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[El Sloth]

Specifically, they recognize the Legends Championship Sereis (LCS) as on par with the NBA, NFL, etc.

Another announcement you all maybe missed. The US Governement recognises the #LCS as a Sport on par with NBA,NFL,NHL so pro's get visas now

Announcement at 8:10 in this video: http://t.co/cW6gxlrgnK

Edit:

Bit of clarification:

Professional gamers have been receiving work visas as early as 2007.

LoL players previously applied for a B-1 (business trip) visas for individual tournaments. Since Riot now has a weekly, perpetual, league players can apply for a P-1 visa that lasts while they play in the league.

Calling LoL a sport is a technicality. No other competitive game will have that definition by the US government unless there is a perpetual league for that game that pays salaries to competitors.

 

[Starviper]

Pretty cool, not gonna lie. Does Starcraft 2 get the same sort of treatment?

 

[Silky]

It's only a matter of time before Marvel's recognized

 

[Teknopathetic]

Hopefully this is the catalyst in changing US perception on competitive gaming.

 

[Avallon]

Great news!

 

[DragonSworne]

Does LCS expect to play the same game 50 years later?

 

[delirium]

Do other countries outside the US do this?

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Hopefully this is the catalyst in changing US perception on competitive gaming.

From extremely pathetic to marginally pathetic?

 

[El Sloth]

Pretty cool, not gonna lie. Does Starcraft 2 get the same sort of treatment?

No, this is a deal that is specific only to the LCS. However, this is big because now a barrier has been broken. This opens the door for organizations that set up big Starcraft 2 tournaments or fighting game tournaments to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the U.S. government and then reap the same benfits that the other big sports orgs get.

 

[avcables]

More proof that cheerleading ain't shit.

 

[WARCOCK]

that's pretty nuts.

 

[Perkel]

If you go to US you need to have prepared 500 000 $ bailout money.

 

[Cosmo Clock 21]

I'm a little confused. The NBA/NHL/etc are organizations, not sports themselves. Is the announcement saying players who are part of the LCS gain the same benefits as the ones in other leagues?

Edit: answered above. Too bad the FGC doesn't have associations like other esports games.

 

[El Sloth]

I'm a little confused. The NBA/NHL/etc are organizations, not sports themselves. Is the announcement saying players who are part of the LCS gain the same benefits as the ones in other leagues?

Edit: answered above. Too bad the FGC doesn't have associations like other esports games.

I let the tabloid blog writer in me take over. "LoL recognized as sport" is the better headline!

 

[Asriel]

Hopefully this is the catalyst in changing US perception on competitive gaming.

It won't.

 

[Kreunt]

Riot been paying off government officials I see.

 

[LastNac]

I don't even...

 

[AppleSmack]

Over Starcraft? Sigh.

 

[The Last Emperor]

When's mahvel

 

[AnathemicOne]

Over Starcraft? Sigh.

Over Dota 2? Sigh.

Get over yourself, LoL has been pushing the E-Sports agenda for a good 2-3 years more than what any other game has done. I still remember the fail that Blizzard had during the tournament at Blizzcon.

 

[Loxley]

Over Dota 2? Sigh.

Get over yourself, LoL has been pushing the E-Sports agenda for a good 2-3 years more than what any other game has done. I still remember the fail that Blizzard had during the tournament at Blizzcon.

Lets stop this pissing contest before it starts, hm?

 

[The Lamp]

Am I the only one who thinks this is hilarious/ridiculous?

 

[JavyOO7]

Sucks for TSM. The international teams will have their visas so their best players will be able to arrive in the world championships. They'll get beaten out early again like last year.

=p

But nah, great news really. Reminds me to finish OGN spring so I can watch the second half split in NA and EU LCS and OGN summer. Though I don't play LOL anymore, watching it is so exciting for me. It really is like another NFL/NBA/MLB for me.

 

[ShaneB]

Don't care for LoL at all, but this is pretty big news.

