As a fan, game publisher, or someone who’s using in-game data in their business, why is it so important to know the difference?

In this article we break down the differences between unofficial and official data feeds explaining why there’s such a significant discrepancy in the quality between data coming directly from the game server and scrapped in-game data. 

Stick with us until the end and you will not have to worry about any data faux pas happening down the line. 

This article is the conclusion of the three-part series: Introduction to In-Game Telemetry Data. If you want to learn more about the basics of in-game telemetry data check out part 1: Dive into the game: What is in-game telemetry data and part 2:  The Role of In-game Telemetry Data in Esports: Tapping into the Game-Changing Dynamics of the competitive scene.

One: In gaming, there is one source of in-game data truth.

Think about basketball, football or baseball, data collection is a crucial part of their business enabling additional revenue streams but also better coaching, analytics or fan engagement.

Data in traditional sports is valuable yet if you compare data from official and unofficial sources, there’s not much of a difference. In the end, in traditional sports, there are usually two teams, the action is centralized around the ball, spectators sit around the field, capable of following the entire action.

In traditional sports official and unofficial data is collected in a very similar way —  you can  sit in the section of an official data partner of the tournament and collect data or in a pretty decent spot on the tribunes collecting unofficial data, you get exactly the same overview of the action happening on the field. So in the end the quality of the input is not much different.

Now think about video games.

First of all, there’s not really a way to sit on the side of the game server, the spectators are being presented with a limited point of view through the livestream of the game. On top of that, think about the complexity of esports.

Let’s use League of Legends as an example, you have top line, middle line, bottom line, bushes with additional quests, five champions with unique abilities on each side — to put it simply multiply the action happening on one football field by min. four or five, all happening in parallel, and you’ll get an equivalent of an esports match.

When it comes to official data, you can get it only from a game server – plug in there and get everything that’s happening on all the football fields of the Summoner’s Rift at the same time.

Still want  to collect unofficial data? Good luck trying to follow the ENTIRE game with access to only a little keyhole-like view while scraping the publicly available video streams from the livestream platform.

Two: In-game Telemetry Data is a part of game IP. 

Official data in esports is in a class of its own when compared with unofficial data for esports and official or unofficial data for traditional sports

In esports there is an actual IP owner of the sport itself contrary to traditional sports where the rights holder licenses data rights only to the competition or tournament played in a specific sport. This means, from a rights’ perspective the data is as part of the game IP, similar to artwork, logos, or images, and therefore a lot more tangible as an asset that belongs to the game publisher.

Using unofficial data you’re effectively abusing the property of the game developers. Use official data and be part of the official game ecosystem.

What comes with it? Since there’s a direct buy-in from the rights holders, it means they’re invested in the space resulting with more opportunities coming directly from the creators of the game, better support for the data feeds, and overall a more sustainable environment for your project or business development.

Three: The role of official data is recognized in the industry regulations.

The importance of official data transcends mere operational or ethical considerations; it’s also a matter of regulatory compliance and industry standards.

In the esports domain, where the landscape is rapidly evolving, the distinction between official and unofficial data acquires legal and regulatory dimensions. Authorities and regulatory bodies are increasingly acknowledging the significance of utilizing official data feeds to ensure integrity, fairness, and transparency within the industry, especially in esports betting.

This recognition by industry regulations not only legitimizes the use of official data but also underscores the potential legal ramifications for entities relying on unofficial sources.

By aligning with official data feeds, organizations ensure they are operating within the legal frameworks set forth by governing bodies, thereby safeguarding their operations against potential legal challenges and contributing to the overall credibility and reliability of the esports ecosystem.

If you want to learn more about the legal framework for official data in betting, check the interview with Moritz Maurer, CEO & Founder – GRID Esports CEO Moritz Maurer on US betting regulations for esports and the role of game publishers in the esports ecosystem.

Four: Incomparable quality of official data.

