The United Kingdom eSports Association or UKeSA (pronounced You-Kes-Sah) attempted to be a governing body of eSports in the United KingdomIvan, Tom. (2008-10-31) "Big Things Instore For eSports". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2009-02-23.T, Steve. (2009-02-11) "Be Broadband Is UKeSA Broadband Provider 2009" . Broadband News. Retrieved 2009-02-24.Varsani, Kishan. (2008-12-22) "Launch of UK eSports Association" . Arm3d.com. Retrieved 2009-02-19.(2008-12-27) "Poker Launches Campaign To Become An Olympic Sport". Inside The Games. Retrieved 2009-02-24. and a member of the International eSports Federation (IeSF).(2009-05-29) "UKeSA treed toe tot de IeSF en benoemd nieuwe General Secretary" . e-sportbond.nl. Retrieved 2009-06-19. The headquarters were in London, United Kingdom.
The UKeSA was responsible for governing amateur and professional eSports, building a structure with the government, industry and community in mind.(2009-01-16) "UKeSA Background" . GamersHell.com. Retrieved 2009-02-23. These include Metropolitan Police Service, BBC, Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, Procter & Gamble, Future Publishing, Electronic Arts, Codemasters, The New World Assembly, XLEAGUE.TV, Team Dignitas, Reason Gaming, Team Infused, Fnatic, QuadV and Cadred.Cole, Corin. (2008-11-27) "UKeSA Structure Announced" . Cadred.org. Retrieved 2009-02-23. The association was launched on 31 October 2008 during the London Games Festival and was chaired by former XLEAGUE.TV channel head Ray Mia.Silver, Max. (2008-11-20) "Ray Mia Explains the UKeSA" . Cadred.org. Retrieved 2009-02-29. He explained that UKeSA will essentially be the eSports equivalent of The Football Association, offering a centralised infrastructure to UK eSports as well as support towards semi-professional and professional team and UK community led projects with the government.
UKeSA set up leagues and cup tournaments, split between three divisions: Open Division, Championship Division and Premiership Division.Silver, Max. (2008-12-05) "Event Structure and Seasons Announced" . Cadred.org. Retrieved 2009-02-24. Each division represents the different levels of competition from amateur to professional and is played online via the internet through the means of a personal computer or a video games console. Teams can compete in a series of video games including FIFA 09, Call of Duty 4 and Counter-Strike.(2009-02-19) "eSports Pro League Gets Underway". BBC. Retrieved 2009-02-19. Competition finals of these divisions were hosted at a specially selected venue in the United Kingdom. Teams are gathered to play against each other in off-line, local area network (LAN) setups as opposed to online play in the initial stages of the tournament.
History
31 October 2008 sees the official launch of the United Kingdom eSports Association during the 2008 London Games Festival in London. The launch party was held at the Haymarket branch of the Sports Cafe.
On 26 November 2008, it has been announced that several of the following organisations, both private and public sector, have been involved in the setup of UKeSA: Metropolitan Police Service, BBC, Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, Procter & Gamble, Future Publishing, Electronic Arts, Codemasters, The New World Assembly, XLEAGUE.TV, Team Dignitas, Reason Gaming, Team Infused, Fnatic, QuadV and Cadred.
The Executive Committee of UKeSA were announced on 12 January 2009. Members consist of personnel from the likes of Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, British Broadcasting Association and Future Publishing.Witts, David. (2009-01-13) "UKeSA Confirms High-Profile Executive Committee" . sweetpatch.tv. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
£35,000 GBP prize fund was announced for the Championship and Premiership Divisions on 13 January 2009. A selection of video game titles were listed as part of the Open Division.Prior, Paul. (2009-01-13) "UKeSA Game Titles and Prize Fund" . Tek9 Networks. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
Future Publishing are partnering with UKeSA and aligning itself with the Open Division, announced on 23 January 2009.(2009-01-23) "UK National League News" . Do Gaming. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
A selection of video game titles were announced for the Championship Division on 27 January 2009. They were chosen from the amount of sign ups in the Open Division. Top four titles will be picked to represent the Premiership Division.Varsani, Kishan. (2009-01-27) "Championship Games Announced" . Arm3D.com. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
On 6 February 2009, UK Internet Service Provider, Be Unlimited has become the official broadband provider sponsor of UKeSA for 2009.Allen, David. (2009-02-10) "eSports sponsored by Be Broadband". Tech Watch. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
UKeSA has announced the selection of eSports teams to represent and play in the Premiership Division on 13 February 2009. They include established teams such as Team Dignitas, The Imperial, Crack Clan and Team Coolermaster.Hazell, Matt. (2009-02-13) "UKeSA Premiership Teams Announced" . Tek9 Networks. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
Dell becomes the sponsor for UKeSA's Premiership Division on 17 February 2009.Parfitt, Ben. (2009-02-17) "Dell sponsors UK eSports Association". MCV. Retrieved 2009-02-23.(2009-02-20) "Dell sponsors UKeSA videogames tournament". GAME. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
UKeSA opens up nominations and voting for the Community Committee on 25 February 2009.Witts, David. (2009-02-26) "UKeSA Community Council Elections Officially Begin" . Sweetpatch TV. Retrieved 2009-02-27. They also increased the prize fund for the UKeSA Championship and Premiership Division from £35,000 to £40,000.
