Going pro in Overwatch requires as much, if not more, work as a full-time job, but it sure as hell does not pay like one. Yet, the future of the Overwatch League is contingent upon players like “Bischu” sacrificing their livelihood for the dream.
The initial excitement and novelty surrounding the announcement and release will soon fade to reveal that ranked is, well... still bad.
For now, whether you prefer patches or t-shirts, Pride parties or a day at the Blizzard Arena, these are some of the ways you can show your pride with the Overwatch League.
Women in gaming need to be shown by their peers – not just CEOs touting inclusion initiatives and diversity statistics – that they are welcome, wanted, and will be treated equally in their communities when it matters.
Earlier this month, Kim Phan, the Director of Esports at Blizzard Entertainment, delivered the keynote address at the Inven Global Esports Conference, and while the former Warcraft 3 commentator waxed nostalgic about the history of the esports industry early in her speech, her attention quickly shifted to the industry’s future.
Conversations between viewers become less and less about gameplay and more about the gaming company’s latest shenanigans and missteps; streamers begin answering more questions about Blizzard-generated drama than they do competition; and, little by little, Overwatch begins to pale in comparison to esports that are deftly navigating the line between gamer culture and mainstream audiences.
One day before the final stage of the inaugural season kicks off, Overwatch League players still do not know what patch they will be competing on.
Although WhoRU and Alarm can easily soak up the spotlight, it is Elk who leads the team in-game. Aside from the expected responsibilities of ultimate tracking and shot-calling, being an in-game leader for the Fusion University requires facilitating effective communication with and between two players who are not fluent in English.
Reportedly, Overwatch League players and coaching staff have been arguing internally for the adjustments to Brigitte’s Shield Bash to be included in Stage 4. Players were asked by Blizzard staff to give overall feedback on the hero, as well as weigh-in on her inclusion without nerfs, earlier this week in order to collectively appeal to the design team.
But if esports veteran Andrey "Reynad" Yanyuk has learned anything in his fifteen years in the industry, Fortnite esports is not built to last. No esport is, in fact, nor game or genre of game. The way he sees it, it is the nature of gaming and esports to resist longevity.
As the seasons of competitive Overwatch wear on and the Overwatch League's existence comes to dominate every conversation, it has become easy to accept as inevitable the fundamental design of Overwatch.
Game design and balance is not simple and no one should discredit the hard work that goes into it. But it would be a shame if Blizzard denied the quality, valuable feedback the pro community provides for free in favor of pushing obviously flawed, all too frequent patches on its passionate, but exhausted, fanbase.
Conversational in nature, unfiltered in delivery, this panel serves to illuminate the challenges and realities of working and playing in the gaming industry as a woman.
At present, teams have limited time to experiment and become comfortable with updated patches during breaks, and their focus during a stage is obviously on their imminent matches. If the game pros are playing is going to change drastically between stages, then it only makes sense for their adjustment period to be extended.
Pro Overwatch needs casual (or, as the case may be, competitive) Overwatch to thrive. The Overwatch League can employ the best Overwatch players in the world, but those players will not matter if they do not have the fans and support necessary to make their careers thrive.
The desire to give fans such unprecedented levels of transparency extends from a rapidly antiquating idea that esports fans are entitled to know the inner-workings of organizations and the personal lives of pro players.
For pro players in the Overwatch League looking to optimize their performance, the stereotypical sedentary gamer lifestyle and fast food rich diet simply will not cut it. Increasingly, League organizations are encouraging, facilitating, and, in some cases, mandating that their players maintain a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
In Blizzard's well-meaning earnest to quell one unruly player, the League is setting a standard of conduct contingent upon a hypervigilance on their part that cannot possibly be maintained consistently and fairly.
Brigitte, daughter to Torbjorn and squire to Reinhardt, is Overwatch’s latest and 27th hero. She is in the support role and is largely perceived as a healer-tank hybrid. Her primary fire is a melee ability that damages enemies and heals nearby allies. Additionally, Brigitte holds a “personal defense” shield akin to Reinhardt’s Barrier Shield and Orisa’s Protective Barrier.
In its heyday, EverQuest was not a game for the weak-willed. Each death chipped away at experience gained and forced players to run back to their corpses naked to reclaim their gear... It is in this virtual hell-scape that my parents bonded.
