Careful what you read!

There are all sorts out there professing to promote eSports.

There is no doubt that the MSSA has a vested interest in promoting eSports for the sake of eSports.

While we all know that there are a few gamers who do not like the MSSA, it is not because the MSSA is not promoting eSports, but rather because they are doing things differently and have brought structure to the sport.

When you look at the reputable blogs run by MWEB, MyGaming, and TELKOM, and others, you will also see that they do much to promote the concept of eSports.

Yes, they will point out weaknesses when they should, but on the whole they are positive about the future about eSports.

After all, these companies too have a vested interest in the growth of eSports as the growth of eSports will ultimately benefit them financially. These companies have looked at the 'big picture' and have taken a long-term view.

But there are others that continually attack and tear down.

For what motive?

I was lead to believe that it is because they do not want to see any structure existing for eSports, and I still believe this to a certain extent.

But, I believe now more-and-more that it is purely for the ratings.

There is no real interest in seeing eSports grow, after all, what has such blogger done to actually promote eSports, instead, all such blogger wishes to do is get readers.

Thus, it seems to such blogger, irrelevant the damage that he does as long as he earns a few Rands. This is a short term view which in the end will lead nowhere, and those that follow will become disenchanted and bitter when they eventually realise that they have lost out on opportunities from which they could have benefited.

As my grandmother told me, it is easier to break down rather than to build.

What you read is up to you, just read it with an open mind!

Can what happened to the WCG happen in SA?

So the WCG has closed its doors for 2014.

According to the MSSA's facebook page, Mr Brad Lee of the WCG claims that the ECG will not be held in 2014 because, “This decision was made by the WCG committee after considering the current global trend as well as the business environment.”

Who actually knows what that means?

It could mean almost anything from financial collapse, to just a simple lack of interest.

Could what happened to the WCG happen to the DGL or to the MSSA?

Well, I thought about it, and these are my conclusions:

DGL.

When looking at the WCG model, it is quickly apparent that the model was fundamentally flawed. The WCG for many years depended entirely on the good graces of its benefactor – SAMSUNG. As far as I am lead to believe even the the teams that attended from the various countries were sponsored by the local SAMSUNG office.

So, in other words, the WCG then appears to be part of a marketing project of a major corporation.

There is nothing wrong with that, but as soon as there is a downturn in the economy, and budgets are invariably cut, then the whole affair tends to sour.

And that is the similarity with the DGL.

The DGL is part of a marketing project by TELKOM.

There is no membership, no fees and no sustainability should TELKOM decide to not carry on with promoting gaming.

MSSA:

The MSSA runs on a totally different model.

It runs on the same model as every sporting code. Many of the sporting codes that use this model have existed in this form for over 100 years.

Instead of having paid employees it runs on the buy-in of members who volunteer to run the body.

Because of its sporting model, it also has access to members fees, sponsorships and government funding.

As a result it is able to ride out any economic downturn as it has more income streams at its disposal and is not primarily dependant upon only one benefactor.

In conclusion:

What has happened to the WCG can happen to any organisation.

It is sad when it happens, but it does!

However, in my opinion, it is more likely to happen to the DGL than to the MSSA.