Esports TV Show Doesn’t Take Us Seriously, Chinese Gamers Say

Gaming fans criticize the plot of ‘Falling Into Your Smile’ for focusing on romance instead of competition.

A new Chinese TV show aimed at gamers seems to have completely missed the mark.

“Falling Into Your Smile,” broadcast by tech giant Tencent and streaming site Youku, has received scathing feedback since premiering on June 23, scoring just 2.9 out of 10 on review site Douban.

It is one of several recent TV shows to focus on esports in the hope of tapping into China’s ever-growing cohort of gamers. According to an industry report published in June, the country is on track to have the world’s biggest gaming community, with a predicted 92 million “core” esports fans, by the end of this year.

The story of “Falling Into Your Smile” is ostensibly about two esports athletes, but viewers lament that the protagonists seem to care more about flirting with each other than about winning matches. Many gamers have also complained the show violates the competitive spirit of esports. Continue to read the full article here

– This article originally appeared on Sixth Tone.