U.S. Gov recognizes LoL Players as Athletes

On July 13 2013 05:34 Influ wrote:
U.S. government appreciates LoL players more than the esports community. That's wierd. I don't know if it's good or bad but it's wierd.

On July 13 2013 05:36 flamewheel wrote:
holy lol

On July 13 2013 05:35 Klipsys wrote:


Real Esports fans shouldn't pigeonhold themselves to a specific game or genre.

On July 13 2013 05:42 Mistakes wrote:
This is funny. xD I read the title and was expecting some sort of comedy story, which I guess it was in part. It's cool to have eSports get recognized in the US, but it's weird that they'd pick LoL over some of the other longer-standing, more sustainable, more practice-requiring, more effort-giving games. XD

On July 13 2013 05:39 Pheon wrote:
I wonder if this means 'pro' gamers will have to adhere to a higher standard of behaviour etc like any other pro athlete.

On July 13 2013 05:42 Mistakes wrote:
This is funny. xD I read the title and was expecting some sort of comedy story, which I guess it was in part. It's cool to have eSports get recognized in the US, but it's weird that they'd pick LoL over some of the other longer-standing, more sustainable, more practice-requiring, more effort-giving games. XD

On July 13 2013 05:42 Mistakes wrote:
This is funny. xD I read the title and was expecting some sort of comedy story, which I guess it was in part. It's cool to have eSports get recognized in the US, but it's weird that they'd pick LoL over some of the other longer-standing, more sustainable, more practice-requiring, more effort-giving games. XD

On July 13 2013 05:49 SkelA wrote:
Why only lol pro players and not all pro gamers?

On July 13 2013 05:49 SkelA wrote:
Why only lol pro players and not all pro gamers?

On July 13 2013 05:57 Warri wrote:

cuz money.

On July 13 2013 05:55 Tirean wrote:
If E-sports is really going to start getting promoted into the "Professional Athlete" status then I feel in the contracts they should have to be able to pass a physical test.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle should be the job of these as they will be role models.. Being a role model while not looking after yourself isn't very good for the next generation.

Also I wonder how much money Riot spent in achieving this.

On July 13 2013 05:55 Tirean wrote:
If E-sports is really going to start getting promoted into the "Professional Athlete" status then I feel in the contracts they should have to be able to pass a physical test.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle should be the job of these as they will be role models.. Being a role model while not looking after yourself isn't very good for the next generation.

Also I wonder how much money Riot spent in achieving this.

On July 13 2013 05:34 WolfintheSheep wrote:
Goes to show that you can do anything in the US with the proper application of lobbying money.

Should make it easier for other eSports to get the same legal benefits now, at least.

On July 13 2013 05:35 Klipsys wrote:


Real Esports fans shouldn't pigeonhold themselves to a specific game or genre.

On July 13 2013 05:59 Yoshi- wrote:


Yea I am sure that Riot had so much money that the US Government had no other way than to accept it.
This happened to LoL cause LoL is the only game that has a actual league structure, and one organizer that is pushing this.

On July 13 2013 06:02 MasterOfPuppets wrote:


Oh, other factors definitely did help, including the massive popularity that the game enjoys worldwide. But don't act like money didn't play any part in it at all, it's just silly.

On July 13 2013 06:00 opisska wrote:


I am getting really tired of this. Virtually in any thread about pro-gamers, these people come in a start promoting their "healthy lifestyle", whatever that means.

Is it now compulsary? When you like e-sports, you have to be into physical fitness? Who decided that? Everybody acts like this was something beyond any question, which is absurd.

On July 13 2013 05:59 Ettick wrote:
Finally, a sport even 12 year olds can play!

On July 13 2013 05:59 Ettick wrote:
Finally, a sport even 12 year olds can play!

On July 13 2013 06:02 MasterOfPuppets wrote:


Oh, other factors definitely did help, including the massive popularity that the game enjoys worldwide. But don't act like money didn't play any part in it at all, it's just silly.

On July 13 2013 06:01 Influ wrote:


There are enough "esports fans" who don't recognise LoL as an an esport. On top of that I think an "esport fan" is just a nerd who wants to be accepted. How can you be a fan of a game you don't play or watch?
It's fine when we are passionate towards a game that we like and appreciate and the pros that play it but to hide behind a bigger mass of "esport fans" just to be accepted one day is laughable.

On July 13 2013 06:04 Yoshi- wrote:

If you mean money as in "their league is actually getting funded properly" then you are right if you mean money as in brides than you are wrong

On July 13 2013 06:06 Plansix wrote:

Or a huge fan of the game in whatever office approves this stuff. That is just as likely as a large amount of money.

On July 13 2013 05:55 Tirean wrote:
If E-sports is really going to start getting promoted into the "Professional Athlete" status then I feel in the contracts they should have to be able to pass a physical test.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle should be the job of these as they will be role models.. Being a role model while not looking after yourself isn't very good for the next generation.

