14 DAY TRIAL // The eSports Organization and video game developer Blizzard announce that they have entered into a partnership designed to allow them to support homegrown eSports groups inside colleges and universities, in order to ensure the future of the hobby.
The official announcement states that, “As part of the partnership, Blizzard will back student groups in the TeSPA network by guaranteeing event funding, unique in-game rewards, and unrivaled promotion opportunities to active TeSPA chapters.”
It adds, “This backing will help chapters strengthen their communities by providing vital resources needed to host local gaming competitions and viewing events.”
Neither the eSports Association nor Blizzard has so far offered information on which colleges or universities will first receive access to the new initiative.
In order to benefit, all interested groups need to make sure that they do not discriminate unilaterally against a certain game or type of player and an annual membership fee of 10 dollars or Euro needs to be paid by all those involved.
As more members join an organization, they can get access to in-game items for Hearthstone and the upcoming Heroes of the Storm.
Blizzard is one of the companies that always sought to develop the eSports market because a number of its games are very popular for competitions and tend to attract significant audiences.
Starcraft created much of the demand for big tournaments and streaming and at the moment, the company is building eSports mechanics into the card-based Hearthstone and into the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena title Heroes of the Storm.
The company is also working on the Legacy of the Void expansion for Starcraft 2, which might be released as soon as 2015.
The package will include a new single-player campaign based on the Protoss race, but it will also make significant changes to the multiplayer mechanics.