Ready student one? Universities launch new esports degrees

(1 Oct 2019) LEAD IN: A number of U.S. and British universities are starting degree programmes in esports, in the latest sign of the industry boom in competitive multiplayer video gaming. The new degrees aren't about playing games, but rather offer business courses, teaching marketing and management skills with an esports angle. STORY-LINE: On their first week in class, a group of students is playing a first-person shooter video game in a sleek new digital studio. It's their introduction to the degree in esports they've all enrolled in. The group clicking away are at the University of Staffordshire, one of several U.K. and U.S. schools launching programmes aimed at capitalising on the booming industry's need for skilled professionals. Ryan Chapman, 18, who's starting the course, says his parents were "sceptical at first" about studying esports. "Now they understand how big the industry is growing, the pace it's growing at, they're now really all for it because it's a great industry to start to get into," says Chapman. "There's always gonna be risks, but I have zero regrets," says Ellis Celia, 26, who's also starting the Staffordshire course. "It can only go up at this point." The University of Staffordshire last year launched its Bachelor's and Master's esports programmes, in which students mainly learn marketing and management skills tailored to the industry. This autumn, it's expanding the programme to London while other schools are also debuting esports degree courses, including Britain's Chichester University, Virginia's Shenandoah University, Becker College in Massachusetts and The Ohio State University. In Asia, where esports has seen strong growth, schools in Singapore and China offer courses. The global esports market is expected to surge to $1.1 billion this year, up $230 million from 2018 on growth in sponsorships, merchandise and ticket sales, according to Newzoo. The research firm expects the global esports audience to grow in 2019 to about 454 million as fans tune in on livestreaming platforms such as Twitch and Microsoft's Mixer. Esports tournaments have become a cultural phenomenon and now rival traditional sports events in size and scale. Big competitions are held in arenas, where thousands of fans watch big-name professional video gamers compete for lucrative prize pools. Esports leagues have franchises in North America, Europe and Asia. The biggest names, such as Fortnite superstar Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, can earn millions in prize money and livestreaming deals. Esports are even set to be a medal event at the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in November. Dozens of U.S. colleges have offered varsity level esports competitions for years. But schools are taking it a step further by adding the new courses as the industry's boom drives demand for skilled professionals who know how to, for example, organise esports tournaments. The schools emphasise that their courses aren't about just playing video games. "People aren't aware of the industry that goes behind esports," explains Matt Huxley, a lecturer at Staffordshire University's Digital Institute London. The site is a new outpost that the university, near Birmingham, England, opened so students could be closer to game companies in the British capital. Huxley, who teaches a class on organising tournaments, says learning about esports is akin to studying sports management. Students will also learn about the business of competitive gaming and ethical and legislative regulations affecting the industry. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...