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| Monarch.StarCrack United States. April 30 2012 06:46. Posts 162 | Profile Blog # |
I like to think we're still living in the golden age of competitive digital sports or "esports" as it's come to be called. The mid-late 90's spawned peer to peer gaming either through dial up, WAN's or LAN's which has led to the broadband global competitive scene we know of today. Without commercialization we would have seen a much slower progression of growth to the internet. Without sponsors, we certainly would have seen a much slower progression in esports. Events would be smaller, prizes smaller, streaming video would be limited, organizations that put on the events would be smaller, and thus, esports itself would take a lot longer to get off the ground.
For all intensive purposes, there is a lot of thanks due to major corporate sponsors which have helped the advancement of esports. The purpose of this thread is to specifically discuss, not bash, but discuss the concerns of how major junk food sponsors are now involved with the world of esports.
There have been major links between processed foods (aka junk food, fast food, snack foods etc.) and type 2 diabetes in children under the age of 20. This is what is commonly referred to as "adult onset diabetes" however it is typically attributed to people under 40. It wasn't until the late 20th century when studies began to show children were being affected from adult onset diabetes more and more.
The top three causes of death in the United States are 1) Heart Disease 2) Diabetes 3) Cancer. While genetics do get involved to a degree, what you consume in terms of foods and beverages play a major role in the prevention of all three.
Although I do not consider myself an expert in all arenas of competitive gaming I can tell you that I have been to several major events in the past and the conclusions that I draw upon are from personal experience. These events include MLG, Blizzcon, and Dreamhack to name a few.
Lets take a look at a couple of the more recognizable esports sponsors.
Brands:
Dr Pepper
Red Bull
NOS Energy Drink
Hot Pockets (previously)
Monster Energy Drink
Billy's Pizza
There isn't a single healthy food option that I was able to find which is marketed to the younger generation which is associated with esports and video games in general. This is concerning for numerous reasons. In nearly all gaming whether it be casual or gaming there is one common component, lack of physical activity. With the advancements of the human controller with the Wii, Kinect and PlayStation MOVE we are starting to see gaming incorporate some physical activity however for the vast majority of the industry games consist of sitting down for hours at a time.
When you combine lack of physical activity with heavily processed foods which are high in calories yet low in nutrients you get obesity. Childhood obesity along with the rise in type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in the younger generation today.
First people need to be aware through proper nutrition education. The challenge will be how to not fall prey to the massive corporate advertising and to have the younger generation make better decisions when it comes to food. If these two solutions become the norm then I'd have a lot less of a problem with major esports events and teams taking advertising dollars from junk food sponsors.
![[image loading]](http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3895/drpepperxbox.jpg)
Hot girls giving away FREE Dr Pepper at MLG Columbus:
![[image loading]](http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7105/drpeppergirls.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3791/drpeppergirls2.jpg)
Last edit: 2012-04-30 07:14:25 |
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| Cel.erity United States. April 30 2012 06:51. Posts 3600 | Profile Blog # |
| What are you suggesting here, exactly? The street works both ways; the reason junk food companies market to our demographic is because our demographic consumes a large amount of junk food already. It's not like MLG is turning away nutrition companies at the door with sponsorship opportunities. |
| | We found Dove in a soapless place. |
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| drsnuggles Korea (South). April 30 2012 06:54. Posts 307 | Profile Blog # |
It's not like major esports can be picky about their sponsors, we're not in a state where "every company wants to join".
Face it, we are the target group for these companies (Dr. Pepper etc.) so we can be happy that they bring money into the industry. I don't think any company that is famous for' healthy' food will start advertising at MLG.
And your analysis is very US-centric imo, the majority of the sponsors that I can name are from the IT\gaming apparel industry and not fast food.
Edit: Basically I'm saying the same as the poster above.Last edit: 2012-04-30 06:55:42 |
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| schmeebs United States. April 30 2012 06:56. Posts 114 | Profile # |
I forgot that all the sponsors for Professional Athletics were healthfoods and Gyms.
