BRITISH ESPORTS ASSOCIATION 2018 END OF YEAR REPORT 1 CONTENTS 4 Executive summary 5 About the British Esports Association 9 British Esports Championships 24 West Ham activity week 26 Partnerships 28 Other campaigns we’ve backed 30 Events we’ve attended 34 Tournaments in the UK 37 Advisory Board and game advisers 41 Testimonials 43 Looking ahead 2 3 ABOUT THE BRITISH ESPORTS ASSOCIATION The British Esports Association is a not-for-profit national body established in 2016 to promote esports in the UK, increase its level of awareness, improve standards and inspire future talent. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As a national body, our aims are to support esports and provide expertise and FOREWORD BY BRITISH ESPORTS ASSOCIATION CHAIR ANDY PAYNE OBE advice. We are focused on the grassroots level of esports and are not a governing body. When we established the British Esports Association in 2016, we were determined to ensure that the UK would play a leading role in the world of global esports and that gamers had opportunities As the British Esports Association is a not-for-profit organisation, all revenues to play their part in the exciting world of esports. generated go back into the running of the organisation, and into funding grassroots We saw the urgent need to highlight and contribute to the ecosystem that allows all players the esports, including running our British Esports Championships for schools and opportunity to progress from grassroots all the way to the top of the professional ranks, according colleges, supporting the setting up of clubs and other initiatives. to their talent, ability, ambition and drive. We are not pushing esports as a rival to traditional sport, but as a credible activity We really believe we have taking place at the Insomnia our commitment to continual in its own right which can have positive cognitive and other benefits when done made real progress, but there Gaming Festival in Birmingham improvement. We are proud in moderation. Esports promotes teamwork and communication, develops is still much to do, especially in April 2019. supporters of the #GLHF and communities and provides jobs. when we see the progress We also forged links with the #RightToBeActive campaigns made in other countries and traditional sporting world and will continue to invest in communities. and launched a partnership initiatives that allow as many We help to educate parents, teachers, media, policy makers and government The key achievement in 2018 with West Ham United young people to grow through around what esports is and its benefits, and receives many contact and advice was to deliver our first full Foundation, GAME Digital, the positive power of esports in requests from the public. We’re working with schools and colleges to embrace season of The British Esports Sony PlayStation, London Sport the UK. Championships. We partnered and Archery GB for a one-week Our commitment to young esports and create some inspiring events and activities. with the Twitch Student event in October 2018. This people will continue to be The UK is the fifth biggest consumer market for games but has been behind other Program and AoC Sport (part brought together 14 to 19 year our driving force. We are territories in esports historically. We are looking at the bigger long-term picture with of the Association of Colleges) old players and demonstrated passionate about esports and and saw 76 teams, from 12 the similarities between the people who play and take the goal of fostering more British esports talent in the future. schools and 16 colleges take competitive video gaming and part. Here’s to more progress in part playing 5v5 League of physical sports, showcasing the 2019. Legends, 6v6 Overwatch and benefits of esports, specifically 3v3 Rocket League. Rocket League and promoting OUR THREE GOALS ARE TO: Our 2019 Season launched in physical activity through • Promote esports in the UK and increase its level of awareness January 2019 and we are also football and archery to video • Improve the standard of UK esports launching a new tournament for game fans. Alternative Provision schools. We launched our new website Andy Payne OBE • Inspire future talent Plus our grand finals will be in January 2019 which is part of Chair, British Esports Association 4 5 MEET THE TEAM Andy Payne OBE, Chester King, Rt. Hon. Ed Vaizey MP, Adam Leadercramer, Natacha Jones, Tom Dore, Chair Founder and CEO Vice Chair Director and Company Student Esports Head of Education Secretary Coordinator Andy is chair of The British British Esports was founded Ed worked as Culture Minister Esports Association. He is an by Chester King of the between 2010 and 2016, and Adam is a Partner and the Natacha Jones is an Tom is leading our exciting experienced video games International Group. Chester is currently the Member of Head of Digital Media/ experienced esports producer schools and colleges project as entrepreneur of 34 years has a 23-year background in Parliament for Didcot and Technology at