Also I wonder how much money Riot spent in achieving this.

On July 13 2013 05:59 Ettick wrote:
Finally, a sport even 12 year olds can play!

On July 13 2013 06:09 Plansix wrote:

Stay classy TL member. Seriously, all my friends play LoL and we are all grown adults. The whole "My game is much deeper than yours, you have no idea" is total non-sense.

What happened to the good old days when we just judged peoples taste in music?

On July 13 2013 06:08 MasterOfPuppets wrote:


I wouldn't equate lobbying to bribery personally.



Knowing how Riot likes to do things, it's not quite as likely, although you are correct that it's a legitimate possibility that shouldn't be completely overlooked.

On July 13 2013 06:10 tshi wrote:

People broadened their horizons.

On July 13 2013 06:11 jinorazi wrote:
sc2 players talking shit about lol, its fucking hilarious from bw's perspective.
/facepalm

On July 13 2013 05:34 Influ wrote:
U.S. government appreciates LoL players more than the esports community. That's wierd. I don't know if it's good or bad but it's wierd.

On July 13 2013 05:55 Tirean wrote:
If E-sports is really going to start getting promoted into the "Professional Athlete" status then I feel in the contracts they should have to be able to pass a physical test.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle should be the job of these as they will be role models.. Being a role model while not looking after yourself isn't very good for the next generation.

Also I wonder how much money Riot spent in achieving this.

On July 13 2013 06:13 tshi wrote:

But if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?????????????

I can't wait for a mean spirited meatSport fan to pick on LoL players, as if they don't get enough shit from other people already, lol.

On July 13 2013 06:00 [Agony]x90 wrote:
Now if Riot did do something to monopolize this, such as bar other games from having this status, then there's an issue.

On July 13 2013 05:34 Influ wrote:
U.S. government appreciates LoL players more than the esports community. That's wierd. I don't know if it's good or bad but it's wierd.

On July 13 2013 06:16 HolydaKing wrote:

pretty much the same as the bw guys talking shit about sc2, which is still happening.

On July 13 2013 06:15 StarStruck wrote:


I hope you realize how stupid that sounds.

On July 13 2013 06:16 QuanticHawk wrote:
good ol lobbying

well that's good for esports as a whole but man, hearing gamers use this to call themselves athletes is gonna just make me laugh so much

On July 13 2013 06:15 StarStruck wrote:


I hope you realize how stupid that sounds.

On July 13 2013 05:57 sYz-Adrenaline wrote:
I'm glad about this. But I'm just disappointed that LoL Players got recognized first.

On July 13 2013 06:21 [Agony]x90 wrote:


No i don't. Please quantify and do so without the condescending tone.

On July 13 2013 06:24 Plansix wrote:

Because the US government granted them the status. Riot doesn't have special powers or the ability to control the US government. It would be like the NFL trying to get that title of athlete taken away from golfers, which sounds fucking stupid.

On July 13 2013 06:23 HolydaKing wrote:

Where did i write something bad about LoL? ^^

Or wait wrong response i guess. I never said only though.

On July 13 2013 06:31 KwarK wrote:
The visa basically wants to know what you're coming into the country to do and when you'll leave. For that purpose esports tournament entrants have always been effectively athletes. They are professionals coming to compete in an event and mean to leave following the end of the event. What has happened here is Riot have explained to the US gov that of the many visas available the P1 (athlete) best matches the situation of LoL players. It doesn't mean that LoL is a sport or anything silly like that. It means that people wishing to enter the country with their team to compete in a tournament are, for the purpose of getting a visa, treated like people wishing to enter the country with their team to compete in a tournament.

On July 13 2013 06:33 [Agony]x90 wrote:


Fine, then I'll set up a hypothetical situation since I don't possess the proper vocabulary or have been misusing the incorrect vocabulary to express my thoughts.

Its possible that Riot just went in and asked to be declared as a sport, that the electronic aspect of the sport doesn't affect the fact that it is a sport.

Or they could have submitted very specific wording that would make it more difficult for other electronic gaming to be considered a sport.

For example, they could try to define e-sports as multiple teams cooperating simultaneously to achieve an end goal. This would disqualify SC2 or fighting games, as they are individualistic sports.

A similar sport case would be that between sports and athletics. Some would consider triathlons a "sport", but others would define it as "athletics".

If riot demanded a very specific requirement for the definition for e-sports, one which the US Gov may have allowed, this could negatively affect other gaming companies.

It's highly unlikely to ever pass, but I wouldn't put it past a corporation to at least try. And if they did try, then I would consider that malicious behavior.

On July 13 2013 06:33 [Agony]x90 wrote:


Fine, then I'll set up a hypothetical situation since I don't possess the proper vocabulary or have been misusing the incorrect vocabulary to express my thoughts.

