E-ATHLETES AIM FOR RESPECT
E-sports will be part of the Asian Games in 2022, but state support for star gaming performers is still limited. By
Governments in Asia have often had a rocky relationship with video games. From the outright banning of some titles to broader social disapproval, gaming traditionally has not been an activity that governments promote to their citizens. But with the industry’s relentless growth, some governments have been forced to change their stance.
In a breakthrough for gaming enthusiasts, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced in April that e-sports would be introduced as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia with full inclusion at the 2022 Games in Hangzhou, China.
E-sports is the term used to describe the professional gaming scene where teams compete for sometimes huge prize funds through leagues and at international tournaments. Broader international acceptance and the embrace by corporate sponsors contrasts with the mixed treatment gaming has received by many governments around Asia.
In China, internet addiction treatment camps are infamous for their military discipline and harsh methods, and gamers are said to make up a large number of the internees. It is not uncommon for treatments such as electrical shocks to be used in the effort to cure internet addiction, and last month a teenager died at a camp within two days of arriving. Although the cause of death is yet unclear, his body was found with many scars and bruises.
Parents often leave their children at such camps for months on end in the hope their excessive attraction to gaming can be cured. It is important to note, however, that whether someone can be clinically addicted to gaming is not a universally accepted theory.
Many video games themselves have been banned too. In Thailand, the military government famously banned Tropico 5 in 2014 for being a threat to peace and order. It’s a game where the player runs a tropical military dictatorship. The more violent franchise Grand Theft Auto has been banned since 2008 when a teenager killed a taxi driver, reportedly in his effort to re-enact the game.
Just last week the country banned Fight of Gods, an online game featuring brawls between deities from different religions — Jesus versus Buddha for example — but mainly on grounds of bad taste. Malaysia has also banned the game.
There are obvious concerns from many governments in Asia about gaming addiction and the content of some games. With gaming sometimes having adverse effects on schooling, mental health and, in rare cases, inspiring criminal behaviour, it can be seen as a social ill. However, governments are taking, if rather hesitantly, an increasingly relaxed and often supportive approach to e-sports.
“Governments around the world are opening up to the idea of e-sports as a form of professional competition. This includes several countries accepting e-sports players as athletes, granting them easier access to visas, and even governments looking to introduce some regulation,” says Jurre Pannekeet, the head of e-sports for the market researcher Newzoo.
Last month, the Philippines and Finland became the latest countries to recognise their gaming professionals as athletes, allowing them to receive funding and compete internationally. The Philippines’ Games and Amusements Board cited “strong teamwork, growing popularity and commercial success” as reasons for its move to support the industry.
They hope regulations will address the welfare of players, match fixing and the integrity of contracts between players and corporations to ensure that Filipinos aren’t at a disadvantage.
“I find that governments typically had a negative view toward gaming, as gaming was typified as unstimulating physical activity that rendered individuals more isolated. While we were always aware that these beliefs did not represent reality, I think most governments extended this view to e-sports, at first,” said Mr Pannekeet.
“I believe they have become aware that e-sports fans do not fit the image of the old stereotype. If anything, e-sports is building a booming social community.
“However, the future role of governments in e-sports is still very much uncertain. Both the extent to which governments want to be involved in regulation, but also to how effective they can be in a very digital and global form of entertainment, that very much spans country borders.”
Derek Yu, global marketing director of the hardware provider Republic of Gamers (ROG), said: “Asus and our ROG sub-brand have had a great experience as we’ve participated in panel discussions about gaming with various governments.”
Asus, the Taipei-headquartered computer, telephone hardware and electronics company, has used the ROG brand to build a high profile in the PC gaming industry.
“We’ve hosted many tournaments that enjoy strong backing and even endorsements from a variety of governments. However, for the most part governments are now sponsoring the gaming industry overall versus specific brands,” said Mr Yu.
However, there are countries that buck the trend of increasing their support for e-sports. In July, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) refused to recognise e-sports as an official discipline and thus denied the national team the chance to compete in the fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (Aimag). The games, which are sponsored by the OCA, are held every four years and feature both traditional and e-sports.
“E-sports is still a demonstration sport, so it won’t cause much damage whether we send the team to join the tournament or not,” said Natthawut Reungwet, the deputy governor of the SAT.
Whether countries such as Thailand become more supportive of the e-sports industry is yet to be seen. However, they appear to be an exception to the trend. The inclusion of e-sports in the Asian Games in 2022 will be a milestone for the industry and, with Paris considering e-sports for the 2024 Olympics, it could precipitate further success.
“I believe [governments] have become aware that e-sports fans do not fit the image of the old stereotype. If anything, e-sports is building a booming social community” JURRE PANNEKEET Head of e-sports, Newzoo