Video Games and Pop Culture (“Go pwn some nubs!”) Nate Looney

How Big is Big? Game industry $12.5 billion in 2006 Bigger than Hollywood, but not really… 69% of American heads of households play games

Game industry $12.5 billion in 2006

Bigger than Hollywood, but not really…

69% of American heads of households play games

eSports “ computer and video games that are played as competitive sports. Less popular terms include competitive gaming, cybersports, cyber athletics (used by the CPL) and V-Sports (used by the GGL).”

“ computer and video games that are played as competitive sports. Less popular terms include competitive gaming, cybersports, cyber athletics (used by the CPL) and V-Sports (used by the GGL).”

A Brief History CPL was founded in 1997 by Angel Munoz professional tournament for computer gamers WCG holds first event in 2001 First “cyber game festival” MLG hosted first tournament in 2003 Halo: CE (Xbox) The WSVG launches in 2006 first video game competition circuit on multiple gaming platforms CGS debuts later in 2006 first true professional gaming league

CPL was founded in 1997 by Angel Munoz

professional tournament for computer gamers

WCG holds first event in 2001

First “cyber game festival”

MLG hosted first tournament in 2003

Halo: CE (Xbox)

The WSVG launches in 2006

first video game competition circuit on multiple gaming platforms

CGS debuts later in 2006

first true professional gaming league

Cyberathlete Professional League created a level and standardized playing field for all gamers unites community of gamers and provides outlets for competitive gamers to nurture their skills provided opportunities for gamers to become stars World Tour - $500,000

created a level and standardized playing field for all gamers

unites community of gamers and provides outlets for competitive gamers to nurture their skills

provided opportunities for gamers to become stars

World Tour - $500,000

World Cyber Games Olympics of gaming Originated in Seoul, South Korea Qualifier format $2.5 million purse

Olympics of gaming

Originated in Seoul, South Korea

Qualifier format

$2.5 million purse

Major League Gaming Circuit format VoD Player contracts Coaches Pro perks Player movement rules USA Network Huge online fan following Over $1 million purse

Circuit format

VoD

Player contracts

Coaches

Pro perks

Player movement rules

USA Network

Huge online fan following

Over $1 million purse

The World Series of Video Games Multi-platform circuit Televised by CBS International Lack of consistency Limited travel stipends Less than $1 million prize purse WoW

Multi-platform circuit

Televised by CBS

International

Lack of consistency

Limited travel stipends

Less than $1 million prize purse

WoW

Championship Gaming Series Franchises - paid GM’s; contracted, salaried athletes Televised by DirectTV, Sky, Star (internationally) Franchises tied to major cities, function like true sports teams - even features a draft

Franchises - paid GM’s; contracted, salaried athletes

Televised by DirectTV, Sky, Star (internationally)

Franchises tied to major cities, function like true sports teams - even features a draft

The Players Johnathan ‘Fatal1ty’ Wendel Tom ‘Tsquared’ Taylor David ‘Walshy’ Walsh Bonnie ‘Xena’ Burton

Johnathan ‘Fatal1ty’ Wendel

Tom ‘Tsquared’ Taylor

David ‘Walshy’ Walsh

Bonnie ‘Xena’ Burton

Johnathan ‘Fatal1ty’ Wendel 12 Championships in 5 different games Fatal1ty Brand Commentator for CGS http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6113986045417125388&q=fatal1ty&hl=en

12 Championships in 5 different games

Fatal1ty Brand

Commentator for CGS

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6113986045417125388&q=fatal1ty&hl=en

Tom ‘Tsquared’ Taylor Str8 RIPPIN Gaming-Lessons #1 on Stuff’s Under 30 Powerlist http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/110703

Str8 RIPPIN

Gaming-Lessons

#1 on Stuff’s Under 30 Powerlist

http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/110703

David ‘Walshy’ Walsh Final Boss $250,000 contract Gilbert Arenas Redbull Kiaeneto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdyde-8YMHU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOiS2CZj5C0

Final Boss

$250,000 contract

Gilbert Arenas

Redbull

Kiaeneto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdyde-8YMHU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOiS2CZj5C0

Bonnie ‘Xena’ Burton MLG’s first female representative http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mITDfUnwti4

MLG’s first female representative

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mITDfUnwti4

Any questions?