An Empirical Study of Game Understanding Among Young Esports Players in China – Fang (ERNC25) скачать в хорошем качестве

An Empirical Study of Game Understanding Among Young Esports Players in China – Fang (ERNC25)

This presentation by Yu Fang from The Guangdong Province Esports Association explores how young esports players in China develop and transfer game understanding across different competitive genres, with a comparative focus on First Person Shooter and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena players. As esports continues to expand, understanding cognitive differences between game genres is increasingly important for player development, coaching, and game design. This study addresses a gap in empirical research by examining how FPS and MOBA players conceptualize game mechanics, strategy, and performance, particularly when transitioning between genres or engaging with hybrid games. Drawing on data from young, high level esports players in China, the analysis shows clear genre based differences in game understanding. FPS players tend to prioritize individual mechanics, precision, and reaction speed, while MOBA players emphasize teamwork, macro strategy, and coordinated decision making. These differences shape how players interpret unfamiliar games and how effectively they transfer skills across genres. The findings highlight that cognitive transfer in esports is strongly influenced by players’ gaming backgrounds. Players adapt their cognitive frameworks when encountering hybrid game designs, but prior experience constrains which skills and perspectives are most readily transferred. The study conceptualizes game understanding as a dynamic, multi dimensional construct shaped by motivation, experience, and genre specific demands. Practically, the results offer insights for esports coaching, talent development, and personalized training programs. For developers, the findings provide guidance on designing games and tutorials that accommodate different cognitive approaches. The study also contributes to broader discussions in esports, psychology, and cognitive science, with implications for education, cross cultural game design, and youth engagement in competitive gaming. Keywords: esports, cognitive transfer, game understanding, FPS, MOBA About the ERN Conference 2025: The Esports Research Network Conference 2025 took place online from November 12–14, 2025 as a continuous, 72-hour global livestream. Guided by the theme “Future Realities: Esports as a Global Lab,” the event explored how esports serves as a living laboratory for understanding digital transformation across education, media, technology, and society. This innovative digital-first format followed the sun across three regional hubs, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania & Michigan State University (Americas), Staffordshire University (EMEA), and UNSW Sydney (Asia-Pacific), creating a nonstop, interconnected academic experience available to participants worldwide. This ambitious production was made possible through the support of Corsair for Business, whose Elgato technology powered high-quality broadcasting and seamless livestreaming across all three hubs. ERNC25 continues the network’s mission to unite scholars, practitioners, and students while fostering open, global collaboration in esports research. Full abstracts for all presentations can be viewed in the official Book of Abstracts at: https://book.esportsresearch.net Website: https://esportsresearch.net