The superiority of official esports data is undeniable, offering live, non-delayed insights that are sanctioned directly by the game developers themselves.

This level of access and authenticity cannot be matched by unofficial sources, which often rely on aggregated data from public streams that are inherently delayed and may lack the comprehensive coverage that official data provides.

Data.bet, as highlighted in a partnership announcement with GRID, illustrates the transformative impact that high-quality, official data can have on products and services within the esports industry. By integrating live, official data feeds, data.bet has been able to offer enhanced betting experiences that are more engaging, accurate, and reliable.

This not only benefits the end-users but also strengthens the value proposition of services leveraging this data, demonstrating the tangible advantages of prioritizing official data sources over unofficial ones in driving innovation and delivering superior experiences in the esports sector.

Summary

In conclusion, understanding the distinction between unofficial and official in-game telemetry data feeds is crucial for fans, game publishers and businesses utilizing gaming data.

Traditional sports may not exhibit significant differences in data quality between official and unofficial sources, but in esports, the complexity demands access to official data from game servers.

Official data is considered part of the game’s intellectual property, offering better support, opportunities, and sustainability. Additionally, industry regulations increasingly recognize the importance of official data for integrity and transparency, particularly in esports betting.

The superiority of official data, offering live, non-delayed insights directly from game developers, cannot be matched by unofficial sources.

This difference underscores the importance of prioritizing official data sources over unofficial ones in driving innovation and delivering superior experiences in the esports sector.

We hope this series has been informative and we’re always keen to talk about in-game data, get in touch with GRID on LinkedIn, X or send an email to the address below with any questions.

At GRID we’re proud to be at the forefront of in-game data innovation providing solutions for data sourcing (GRID Game SDK), analytics, integrity, and distribution in competitive game titles. GRID is the official data platform for League of Legends, VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG, CS2, and Dota2. If you are looking for an in-game telemetry data infrastructure for your existing or upcoming competitive title or are interested in getting access to official data for your products contact data@grid.gg. 

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This time we want to shed some light on the transformative role of in-game telemetry data in esports and its influence on the critical use cases in the digital sports — from FPS, through MOBA, or Battle Royale. 

Through the lens of esports, we witness the convergence of technology and competitive gaming, where every in-game action is meticulously tracked, analyzed, and leveraged for success.

Let’s dive into the game and see the potential in-game telemetry data unlocks in esports!  

This article is a second part of a three-part series: Introduction to In-Game Telemetry Data. If you want to learn more about the basics of in-game telemetry data check out: Dive into the game: What is in-game telemetry data.

Digital Footprints: Every Move You Make, Every Step You Take

Esports epitomizes the digital age, offering a platform where every action is measurable, and thus, every aspect of gameplay is open to scrutiny. The ability to track and evaluate every decision, movement, and outcome transforms the approach to training, strategy, and competition.

This wealth of data empowers teams and players to elevate their performance through strategic insights derived from their own play and that of their competitors. Of course, in order to do so successfully teams and organizations have to have access to the right tools.

The variety of solutions ranges from independent tools like Valor Esports offering data-based coaching for casual players to products provided by the game publishers themselves to their professional ecosystem such as in the case of Riot Games’ VALORANT Data Portal or League of Legends Data Portal developed by GRID. 

Community Empowerment

There’s no better way to appreciate your fans and innovate within the esports ecosystem than empowering the community with access to in-game data.

Data offers limitless opportunities to build next-gen projects engaging fans, improving accessibility or empowering players worldwide. In esports a reliable, quality data source is crucial, and access to official data can really make a difference.

Scraping or combining multiple sub-par, unofficial data sources will not provide the quality results. Official esports data is reliable, standardized, and enriched after being extracted directly from our partners’ systems. Esports data is the new fuel for innovation.

Data visualizations, Discord bots, Twitch extensions, or fantasy games? They all work best with accurate, rich, and fast data. If you want to see what the community is capable of, check our latest hackathon’s winners from the GRID Esports DataJam!