Do you know why the sponsors of Esports are Junk food? Because thats what gamers eat/drink. If the majority of gamers spent all their time eating Kashi and drinking V8, then those companies might consider sponsoring esports. But as it stands gamers/young adult males are probably the primary demographic for Dr. Pepper/Monster/Whatever right now, so it makes sense to sponsor esports. |
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| Leeoku April 30 2012 06:58. Posts 1080 | Profile # |
| energy drinks i can understand as unhealthy as it is. me not being a dr pepper fan dont like it but it would be the same as coke/pepsi doing the same thing. it makes sense they would do such things such as hot pockets cause it's quick and easy food, what gamers look for |
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| ExTerminator United States. April 30 2012 06:59. Posts 22 | Profile # |
| Firstly, it's intents and purposes, not intensive purposes. Secondly, there are very, very, very few million dollar companies that sell "healthy food options," that have spare money to sponsor eSports. Most of the "healthy" food that would help people avoid problems later in life, are foods that are mostly found in your local supermarket, sold by whatever brand that supermarket chooses to purchase. Generally they also offer their own off-brand version. There's no national green-bean company, there's no real national fish, poultry, healthy juice, or red meat supplier. Healthy food, like a nice dinner of grilled chicken and asparagus with a side salad and water to drink, just does not have a brand name. It would thus be nearly impossible for some company that provides "healthy" foods to sponsor anybody, let alone sponsor such a small demographic. Basically, the only companies physically able to, let alone willing to, sponsor eSports are these multi-billion dollar, semi-international companies. It would be preposterous to think otherwise. |
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| dAPhREAk Nauru. April 30 2012 07:01. Posts 8698 | Profile Blog # |
vegetables and fruits dont sponsor anything. so, for food, it is either junk food or no sponsors.
i think the responsibility of providing a healthy diet for kids is the parent's responsibility, not sponsors, and if you are no longer a kid, you know that junk food is going to kill you. |
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| Monarch.StarCrack United States. April 30 2012 07:03. Posts 162 | Profile Blog # |
I guess I should add this question. Does esports need junk food sponsors?
@drsnuggles I agree that the majority of sponsors aren't foods and that my post is very US centric.
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| drsnuggles Korea (South). April 30 2012 07:04. Posts 307 | Profile Blog # |
On April 30 2012 07:01 dAPhREAk wrote:
vegetables and fruits dont sponsor anything. so, for food, it is either junk food or no sponsors.
i think the responsibility of providing a healthy diet for kids is the parent's responsibility, not sponsors, and if you are no longer a kid, you know that junk food is going to kill you.
Unless you're American and have to sue Nutella for making your children fat. (see what i did there? :D)
Basically the point has been beaten around the bush in the first 5 posts already, nobody is forcing other (food) companies from not sponsoring major esports events, but since we are not their target customer it won't happen, so we're gonna take all the sponsoring that we can get, thank you.
Edit: I'm gonna go to bed and we'll see if somebody else can bring a good counter-argument since I can't think of one (a counter-argument for the argument of the replies, not the OP).Last edit: 2012-04-30 07:07:01 |
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| Monarch.StarCrack United States. April 30 2012 07:06. Posts 162 | Profile Blog # |
@daphreak my premise isn't to replace junk food sponsors with fresh fruit and vegetable sponsors. You're right, it is the responsibility of parents to teach kids about the dangers of poor nutrition. Unfortunately they are failing miserably here.
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| dAPhREAk Nauru. April 30 2012 07:08. Posts 8698 | Profile Blog # |
On April 30 2012 07:03 Monarch.StarCrack wrote:
I guess I should add this question. Does esports need junk food sponsors?
@drsnuggles I agree that the majority of sponsors aren't foods and that my post is very US centric.
when you are begging, you dont get to be choosy. because "esports" is so new, it cant be picky about which sponsors it uses. hell, isnt brazzers sponsoring a team or tourney now?
here is the thread:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=325927
edit: i feel i should clarify that i think brazzers sponsoring a serious team is a mistake since i think it will no longer be taken seriously by other sponsors, etc.Last edit: 2012-04-30 07:12:52 |
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| Monarch.StarCrack United States. April 30 2012 07:10. Posts 162 | Profile Blog # |
On April 30 2012 07:04 drsnuggles wrote:
Show nested quote +On April 30 2012 07:01 dAPhREAk wrote:
vegetables and fruits dont sponsor anything. so, for food, it is either junk food or no sponsors.
i think the responsibility of providing a healthy diet for kids is the parent's responsibility, not sponsors, and if you are no longer a kid, you know that junk food is going to kill you.
Unless you're American and have to sue Nutella for making your children fat. (see what i did there? :D) Basically the point has been beaten around the bush in the first 5 posts already, nobody is forcing other (food) companies from not sponsoring major esports events, but since we are not their target customer it won't happen, so we're gonna take all the sponsoring that we can get, thank you. Edit: I'm gonna go to bed and we'll see if somebody else can bring a good counter-argument since I can't think of one (a counter-argument for the argument of the replies, not the OP).
