Condições socioeconômicas versus profissionalização nos e-Sports

Abstract

Electronic Sport or e-Sports is a sports modality that gains even more notoriety with each passing year. Competitions, scenery professionalization, investments and high championship awards are some of the factors that contribute to this fast growth. If we compare it with traditional sports like soccer, for example, it is possible to notice that some characteristics can become impeding factors to the entrance and permanence in this modality, like the high cost of equipment investment for its practice, high cost for Internet monthly payment and also digital illiteracy, which is still an existing factor, especially in peripheral regions. The main objective of this research was to analyze whether socioeconomic conditions and social factors may become impediments in this journey towards professionalism in the e-Sports area as a player, coach or other profession in the field. To carry out this analysis, we initially used a bibliographic review in order to create a solid knowledge base. In a second moment, an opinion survey was applied in order to understand if socioeconomic conditions and social factors really negatively impact on the entry of the e-Sports professional scenario. It was concluded that 72.6% of the respondents were concerned in investing in better equipment for their practice in a better level. However, a third of this number said not to invest because of the high prices, and may therefore constitute a limiting factor for those less economically favored. Another important point is the digital inclusion, which occurs earlier in the age group. Due to privacy restrictions, it was not possible to analyze how digital inclusion is advancing in poorer regions. However, 46.2% of the respondents spend a maximum of R$ 200.00 per year in games and equipment, a low considered value in the gaming market, because only a basic item, such as a mouse, is equivalent to that value. e-Sports still suffer to become more popular in Brazil because of money issues, time and digital inclusion. Given that it is something that is constantly changing and that is no longer considered just a game and has already become a sports modality, A research in this area is extremely important in order to continue the analysis and understand in fact the feeling, scenario and limitations which prevent the less socially privileged from actively participating in the e-Sports professional scenario.