Engaging Beyond the Screen: Transforming Fan Experience with Data

Innovative fan experience in esports takes a leaf from the playbook of traditional sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, where next-gen stats and data analytics have significantly enriched viewer engagement.

In esports, telemetry data is not just a tool for teams and players but also a means to revolutionize the fan experience. Real-time data visualization, predictive game outcomes, and interactive content allow fans to immerse themselves in the games like never before.

Fans can access detailed analyses, player statistics, and predictive insights, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the game. This level of engagement transforms passive viewership into an interactive and engaging experience, fostering a deeper connection between fans, players, and the game itself designed specifically to meet the needs of the tech-savvy esports fans. 

Fair Play: Elevated Integrity

Integrity is the highest concept within sports, the very fundamental that makes competition what it is. A breach of Integrity is a breach of competition. The very concept of competition relies on integrity being at its highest.

The unethical behavior is much of an issue in esports as it can be in traditional sports involving illegal activities such as match-fixing, the use of inside information for betting purposes and the use of illicit substances and cheating tools.  

This lack of integrity is taking the focus away from the core aspect of the competition. Fortunately, with access to official in-game data coming directly from the game server, esports gains a reliable, quality advantage in tackling any unfair practices.

With the right team and a technology powered by official data, game publishers and tournament organizers can monitor in real time the entire game and flag any suspicious activities, analyzing it against other and archive data sets.

If you want to learn more about integrity monitoring in esports reach out to us (data@grid.gg) and check this article How GRID is combatting esports match-fixing with data and diversification by JingJie Luo, Integrity Lead at GRID.

Conclusion: Data-powered esports ecosystem is here.

Telemetry data has ushered in a new era for esports, transforming it from a digital competition into a sophisticated arena of strategic warfare and fan engagement.

The ability to collect, analyze, and act upon real-time data has redefined the concepts of training, performance analysis, strategic planning, and fan experience. As esports continues to evolve, the role of telemetry data will only grow in importance, driving the industry towards ever higher levels of professionalization, sophistication, and viewer engagement.

In this digital age, data is not just a tool; it’s the very lifeblood of competitive esports, shaping the future of this dynamic and exhilarating realm.

At GRID we’re proud to be at the forefront of in-game data innovation providing solutions for data sourcing (GRID Game SDK), analytics, integrity, and distribution in competitive game titles. GRID is the official data platform for League of Legends, VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG, CS2, and Dota2. If you are looking for a game data infrastructure for your existing or upcoming esports title or are interested in getting access to official data for your products contact data@grid.gg.

The post The Role of In-game Telemetry Data in Esports: Tapping into the Game-Changing Dynamics of the competitive scene. appeared first on grid.gg.

Where does all this hype come from? Why do game publishers like Riot Games or Ubisoft believe in its strategic value? 

This article is your ultimate guide to understanding how in-game telemetry data is revolutionizing the esports industry. From tracking every move players make to analyzing strategies in real-time, telemetry data is the secret ingredient behind your favorite esports tournaments.

Whether you’re a gamer looking to up your game, a developer aiming to refine your title, or just curious about the nuts and bolts of competitive gaming, you’re in the right place. Dive in as we explore the power of telemetry data in esports and how it’s shaping the future of gaming.

If you want to learn more about in-game data, follow us on LinkedIn to make sure you don’t miss the next episode of our series.

What is in-game telemetry data in esports

Telemetry data is your game’s heartbeat. But let’s start with the basics – the definition. The full name of this type of asset class, which we’re using at GRID is “in-game telemetry data,” also known as in-game data.

In-game telemetry data in esports refers to the collection, analysis, and utilization of data generated by players’ interactions within a video game during competitive play.

This data encompasses a wide array of metrics, including but not limited to player movements, in-game decisions, timing of specific actions, usage of game resources (like ammunition, abilities, or items), positioning on the game map, and much more.

