Changing the Game: Discover How Esports and Gaming are Redefining Business, Careers, Education, and the Future

by Lucy Chow

The Future Is Now Video games are more than interactive entertainment; they are part of a multibillion-dollar industry you may have never heard of. Beyond the stereotypical isolated teenager, today’s players represent every demographic and every part of the world. Championship competitions in esports—complete with professional players, teams, and lucrative sponsorships—are often broadcast to audiences rivaling that of the Super Bowl. And the gaming industry is bursting with investment opportunities, emerging career paths, and innovation. Investment expert Lucy Chow has selected 34 essays from thought leaders in the gaming industry. These curated perspectives of the global network of game-changing esports insiders provide a back-stage pass to the impact and future of gaming. This diverse group of players, entrepreneurs, investors, and educators pull back the curtain, revealing the use of gaming in schools, the growing roles of women in the field, and innovative business opportunities. In building bridges among these, Chow welcomes you into a thriving community to discover a new opportunity for your own success.

308 pages, Hardcover

Published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Chow’s new book is a testament to the times in which we live. With a title like the following - Changing the Game: Discover How Esports and Gaming are Redefining Business, Careers, Education, and the Future - Chow is in distinctly twenty first century topical territory. There’s no confusing this with any other time, or workplace implication in any other decade. Considering how the last couple of years have seen an unprecedented rise in the digitization of the workplace, and all other facets affiliated, Chow’s compiled essays by numerous professionals facing this game change feel like they mark an important historical chapter. One where, dependent upon where we move from now, will mark the transition between things being fully opaque to decidedly more transient, and in some ways arbitrary in their implications. “How often do you come across a subject or an industry and think, I need to write a book on this? If you are like most people, probably never,” Chow writes. “For me, gaming is one of those industries. It is growing exponentially around the world—and not just the number of players. Gaming and esports have become a multibillion-dollar industry, with investment opportunities, emerging career paths, and innovation popping up around every corner.” She adds, “I have selected thirty-eight individuals to share their knowledge, expertise, and excitement about this industry with you in the pages ahead. These contributing authors have been generous with their time, each offering some unique knowledge or insight into the evolution and future of esports. They embrace new ideas to disrupt their field and are what I would refer to as game changers. These contributors are writing about an industry that is changing many paths, including the future of work, the skills taught in schools, and even investment opportunities. You will find their bios at the end of each chapter, where you can see the extent of their involvement in this growing industry.” She cites four ultimate ways Esports is changing the world - specifically in the fields of the virtual experience economy, shop streaming, virtual status symbols, and - as Chow puts it - connecting mentor to mentee.

“The act of playing a video game and competing in a video game also leads to a passion for creating video games. Simply put, esports is a cultural evolution that has created new industries. Countries are looking at ways to put esports on their national agenda. Sponsors are offering products and services that are not directly related to gaming but that can profit from the enormous platform that esports has already built,” Chow writes. “Esports is no longer a niche community. Traditional businesses and brands are pivoting to capture the market potential to reach an audience that is rapidly growing each year. Well-known musicians Ariana Grande, Diplo, and Marshmello chose to debut and perform songs in Fortnite to show the innovation, power, and reach of these virtual platforms…With how quickly esports is growing, it’s logical that it’s becoming an industry that will have many positions opening up for work behind the scenes.”

[Lorri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truthfully I skimmed this since I read this from a children’s museum library while my kids played.
I can’t recommend the actual book - very repetitive arguments for the first half, despite being written by 38 different people with quite varied backgrounds, the casual style seems quite consistent. At times it felt like I was reading a persuasive argument from a middle schooler trying to convince a parent why spending multiple hours playing video games while help him become a responsible adult. (Actually found the author’s son chapter quite charming)
What I liked is the reminder that video games can encourage kids into STEAM fields and help encourage determination when faced with challenges. I also appreciated the men and women trying to making the gaming world more friendly to women.
I also liked the sections about advertising and other fields that have yet to fully tap into gaming.

[Kelly Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

extradorinarily superficial

[Uhibbook Publishing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great into the world of gaming and gaming infrastructure for novices as well as seasoned experts. Enjoyed reading the anecdotes from experts in the field.