On 18 March 2009, UKeSA have appointed Richard 'Dr. Gonzo' Lewis, Michael 'ODEE' O'Dell and Stuart 'TosspoT' Saw as the elected Community Council members.Bembenek, Mike. (2009-03-18) "Community Council Election Results". enemydown.eu. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
On 2 April 2009, HMV and UKeSA have announced that they are pairing up to organise the "GameOn! London" exhibition at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, London, which takes place in June 2009.French, Michael. (2009-04-02) "HMV reveals new consumer games event". MCV. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
The governing body signs up to become a member of the International eSports Federation.
In December 2009, amid controversy, the UKeSA signed for bankruptcy and has since made no attempt to pay back any individual or organisation it owed.Cadred.org. (2009-23-12) "UKeSA Files For Bankruptcy" . MCV. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
Committee Structure
The UKeSA structure is made up of three key committees and a players union. Each committee plays a vital role in the operations of the eSports Association. So far, only the Executive Committee and the Community Council has been officially announced.
The Executive Committees purpose is to assist, direct and act as ambassadors for UK eSports to the wider public. The Committee shall be composed of prominent industry, media and government figures and shall include senior representatives from the games industry.
Ray Mia - Chief Executive, United Kingdom eSports Association (UKeSA) Duncan Best - Director, Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) Richard Keith – Director, Future PLC Steve Carsey – Deputy CEO/Creative Director, Steadfast Television/Apace Media James Claydon – Head of News & Entertainment, BBC Motion Gallery (BBC Worldwide) and CEO of London Features International & Idols Crawford Balch – Senior Manager, Reid & Casement
The Community Council consists of six people: Three elected members of the UK eSports community, two permanent Executive Committee members of the UKeSA and one Senior Operational Manager.(2009-01-09) "Internal UKeSA Structure Announced". enemydown.eu. Retrieved 2009-02-24. Originally, the three elected members of the eSports community had to be Team Managers from Championship or Premiership Teams. This was changed to make the Community Council both representative and inclusive of the UK eSports community. However, candidates must be UK passport holders and they must reside in the United Kingdom.(2009-02-27) "UKeSA Community Council Begins Nomination and Election Process". Jarralz. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
Candidates put themselves up for electoral status and are given an opportunity to state their wishes as to why they should be chosen for the Community Council. Questions are then submitted to the candidates by the public and are then answered by writing or through a live debate broadcast on Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or web-streaming.Witts, David. (2009-02-26) "UKeSA Community Council Elections Officially Begin" . Sweetpatch TV. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
Voting for potential Community Council members are done via public vote and are tallied via electronic means, such as a website. Voters are allowed to vote for 3 candidates and can only choose once per election.Witts, David. (2009-03-09) "UKeSA Community Council Election Voting Opens" . Sweetpatch TV. Retrieved 2009-03-18. Elected members are not able to sit in the Community Council for two consecutive terms, however, they are able to be re-elected after standing down from a single term. No length of time has been given as to indicate how long these terms are.
Elected members of the committee are responsible for community related operational and disciplinary matters. These include the enforcement of game, tournament and cup regulations and rules, disciplinary breaches of regulations and conduct, allocation of the seasonal cash retainers, game type and rule suggestions and responsibility for video game specific sub-committees.Ivan, Tom. (2009-03-02) "Internal UKeSA Structure Announced". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2009-03-14. Attendance is required for Community Committee members through bi-monthly conference calls and physical meetings by attending the General Assembly.
On 18 March 2009, UKeSA have announced the results of the elections for the Community Council. The following will be sitting in as members of the Community Council for one term:
Richard Lewis - Freelance writer and former eSports manager. Michael O'Dell - General Manager, Team Dignitas. Stuart Saw - eSports Commentator, QuadV.
Also on the board for the Community Council is Ray Mia, who sits in as the permanent Executive Committee members of the Council and Peter Simpson as the Senior Operational Manager.
The Ethics Commission is charged with defining and updating a framework of ethical principles, including a Code of Ethics & Conduct, based upon the values and principles enshrined in the UKeSA Charter.
The Players Association is a separate entity that is supported by the UKeSA. This body, once established will be permanently represented on the Ethics Commission.
General Assembly
Meetings are set up between the Executive Committee, Community Council, Ethics Commission, Players Association and other leading figures among the government, the eSports community (such as the International eSports Federation) and video games industry. Held three times a year, these meetings consist of debated issues concerning eSports in the United Kingdom, how they relate to operational aspects of UKeSA and the endorsement of the UKeSA Charter. The General Assembly is invitational only, with permanent membership endorsed by elective procedures.
Competition structure