Video games used to be what we played when we didn’t want to think about school. Now they could be homework.
A new program from Ohio State University hopes to prepare students for a career in eSports, the burgeoning industry of competitive gaming. Like any industry, preparing for a career in eSports will require an interdisciplinary education. The school is offering courses on eSports coaching, business management, marketing, and game development in addition to building a state-of-the-art eSports arena.
“[The arena] will include over 80 seats with computer, console and virtual reality systems, as well as a broadcast booth for students interested in shoutcasting,” says Deborah M. Grzybowski, co-director of the game studies and esports curriculum.
The growth of the industry should assuage doubts from parents hoping their kids will leave school with marketable skills. eSports are expected to generate nearly $1 billion in revenue globally this year. As audiences expand around the world, the need for professionals with skills to build out this nascent industry will certainly follow suit.