Esports is the term used for professional gaming. The “E” stands for “electronic”. As in traditional sports, athletes train alone or in teams for hours – mentally, physically and ingame – and then compete in leagues and tournaments.

Absolutely yes. Most experts agree that esports fulfils most of the criteria that make a sport a sport. Esports athletes need to be physically fit, eat a healthy diet and follow an intensive training schedule. Esports leagues and teams are professionally organized and the International Olympic Committee is considering whether to include esports as an official discipline in the Olympic Games.

At LAN parties, gamers meet at an offline event, i.e. in real life. They spend a weekend in a hall with their computers, monitors and games. They play tournaments together and have drinks at the bar. Since gamers usually meet online, LAN parties have become very popular in recent years. The biggest LAN party in Switzerland is the SwitzerLAN, organised by MYI Entertainment. It takes place every autumn in Bern.

Streamers are people who film themselves playing video games. The phenomenon is comparable to the broadcasting of football matches or ski races on television. Streamers come up with special game styles, funny jokes or flashy characters to entertain their audience. They are mainly paid by voluntary donations from viewers, subscriptions, advertising, and sponsorships. The main streaming platforms are twitch.tv and youtube.com.

Some games “reward” player achievements with lootboxes. However, lootboxes can often also be bought for real money. They are usually virtual chests or boxes that contain random in-game items. Experts disagree on whether buying loot boxes counts as gambling. In most cases, it is not worth spending money on them.

Many companies, specialized agencies, and universities offer information material on all kinds of digital topics. Here is a small list:
Pro Juventute
Swisscom: «enter – Ratgeber digitale Medien»
ZHAW Psychologie
Jugend und Medien
Bans are of little use. If there’s a Fortnite ban at home, chances are your child will just play games at his or her friend’s house. Discuss game consumption with your child, arrange a screen time and show interest. This is more effective than banning games outright. There are also other options. Game developper Blizzard (World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch,…), for example, offers a control panel for parents. There you can keep an eye on your children’s game consumption.

Source: Medienkompetenz-Ratgeber von Jugend und Medien & ZHAW (S. 36)

Games are not the cause of addiction. Risk factors can be a lack of recognition in everyday life, low self-esteem or the need to belong. Games can then be an apparent escape for children. They can escape into a fantasy world via video games and suppress their problems. However, certain games have an increased potential for addiction. Especially online games that do not have a real end or where you are committed to the team can be quite addictive.
Source: Medienkompetenz-Ratgeber von Jugend und Medien & ZHAW (p. 15)
It makes sense to agree on screen time with children. The association “Internet-ABC” recommends the following guideline values, but these should be treated flexibly depending on the case:
  • Children under 6 should not spend more than 30 minutes a day in front of the screen.
  • Children between 6 and 9 can spend 30 to 60 minutes on devices.
  • For children between 10 and 13, 60 to 90 minutes is recommended as an upper limit.
Source: Internet-ABC

In many games, it is possible to buy items for real money. This method is especially popular with young players. Keep an eye on your child’s purchases or make a rule (e.g. washing the dishes twice a week gives you a Lootbox). Lootboxes are usually virtual chests or boxes that contain random in-game items.

A career in Esports is definitely a realistic thought today and not so far away from the dream of becoming a professional footballer. In Switzerland, only a few esports athletes can make a living from gaming. But on an international level, top esport athletes earn as much as sport athletes. Take your child seriously and support him or her along the way. But don’t forget one thing: Just like in traditional sports, a tiny percentage of gamers make it to the professional level. Putting all your eggs in this basket is very risky. It is often forgotten that esports is a broad industry with all kinds of professions. Not only gamers are needed, but also moderators, streamers, game developers, financial specialists, event organisers, coaches, managers, etc.
A good start is to build up a network of fellow players in-game. That way you can improve together and optimise your tactics. There are active Swiss communities on social media for all the major esports titles, which make it possible to exchange ideas. Esports players’ favourite platforms are Twitch, Discord and Twitter. You can also meet like-minded people at LAN parties, exchange ideas with them and make a name for yourself at tournaments. The big clans (or organisations) are always present at LANs. Of course, a successful esports career also requires meticulous knowledge of the game, a high level of skill and a lot of training.
In Switzerland, a few people can make a living from streaming or esports. As soon as you cross borders, there are many people who make a living this way, up to stars making millions from it. In Switzerland, there is an upward trend, so you can assume that more and more people will earn their living in the gaming industry in the next few years. Esports is a broad industry with all kinds of professions. Not only gamers are needed, but also moderators, streamers, game developers, financial specialists, event organisers, coaches, managers, etc.
That is very possible. In Switzerland, France and Germany, several football clubs have already signed esports athletes. These include FC Sion, FC Basel and Servette Geneva, SV Werder Bremen, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, PSG, OM and BVB. While the commitment of some clubs is still limited to FIFA players, other clubs have athletes in games like League of Legends et Rocket League. See also our blog post on football clubs with gamers. 

A good place to start is the Discord-channel von mYinsanity, the largest esports organisation in Switzerland. Many Swiss gamers are active there and you can network with them.

It’s also worth taking a look at Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. Promising profiles are SwitzerLAN, Swisscom Gaming or eSports.ch and the corresponding comment columns.

Although it is a common perception that games with violence in them cause aggression in real life, several studies disprove this statement. Children and teenagers are quite capable of distinguishing the ingame world from the real world.
Journalist and game expert Marc Bodmer says: “A boy who likes to play football doesn’t run around fouling random people on the street.” Video games can even serve to reduce aggression that would otherwise be expressed elsewhere.
Source: Forbes
Studies have shown that gaming can bring about cognitive performance enhancements and a better sense of perception. Video games can also improve motor skills, strategic thinking, problem-solving techniques or hand-eye coordination. Soft skills are promoted by various games. With this self-test, you can find out where a game helps you.
Last but not least, gaming is just incredibly fun.
Quelle: Forbes
When your children consume games, pay attention to the age ratings of PEGI (Pan European Game Information). These are prominently marked on each game.
You can find all the info on PEGI at https://pegi.info/en
The majority of participants at LAN parties are between 16 and 23 years old. Visitors under the age of 18 usually need the consent of a parent or guardian to be admitted. In Germany, LAN parties are usually open to people over 18. Denying your child usually never works out well. Inform and prepare yourself. It may also be worthwhile to contact the organisers. Perhaps you can also accompany your child. LAN parties are peaceful events, there are hardly ever any incidents. So LANs do not pose any danger.