Fireside Chats, Episode 49: Understanding eSports
Added 2018-08-08 16:01:00 +0000 UTCI've never been a fan of eSports. Or esports. Or Esports. Or however you want to type it. Yet, I also acknowledge that it's a gigantic blind spot in my gaming knowledge, and I want to do something to rectify that. So I figured, why not bring my old friend Leah Jackson by for a Fireside Chat? Leah and I worked at IGN together back in the day, and in 2014, she joined the ranks of Riot Games here in Santa Monica, the massive developer behind League of Legends. Leah's entire professional life revolves around something I understand almost nothing about. After our hour talk, I'm confident in saying I know quite a bit more than I did. After you listen, you'll probably feel the same.
Comments
I concur.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:51:44 +0000 UTCShe did a great job! She isn't in front of a mic very often, so she needed a bit of time to adjust.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:51:37 +0000 UTCLOL. Fair enough.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:51:18 +0000 UTCI'm gonna leave this topic behind for now, but will certainly investigate doing more further in the future.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:51:11 +0000 UTCI find it all somewhat daunting. Rocket League players are extraordinarily good. Must be really hard to get in and find a match today if you're a newbie.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:50:48 +0000 UTCThank you so much! Glad you enjoyed.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:50:26 +0000 UTCThey can never take away my glory.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:50:18 +0000 UTCI struggle with the athletic component, myself.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:50:09 +0000 UTCIt's very sad that anyone would mistreat anyone else. I don't get it.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:49:57 +0000 UTC!!!
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:49:41 +0000 UTCI’ll never forget seeing the trailers for Rogue Leader and Resident Evil Remake for the first time. I think the GameCube has aged the best when compared to the other two consoles of that generation.
Michael Miller
2018-08-10 03:53:56 +0000 UTCThis was fun, I wasn't too familiar with Leah, but she's a good guest. I appreciate that in the beginning she sounds a little bit more official in explaining the origins and whatnot, and towards the end, once business picked up, she seemed to settle in and really started saying whatever she wanted. I'd be interested in hearing her on the show again down the line!
Ian (616Entertainment)
2018-08-09 15:21:12 +0000 UTCAs someone who is terrible at the NES Castlevania games, I'm not so sure I wouldn't love going and seeing a pro run through them!
Jayce Tamulevich
2018-08-09 15:07:46 +0000 UTCesports is such a weird awesome thing, Starcraft 2 was really something in its heyday. I know you're probably not interested in pursuing this further but if you ever want a perspective from a total insider (best Brood War NA player in 2004, caster, host of countless events, huge community organizer, a streamer since the days when you actually had to pay to stream, and the nicest guy you'll ever meet), try and get in touch with Sean Plott (Day9), he's based in Oakland iirc. this was a great chat but a little surface-level for us esports dorks :))
Michal Dudic
2018-08-09 07:36:41 +0000 UTCI don’t really understand how MOBAs can keep attracting new players. It seems so overwhelming to need to learn the ins and outs of all the characters, abilities, etc A game like Rocket League is perfect in my mind. The concept is simple. The controls are even simpler. Anybody can get in a match for the first time and know what’s going on. Obviously it takes time and practice to get good, but it seems so much less stressful than a MOBA or RTS.
Zack E
2018-08-09 01:39:26 +0000 UTCLeah is awesome!! I have very little interest in esports, but this was a really interesting conversation! Well done!!
Jeff Pollard
2018-08-09 01:32:34 +0000 UTCYou’re still the definitive undefeated League of a Legends champion in my book Colin... and no one can take that title from you
Craig Carter
2018-08-08 20:50:06 +0000 UTCSure, this is a sport - there is an obvious competition. However, I have a very hard time believing they are athletes on the sole basis they play this game - even to the extend they do. I don't think anyone thinks what they are doing is easy, but that does not equate that they are athletes.
Kenny Gutzler
2018-08-08 19:42:43 +0000 UTCEven if you did record it more recently I certainly wouldn't expect her to comment on it publicly, I thought that article seemed well researched/written, it reminded me of a place I worked at years ago, truly terrible when you're in it.
David Kramme
2018-08-08 18:58:57 +0000 UTCOooh I'm hyped for this!!!!!
Marcus Brown
2018-08-08 18:39:39 +0000 UTCI figured as much, just marveling at the weirdness of the universe.
Jason Stafford
2018-08-08 17:26:35 +0000 UTCEnjoy!
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-08 17:12:36 +0000 UTCMost excellent. I talk about HVAC so much that I feel like I should be thanking you for your service at this point.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-08 17:12:32 +0000 UTCShe's from Riot, so it largely revolves around her experience with their game.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-08 17:12:08 +0000 UTCTotally (and unfortunately) coincidental. We recorded this back in May.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-08 17:11:50 +0000 UTCInteresting timing in that there's a big article going around today centered around sexism in esports and Riot games specifically.
Jason Stafford
2018-08-08 17:01:15 +0000 UTCDoes this largely revolve around MOBA esports? Or does it delve into those like Rocket League, Siege (my personal favorite), OWL, and CS:GO? Either way, looking forward to it!
John Ceccarelli
2018-08-08 16:38:33 +0000 UTCAs one of the "HVAC" guys you always refer to when talking about people who listen to your podcasts, these fireside chats always make my boring day a little more exciting.
Andrew Christensen
2018-08-08 16:20:09 +0000 UTCeSports is weird! i look forward to this!
Joey Finelli
2018-08-08 16:04:44 +0000 UTC