But see that's part of the problem, if we as a community allow junk food sponsors in without any objection then we're just another group of targeted consumers who are enabling these products to keep destroying the health of this generation and future generations to come. |
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| Joedaddy United States. April 30 2012 07:14. Posts 1596 | Profile Blog # |
Childhood obesity along with the rise in type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in the younger generation today.
Stop looking to corporations and government to take responsibility for what your kid puts in their mouth. (i'm not addressing you the OP specifically here)
The reason why childhood obesity is up has very little to do with the "lack of options" at gaming venues or lack of nutrition education. Hell, when I was a kid in the early '80s we knew that eating junk food was "bad for you."
Both mom and dad are working full time jobs in most families. This leads to a lot of frozen food meals or fast food/take out. Kids are cooped up in the house watching TV all day because mom or dad aren't home, or are to tired/don't have the ambition to make their kids turn the tv off, put the games down, and go play outside.
Think about it, childhood obesity didn't reach the epidemic levels you described until the family norm became single parent and/or dual full time working parents. I also have a lot of opinions about the diminishing returns of mom AND dad working full time jobs, but I'll save it.
The Corporations that sponsor the eSports events aren't bad companies who seek to destroy the health of young people. They make a great product that tastes good, is convenient, and enjoyable. Who's fault is it if your kid drinks a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper and eats a box of hot pockets in a day? Its certainly not the corporations. If anyone deserves to be villanized for their child's obesity, its the guardian who was to busy to ensure their kids were eating healthy meals at healthy times. I'd argue its border line negligence.
TL/DR~ Its the parent's fault their kids are obese (excluding rare diseases/disabilities) and not the lack of nutrition education or lack of options. Spend time teaching your kids to eat healthy by preparing well rounded meals at appropriate meal times, and take them outside to play. Last edit: 2012-04-30 07:24:19 |
| | I imagine all of my Protoss opponents reading a book in one hand and playing with their foot. -Painuser |
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| Monarch.StarCrack United States. April 30 2012 07:21. Posts 162 | Profile Blog # |
| @joedaddy you are right about it being ultimately the parents responsibility however marketing does still have a strong effect. |
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| MoonfireSpam United Kingdom. April 30 2012 08:23. Posts 640 | Profile Blog # |
And sponsoring the Olympics we have Mcdonalds, Cadbury, Coca-Cola, DoW (Bhopal disaster people), BP (Deepwater Horizon), Lloyds TSB (HBOS mortgage crap), Heineken (beers), to name a few.
Only associations that are "healthy" are their suppliers who deal with gym equipment and nutritional supplies, but they are dumped at the bottom and dont get banners or anything 
I personally don't have a problem with junk food sponsoring events, I think people with any intelligence will make informed choices about what they want to eat anyway if they are bothered, and if they will eat junk, may as well support esports while going it.Last edit: 2012-04-30 08:28:14 |
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| Fallen903 April 30 2012 08:54. Posts 30 | Profile # |
| This isn't a gaming community problem, this is an American culture problem. |
| | Play to learn, not to win. |
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| Catch]22 Sweden. April 30 2012 09:01. Posts 2340 | Profile Blog # |
On April 30 2012 08:54 Fallen903 wrote:
This isn't a gaming community problem, this is an American culture problem.
"American"? It isnt speficif to american culture, wake up and smell the roses. Last edit: 2012-04-30 09:04:55 |
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| seansye United States. April 30 2012 09:10. Posts 1714 | Profile # |
| I'll be ecstatic if McDonalds sponsors esports! |
| | I will master Speshul Taktics.! |
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| PrinceXizor United States. April 30 2012 09:13. Posts 4441 | Profile Blog # |
| I mean... look at american college football, half of them are sponsored by junk food, and only about half of their audience is the demographic we are in. half of all people who watch college football are over 40. half are under 30. |
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| mastergriggy United States. April 30 2012 09:20. Posts 1297 | Profile Blog # |
First, Esports isn't at the place to turn down sponsors. If a company wants to sponsor MLG or Dreamhack or whatever, only an idiot would turn them down. If McDonalds sponsored an Esports event, that would be incredible!
Second, as others have pointed out, it is ridiculous to assume that a Esports sponsor is responsible for kids getting type 2 diabetes or anything else. When you sit your kid in front of a tv for 8 hours a day and don't do shit for them as a parent, that's where the issue arises. |
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