Esports: More Than "Gaming"
Growing up with a dream to work in sports, I never would have guessed that I would end up working as a professional in the esports industry. Well, here we are. A few years ago I received an email from a longtime mentor of mine named Lenny Silberman. He was filling me in on a new venture he was working on in the esports world called 4G44 Esports at the time, which is now Lost Tribe Esports. Lenny’s email was an introduction to the concept of what he was working on and the opportunities to go with it. I knew how big esports was becoming so it was very interesting knowing that Lost Tribe Esports was created for a demographic that I am very familiar with, Jewish youth. Lost Tribe Esports aims to connect Jewish teens from around the world to each other in one of simplest ways possible, gaming. Perfect fit for me, right?
It was around this time last year that I was connecting Lenny with former colleagues of mine from BBYO as Lost Tribe Esports was set to “launch” at BBYO International Convention 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Where am I at this very moment? I am posting this blog from Dallas, Texas. What am I doing in Dallas? I am here for BBYO International Convention 2020 where we are taking Lost Tribe Esports to the next level as a proud partner with BBYO. Talk about things coming full-circle! Since launching Andrew Exler Consulting, I have been given the pleasure to work with Lenny as the Director of Content & Strategy with Lost Tribe Esports. If you have followed me on social media recently, you have seen how often I talk about or post about Lost Tribe Esports or anything relevant to the esports world. I truly can’t get enough of it.
I love the esports world. Esports is not just “a thing of the future”. Esports is RIGHT NOW. Esports is changing the professional and amatuer sports landscape as we know it and is going to continue to boom. Want to know how many hours I played video games growing up? Honestly, not many. I always had an Nintendo, Xbox, Gameboy, etc., but I was never much of a “gamer”. Maybe I’d play a few games here and there but nothing consistent. Esports is still very new to me and I am continuing to teach myself and learn new things every day. Are you an esports professional? I’d love to connect with you! How can someone say they love esports if they aren’t a typical gamer? Let me tell you.
This is not going to be an article where you are going to see statistics about the esports industry. I want you to get the first-hand perspective from someone who is newer to the esports industry about why it is so great. I’m not going to reference “The Incredible Growth of eSports (+ eSports Statistics)” from the Influencer Marketing Hub. I’m not going to mention that by 2021 it is predicted that the total esports audience is going to reach over 557 million people. I’m definitely not going to mention that the esports industry is expected to be valued at over $1.5 billion dollars in the next year. Why would I mention that? I’m here to dive deeper in to some of the real-world attributes that makes esports phenominal.
I am very aware that “video games” receive a negative stereotype. I’ve been given every reasoning in the book. You often hear about “too much screen time” and that video games are dangerous, etc. You may be thinking, “Why would I want my kid playing video games so much? It’s not like they are going to become a professional NBA 2K player, right?” Only a small percentage will actually make it to become a professional gamer, so why waste the time?
I love it. I love getting to combat the negative stereotypes behind gaming with some of the real reasons that make esports so great. It is important to understand that this is coming from the perspective of someone who spent years working closely with youth in leadership development & programming. There is so much good to esports that so many people don’t consider.
Here is why:
Inclusivity
Let’s start with my favorite term, “inclusive”. When I hear “inclusive”, I think that everything/everyone can be involved. What makes esports so inclusive? Esports offers an experience to people from all backgrounds and of all capabilities. Esports offers a chance for everyone to participate and be great. While more physical sports like basketball, football, cheerleading or baseball may not be as accommodating to those with physical or mental disabilities, esports offers a chance for those same people to be the best at their game of choice. Take Microsoft as a great example who ran one of the best advertising campaigns I have ever seen, “when everybody plays, we all win”. Microsoft sells “accessibility features” for their products stating, “Nothing should come between you and the games you love. Xbox strives to eliminate barriers, and to empower gamers to play the way they play." This is what it is all about. As someone who has worked with teenagers for so long, knowing that Lost Tribe Esports can provide options for teens from all backgrounds and capabilities is exactly what had me “bought in” so quickly. The world of esports is going to continue to impact people everywhere. Before you know it, that kid from your school who may not be able to walk on their own power will be the same kid winning a Super Smash Bros. tournament and being the best player in their school. The opportunities are endless and I am proud to be a part of one of the most inclusive, nurturing communities on the planet.
Community
The esports community is so strong because you can interact with people from around the world. With the growth of social media over the past decade, especially with the growing popularity of apps like Twitch & Discord, gamers can find others with similar interests at literally any time of day. Yes, the internet can be a scary place with some very dark corners. I understand that. You understand that. The esports community understands that. Nobody is saying that you can be carefree on the internet, because you shouldn’t be. That said, for every negative remark I have heard about gaming online, I have also heard a handful of great stories of teenagers getting to game with their camp friends who live on opposite sides of the country. The community is strong and you can game 24/7 if that is what you are in to. You can practice and get better at any time of day. Just like a sports team, dance team, theatre group, book club or whatever else interests you, esports offers leagues and teams that build camaraderie and teach basic life skills just like anything else. Keep an eye out for what Lost Tribe Esports has coming next with leagues, tournaments and more for participants spanning across North America and beyond!
Limitless Reach
Lost Tribe Esports is creating a year-round, global home base for Gen Z Jewish gamers, wherever they live and whatever their skill level. Gamers can compete locally, nationally and even internationally through online tournaments and in-person events. Best of all, gamers build friendships with other Jewish gamers around the country and around the world. Since joining the Lost Tribe Esports team in August 2019, we have already hosted multiple online & in-person tournaments with more to come. I joined the team in Washington D.C. last December for a meeting with a major Jewish youth organization who had expressed interest in us assisting to build and grow esports leagues & 24/7 gaming lobbies where their teens can play anytime, anywhere. This meeting continued to confirm my reasonings for loving the industry so much. Want to play pick-up basketball with a friend you met over the summer who lives on the other side of the world? That might be tough but if you take time zones into account, you can “hop on the sticks” and get a game going in no time.
Lifelong Opportunities
This is where esports breaks the barriers of it’s common stereotypes. Do you realize how many opportunities there are to grow professionally in the world of esports that DOESN’T involve being a professional gamer? Whether you want to be a professional gamer or not, there are options out there to work in marketing, coding, finance, sales, graphic design and more thanks to this industry. Collegiate institutions not only have varsity esports teams, but they now provide educational opportunities with esports degrees. Do you want to be a game designer, run the social media for a professional esports team or be the Chief Financial Officer of an esports organization? Well, you can. Similar to any other industry or field you want to work in, you have the same, if not more opportunity with esports.
The esports world is still new and has a lot of growth to come. Where the industry is today is leaps and bounds from where it was five years ago and it will continue to grow and develop year after year. Right now is the time to dive-in to the world of esports. You won’t be sorry you did.
- Andrew