 

[Legato.Reborn-]

Lets stop this pissing contest before it starts, hm?

Come on buddy, come on buddy.. You and I both know when League and Dota2 are on the line, the pissing contest will always start.

 

[Aquamarine]

Hopefully this is the catalyst in changing US perception on competitive gaming.

I certainly hope so. This is fantastic news.

If chess can get recognized as a sport, there's no reason why video games shouldn't be considered sports either.

 

[Hylian7]

Excuse my crap knowledge of visas, but how did it work last year for Dota 2's International in Seattle? There were a lot of Chinese and European teams. I remember MUFC couldn't make it because their passports got lost or something.

 

[Stimpack]

Am I the only one who thinks this is hilarious/ridiculous?

Far from it.

 

[spindashing]

When's Mahvel gonna be recognized

 

[WARCOCK]

Over Starcraft? Sigh.

Let's face the facts here man. I think SC2 is by far the most difficult and challenging e-sport by miles. But you can't argue with LoL's popularity, 130-150 k concurrent viewers for random LCS matches, 18 million concurrent during shanghai's finals. SC2 lost this.

 

[Dead Prince]

Thank you, Obama.

 

[Amagon]

A yo, Esppoooooorrrrttttssssssaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

 

[StoppedInTracks]

That's kinda big news for the gaming community, whoa.

Before StarCraft 1&2, before all those COD Pros, before DOTA 2.

Props to LoL, the game and the community deserved it.

 

[george01]

o_o this is nuts

 

[JHall]

Isn't there suppose to be a tournament in the Staples Center for LoL in the near future?

 

[Sullen]

From extremely pathetic to marginally pathetic?

Haha so true.

 

[Schweinehund]

That's kinda big news for the gaming community, whoa.

Before StarCraft 1&2, before all those COD Pros, before DOTA 2.

Props to LoL, the game and the community deserved it.

kappa

 

[Not Spaceghost]

As much as I hate league of legends, this is pretty huge for every one remotely interested in any form of esports.

 

[Reversed]

Rio's 2016 LoLympics.

 

[Arkos]

From extremely pathetic to marginally pathetic?

Haha so true.

Why are you coming to one of the most hardcore gaming forums just to shit all over a relatively small piece of news that will simply make it easier to hold more international gaming tournaments or whatever in the US? You know that making fun of the dorky gamers doesn't make you cool here, right?

Asshats.

Isn't there suppose to be a tournament in the Staples Center for LoL in the near future?

Yes there is

 

[PFD]

Am I the only one who thinks this is hilarious/ridiculous?

Yes. This is awesome.

 

[Cartman86]

Just more points of precedence stacking up for the live streaming cases.

 

[The Lamp]

Yes. This is awesome.

Playing an online video game isn't a sport. I don't care what the government says. Lol.

But at least this makes tournaments easier.

 

[MisterSamMan]

I couldn't help, but laugh hysterically about this. Though in all seriousness, this is pretty awesome.

I'd love to see the meetings leading up to their decision. Educating a bunch of old men in suits about League sounds like fun then again, who's decides this stuff?

 

[WARCOCK]

Playing an online video game isn't a sport. I don't care what the government says. Lol.

But at least this makes tournaments easier.

Thanks for the profound reality check there champ, I liked your posts more when they were more focused on discussing the distinct smell of your mother's vagina.

 

[Kurtofan]

Pizza is vegetable, video gaming is sport, up is down.

 

[Kenai]

So, LoL players are jocks now instead of nerds? Sweet!

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Thanks for the profound reality check there champ, I liked your posts more when they were more focused on discussing the distinct smell of your mother's vagina.

I had to put down my cup of water for a second.

 

[TyrantGuardian]

Great stuff, hopefully just one step toward e-sports being at least somewhat legitimized within the mainstream.

 

[Zaventem]

Wow this is awesome. i still don't think of it as one put it's good for you espot players i guess.