Even E-sports has been officially recognized as a sport project, it is still full of controversies. How long does E-sports far away from the wild recognition of the public and from the traditional sports?
Current: the co-existence of difficulties and hope
On July 22, 2014, Newbee won the T14 and gained five million dollars as an award, which causes a sensation. Such a large number of bonus even attracted the attention of many traditional print media. Electronic sports expanded its impacts by this chance successfully. On the other hand, some opinions of media workers reflected the thoughts of the general public: Playing games can earn money too? It shows that electronic sports still have a long way to go if it wants to be accepted by traditional minds.
It can be said that, with the impact of network addiction, misunderstandings of the public are not incidental. According to the votes conducted by People’s Daily Online, only 20% of the voters approve that E-sports should be accounted as a sport project. This poll also reflects that people lack of understanding of E-sports and confuse E-sports with playing online games.
Difficulties not only come from the outside, but also from inside. There are famous players Sky and Newbee, but also ordinary players who are in a tight spot even fail to have a job with stable salary and get supports from their family. Even Newbee dared to confess to their parents after their success. Besides, from a hobby to a career, hard training could not be neglected. Professional players need to train at least 10 hours every day.
Same as other traditional sports, retirement also exists among E-sports players. Golden age for E-sports is between 18 to 25. Being poorly educated during this period is one of the most important reasons for the public’s misunderstanding.
As an industry who is gradually exploring business pattern and forming industrial chain still has a long way to go. Although faces with barriers and obstacles along the road, E-sports industry in China is still full of hope with the endeavor of the government, capital, players and manufacturers. It is transferring to be a traditional and serious industry.
An officer from State General Administration of Sports says that: Every sport is a product of the development of social productive forces and the changes of the society. Track and field coming from agrarian age; cycle racing coming from industrial age and E-sports coming from information and technology age, which represents the attitude of governmental departments. There is one sentence could judge E-sports objectively: E-sports players are not a group of people who addicted in games but someone who try to realize themselves in games.
Manufacturers and capitals will focus on E-sports industry chains and players. Except hosting competitions with high reward, the popularity of live-broadcasting platforms, such as Douyu TV or Zhanqi TV, provide stable earnings to E-sports players.
Future: passion will last forever
Only passion and hope can support this industry to develop, change and move forward. To be frank, E-sports is a career with high risks. Great pressure and prejudices must be accepted no matter who wants to be a part of this industry. It has nothing to do with wealth, reputation and status. It matters the pleasures in your deep heart. It matters the focus and dedication.
I admire those athletes who try to challenge the limit of human again and again. But I also admire those E-sports players who spend their valuable time and energy on it even take risks of misunderstanding. They also deserve a hug, a bunch of flowers and a kind smile.