E-Sport - from the scientific perspective (Chapter 3: the four player types)

Due to some intensive job-projects I had no time to write for several days, however let me continue with a short article about player types  in esports. 

But at first something completely different: From now on, we have to write esports as correct wording for our passion. 

1: the digital player

the digital player likes to play digital games 100 % for amusement. Even if he/she is playing online vs others his/her aim is not the train for the top leagues of his game. Fun is key.

Digital players can of course train certain moves, but he/she is not following a training plan. 

His/her play has no countable media response.  Maybe only on his private social media account he/she is posting some videos or screenshots. 

They don't come close to earning cash prizes and this is not the ambition of the digital player

2: the hobby esports player

The hobby esports player is participating at a clan, they play together under their clan-tag at regional events. They meet online or even at a flat/house of one of the clan members from time to time. Sometimes a hobby esport player wins cash prize, but those are very low like from a local supermarket chain organizing a tournament. 

Sometimes they can compete amateur or professional esports player at fun games, but not at tournaments. Like sparing-partners.

3: amateur esport player

Here I like to refer to a very classic definition of the term amateur. amateur sportsmen/-women that were competing at the  Olympics were not supposed to be to have sponsorships till the 1970s. Or maybe the best comparison is with college football. The focus is on becoming a professional player one day, but the athlete is more or less unpaid. However the people assisting are paid, often by the family of the athlete or even from a professional sportsclub.  An  Amateur esports player is totally involved into esports. Alltough he/she has a regular job or university classes to attend  99 % ;) of the spare time for esports training. Strict training-plans and a coach - often together with a group of other athletes is not uncommon. He/she trains for tournaments and trys to reach ranks to receive money. However an amateur player has no (big) sponsors, and is not part of a professional clan and there is no regular monthly income. An amateur esports players starts a carrer this way - or ends it. 

4: professional esports player

A professional player is signed with a professional clan. Gets all costs covered, has a sponsorship, has a regular income, gets a share of the price money, is 100 % focused on esports.

So that is it for today. Let me think about what the next chapter will cover ;).