Questions in this interview by Daniel Simonson; Story written by Brian Chang





League of Legends is one of the biggest names in esports and video gaming as a whole. Despite being released in 2011, the game has continued to grow and evolve, with its 2018 World Championship finals totaling around 99 million unique viewers.





Naturally, the game has spawned a number of partnerships between publisher Riot Games and other media outlets, such as a deal with Marvel Comics to create a series of comics centered around League champions.





Recently, long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons ran a crossover episode featuring a version of League. We spoke to Whalen Rozelle, co-head of esports at Riot, and Rob LaZebnik, co-executive producer of The Simpsons, to discuss the episode and the impact its likely to have on the esports world and mainstream media.





Image via FOX





Whalen, how did this idea of merging League of Legends esports with The Simpsons even come to mind? Who reached out to who?





Rozelle: Rob LaZebnik, the co-executive producer on The Simpsons, originally reached out to us mid-last year to learn about our esport when they were thinking about the episode. He actually lives in the area and drives past our LCS esports arena on the way to work.





During the episode's creation, what were some ways that authenticity of the script was achieved? Do you believe that the portrayal of the players, coaches, and fans are reasonably accurate?





R: We worked very closely with The Simpsons team, reviewing the script and sharing feedback on specific questions they had while ideating for the episode. From what characters said while playing to the visual design of the in-game champions, we tried to help them really understand the deep culture and community around League of Legends Esports, as well as the very unique language and terminology.





We also invited them to an LCS match at our esports arena so they could experience competitive play and arranged for them to tour the Team Liquid training facility to really see what life is like for our esports athletes. Rob tells us that he brought back thundersticks to The Simpsons work room but “they were quickly banned.”





Image via FOX





What does a crossover episode such as this mean for esports as a whole? Do you think the public perception will change as a result of this?





R: A crossover episode on a show as iconic as The Simpsons is great for esports as a whole. While it won’t change public perception overnight, we hope that this episode, on top of all the work we’re doing around the world establishing leagues that are working with leading brands like Nike and Mercedes-Benz, as well as the rising popularity of streamers and pro players, will make a real impact in the long term.





As co-Head of Global Esports, you've helped grow League of Legends into a worldwide phenomenon with millions of viewers tuning in each week. However, there are still people who refuse to acknowledge esports as "actual" sports. How does an episode with this level of exposure change the public's opinion surrounding this?





R: It’s incredibly difficult to change public perception, but we hope that people who watch this episode of The Simpsons are interested in learning more about League of Legends Esports and gaming culture as a whole. Our esports athletes train, practice and study in similar ways to traditional athletes, and I think people are starting to realize just how challenging it is to compete at the professional level. More importantly, fans of our esport care about the competition, teams and pros just as much as any fan from a traditional sport. The community is so vibrant, from esports fans and cosplayers to streamers and even League inspired cooking enthusiasts, our esport, just like traditional sports, is so much more than just a game.





Image via FOX

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How did this idea of merging The Simpsons universe specifically with League of Legends even come to mind? What made you choose this game as opposed to others?





LaZebnik: I’d been seeing articles about the growth of esports for a while, and I remember reading that something like 80 million people viewed the 2017 Season League of Legends World Championship, which is more than the NBA finals. I also watched the Free to Play documentary, and it all felt ripe for Simpsonification.





During the creation of the episode, what were some of the most interesting aspects you learned about the esports community that you were unfamiliar with before? And how did that change your perception of the players, coaches, or fans?





L: I visited a match at Riot’s esports stadium and was struck by how engaged the fans were at a live match. I also visited the Team Liquid training facility, which was very beautiful. I had imagined it looking more like the Simpsons’ writers room, with people sitting around eating Skinny Pop and talking about politics. But it was much more professional.





Photo via Riot Games





How do you think this episode will show the public that the esports field is not just a hobby, but instead a legitimate career path for some?





L: I think a lot of people react like Homer does, with disbelief, when he hears that esports is an actual career path. But there are probably more professional esports players now than nuclear plant safety inspectors (Homer’s job), so I think we’re on trend.





Describe your experience while attending an LCS match. How did your experience add to the authenticity of creating the episode?





L: It was really cool. The fans were so excited and engaged, and it really gave me a good feel for how we should depict a tournament. Plus I got free food in the players’ lounge, and my first boom sticks.





Photo via Riot Games





Did you get a chance to meet any of the players while at the Team Liquid Alienware Training facility? What were your thoughts on them, if so?





L: I didn’t, because when I visited the Team Liquid facility they were deep into practice, so I could only see them through the window of their training room. I tried to distract them by banging outside and yelling “Simpsons!” but they pretended to ignore me.





I think it’s important that you were able to include multiple viewpoints regarding the esports community - from the players, to the coaches, to the fans, and the opposition. How were you able to accurately represent each of these groups?





L: Consulting with Riot helped us fine tune a number of things, as well as going to a match at Riot’s esports stadium. I also visited the Team Liquid training facility, and it was cool to see how the players live, train, and eat better than we do at Simpsons.





Thank you so much for your time, Rob, but I do have one final question: Do you play any League yourself?





L: I’ve played it in the past and have watched a bunch of pro matches, but don’t actively play now. My reflex time limits me to riding my horse very slowly in Red Dead Redemption.