Wednesday, 12 February 2014

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!

Thursday, 6 February 2014

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.

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Racism in SA gaming

In a recent article on “Lazygamer” titled “Racism continues in the local DOTA 2 scene” (http://www.lazygamer.net/south-africa/racism-continues-in-the-local-dota-2-scene/), the real issues of South African gaming are becoming more and more evident.

When going to LANs and watching games streamed online, it is apparent that very few PC gamers in South Africa represent the majority of the population.

It is a country that had its first free-and-fair elections in 1994. SA has a total population of 51 million where less than 5 million inhabitants are of European descent. (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html)

Also, it is rumoured that less than 10% of all South Africans actually have access to a computer.

So when you look at it, very few South Africans even have the ability to play online computer games.

Yet, when I wrote an article on transformation in eSports, I get insulted by a number of so-called gamers.

Then there is this article on “Lazygamer”. It is really disgusting that such a small minority can still have such entrenched racist ideas against the majority of South Africans.

While the article suggests that the gamers in question should be named and shamed, the article does not say who should do it.

Also, can we actually rely on people to actually do this? After all, these people are playing already, so are not all of the people who play with them also complicit?


To rid ourselves of the problem, there has to be a total transformation of gaming in South Africa, and for some, it seems that it should be forced...

Monday, 27 January 2014

Sport and the SA elections!

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille revealed a surprise in Ricardo McKenzie, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's private secretary, as a candidate.

Of course the Minister of Sport and Recreation (Fikile Mbabula) publicly attacked him on television by labelling him all sort of names and thus trying to cast doubt onto his abilities.

Of course, Fikile Mbabula is also the Minister, who so harshly and publicly, criticised the South African national football team (Bafana Bafana).

It is well known in sporting circles that Ricardo McKenzie is indeed a more than efficient administrator.
Certainly, Ricardo was instrumental, from what I am lead to believe, in sorting out the difficulties that existed between Mind Sports South Africa and the Department of Sport and Recreation.

It thus seems then, that the Minister's objections are solely based on the fact that Ricardo McKenzie dared to affiliate himself to a political party other than the ANC.


Eish! How dare McKenzie do such a thing!

I wonder if the Minister has heard of the concept of Freedom of Association?

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

"A bunch of losers"

The South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has branded the national football team as "a bunch of losers" following their first round exit in the CAF African Nations Championship. (source – http://sport.iafrica.com/soccer/894439.html).

To me this seems to be a little petulant, and in my opinion the Minister only has himself to blame.

For years the Ministry has poured monies into football – even at times when South Africa can least afford it. As a result SA hosted the 2010 World Cup, the African Cup of Nations, and now the CAF African Nations Championship.

To host these events, SA has often had to improve national infrastructure such as roads and TV.

What has that got us? The upgrading of the roads for 2010 is what brought about e-tolling! Great!

Thus billions have been spent on football with very little return.

Instead of pumping just a fraction of the money spent on football, it could have been put into upgrading the internet which would have had far greater long-term benefits as well as creating greater coverage than ever received by football.


Sunday, 19 January 2014

PandaTank quits professional gaming

Sadly we have all seen the posts where Robert 'PandaTank' Botha has stated his resignation from gaming.

Who will ever forget PandaTank's stellar performances as part of the MSSA's official Protea eSports Team at the 2011 and 2012 IeSF World Championships as well as at the Test match between Silviu 'NightEnd' Lazar and himself in March 2013 in Johannesburg? PandaTank did much to inspire many gamers, but his star did seem to wane a little in 2013.

Seemingly the main reason given on his page is “being a professional gamer in South Africa isn't a sustainable career.” (https://www.facebook.com/PandaTank/posts/480048018761882?stream_ref=10).

But let us look at this statement, how true is it?

Is it that South African gamers have expectations that do not meet reality?

Is it that South African gamers are not prepared to put in the work that makes a professional gamer?

Certainly to be a professional gamer you need to be absolutely dedicated to the game, practice every single day, and play in as many LAN championships as possible.

Yes, you read right, you have to play as many LAN championships as possible.

With the major international competitions being LAN's gamers have to leave the confort of playing online in their comfortable bedrooms to play in the busy, noisy, hectic LANs where schedules of play override the gamer, and every gamer is just another competitor.

