eMERGE is a new media and entertainment company based in Frisco, Texas that is exclusively dedicated to promoting and celebrating the amateur eSports lifestyle. Its founders and management team are career entertainment industry professionals that led MTV, Nickelodeon and E! into mainstream pop culture.

eMERGE is now creating the Texas High School eSports League -- the first ever amateur, statewide, year long eSports competition for all Texas high school eSports enthusiasts.
  • Each year the competition will culminate in a "live" state championship series, the eCup, (akin to Texas HS Football and Basketball) and the crowning of a school eSports State Champion in the spirit of the Lone Star Cup ( the most coveted annual Texas high school award for traditional sports and academics);
  • The Texas High School eSports League is no ordinary league.  It will feature showcases with college recruiters from the 40+ colleges and universities offering video gaming scholarships, mentoring from the growing number of pro gamers living in the DFW, Houston, and Austin metropolitan areas;  interaction with sports and talent managers/agents from the NFL, NBA, and Hollywood; training from social media experts, merchandising that is on par with pro sports, and unparalleled Grand Prizing;
  • All high school students in Texas will be eligible to join and form multi-player teams with their friends from their high school;
  • Activity Fees will be similar to other Varsity Sports;
  • Everything is managed from registration to scheduling to bracketing, play-off qualifying points system, and statistics/rankings -- just like a fantasy football league. Video play-through will connect through from Twitch; 
 MISSION: ESTABLISH eSPORTS AS A VARSITY SPORT
eMERGE’s mission is to build a competitive league that will ultimately exceed the popularity of traditional high school sports like football and basketball – giving eSports and its athletes the recognition they deserve within your community, school, state and nation.

ORGANIZING IS THE FIRST STEP
eMERGE is asking for statewide support from all Texas high school esports club members, their sponsors, and their friends who are esports enthusiasts to help promote this mission and achieve its objective. The mantra: “WE WANT eLEAGUE of our OWN!”

A BIG LEAGUE REQUIRES A BIG VOICE 
A premium league requires substantial financial resources, broad community support, and coordination with private/public financing sources.  Please contribute your voice by completing this survey.

Question Title

* 1. The purpose of this research project is quantify support for the Texas High School eSports League.  This research is being conducted by OTT Studios doing business as eMERGE. You are invited to participate in this online survey because you are an eSports Club member or gaming enthusiast at a High School in Texas.

Your participation is 100% voluntary. You may choose not to participate. Your individual responses will be kept confidential.  

Please know that your input is essential to helping eMERGE make the best possible and most informed decisions in formulating the league's rules, its operation and Year 1 priorities.

The survey will take approximately 5-7 minutes. 

At the end of the survey we will ask for your email address so we can share the survey results with you (and your club sponsors) and to periodically send you additional information about how to participate in our growing community.  Your email will not be used for any third party marketing.

All data is stored in a password protected, electronic format. 

If you have any questions about the research study, please contact Joe Shults at 512-565-2738.  

Clicking on the "agree" button below indicates that: 
  • You have ready the above information;
  • You voluntarily agree to participate;
  • You are over the age of 13;
If you do not wish to participate in the research study, please decline participation by clicking on the "disagree" button.

Question Title

* 2. Would you be interested in joining and playing in the Texas High School eSports League?

Question Title

* 3. Would you be willing to pay an activity fee to register as a league player similar to other Texas high school sports like football and basketball?

Question Title

* 4. Would you actively participate eMERGE's social media campaign ("We Want eLeague Of Our Own!") and encourage your friends to support the movement?

Question Title

* 5. If you would participate, what would motivate you most?  If you wouldn't participate, why not?

Question Title

* 6. Would you be interested in a position as student leadership advisor to the League and/or as sports and entertainment Intern with eMERGE/OTT Studios?

Question Title

* 7. The eMERGE Texas State Cup will be awarded to the school with the most points across the state.  Currently points will be based on player and team rankings, competitive schedule strength, margin of victory, etc.  What other ways do you think school teams should be able to earn points?

Question Title

* 8. eMERGE is planning 3 Seasons during the school year and a summer league (akin to football's 7 on 7). How many seasons do you think there should be in a school year (August-June)?

Question Title

* 9. What games do you think should be supported by the league?

Question Title

* 10. eMERGE has formed partnerships with professional eSports teams located in Texas.  In what way would you like to see an interaction between Texas High School eSports League and professional teams?

Question Title

* 11. eMERGE is seeing strong interest in the league by universities that either now or in the future plan to give eSports scholarships to the top eSports athletes in the state.  How interested would you be in earning an eSports Scholarship?

Question Title

* 12. How important to you is establishing and resourcing eSports competition at a level similar to traditional Varsity sports?

Unimportant This is needed and should be supported Imperative
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 13. What has been the biggest obstacle to expanding eSports league play at the school/club level?

Question Title

* 14. Sportsmanship is defined as ethical, appropriate, polite, and fair behavior while participating in a game or athletic event.  Do you think the league should develop an explicit Code of Conduct, Sportsmanship Policy and/or set of Community Values (and that those guidelines should be explicitly emphasized, scored, and/or awarded at all matches and events)?

Question Title

* 15. The Texas High School eSports Community has raised Sportsmanship as something that is very important, eMERGE is wondering if it is accurate to assume that there are Sportsmanship issues or problems impacting the eSports Club model?  Please identify and issues that you feel are problems by checking the boxes below:

Question Title

* 16. Sportsmanship is difficult to measure.  In many cases, it is much easier to identify bad Sportsmanship than it is to single out good sportsmanship.  If Sportsmanship is to be factored in a statewide ranking system, good Sportsmanship must be scored/awarded or bad Sportsmanship must me penalized.  Which approach to you think is most practical for the league to adopt?

Question Title

* 17. Would more students participate in organized eSports and eSports Clubs if there were prize pools; a clearer path to scholarships and being drafted into a professional league; school/team jerseys and uniforms; mentoring from eSports professional athletes and professionally run "live" events?

Question Title

* 18. Market research indicates that over 70% of students your age are casual gamers or gaming enthusiasts. We want to know what percentage of students in your school you think would considering participating in this competitive gaming league -- assuming its is a "premium", well organized league with "cool" factor?

Question Title

* 19. How interested would you be in attending an eSports training academy run by pro gamers and professional eSports team owners based out of Frisco (similar to the IMG Academy for traditional sports)?

Question Title

* 20. Which statement best represents your view of what would best drive broader acceptance of competitive eSports among all students and drive active participation from those kids who are not currently club members?

Question Title

* 21. How many friends do you have outside the eSports Club who you think would consider participating in a premium, competitive gaming league?

Question Title

* 22. How would you best describe your activity level on social media platforms (like Instagram, Snapchat, Texting/Messaging, Twitter, or Facebook)?

Question Title

* 23. Please enter your email address so that we can share the results of this survey and additional information about our growing eSports community:

T