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THESIS: Career Opportunities for CS Players in Jyväskylä

15.8.2024

Counter-Strike is a popular esports game also in Central Finland. The operating patterns and career paths for engaging in esports have been increasingly studied and modeled on a global level. However, there is a growing need to map the facilities and conditions for these activities at the local state as well.

The aim of Gennady Chernyshev’s BBA thesis research was to map out and present the career opportunities for a Counter-Strike player living and practicing in Jyväskylä as an esports athlete. As part of the thesis, a visualized prototype of the player pathway was also created. One of the goals of the structured operating model is to unify and improve the local esports infrastructure related to Counter-Strike.

Henkilökuva Gennady Chernyshevistä. — *Gennady Chernyshev studied in International Business BBA programme at Jamk.*

” My original hypothesis was indeed correct. The development of the player pathway and highlighting its opportunities were topics of consideration for many local professionals and players. “

-Gennady Chernyshev

Data Collection for the Research

The thesis was conducted on behalf of EXEN Esports. The product development and research were supported by literature, databases, and articles related to the field, as well as materials related to career development in traditional sports. The knowledge base also included experiences shared by existing players and industry professionals, as well as interview material collected by Chernyshev himself.

Ethnographic thematic interviews aimed to map out the following aspects:

What does the career path of a Counter-Strike player look like in Jyväskylä?
How do local players and professionals currently perceive this career path?
What could local organizations do to improve this path or related aspects of the field?

Conclusions

The career path of Counter-Strike players living in Jyväskylä towards professionalism is quite consistent with the career path generally defined for the esports field. The most significant differences can be attributed to the locally available grassroot-level-developments — Central Finland offers esports academy activities, coaching services, educational programs, and different facilities for practicing.

*Career path of an esports athlete in Jyväskylä, compiled by Chernyshev.*

Based on expert interviews, the transition from amateur level player to semi-professional player is perceived as a difficult and underdeveloped phase in the career path of an esports athlete. Although career paths are individual, organizations could endorse this challenging transition phase through various support functions. These functions could enhance the overall structural integrity of the career path and help to unify and improve the local Counter-Strike esports infrastructure.

” I hope that we, as esports operators, continue to sustainably work on this topic within the entire industry, and collaboratively develop the ongoing results. “

-Gennady Chernyshev

Chernysev’s thesis has been published in the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences thesis and publication database Theseus at https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/858102.