Onside Law, and observer who holds Head of Education. Currently and has worked with many traditional sports, with Stoke Wantage. He is a big advocate a boutique law firm based in the role of student esports still working at a school in of the world’s top studios Park (owned by International of the video games industry London and specialising in coordinator at the British Bath, he is an experienced and publishers, running Group) running the pre- in Britain, having secured tax the sports, esports and media Esports Association. teacher and educator with Mastertronic from 1988 to wimbledon tennis event The breaks for game development sectors. He acts for a broad over 17 years experience in 2015. He chaired trade body Boodles, as well as working for studios, and was recently range of clients within these She looks after the British different leadership roles across Ukie from 2005-2015 and is the Football Association, Lord’s recognised by GamesIndustry. sectors including governing Esports Championships for a full spectrum of state and still a board member. Andy and the Rugby Football Union. Biz as one of the 100 most bodies, teams, individuals, schools and colleges, working independent schools. is a founder of GamesAid, influential people in the British established brands and start- alongside school projects lead the British Games Institute, games industry. up/growth businesses. Tom Dore, epic.LAN and our The National Videogame team of admins. Museum, AppyNation, Good Shepherd, Just Flight, the UK Over the past few years, Crowdfunding Association Natacha has built up some and is a Vice President of impressive experience within Special Effect and The Creative UK esports. She was project Computing Club Foundation. manager for the King of the North gaming festival, president of the University of Manchester Esports Society and has also been working as a freelance esports observer and producer. In January 2019, Natacha was promoted at the NUEL to creative director. 6 7 MEET THE TEAM BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS The British Esports Championships is an exciting new competitive video gaming competition for students in secondary schools and further education colleges across Dominic Sacco, David Martin, Hayley Walker, Content Director Head of Skills Graphic Designer the UK. The British Esports Association set up the Championships in 2018, starting with a Dominic has an extensive Dave has 15 years+ experience Hayley has been working as a pilot. background in trade journalism, advising the education Graphic Designer for 5 years having worked at games sector including government, across a range of industries, The Championships were set up to engage with students and offer them a pathway industry publication MCV, tech professional institutions and and during this time has trade title PCR and others. He employers about skills both in developed her skills through to industry, as well as educate parents, teachers and others about the job prospects founded his own publication the UK and internationally. different designing platforms. and benefits of esports. For example, esports can improve confidence, strategic Esports News UK in 2015 She is an avid self-starter thinking, problem solving abilities, reading comprehension and phonic skills and to cover the UK League of In 2017 Dave co-founded an with the aptitude to manage Legends scene. international Edtech company multiple projects. focus on the development of digital and cyber skills. Skills can be transferred across Dominic is responsible for to look at enhancing the skills into physical sports and schoolwork. It can also boost attendance levels in schools. content on the British Esports required for global projects like Association website, internal the China Belt and Road. and external communications, handling public queries and Dave also holds executive roles works with marketing and PR across tech as an investment on the association’s messaging. and skills adviser. 8 9 purely because they would At the start of the PRU project, like to see more realistic 18+ there were a range of positives shooters added, which we seen in the attendance and cannot and will not use as they behaviour of pupils. There were THE PILOT are not age-appropriate for improvements seen in these schools. areas at the start of the pilot The British Esports Association held a Championships pilot across because students had to hit There were many positives from certain levels of attendance three different types of educational institution from February the pilot, such as promoting and behaviour to play esports. to April 2018: Four secondary schools, eight further education leadership, teamwork and social skills, and only a few Solihull School and Sunderland colleges and four alternative provision schools. areas to work on for next College won the respective time. Namely, that matches pilot Championships. are prepared well in advance, teachers are better educated on the set up and format, and clearer, more thorough rules are listed.