“Dear IOC”: Considerations for the Governance, Valuation, and Evaluation of Trends and Developments in eSports

Missed a live match? Determinants of League of Legends Champions Korea highlights viewership

This research aims to explore the determinants of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) highlight views and comment counts. The data of 629 game highlight views and comment counts for seven tournaments were collected from YouTube. The highlight views and comment counts were regressed on a series of before-the-game factors (outcome uncertainty and game quality), after-the-game factors (sum and difference of kills, assists, multiple kills, and upset results), and match-related characteristics (game duration, evening game, and clip recentness). A multi-level least square dummy variable regression was conducted to test the model. Among the before-the-game factors, outcome uncertainty and game quality were significantly associated with highlight views and comment counts. This indicated that fans liked watching games with uncertain outcomes and those involving high-quality teams. Among the after-the-game factors, an upset result was a significant determinant of esports highlight views and comment counts. Thus, fans enjoy watching underdogs win. Finally, the sum of kills and assists only affected view counts, which indicated that fans prefer watching offensive games with more kills and a solo performance rather than teamwork.

The eSports Medicine: Pre-Participation Screening and Injuries Management-An Update

Recently, electronic sports (eSports) became one of the growing forms of new media due to the wide diffusion of games and online technologies. Even if there is still a debate about the definition and characterization of eSports, eAthletes train heavily, compete in tournaments, must abide by competition, association, and governing body rules, just like all other athletes. Furthermore, as in any other competitive discipline, there can be injuries. Aberrant sitting posture, repetitive movements, screen vision, prolonged playing hours, and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to several medical hazards in musculoskeletal, ophthalmology, neurological, and metabolic systems. Moreover, several cardiovascular changes occur in eAthletes. This paper aims to explore the different injuries that can occur in a professional eAthlete, suggesting how every high-level gamer could benefit from a pre-participation evaluation and a correct injury prevention strategy.