But more than that, the professional has to learn time management. The professional becomes a spokesperson for the company sponsoring him/her, and has to be available at all times to promote the company and to further enhance the face of gaming. Thus being a professional means that the gamer becomes a mini celebrity, signs autographs, does public appearances and must be available to the masses when in public.

In other words, a professional gamer is no different toa professional in any other sport!

So then, is professional gaming really not a sustainable career?

The answer is simply that it can be sustainable, but with conditions.

The most important condition is that gaming is NOT a long term career. The gaming career is very short, and must be used as a stepping-stone to other careers that are more long-term.

Many gamers in Europe go from being players through to team managers and may even end up as team owners.

Not only that, but sponsorships are vital.

The only way that a company is going to sponsor is if they are getting a return. All companies are looking for increased sales. If the sponsorship will not lead to greater brand awareness, there will be no sponsorship.

But, this all needs to be properly managed.
And how is this done?

Simply, there are many professional sports agents – go to them. The sports agents understand the marketplace and the value of cold, hard cash. Although the sports agent will take a cut, the agent will help the gamer get the best possible deal.

So, in conclusion, professional gaming can be sustainable.

It must be remembered that PandaTank was a trailblazer. He was the first true professional gamer in South Africa. Because he did not maintain a long sustainable professional gaming career in South Africa does not mean that other will not!

We should all learn from PandaTank's experiences to see what should be done, what can be done, and what must be done....

Maybe PandaTank should arrange some lectures on the ins-and-outs of professional gaming.


I know that I would pay to hear him speak!

Thursday, 2 January 2014

Simphiwe Maphumulo elected as MSSA president!

Incredibly only after 19 years of democracy in South Africa, has the MSSA elected in its first black president at its Annual general Meeting held on Sunday, 8 December 2013.

The funny thing is that there are bloggers out there that consider the election of Simphiwe Maphumulo as president to be less than democratic..... One can only laugh!

But who is Simphiwe, and what is his pedigree?

Simphiwe, who comes from Pietermaritzburg, has been a continuously registered player since 2001. Not only that, but Simphiwe has won many Provincial and National Championships in the game of Morabaraba.

But Simphiwe is not just a local champion. According to the MSSA's facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa), Simphiwe has also won the following international championships:
  • 2003 Junior World Championships
  • 2003 Senior World Championships
  • 2012 Senior World Championships
  • 2013 Senior World Championships


Simphiwe was too awarded the S A Sports Awards Indigenous Sports Star of the Year Award, and reputedly walked away with a substantial cheque. The award was given by the Hon. Fikile Mbabula (Minister of Sport and Recreation). (http://www.sasportsawards.com/index.php/nominees)

It also seems as though SASCOC is happy with the choice that the MSSA's member clubs have made. In a recent posting made on the MSSA facebook page, it is reported that SASCOC president, Mr Gideon Sam stated:

"Please pass on to Simphiwe my personal congratulations on his election to be the president of MSSA. I look forward to a strong and lengthy relationship with him."

SASCOC is of course THE governing body for sport in South Africa. It is the body that selects teams for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, African Games and others.


Thus, it seems as though the MSSA will have a great 2014!

Sunday, 27 October 2013

MWEB and ROCCAT sponsor South African team

So the MSSA has finally announced its team for the the 2013 IeSF World Championships to be held in Bucharest, Romania.
I see that this year the MSSA has MWEB and ROCCAT sponsoring the team.
That is good!
At last companies are beginning to see where the real development of gaming happens and are not just funding individuals and clans who want to make a 'fast buck' out of computer gaming.
Gaming is not going to provide many paying jobs in South Africa until there is real development among who is gaming in South Africa.
Until there is a solid base of gamers who are prepared to pay for championship experience, there will not be any true professionals.
It is like South African footballers complaining about how little they get paid, when the spectators refuse to pay more than R50.00 to watch a game.
Of course our players will never get paid the same if there is no base.
Instead the South African gaming scene has a lot of people leeching onto it expecting to be paid for blogs, paid for running championships, and paid for playing.
Look at how long it has taken basketball to set up a professional league in South Africa. It was only done because the Minister of Sport (Fikile Mbabula) made it happen.
And that is why government involvement in sport is important.
But more than that, I believe that no company should even consider sponsoring any body that is not affiliated to the national body. The reason is simple – there is no return if you do.
MWEB and ROCCAT are making things happen for gamers. MWEB and ROCCAT are helping to get gamers overseas and improve the standard.
For those interested, the MSSA put up the following on their facebook site:
Although this is the fifth IeSF World championships that South Africa shall be attending, the support given by MWEB and ROCCAT has ensured the South African participation at the 2013 IeSF World Championships which is to be held in Bucharest, Romania. The team that will be representing South Africa at the 2013 IeSF World championships will be the largest eSports team that has ever departed from South Africa to play at a IeSF event.

