Riot Game’s Vice President of eSports, Dustin Beck
This year has been a monumental one for eSports. With more players, a larger audience, and an exciting future, competitive gaming has taken off like never before. In the next 10 days, the Daily Dot will showcase the individuals who have contributed to this unprecedented growth, from top players to industry visionaries.
Previously, we highlighted Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn, the 20-year-old StarCraft 2 prodigy from Canada, and Rod Breslau, the prominent eSports journalist. Today, we turn our attention to Dustin Beck, the mastermind behind one of the most remarkable phenomena in the world of eSports.
The Man Driving the Phenomenal Success of League of Legends
Dustin Beck, Riot Game’s vice president of eSports, is the driving force behind the biggest competitive game in the world, League of Legends. As the man in charge, Beck oversees the highly successful League Championship Series (LCS), which features weekly matchups between the top players.
Under Beck’s leadership, the LCS has become the most-watched eSports event for two consecutive years, solidifying League of Legends’ position as the most played eSport. In fact, the event attracted approximately 32 million viewers over a weekend in October.
The Impressive Imitation of Traditional Sports
While the success of League of Legends contributes to the triumph of the LCS, it is the extraordinary efforts of Beck and his team that have created an incredible imitation of traditional sports within the eSports industry.
Beck said, “We wanted to create a consistent league structure similar to FIFA, similar to MLB or NBA.” This league structure generates more fandom and storylines around players, teams, and rivalries, enhancing the overall championship experience for viewers.
Revolutionizing the eSports Landscape
Prior to League of Legends, StarCraft 2 was the leading eSport. However, one of its major drawbacks was the excessive number of events, making it difficult for fans to comprehend their significance. Matches would be highly anticipated one day, but quickly forgotten due to lack of future implications.
The LCS revolutionized the landscape by organizing top teams into easily understandable leagues around the world, culminating in a world championship event that captures everyone’s attention. The event was so popular that it sold out Los Angeles’ Staples Center within minutes. Additionally, the coverage provided on lolesports.com far surpasses that of any competitor.
Moreover, Beck and Riot are actively assisting eSports teams and organizations in countries like Turkey, Russia, and Brazil in becoming institutionalized entities within the industry. Although the LCS does not directly extend into these regions, it is evident that the groundwork is being laid.
Dustin Beck’s Investment in Success
In August, Beck made headlines when he revealed that Riot did not profit from the LCS. He clarified, “It’s a significant investment that we’re not making money from. It’s an investment into the game, for our fans, just like we’d invest in any other feature within the game. It’s a worthwhile thing for us to do because it’s such a high quality, engaging experience for our fans.”
While the costs incurred by Riot for running these events cannot be fully recuperated through ticket sales or streaming revenue, the LCS proves to be a true triumph by keeping players engaged and attracting new viewers. It also shines a continuous spotlight on the game, making it a hot topic for media coverage.
Beck At the Top of the eSports Food Chain
When HBO’s Real Sports covered the LCS in October, it displayed a level of respect and admiration rarely seen in mainstream media’s coverage of eSports. While many individuals and groups deserve credit for the success of the game, it is Beck who stands at the top of the eSports food chain.
Screengrab via GamerHubTV/YouTube
eSports, Dustin Beck, League of Legends, LCS, competitive gaming, Riot Games, StarCraft 2, traditional sports, FIFA, MLB, NBA, lolesports.com, viewers, media coverage