In this Issue: Tough times for games
Switzerland
Tough times for games in Switzerland …
IeSF meets Norwegian delegation Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League MSSA’s support for school eSports activity in Austria e -Sports referee of KeSPA What’s new? People of this month
By Dario Salice Although games became more and more popular in Switzerland, over the past years, there still are a lot of prejudices towards them. Specially Action games like CounterStrike, Quake etc. suffer from a lack of understanding. Surprisingly these prejudices aren’t that strong within the population itself, but rather on the political level. The political class in Switzerland consists of a large majority who don’t know much about new medias and especially about games. Last year, a member of the National Council filed a political motion to “prohibit killer games” by law on a national level. The group she’s been representing argued with the “fact” that videogames with violent content have a proven influence on young people as well on grown-ups. Such a motion can be filed by any member of the parliament (the parliament is elected by the public) and has to be voted on. In September 2009, the large chamber of the Swiss parliament, accepted the motion. The media, industry and the whole gaming community was really surprised by that decision. No one took this motion really serious. As a second step, the smaller part of the Parliament had to decide on this law, for it to pass to the Federal Assembly. Still being under shock from the first step, the motion made in September 2009, no one wanted to have anything undone to prevent it for proceed to the Federal Assembly. The Swiss e-sports Federation (SESF) initiated an alliance together with political parties (young socialists and the Swiss pirate party) and many organizations from the gaming- and e-sports-community to run a petition to send a message, that this motion is not the right way to go. With this petition, the alliance achieved a good echo from the medias as well as from some politicians. In addition to the alliance, other government funded organizations as well as all young-parties (from left to right) brought a clear message against this motion and for as constructive association with video games. On the 18th of March 2010 the smaller chamber of the Parliament decided to pass this motion to the Federal Assembly. In spite of all the messages from the public, the medias and political young parties, they accepted to motion to work on a law, which should prohibit “games with violent content”. Due to the Swiss system, motions accepted by the two chambers of the parliament aren’t valid instantly. The Federal Assembly first has to elaborate a proposal, which then has to pass both chambers of the parliament until it gets approved as a national law. After a law is passed from the parliament, there still is the chance to file a referendum against it, which has to be signed by 50’000 Swiss people within 100 days. If this is achieved and counted as valid, the law will be made available for a public vote, where all Swiss voters can decide on it. Since the people are considered as the highest authority in Switzerland, this would be a binding decision. Due to the following steps, which still have to get passed until such a law would be approved in Switzerland, there are some good chances, that the alliance and other organization will be declined or reduced to an acceptable level. But it also means, that a lot of work, energy and resources will be needed to get to this goal. *After reviewing this situation together with IeSF members, Oh Won Suk, secretary-general of IeSF, decided to take an action on this issue by sending official letter or arranging a meeting with the Swiss government. 1
In this Issue: Tough times for games IeSF meets Norwegian delegation Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League MSSA’s support for school eSports activity in Austria e -Sports referee of KeSPA What’s new? People of this month
IeSF meets Norwegian delegation Norway
By Hei-Eun, Kim
On 15 March, IeSF was invited to Norway delegation meeting at Somerset Hotel during their visit in South Korea. Oh Won Suk, secretary-general of IeSF had a presentation to explain the deputation of IeSF vision and goal. They showed their interests in IeSF and would keep having a good relationship with IeSF in the future. IeSF achieved good results through the meeting, opening new door to Scandinavian countries not only Norway but Sweden. IeSF was also invited to the residence of Norwegian ambassador the following day, having a private meeting with Norwegian ambassador, game publishers, association official and so on. ‘SnowCastle’ which plans to establish Norwegian e-Sports association does necessary steps to be an IeSF member at the moment.
Chinese Taipei
The Biggest Scale, the Longest Game Season and the Highest Prize in Taiwan By Ellie
(e-players at the Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League )
For promoting E-Sport all over in Taiwan and establishing a completed E-Sport syste m, Taiwan eSports League (TeSL) has been holding an amateur game with the biggest scale, the longest game season and the highest prize since March 2010. “Professional eSport Super League” held by TeSL and broadcast by ESPN has received impressive TV rating and numerous response from gamers. With the belief of a perfect E-Sport gaming system requiring both amateur and professional games, TeSL will be holding “Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League” by touring Taiwan and using integration so all amateur E-Sport players can be improved and developed by attending leagues. Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League will be divided into Spring and Fall games and be on tour in the Northern, Middle and Southern Taiwan from March to November 2010. Currently the confirmed touring games are Crazy Racing, SF Online, and Counter Strike On-line which are held at 7pm every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in Taipei, Taichung, and Kauhsiung. Each game has up to 36 rounds and prize of US7,000 dollars for each round. By Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League, TeSL hopes to prepare the rule of three levels as baseball or basketball games and contribute the accomplishment for those players interested in E-Sport so it can develop more potential players. Hence, a completed E-Sport environment is created and getting better.
If you want to read full text, please visit IeSF website www.ie-sf.com 2
In this Issue: Tough times for games
South Africa
IeSF meets Norwegian delegation
MSSA supports underprivileged school By Colin Webster
Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League MSSA’s support for school eSports activity in Austria e -Sports referee of KeSPA What’s new? People of this month
(Students of Sedikeng Primary School with MSSA)
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), one of the IeSF members, is continuing with its development of gaming at underprivileged schools in South Africa. The latest school to so benefit from this program is Sefikeng Primary School that is situated to the north of Johannesburg. The children are encouraged to participate in both boardgames, such as the every popular game of Morabaraba, and eSports. It is hoped that through these very programs that players will become proficient in gaming. Through such proficiency, players can earn provincial and national colours and hopefully obtain bursaries to study further at university.
