As esports continue to evolve, growing attention is being paid to how player performance compares to traditional sports. In 2024, HUNESZ and the Hungarian University of Sports Science conducted a joint study to answer this question. The successful completion of the research has been officially published by the Hungarian University of Sports Science.
Why Is Measuring Esports Performance Important?
Success in esports requires exceptional cognitive and motor skills. Professional players need fast reaction times, precise hand-eye coordination, tactical thinking, and excellent decision-making skills, just like traditional athletes. However, these skills are harder to measure in esports with conventional methods, which is why scientific research is essential for a better understanding of player capabilities.
Research Objectives and Methodology
The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Physical Education, aimed to evaluate how esports athletes perform compared to traditional athletes in various cognitive, motor, and physiological tests. Participants were selected exclusively from the Hungarian Esports Federation’s national esports team and the Hungarian Karate Federation’s national team, allowing for a high-level comparison of elite athletes.
The research involved the following assessments:
- Reaction Time Tests: How quickly can a player respond to unexpected events?
- Hand-Eye Coordination Analysis: How precise are specific movements and executions?
- Decision-Making Speed and Accuracy: How do players perform under pressure?
- Multitasking and Attention Capacity Tests: How well do they handle multiple streams of information simultaneously?
- ECG and Stress Response Measurements: How does the body react to different levels of cognitive and physical strain?
- Motion Dynamics Assessments: Evaluating motor performance, fine motor control, and reflex speeds.
One of the key elements of the study was the BARD test, which provided objective performance evaluation and helped compare results between esports and traditional athletes.
The Significance of the Study
The study’s goal was not only to compare esports and traditional sports but also to establish a scientific framework for evaluating cognitive and motor performance in professional players. The results indicate that esports athletes can match traditional athletes in certain skills, while other areas show unique differences between the two groups.
BARD
The BARD test was integrated into the study as a standardized method to evaluate participants across multiple competencies, including reaction time, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, decision-making, and multitasking ability. By utilizing BARD’s precise, data-driven metrics, researchers were able to quantify the differences between choosen esports players and traditional athletes, offering a deeper insight into the specialized skill set required for competitive gaming.
What’s Next?
The research is still ongoing, and as final results are published, we will gain an even clearer understanding of how esports compare to traditional sports in terms of performance measurement. These studies contribute to the scientific recognition of esports and can support the development of optimized training methods for professional players.
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