From eSports to professional commentator

RGN on 2011-06-07

RGN : Firstly, can you introduce a little about yourself?

Lam Vova:

I am Pham Hong Lam, I was born in 1987 and I graduated from the Academy of Telecommunications Technology. Previously I had served as one of the founders of the team's first PES Hanoi. It was also the precursor of proA.PES. Later, I participate in VTC and I used to work as a former editor for the "Journal Esport". I also served as a Mod and Admin for some game forums in Vietnam.

RGN : When did you start to play game and which game did you play? Do you remember that game?

Lam Vova:

The first game I knew were the games that were suitable for 8 and up. Those games were familiar to young kids such as Mario, Contra, Tank ...Talking about PES, the first time was in 1993-1994. Recently, FM is about 2002.

RGN : It seems that you like football game very much. In real life, do you probably enjoy it sport?

Lam Vova: Of course

RGN : Which teams do you like the most?

Lam Vova:

My favorite national team is Brazil; the club I like is Inter Milan

RGN : Currently there are two outstanding games in the football genre. They are PES and
Fifa, so what is the reason why you chose PES instead of Fifa?

Lam Vova:

Actually, PES and Fifa has always been head to head, sometimes PES is superior, and sometimes Fifa is stronger. When selecting a game to play, it’s just my choice. PES is associated with the number of pupils and students because it is an easy, popular game and it creates a connection between friends who are playing together. Moreover, it is fun playing it.The majority of VN players in PES have felt so. But I do not mean Fifa is not a good game, because in VTC, the gaming programs I make the most is Fifa Online. To me, FFO2 community is stronger and more professional than PES community!

RGN : When did you start working in VTC?

Lam Vova:

In about May 2009, VTC was planning to create a television channel

specializing in gaming and Esport. My friend Thanh called me to join in. He is also a

very famous person in Fifa community previously and FFO2 now

RGN : What was the first program that you participated in?

Lam Vova:

That was the "Accompanying VEC 2009". In this tournament, Esport won the championship in the whole of Vietnam. This tournament was funded and organized by the VTC, then it was the "Esport Magazine", and later some game show FFO2.

RGN : Previously, you were a gamer, so how is your life after you quit playing game and work for VTC?

Lam Vova:

There is a big difference; playing games and making gaming programs are two different concepts. Making programs in a game is not easy at all; I had to study deeply and carefully to understand each aspect of the game while making the program about it. Fortunately, the main game I am still involved in is Fifa Online 2 - this is the game that I am passionate about and am knowledgeable in it. Later, when I moved to work as afootball commentator, many people felt surprised at the depth of my knowledge of football. However, a few people know that 80% of knowledge in football commentary came from three games: PES, FIFA and Football Manager. So do not think that playing games is just pointless!

RGN : So what is your currently job?

Lam VOVA:

At present, I am preparing to work in sports television channel on AVG. I feel sorry to be temporarily away from Esport because I want to find a new calling in my TV career.

RGN : What is your favorite program that could make you feel excited about?

Lam Vova:

In each esport programs I joined I also have my own memories, but the most interesting and appealing would be"FFO2 Journal" – It was one of the two last program I made before I decided on leaving VTC. This is also the first gaming program in which a word is not used for the game or players. Those games were elevating into real athletes and the games for them were standardized as electronic sports. Programmers followed every event, every person in the community; we are trying to gradually change society's view of game and sport game today.

RGN : In general, what do you think about Esport community today in Vietnam and the FFO2 community you have joined, whether this community could continue to become a real sport?

Lam Vova:

Esport has a very strong market in developed countries. I think Vietnam is taking their first steps. There are a lot Esport in the VN communities, but the truth is that, they are less developed, fragmented, lack of initiative, lack of sponsors and lack of systematic. These people must be really enthusiastic. As PES and Fifa, there are a large number of players, especially PES, but Fifa Online community is less developed. FIFA Online is new to Vietnam for 2-3 years but with the support of the VTC and the enthusiasm of many people like Thanh Klinmans, the Fifa Online 2 community will become the most powerful community for Esport in VN. They have a system of national annual tournaments; for selected teams and have medals continent. If you want to continue to develop in some contents, you have to learn from the way that FIFA Online 2 has developed and find yourself a mentor such as VTC, which really treated Fifa Online 2 as their children. But the VTC is the publisher of FFO2 so it is easy to understand that, as compared to other communities, they have an advantage of the basics.

RGN : Via the media is the way that the development Esport did, so currently do VTC intend to expand to other communities beside FFO2?

Lam Vova:

Currently I am no longer working at VTC, so this is very hard to say. But in fact, everything works on the principle of benefit; no one can catch VTC or someone for funding when no active collaborationcommunities coordinate the initiative. Typically, for the 1st Gaming or proA Gaming, they had the sponsor when they accepted wearing shirt with sponsor logo on. So if the communities really have enthusiastic people to work with representatives of the partners, the ability of this would be possible because

everyone knows in the entertainment field, the game is one of the strongest market and have the highest consumption!

RGN : Talking about your current job, now, are you pursing any programs in sport? In future, can viewers see you on television as a football commentator or not? Have you ever thought of being a TV commentator?

Lam Vova:

Actually, my job is a football game commentator, and now, I am moving to be a football commentator. There are certain differences, and I am trying to get acquainted. If things are still good now, everyone will see me in Vleague, Sea Games or other competitions!

RGN : How is your current job? Is it busy?

Lam Vova:

Currently, it is not. If you are working in television brand, it is always busy, but sometimes it is free. Nonetheless, I am glad to be doing the right forte and my hobbies.