Continuity, and Achievement of Competitive Results

The increasing popularity and exponential growth of esports as a worldwide phenomenon has created a whole new industry with important implications for the different key players in the value chain. The digitalization process, which accelerated after the global spread of COVID-19, has introduced a collection of exciting changes to content production and delivery, with the Internet as its fundamental pillar. Knowledge management in successful esports organizations can be associated with their sustainability, continuity, and achievement of long-lasting competitive results in this industry. From a descriptive standpoint, this paper aims to analyze the determinants that have advanced the esports industry, especially in Spain. To achieve this goal, a SWOT analysis is carried out to highlight the keys that have developed this industry. This research contributes to studying the economic impact and the strategies organizations should follow to guarantee their future. Recommendations for both the industry and public administrations are further discussed.

Knowledge Mapping and Sustainable Development of eSports Research: A Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis

The rapid expansion of the eSports industry has attracted scholars’ attention in recent years. However, little research has investigated the evolution of the extant eSports literature. This study aimed to explore the existing knowledge base of eSports and its research networks across authors, journals, institutions, and countries by performing a bibliometric analysis. A total of 260 studies published between 2010 and 2021 were extracted from the Scopus database, which is one of the largest abstract and citation databases. Then, they were analyzed using VOSviewer. Specifically, a series of analyses were conducted: (1) citation analysis, (2) co-occurrence analysis of keywords, and (3) co-citation analysis. The findings revealed that the existing eSports literature mainly revolves around eSports games and activities closely related to eSports. Moreover, the most influential authors and publications were identified. In addition, the studies have been published in journals of various disciplines (e.g., technology and psychology), and the concepts and theories in sport-related fields (e.g., sports management) have been extensively applied in eSports research. This study’s findings contribute to a better understanding of eSports research, which can further provide directions for the sustainable development of eSports research.

Of Values and Commercialisation: An Exploration of Esports’ Place within the Olympic Movement

ABSTRACT Esports’ rise in popularity has led the Olympic Movement (OM) to consider esports as a possible addition to the Olympic programme. A positive stance on the part of the OM towards certain aspects of esports has become apparent in recent years. However, the OM has expressly stated that while it is values-based, the esports industry is commercially driven. This article aims to take a tenable step towards the conceptualisation of the relationship between esports and ‘values’. Moreover, it weighs esports’ potential addition to the Olympic programme in view of the commercialisation of the Olympic Games whilst also exploring the selection process for adding new sports to the programme. The article concludes that despite the OM’s negativity concerning the supposed lack of values in the esports industry, it ignores the commercialisation of the Olympic Games at its hands. Accordingly, it will further assert that esports will possibly become a part of the Olympic programme in the near future.

E스포츠 중계방송 해설자의 특성인식과 의사인간관계 및 시청몰입 간의 관계

This study aims to provide basic data for contents creation and marketing strategy for purpose of increasing viewers in more effective way in the e-sports industry, through identification of relationship between e-sports relay broadcasting commentator’s characteristics, parasocial relationship and viewer immersion. For this purpose, viewers who experienced viewing of LCK 2020 Summer Season games are chosen as population, then a survey is distributed by using purposive sampling, one of non-probability sampling, and total of 342 cases are applied to final analysis.<BR> For data processing, SPSS Statistics 23.0 and AMOS 18 is used, and frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and structural equation model are conducted and the following results are found.<BR> First, characteristics that appearance, personal appeal, voice and manner of speaking are found to have positive effect, but characteristics of expertise are found to have no meaningful effect. Second, among all characteristics only appearance is found to have positive effect, and personal appeal, voice, manner of speaking and expertise are found to have no meaningful effect. Third, parasocial relationship is found to have no meaningful effect on viewer immersion.

Breaking the glass monitor: examining the underrepresentation of women in esports environments

ABSTRACT While the growth of esports is undeniable, access, inclusivity, and diversity within this space is reminiscent of U.S. pre-Title IX traditional sport environments. As such, recent calls for the inclusion of esports within the traditional sport management literature have been persuasive. The esports industry is largely male dominated, as women and girls represent a lower proportion of participants, fans, and employees. While the proportions are staggering, the underrepresentation of women and girls in the esports industry has not been fully explored. In order to investigate this underrepresentation, 10 women esports competitors, content creators, and executives advanced our understanding of both the career experiences and career obstacles they encounter including (1) breaking the glass monitor, (2) toxic “geek” masculinity, (3) hostile sport environments, and (4) “mental” (e.g., grit). This investigation utilized a generic, qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews and employed an inductive thematic-analysis process to uncover the experiences of women employees in the esports industry. This will serve as the first qualitative study in sport management that examines the career experiences of elite-level women gamers and executives. As such, the major contributions are the identified obstacles that women have faced in their rise to elite level careers within this space.

Corporate growth strategies in an era of digitalization: A network analysis of the national basketball association’s 2K league sponsors

Traditional sport leagues must innovate and embrace emerging trends to grow. At the forefront of these trends are the inherently digital esports –competitive video game competitions. In particular, the NBA is a trailblazer in the esports industry by partnering with the video game publisher Take-Two Interactive, to create a virtual sport-simulation league, the NBA 2K League. The NBA’s entrepreneurial activities create challenges regarding how to position the digital, boundary spanning product that incorporates elements from both traditional sports and esports. The current study utilized network analysis to examine three sponsorship portfolios: the NBA, the 2K League, and an existing esports league, the League of Legends Championship Series. Findings indicate that the NBA is using an innovative hybrid corporate growth strategy, with a diverse sponsorship portfolio for the 2K League. This strategy serves to mitigate the challenges of digitalization by legitimizing the 2K League across physical and virtual domains.

ESPORTS INTEGRITY POLICIES

ESPORTS INTEGRITY POLICIES