Is there any ground The Simpsons hasn't covered? Barring the truly obscene, there remains little that Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have on the bucket list. Now, with the thirtieth season well-underway, Bart has officially dipped his toe in one of the fastest-growing industries: E-sports. In last night's episode, appropriately titled "E My Sports," the eldest Simpsons child discovers a gift for doling out digital beatdowns. Upon receiving a new computer, Bart immerses himself in "Conflict of Enemies," where his skills ultimately bring him, Krusty's daughter, Nelson and Martin, to Hong Kong for a tournament.
Co-producer Rob LaZebnik explained his motivation in bringing Esports into the world of Springfield, citing a “cultural tipping point." He also predicts that Esports will only grow in popularity. “Obviously, video games have been around for a very long time now, and combine that with the fact that everyone is online and on his or her phone, [expansion] feels so inevitable to me.”
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The episode went on to earn a stamp of approval from Riot Games, who consulted on the episode. Riot, the studio behind League Of Legends, expressed hope that the episode would alter perceptions on Esports and their place in North American culture. "We hope that this episode, on top of all the work we’re doing around the world establishing leagues that are working with leading brands like Nike and Mercedes-Benz, as well as the rising popularity of streamers and pro players, will make a real impact on how people view ‘League of Legends’ esports in the long term,” reveals a Riot representative.
Seems like Esports are here to say? What would you do if your child's dream was to join a professional Esports league?
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