Chapter 490: Esports Hero

Chapter 490: Esports Heroes

The reason Tencent Games chose the protagonist of *The Strange Man of Mountains and Seas* to become a "hero" in their MOBA mobile game was not only due to the comic's immense popularity but also because of a certain connection to Meng Fan.

This MOBA mobile game was among the first batch of esports titles to be included in the Asian Games. During the 2018 Asian Games, it was a demonstration event, but now it had been confirmed as an official competition for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. The transition from a demonstration event to a full-fledged competition marked the hope that esports might one day enter the Olympics.

Of course, this journey was fraught with twists and turns.

The 2018 Asian Games marked the first time esports graced the stage of the Games, an absolute carnival for esports enthusiasts across Asia. Need proof? Just look at how esports trended wildly on Weibo during that period.

However, just as everyone was reveling in their dreams, in early 2019, the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee officially announced the schedule for the 19th Asian Games in 2022 and the list of 37 confirmed sports—yet esports was nowhere to be seen!

For esports fans, this was a bolt from the blue!

Thankfully, the announcement didn't close the door entirely. It only said "currently confirmed" and mentioned that the committee would continue to discuss additional events with the Olympic Council of Asia and the Chinese Olympic Committee based on event attributes and principles. At least there was still a glimmer of hope.

Back in 2018, esports wasn't announced as a demonstration event until a few months before the Games opened. So, some believed that hope remained until the very last moment.

At the time, the domestic and international environment for esports was actually quite favorable. For instance, the International Olympic Committee recognized esports as an official sport, and China classified esports players as a recognized profession. Moreover, the development of esports—both in terms of economic value and participant numbers—was hitting new highs every year.

Of course, there were pessimists too. One theory suggested that since the Hangzhou Asian Games' partner was Alibaba Sports, and most esports games came from Tencent, Alibaba would never set the stage for Tencent. Esports might have a chance in future Asian Games or higher-level events, but this time, it was doomed.

For esports enthusiasts, the period before October 2020 was excruciating. During that time, a series of negative news emerged about esports' inclusion in the Asian Games. For example, the president of the German Olympic Committee stated at a meeting that esports involved harmful elements like discrimination and violence, severely violating the Olympic spirit. Others argued that esports lacked unified standards and rules, making it unsuitable as a medal event.

Fortunately, the momentum for esports continued to grow, bolstered by efforts from figures like Huo Qigang, chairman of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation. In October 2020, the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee announced additional events at a press conference, and esports was included as a major category!

Although it wasn't the originally promised official competition—it remained a demonstration event, just like in 2018—this was still a cause for celebration among esports fans. It was a "survival after disaster" carnival.

Industry insiders, however, understood the intense struggles behind the scenes. Inclusion in the Asian Games was a prerequisite for Olympic inclusion—the first step. Even if the second step wasn't perfectly executed, standing still was far better than retreating. And standing still could be seen as progress. Being a demonstration event twice added to esports' resume for becoming an official Asian Games sport and increased the possibility of "esports entering the Olympics."

Of course, the road to "esports in the Olympics" is arduous. From China's 2003 announcement that esports was an official sport to its debut as an Asian Games demonstration event, it took a full 15 years. Every subsequent step would undoubtedly be tough. As for how much more time was needed, with technological advances and the gradual refinement of esports rules and standards, that day might not be far off!

Returning to the topic, the esports events for the 2020 Hangzhou Asian Games still included Tencent games, among them the MOBA mobile game that wanted to feature the protagonist of *The Strange Man of Mountains and Seas* as a "hero." Having a character created by an Olympic gold medalist become a game hero was exactly the kind of thing that aligned with the current environment of esports entering the Asian Games—something Tencent Games was eager to push forward.

If Meng Fan were willing, they would have preferred to create a game character based on him!

They had mentioned it to Meng Fan, but he naturally refused. Was he crazy? If he became a game character, he'd die millions of times a day! He'd be analyzed, studied, and mocked endlessly—how annoying would that be? Besides, it was unnecessary.

The protagonist of *The Strange Man of Mountains and Seas* was acceptable. It would boost the comic's popularity, and Tencent Games was offering a substantial sum. Although Meng Fan was familiar with the mobile game market and knew the game's immense revenue potential, he was still surprised by the offer: a one-time buyout fee of 10 million for the first year (a five-year contract, paid annually, with an annual increase of 1 million). This truly exceeded his expectations.

With the development of smartphones and mobile communications, mobile games had become an increasingly significant part of the gaming industry, generating greater economic value and influence. No matter how much traditional esports looked down on mobile MOBA games, no one could ignore the rapid growth of mobile esports.

This collaboration was a win-win, so negotiations went smoothly. Both sides proposed some supplementary conditions. For example, Meng Fan requested platform resources from Tencent for future promotions, and game character designs and skins required his approval. In return, Meng Fan agreed to participate in at least five game events over five years, including performances or award ceremonies at professional league finals (with additional fees for activities).

As for accounts with all heroes, skins, and runes—including future releases—such trivial matters weren't worth discussing in this office. Zhang Zhouwei, who happened to drop by, had already handed out a dozen such accounts. All Meng Fan needed to do was send his WeChat or QQ number to the contact person to get them bound at any time.

The deal was soon finalized. Of course, such a major collaboration couldn't be signed on the spot; some details still needed to be ironed out, and Meng Fan required professionals, including lawyers, to be present.

Before Meng Fan's part concluded, Wang Yanan had also finished her negotiations. They then returned directly to Hangzhou, accompanied by Shi Shiwu, who would go to Hangzhou to record a show and complete the final production of Meng Fan's personal album.

(End of chapter)