Austria
eSports and gaming activities in Austria By Andie Katschthaler
In March 2010 the Austrian eSport Association (esvoe) was working on two major eSports events. One was the so-called Fernwärme eSports Soccer Cup, now in its third year. The Soccer Cup is an eSport event tailored to Vienna’s energy provider “Fernwärme Wien”. Like the name says it focuses mainly on a soccer game, FIFA 10, but participants could also try their hand at the racing game Forza Motorsport 3 and Virtua Tennis 2009. The tournament takes place over two days and is especially amateur-friendly because player can choose to partake right there on-site, play the qualifications and try to make it to the final games. In 2010 more than 300 people came to take part in and to see the Soccer Cup. The second event the esvoe was involved in was a cultural-scientific-esports crossover event taking place in St. Pölten in Lower Austria – CyberLab 2010. Purpose of the event was to examine the human element in the human-machine-computer triangle. The academic part of the event was a symposium, the cultural part an art lab, and the eSports part in which esvoe was highly involved was a huge LAN-party. About 200 gamers and gaming-interested people took part in the LAN-party.
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In this Issue: Tough times for games
e-Sport referee of KeSPA South Korea
IeSF meets Norwegian delegation
By Hei-Eun, Kim
Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League
When people hear the term ‘e-Sports referee’, it stimulates people’s curiosity. To gratify the curiosity, IeSF seek Chang Suk Jun, a first class referee of KeSPA (the Korean e-Sport Association) and ask few questions.
MSSA’s support for school eSports activity in Austria e -Sports referee of KeSPA What’s new? People of this month
Differences of e-Sports referee “e-Sports referees are fairly similar to other sports referees except they supervise matches in the electronic environment” referee Chang said. Also he added that e-sports referees are responsible for all of matches refereeing, recording, (Referee, Chang Suk Jun) broadcasting and etc unlike general sports referees who only adjudicate matches. Size and Composition There are 24 e-Sports referees in South Korea. The referee is divided into three classes based on experience and education. For example, the first class referees have at least over 3 years career. Second class has 1 or 2 years. Anyone whose age over nineteen can apply third class referees. Difficulties e-Sports referees struggle with problems arise from vague rules, lack of discretionary power of referee itself, furious audience. There have been many disputes over ‘discretionary authority of referee’ but the problems are somehow solved. International referees It is a dream of every referee to be international referee. KeSPA also has vision of fostering a leading role of referee, in compliance with IeSF’s constitution and policy, so that it organizes a language program for global communication . Also it encourages referee to study various games beloved by e-players, users around world to make them to adjust unfamiliar games.
What’s News? Singapore E-Sport in Singapore (ESA), one of IeSF members has accepted by its government as a registered association in Singapore due to the endeavor of its staff. Let us celebrate his great work!
Romania The 26th Counter-Strike National Championship registration broken a new record –2 10 teams registered for the new Counter-Strike Season, proving again that CounterStrike is by far the most played game in Romania. India Associate member of IeSF, Indiiagames has approved by its government. Now it is officially entitled to be a member of IeSF subject to final approval by general meeting . On March 31, Vishal Gondal, CEO and founder of Indiagames will visit IeSF headquarter to discuss future business. 4
In this Issue: Tough times for games IeSF meets Norwegian delegation MSSA’s support for school eSports activity in Austria Tt eSports 2010 Amateur League e -Sports referee of KeSPA What’s new? People of this month
People of this month Germany
Thomas von Treichel is recently elected as a president of the Germany eSports association(E-SB) waiting for official confirmation of the court. IeSF interviewed him to find out who he is. Q. How long have you worked in e-Sports Industry? My first contact with e-Sport and the Gaming Industry in general was 1998. I was organizing a “Bring your own computer” event in Germany with the small size of 200 people. Within 3 years, this event grew to 2.500 people which was the biggest Gaming Only BYOC these days in Europe. In 2000, I was hired by a German publisher and developer until 2004 I was hired from Don S. Kim for ACE for handling the World Cyber Games in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Q. Tell us about your association where you work. The Germany eSport Association (E-SB) had a hard time the last month. Due to several restructurings and suddenly drop outs of some people, we have been busy over the last 6 months to set up the new board and a totally new structure including new targets. Right now we have around 80.000 members, and we are waiting for the official confirmation of the court that the new board and the new charter is accepted that we can start working on the next steps. Q. Tell us about your life out of your office. It has been 3 years that I am married. My wife and I do many things together because we share the same passions. I’m a roller coaster junkie as I always plan a trip to foreign countries. For example, last time in Seoul I visited Lotte World. And if we want to have it more relaxed,then a huge DVD and BluRay collection is waiting for us. Besides that for sure, Games is an important part of my life, I have all actual and a lot of the past consoles and a PC as well. Q. If you have last words to IeSF, Please tell us. I just want to tell Mr. Oh and all of his team is doing a great Job. we have already gathered all over the planet, I’ m sure that we can bring the professionalism how e-Sport is already handled in Korea to the whole world in short time. Let’s keep on working on this and show all the doubters that they are wrong.
(Thomas with his wife at N tower in S. Korea)
Contact us Editor Hei-Eun, Kim heieun05@ie-sf.org
General Manager Noha, Park noha@ie-sf.org
Deputy Manager Mibu, Kim mibu@ie-sf.org
International e-Sports Federation 2F, 641-2, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea 131-080 Tel: +82 2 2016 4003
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