Its possible that Riot just went in and asked to be declared as a sport, that the electronic aspect of the sport doesn't affect the fact that it is a sport.

Or they could have submitted very specific wording that would make it more difficult for other electronic gaming to be considered a sport.

For example, they could try to define e-sports as multiple teams cooperating simultaneously to achieve an end goal. This would disqualify SC2 or fighting games, as they are individualistic sports.

A similar sport case would be that between sports and athletics. Some would consider triathlons a "sport", but others would define it as "athletics".

If riot demanded a very specific requirement for the definition for e-sports, one which the US Gov may have allowed, this could negatively affect other gaming companies.

It's highly unlikely to ever pass, but I wouldn't put it past a corporation to at least try. And if they did try, then I would consider that malicious behavior.

On July 13 2013 06:42 KingAce wrote:
Riot has out done Blizzard with a game that is technically theirs. Should have taken dota seriously.

On July 13 2013 06:44 Pr0wler wrote:
Lol, money win every battle I guess Now Riot can call their game "REAL SPORT !1!" I don't mind, good for them.
I just wonder, how the hell LoL is a real sport , but CS, Halo and CoD are not. Well... Money.

On July 13 2013 06:36 jinorazi wrote:


though i know nothing of what happened, i dont think it has anything to do with defining esports or progamers or games. it has to do with competitors having to jump through hoops to compete, and getting rid of these hoops. perhaps they showed how big the competition is, say in comparison to table tennis, and say this is no different so we'd like to have these visa available for our competitors.

On July 13 2013 06:09 Plansix wrote:

Stay classy TL member. Seriously, all my friends play LoL and we are all grown adults. The whole "My game is much deeper than yours, you have no idea" is total non-sense.

What happened to the good old days when we just judged peoples taste in music?

On July 13 2013 07:00 [Agony]x90 wrote:


And I agree with you.

The only reason I even said what I said is to basically make the statement "SC2 players shouldn't be disappointed and should instead applaud this."

I gave a theoretical (albeit infinitesimal) condition in which SC2 should and would oppose this ruling.

Of course, since StarStruck insisted on being insulting, I explained what I was referring to.

For example, they could try to define e-sports as multiple teams cooperating simultaneously to achieve an end goal. This would disqualify SC2 or fighting games, as they are individualistic sports.

On July 13 2013 05:42 Mistakes wrote:
This is funny. xD I read the title and was expecting some sort of comedy story, which I guess it was in part. It's cool to have eSports get recognized in the US, but it's weird that they'd pick LoL over some of the other longer-standing, more sustainable, more practice-requiring, more effort-giving games. XD

On July 13 2013 07:12 Vorenius wrote:

I never understood how people could seriously say that one MULTIPLAYER computer game was harder than another. It's always only as hard as the player(s) you are up against.

It's strange to me that it polarizes people like this. Not everything has to be amazing or awful.

On July 13 2013 07:17 Patate wrote:


When I heard the news, I immediately rushed to TL to find comments like these. superiority complex at its finest : D.

On July 13 2013 05:42 Mistakes wrote:
This is funny. xD I read the title and was expecting some sort of comedy story, which I guess it was in part. It's cool to have eSports get recognized in the US, but it's weird that they'd pick LoL over some of the other longer-standing, more sustainable, more practice-requiring, more effort-giving games. XD

On July 13 2013 07:21 Rainling wrote:

So true. Just because a game might have theoretically lower skill cap doesn't mean it's not just as hard to play at the pro level.

On July 13 2013 07:20 DamageControL wrote:

disclaimer: I don't necessarily abide by this thinking

When people say a game is harder or easier they are usually referring to the learning curve. This is not to say a game is more objectively "difficult" but rather that practicing the game theoretically reaps comparatively larger advantages. In Brood War, for example, I probably had ~500-1000 games under my belt but I nearly always lost to someone with ~5000 games unless they were inexplicably incompetent. LoL is perceived to have a low ceiling. I do not know how true this is, I don't play LoL at any level worth talking about. The reason why a learning curve makes a game more legitimate, in the eyes of people who talk about it, is that 1. others cannot just come into their community and be good and 2. It's more appealing for players at the very top be waaaaay better than players somewhat close to the top.

edit:
Some problems with the SC2 elitism: individual skill may be lower, but team play offers it's own level of complexity

There's little to no proof these learning curves exist the way they say they do

On July 13 2013 07:29 tissue wrote:


What's wrong with someone coming into a game and being good?

On July 13 2013 07:29 tissue wrote:


What's wrong with someone coming into a game and being good?

On July 13 2013 07:52 TrollPolice wrote:
hahahaha what. LoL = training wheels compared to sc2

On July 13 2013 07:54 StarStruck wrote:
How about you guys stay on subject?