Thooorin sat down with Nick Geracie before his IGEC 2019 panels to lay out his talking points and give an exclusive look into his journey through esports journalism.
Jason "moses" O'Toole is a staple in esports and the professional scene in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. moses spoke with Inven Global to share his thoughts on the history of Counter-Strike, where he would love to cast, and his thoughts on where CS:GO can go from here.
The San Francisco Shock and NRG Esports made their footprints in the esports space. They have seen success in Overwatch, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. NRG/Shock President Brett Lautenbach spoke to Inven Global about the org's success.
Shroomed brought his Melee insights and experience to IGEC 2019 as a panelist of "The Smash Bros: How an Unsupported Nintendo Game Survived as an Esport." Shortly before his panel, Shroomed touched base with Nick Geracie on the state of the Smash community, the potential of Justin "Wizzrobe" Hallett being signed, and to weigh in on the "Melee vs. Super Smash Bros Ultimate" debate.
Fighting games are a staple of gaming history for over 30 years. There have been many fighting games that shaped the lives of many players including Street Fighter, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros. FGC leaders talk about the evolution of the fighting games and community.
A huge component in esports such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and CS:GO is teamwork. Management and support staff of well-known esports organizations and teams talk about what it takes to players to mesh well in their teams.
Smeltz sat down with Inven Global's Nick Geracie to discuss his past positions in LoL esports, his responsibilites as director of HU Storm, and the future of collegiate esports.
Mandie Roman's well-rounded experience in the esports industry and affinity for gaming lifestyle made her appearance at the 2019 Inven Global Esports Conference a perfect match. The gaming fashion expert and host moderated three panels, spoke on another, and co-hosted the IGEC2019 networking afterparty.
The apparel will be exclusive to IGEC 2019, with all-access ticket holders receiving a hoodie and standard ticket holders receiving a t-shirt.
There's a misconception in the esports industry that every single person who works in the field also excels at gaming-- as if it is a prerequisite. Just because the best of the best are performing on stage under the bright lights, doesn't mean those who work behind the scenes or on the casting desk can play at a Grand Master level. In fact, it's quite the opposite. A large number of individuals who have found success in the esports space actually stink at the games they love. Does it help if the General Manager of an esports organization can play at a high-level? Sort of. Does it make him any less qualified for the job if he isn't? Nope. At the InvenGlobal Esports Conference [IGEC], you'll hear from a handful of individuals from around the world and esports space who have found their niche, ran with it and succeeded without being all that great at the games they love.
At 2018's annual BlizzCon event, members of the Diablo team posed a question that was not received well by attendees and became an online meme: "You guys all have phones, right?" While meme-y given the context of the situation itself, they weren't wrong. Everyone in attendance and watching online had a cellphone, likely a smart one too. So why hasn't gaming, specifically esports, flocked to that platform when it is the most accessible system? Mobile esports veterans and entrepreneurs descend onto IGEC to discuss trends and future opportunities in mobile gaming. From West to East, our panelist dive into mobile esports infrastructure and leagues, sharing insights and first-hand experiences from marquee events like the Jakarta-Palembang Asia Games 2018, where mobile esports was featured for the first time in history as a demo medal event. We all have a sense of the bright future and potential of mobile esports -- now it is time to act and re-assess our priorities. A crucial panel for forward-thinking investors, content creators, or competitors.
There's an ongoing trend where esports players are turning their back on competing, and pick up Twitch to live a streamer life. Where is this coming from? As someone who has helped numerous players in both fields, Morrison can explain what's causing the shift.
Few esports communities are as misunderstood and underappreciated at the fighting game community (FGC). For over 30 years, the fighting game scene has grown from grassroot competitions in humble arcades to international, high-stakes tournaments that capture the imagination of millions of esports consumers. We'll take a look back at how the FGC has grown and evolved with the veterans who have been there from the scene's earliest days. At the 2019 Inven Global Esports Conference [IGEC 2019], a panel of experts will break down the scene for those looking to understand what it takes for an esport to survive obscure lows and dizzying highs.
It takes a lot to stand out amongst the crowd of pro gamers and esports hopefuls -- especially with so much white noise enveloping our industry's social media landscape. This analysis will break down what it takes to build a unique, successful brand and encourage loyal audiences when so many people and organizations are aiming for the same success. Learn how to combat low engagement and PR disasters in this practical panel of gaming community experts. At the 2019 Inven Global Esports Conference [IGEC 2019], a panel of experts will shed light onto how making a name for yourself through social media is more difficult than it seems, how different esports organizations approach branding differently and how the gaming landscape has its' own unique challenges.
Esports and fashion come together in a unique way. The evolution of gamer streetwear serves the cross over of two niche audiences and many companies have found success in this arena. At the 2019 Inven Global Esports Conference [IGEC 2019], a panel of experts will break down the specific intersection of these two industries, how this area differs from traditional fashion, and what these companies see in the near future.
"The Female Faces of Esports" panel focuses on women who are figure heads in our community; as players, streamers, and hosts they are often faces of an industry in which they are the minority.
In theory, anyone can write about esports. Free blog websites allow a template, Twitter permits a platform for it to be shared on and there are more than enough games in existence that scribbling down notes from time to time can give one the illusion of playing "journalist." At the 2019 Inven Global Esports Conference [IGEC 2019], this panel of long-time experts in the industry will explore the current esports journalism landscape, dissect how the explosion of social media has flipped the profession on its' head, and more.
The Smash Bros. Panel will host a roundtable discussion with professional Smash Bros competitors featuring a Q&A session. Our panelists will explore how Smash differs from other FGC titles, the larger role of grassroots esports vs. publisher supported ones, and how the recent involvement (and infamous lack there of) of Nintendo might change the game's competitive future. This panel is a marquee event for competitive Smash fans and FGC enthusiasts!
In this panel, we will consider healthy and productive practices, vital skill sets players need to learn at a young age, and systems we can put in place at esports entry points (like the collegiate and amateur level) to help bright stars stay on the path to success.
At the 2019 Inven Global Esports Conference [IGEC 2019], this panel will explore how individual casters prepare themselves for their game, how the same job varies from genre to genre, and what challenges each game might have in common.