The MSSA, MWEB, and ROCCAT are all in concord about the outcomes for the team. Although this is the first foray ever for a South African "League of Legends" team to foreign shores, everybody expects the team to handle themselves well and to be a credit to South Africa. The lessons that the young "League of Legends" team will learn in the Championships will prove to be invaluable, not only to themselves, but to all the League of Legends gamers in South Africa as well as to future South African teams.

However, it is in the women that will be going overseas to play "StarCraft II" and "Tekken Tag Tournament II" that the administrators put their greatest faith.

In 2012, Gabriela Isaacs finished in second place in StarCraft II and Lyrene Kűhn finished in fourth place in Tekken Tag Tournament II. This year has seen a slight change to the team where Yolandi Williams has powered herself into the team to represent South Africa in starCraft II. Yolandi dominated all the StarCraft II championships in which she played. Lyrene Kűhn, however, successfully maintained her position as the dominant force in Tekken Tag Tournament II in south Africa in order to better her 2012 result.

The team will be issued with its new kit showing both the sponsorship of MWEB and ROCCAT at the award ceremony on Wednesday before embarking on their wonderful adventure.

The full team is:

League of Legends

Name of Player........................Club

Conradie van Heerden.............ROCCAT
Myburg Brink...........................ROCCAT
Willem Strȍfeldt.......................2up Gamers
Kyle Rhoodie...........................2up Gamers
Marco Botha...........................2up Gamers

StarCraft II

Name of Player.......................Club

Yolandi Williams.......................Deviation Gaming

Tekken Tag Tournament II

Name of Player.......................Club

Lyrene Kühn..........................Knights Mind Sports Club

Due to Lyrene's experience with the 2012 South African Protea Team, and dealing with the many issues that arose, Lyrene has also been appointed as the captain of the team. This is the first time that a woman has been appointed as the captain of a South African eSports Team.

Lyrene is confident that the additional duties will not affect her standard of play.”
I along with all South Africans wish the team the best of luck.

All photographs used come off the MSSA facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa

Friday, 18 October 2013

QUOTAS

My blog on transformation certainly seemed to open an ant's nest!

Over 2,000 people read the blog, and over 65 people submitted comments.

Sadly few could be published as most contained, hate speech, racial slurs, cursing, and some just did not have anything to contribute.

Not a response suggested HOW to deal with the issue. All just stated that the idea was wrong!

Please read the following two sites:

Both sites make it clear that this is a government initiative.

It is going to happen!

The MSSA under Webster has used a system which he claims has been effective. I just think that his system is weak and any system needs to be 'accelerated' to give more results and faster.

Cricket has started a policy of introducing two players of colour in each club team this year. There is not the uproar there, because they know it has to be done.

Read the links.

Then if you have a better idea on how to reach the goals set out in the score card, suggest them.


Those are the only replies I will publish!

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Transformation in South African gaming!

While watching SABC TV2 yesterday morning (16 October 2013(, the Minister of Sport and Recreation announced the finalists of the South African Sport Awards.

Mind Sports South Africa managed to get Simphiwe Maphumulo nominated for the Indigenous Sports Star of the Year Award. This means as a finalist, Simphiwe automatically picks up a check of R15,000.00 and if he wins the category at the Awards dinner, Simphiwe will get a check of R130,000.00.

This is why eSports is part of the sports structure – so that the gamer can benefit.

The Minister also made it clear that quota's will be enforced in sport.

It is known that the MSSA does as much as possible to ensure that there is representation of all South Africans in its teams.

However, what of privately owned events. The TELKOM DGL still seems to be 'milky white'. All you have to do is look at the photographs, and you will see very few people of colour.

According to the last census, whites only make up 8% of the population, but if you went to rAge, you would think that you were still living in a pre-1994 South Africa.

DSGL, and all other competitions, should get in line with the governments' priorities, otherwise it could be seen that gaming, and the gamers themselves, are reactionary and do not identify with the New South Africa at all.

My suggestion is that DGL should not accept a team in their league if at least 2 of the team members are not blacks.


Think about it!