We’re one step closer to realizing everyone’s childhood dream of getting a scholarship for playing videogames, as Blizzard has begun a campaign to promote and fund collegiate esports. The way it works is this: the Starcraft developer incentivizes campuses who sign up for their Membership Milestone Program, giving them grant money to throw pro-caliber esport tourneys.  Part of the incentive program is aimed at college kids. If they form a club and register it through the program, they can earn website domains, cash prizes, mice, headsets, a trip to Blizzard, and most importantly, free t-shirts, because gamers love free t-shirts. …

Esports are huge. This year’s League of Legends World Championship was held at a sold-out Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers. With spectacular events like this, it’s easy to forget that there is a huge barrier to esports that doesn’t exist with other sports. Namely, a large portion of the world doesn’t have internet access.  During a talk yesterday at G.D.C. Next, Jason Ng, who is in charge of Asia’s multinational League of Legends league, raised the issue. “I just need more internet in Southeast Asia,” he said. Online penetration is growing in the region, high in countries…