Esports!
10.9.2019
SJ Gaming and Codemate join forces to develop
the esports scene
While Codemate’s semi-pro esports team has achieved fame and glory in Kanaliiga – the Finnish esports company league – Codemate’s white-collar workers and SJ Gaming’s support organization behind the professional squad have put their heads together and made plans to develop the esports scene.
“SJ Gaming’s support organization SJ Esports Oy and Creative Tech Agency Codemate Oy have signed a long-term cooperation agreement. With this agreement, Codemate becomes the digital partner for SJ Esports, thus providing all of the digital solutions and service design essentials for their business.”
SJ Gaming professional esports team is the fresh 2019 Finnish champion in Counter-Strike, the reigning CSGO champion of the Finnish Esports League (FEL) and the silver medal team of Telia Esports Series. In the support organization behind the successful esports team is a group of professionals from the fields of esports, Finnish baseball and branding. Now, when Codemate joins in, the group is strengthened by design and technology expertise.
“SJ Gaming wants to develop the esports scene to be more responsible, more communal and more educational. It is absolutely brilliant that we got Codemate onboard since they have strong competences in technology and design and also enthusiasm towards esports,“ says Jari Karlsson, CEO of SJ Esports Oy.
“Codemate and SJG are already developing a new kind of esports environment at full blast. The idea is to develop a modern version of the traditional sports club for esports.”
Esports has a fairly brief history, and even though it has recently risen to the news headlines, e.g. very few parents have a sufficient understanding of esports. Unfamiliarity with esports causes conflicts between generations in many families, and these negative attitudes can easily become embedded into the reputation of esports.
“I am sure that for many parents, it is difficult to keep on top of their youngsters’ online gaming. Parents may not be aware of what games their children play and with whom. Most of all, they wonder whether there are positive aspects about gaming at all,“ says Toni Piirainen, CEO of Codemate Oy.
“The digital esports environment we are currently developing could enable the youngster to focus fully on esports with the support and encouragement of their family and friends. And this hobby would be just as educational and communal as for example being a member of a traditional football club,” Karlsson continues Piirainen’s idea.
At Codemate, we hope that in collaboration with SJG we can influence and shape the esports culture to become more responsible, more communal and more educational.
“The companies are aiming to provide a growth path for upcoming e-athletes, complete with a healthy lifestyle, a clear direction and the support of their family and friends.”
“We have employees who enjoy playing esports together during their free time. It’s nice that some of them can now also give their professional contribution to the esports scene,” says Piirainen, who is obviously very excited about this cooperation.
Codemate has solid experience of being a digital partner for traditional sports clubs. Currently, Codemate is i.a. the long-standing digital partner for the football club AC Oulu.
“The team is developing the new kind of digital environment for esports at full speed but we are not too busy to attend the Arctic Invitation tournament at Hartwall Areena to cheer for SJG, who is representing Finland.” says Piirainen enthusiastically.
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