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Esports — competitive videogaming — is quickly becoming a very big deal.
In 2017, 106.2 million people watched the League of Legend esports championship. In 2020, 99.9 million watched the Super Bowl on TV, according to Reuters.
Today’s parents, teachers and grandparents often find themselves annoyed at the hours boys spend in front of screens, gaming. They find it absolutely absurd that boys (and girls) watch other people play video games on You Tube and Twitch. But is watching a top video gamer in peak form really any different than parking yourself in an overstuffed chair on Sunday to watch young athletes throw, catch and carry a football?
Baro Hyun grew up in Korea; his generation was part of the video game revolution, and he participated in video games’ evolution from household amusement to public pastime. To him, his young sons’ obsession with video games doesn’t seem particularly alarming or surprising. His boys’ grandmother, though, had another perspective altogether. As Baro writes in the introduction to his book, Demystifying Esports: A Personal Guide to the History and Future of Competitive Gaming:
[the boys’] otherwise peaceful grandmother…couldn’t stand the sight of her grandchild giving all his attention to the tiny screen of Switch for hours at a time, and none to her…
Stress in the house gradually build up until the clouds broke in dramatic fashion.
My sons’ granny had a bad day. When she saw the younger one in gaming mode, she flipped out. With a speed that belied her age, she brought a pair of scissors from the kitchen and mercilessly cut the charging cable of the Switch…
Adults’ misunderstanding and misconceptions about esports and video gaming contributes to the generational divide (and household conflict!). Baro encourages adults to learn about esports role in kids’ lives – and in the modern economy.
“Esports isn’t just about playing fun games,” Baro says. “It’s about dedication and commitment.”
In this episode, Jen, Janet & Baro discuss:
- Generational perspectives on video gaming
- Recognizing emotional reactions to video gaming
- History of esports & competitive gaming
- Why people love esports (Spoiler alert: It’s stories & strategy)
- Collegiate esports
- Gaming scholarships
- Esports as a business and industry
- What it takes to be a professional gamer
- Career opportunities in esports
- What kids learn via video games
Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:
Demystifying Esports: A Personal Guide to the History and Future of Competitive Gaming –– Baro’s book
All About Esports — ON BOYS episode
Video Games are the New Competitive Sport in Schools — article by Jen
Fortnite is Not a Waste of Time — Building Boys post
Collegiate Star League — largest esports platform (mentioned at 17:10)
Esports in the Pac-Man Era — share this video (about a 1982 Pac-Man tournament held at Milwaukee’s County Stadium) w your boys!
Biathlon — the winter ski & gun sport we couldn’t name right away!
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