So why we’d not use live data as an alternative name? Keep reading to find out. 

Capturing the Pulse of Esports: Data Feeds

The essence of esports lies in its fluidity and the constant flux of competitive dynamics. Every click, every move, tells a story, unfolding in real-time, offering a granular view of the battlefield.

This granularity and speed of data in the digital sphere allow for a level of analysis and insight that has never been seen before in traditional sports. The in-game telemetry data can be turned into various data feeds. 

To give you a better understanding of what it means, we’ll use as an example the data feeds available on the GRID Data Platform:

Live – A set of APIs that expose live, in-game data, that updates as the actions occur. The data format is generic across all titles. Data is available with zero delay, in sync with the official stream or at a set delay. Live data is updated and available live as a game is ongoing, as well as historically, after the match has concluded.

Central – A set of APIs making key static data available. This data is deemed static as, although being kept up to date, it is not expected to be changing constantly. This type of data is central to all of GRID’s other products and services, as it links together entities (such as Series, Teams, Tournaments, etc.) and their unique identifiers (IDs).

Historical – This is a fairly broad category but at GRID, historical data is essentially the recording of the GRID Live Data Feed offering so that it can be used in the future. As a result, GRID Historical data only becomes available after the Live Data Feed for a title or data point is up and running.

Statistic – A set of APIs that externalizes data points calculated by aggregating and combining data collected across many live matches.

Predictions – A set of APIs that expose ML-based predictions of a certain outcome to occur. Each prediction has a type and a probability, the type being e.g., win and a probability being a number indicating the likelihood of the event occurring.

Video – A set of APIs that allow the consumption of video streams from tournaments directly by the clients.

Millions of data points – one source of truth.

Unlike in traditional sports, in esports there’s actually one source of truth for any game — the game server. The game server is owned by the rights holders making this type of data a part of the game intellectual property.

The existence of a game server makes telemetry data coming directly from there superior to any data coming from unofficial sources. Unofficial sources refer to data scraping, frequently from publicly available streams, or manual data collection.

The key to unlocking the potential of telemetry data.

It’s good that we’ve covered the basics but how do we actually tap into the potential of this specific data? Due to its digital nature, in-game telemetry data in esports has to be sourced with a specialized technology.

There’s no other way to get live, complete, and secure data feed other than by plugging directly into the game server. And for that you need a partnership with a game server’s owner — the rights holder in the form of a game publisher or esports tournament organizer.

A direct integration with the game server enables low-latency, granular processing of dozens of thousands of data points at once and ensures safe distribution and the most accurate data feeds.

This is exactly what’s been keeping us going at GRID. We’ve dedicated the last five years to build a platform specifically designed to cater to the unique nature of this data. It’s scalable, fast, available for both the rights holders and the data consumers, and most importantly — it’s title-agnostic.

To learn more about the specific technologies necessary to cater to the unique nature of in-game telemetry data, check out GRID Engineering Blog (pro tip — start with the article from GRID’s CTO, Chris King, The Game Title Agnostic Vision: A GRID Origin Story.)

Conclusion: The future of competitive gaming is data-driven.

There are a few developers who’ve already realized the potential of game data such as the GRID partners – Riot Games, Ubisoft, or KRAFTON. But at GRID we believe that there’s a space to enable data-powered innovation in other competitive titles — from the learning publishers but also from the emerging studios, or indie developers.

Grassroots esports, or maybe VR experiences, new ways of empowering the community or engaging fans? In-game telemetry data is the key to enabling unbounded innovation in the ecosystem.

At GRID we’re proud to be at the forefront of in-game data innovation providing solutions for data sourcing (GRID Game SDK), analytics, integrity, and distribution in competitive game titles. GRID is the official data platform for League of Legends, VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG, CS2, and Dota2. If you are looking for a in-game telemetry data infrastructure for your existing or upcoming competitive title or are interested in getting access to official data for your products contact data@grid.gg.

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