This week, a company called Esports Certification Institute made an offer: pay $299.95 (normally $399.95) to take the exam. If you pass, you will be qualified to tell employers in the esports industry that you understand the esports scene and have a grasp of basic business terms, marketing concepts, and statistical issues. the ECI says that getting certified will get you noticed and help you find your "dream job" in esports It states that.

While the credential has gained support from CEOs and professionals in many esports organizations, many other observers are not convinced that a $400 certification exam is what an entry-level job applicant needs on his or her resume.

"This makes no sense," wrote Beastcoast co-CEO Brian Anderson on Twitter.

"What makes me, as CEO of [n]org, feel that someone who passes this exam is any more or less specifically qualified than anyone else?

Others expressed the view that the ECI and its exams are fundamentally unfair and harmful.

Patrick Coyne, a digital producer for Team Liquid, said, "I hope this gets meme-ized a bit and then justifiably fades into obscurity." I'm glad to see so many industry insiders speaking out against this shameless and predatory cash-grab."

ECI co-founder Ryan Friedman, who previously worked for esports organizations Dignitas, Clutch, and Immortals, says his goal is not to create barriers to working in esports, but to remove them. He got into esports through luck and an unpaid internship. In Friedman's view, even if one has no professional experience and cannot afford to spend months or years interning, taking a certification exam will help qualified entry-level job seekers get noticed by a vast number of other job seekers.

"Even today, many (esports companies) do not have the infrastructure or management will to support an in-depth HR process to vet thousands of applicants," Friedman wrote on Twitter.

"As a result, past experience tends to be overvalued in this field.

Whereas ECI is "a more meritocratic way of evaluating talent," in other words, it's all about who you know, Friedman said. In response to the argument that spending $400 for a test is hardly an indication of competence, Friedman says scholarships are offered. (He did not specify a rough number of students. I asked.)

ECI also points out that the exam study guide is available for a fee and that the $400 exam fee is low compared to other industry certification exams such as the CPA exam. However, the CPA exam is part of the process to obtain a CPA license in a U.S. jurisdiction and is not required to work in esports. the ECI certification is only a way to show potential employers that you have a basic knowledge of business, and companies values certifications, it is probably a means of putting your communications and marketing resume at the top of the pile.

Owen M Roe, a graphic designer specializing in esports, was not convinced that "diversity and inclusion" at the top of ECI's mission statement is really the company's goal, and the "low price" setting did not convince him. Roe wrote that ECI "claims to enable a more meritocratic system while at the same time outlining plans to create unnecessary institutionalized gatekeeping."

ECI is registered as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC): ECI is a for-profit corporation; the PBC designation indicates that success for the company is not only about profits, but also about positive social effects, which the company defines itself as such as increasing "diversity and inclusion" in esports. Whatever the success of "diversity and inclusion," the company is not bound by externally defined metrics, but may pursue its goals even when they conflict with the fundamental goal of a for-profit company to make a profit for its shareholders.

The Study Guide, available free of charge from the ECI website (if purchased for a fee, the money is reinvested in the ECI), covers not only general knowledge about esports, but also basic business management and marketing concepts. Examples include the meaning of the terms "return on investment," "click-through rate," and "key performance indicators," a brief history of esports, a summary of relevant game genres, a description of tournament formats, and an overview of the esports business, including merchandising and player contracts. There is also a section on understanding data, covering basics such as how to read a pie chart to somewhat more complex analysis.

One example question asks whether it is true or false that "non-franchised leagues generally have lower operating costs than franchised leagues, but their underlying asset values are not as high." Another question asks for a multiple-choice answer: "A team has three players with an average annual salary of $180,000. The team signs a fourth player, bringing the player's average annual salary to $200,000 What is the salary of the fourth player? (The answer is $260,000.)

This guide and exam were developed with the assistance of industry advisors. Based on the number of leaders of esports organizations on the advisory board, ECI's claim of industry support appears to be true. As examples, Nicole LaPointe Jameson, CEO of Evil Geniuses, Carlos Rodríguez, CEO of G2, Chris Park, CEO of Gen.G, and Michael Prindiville, CEO of Dignitas, are well known along with well-known anchors Dan "Frodan" Chou and Sean "Day

" Day are on the board of directors. Plot.

At least among the advisory group, there is a desire for an easier way to screen entry-level esports job applicants. Another advisor, Cloud9 VP Donald Boyce, wrote on Twitter that the ECI is "an objective way to cut through what Plato calls 'mere opinion'" about what it takes to work in esports.

"It's always hard to hire good people, and it's especially hard in esports," wrote Anthony Wong, owner of the Jianghu Esports Club, another ECI advisor.

Another founder of ECI is Sebastian Park, who was vice president and creator of Clutch Gaming when it was owned by the Houston Rockets (where Friedman also worked for a time). In response to criticism from social media today, Park said he is listening and believes those who need to waive fees can do so.

"We don't want to be seen as perpetuating the same problems we are trying to fight. If there is a community response, we always listen," Park wrote.

"The price was set low in light of certifications from other industries.

The ECI website states that it will "soon offer independent sponsorships." Park stated that unemployed individuals who want to enter the esports business should contact the company about scholarship opportunities.

Otherwise, ECI is currently accepting applications at a discounted rate of $299.95, which will increase to $399.95 in one week. The first exams will take place on June 19 and 20. According to the company, successful applicants will become ECI members and receive "continuing education and networking opportunities" at no additional charge.