All That Glitters Is Not Esports Gold
Professional gamers need to be less trusting and more cautious
Another day, another esports team accused of shady business. This time it’s Team Secret, a well known Dota organization. Recently similar allegations were leveled against Dream Team. MYM was once accused of threatening to take a player’s house. Even the infamous pharmaceutical exec Martin Shkreli found his way to esports. These stories would be almost comical if they didn’t affect the lives of real people, damage the reputation of the industry and sow distrust between gamers and legitimate team based organizations. Before climbing down this dark rabbit hole, we should keep in mind there is more than one side to a story and people are innocent until proven guilty. Some companies go out of business despite doing things honestly and treating people fairly. It happens. However, in esports we have an overabundance of shady characters, lies and outright conmen. It always frustrates me how flashy new teams pop up, promise the world, and end up treating players poorly. Gamers are generally too trusting and too eager to agree to less than favorable terms as long as the promises of riches and glory are convincing enough. Due to their ages and general lack of life experience some esports players are easy targets for unscrupulous actors who seek to cash in on competitive gaming and make a quick buck. Players underestimate how easy it is to make a logo, toss up a website and start throwing a bit of money around. Even if the owner has noble intentions the odds of success are very low. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.
I have operated as a team owner for over 13 years now. Part of the business involves bidding for gamer contracts. Time and time again I see these teams come out of nowhere with grandiose promises of extravagant salaries. They make trustworthy organizations, who are actually concerned about operating with sustainable business practices, look less attractive and even cheap. Why not take the big bucks from this new, flashy org? What glitters is gold, right? Wrong.
If history teaches us anything it’s that we learn nothing from history. — Hegel
If the day ever comes when someone is willing to pay you cash for your game play, it’s a fantastic day. Congratulations, you’re now a professional gamer. Just don’t let your exuberance get ahead of your common sense. Please take a moment to think about this article and share it with your teammates. If it saves one young gamer from a dishonest predator (or simply an incompetent buffoon) then it will have been worth my time. Below are some basic pointers I have for professional games and those who aspire to join their ranks.
(Disclaimer: This article for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. I don’t practice law any longer and even if I did, I’m not your attorney. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.)
A Simple Guide for Professional Gamers
‘Old reliable’ is old and reliable for a reason
If given the option between an organization that has a rich history and a solid reputation for player treatment or a newer team, always take old reliable. $10 a month that actually gets paid is better than $15 a month you never actually see. 90% of prize money that you get paid is better than the 100% that disappears. I’m often shocked to see gamers chase a few dollars and completely ignore the reputation of the businesses involved. Be smart. History and proven track records have value.
(To be fair, esports is growing and there are solid, reputable organizations that are fairly new. These teams are run by men and women of integrity who are seeking to earn their place among the more proven teams. I am not suggesting they should be ostracized. I am, however, insisting that gamers ask more questions of newer groups and be much warier of unproven brands. We, as a community, need to stop falling for these absurd promises. We need to wise up and stop getting lied to.)
Wake up, smell the coffee and pay attention
I’m often surprised to learn how little some players know about their actual agreements. This is your life here. Get your nose out of the monitor long enough to grasp what’s going on. What is your salary? How many months are you partnering with the team? Does the team have an extension clause or right of first refusal? Do you have a buyout clause? What percent of prize money does the team withhold? Do you share your Twitch revenue with the organization? What travel expenses get reimbursed to you? At the very least, you should have a complete understanding of these topics. Don’t trust others to handle your future. Be an active participant in your own destiny.
Written contracts are not optional
Incredibly, it seems the Team Secret players did not have written contracts. They were allegedly not aware the team was going to withhold 10% of the prize money. There were verbal promises made that were not being followed. Friends, this isn’t rocket science. Even if you’re forming a team with friends, when money is involved you need written contracts. Don’t commit your life to a verbal agreement and hope it works out. Don’t be P.T. Barnum’s ‘sucker born every minute.’
Get legal counsel
Every player should have his or her contract reviewed by an attorney. Look, I understand lawyers can be expensive and new gamers often make very little when starting out. Ask your parents and friends if they might know an attorney willing to review the contract as a favor. Reach out to esports lawyers like Bryce Blum, Ryan Morrison or Anna Baumann. They might be willing to review your first contract for free in order to establish a long term relationship with you. There is also now the Esports Player Resources Center (PRC). The point I’m making is there is no excuse to fly blindly when it comes to the contracts you need in place. Be humble and admit you need some help and there are people willing to give it to you.
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire
Keep your eyes open. Don’t leave your common sense at the door. If something smells fishy, it very well might be. If you haven’t been paid for a few months, that’s not OK. If that prize money keeps getting ‘delayed’ something might be off. Don’t be that sucker who continues clinging to a sinking ship for six months while not being paid. If your team doesn’t seem dedicated to treating you fairly you need to ask yourself why you’re dedicated to representing its brand. Patience and understanding are good traits. Stupidity and gullibility are not. Be smart.
I hope this article hasn’t taken on overly negative tone. I’m just very tired of people getting taken advantage of in this business. Yes, we all make mistakes and some businesses just fail despite the best intentions. However, the outrageous behavior shown by some is damaging our scene a great deal. It’s time we take a stand and actively protect younger, less experienced gamers through proper education and guidance. Together we can, and will, stem the tide of unscrupulous scumbags seeking to take advantage of esports’ greatest resource: our players.
