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Texas Immersive Monthly MeetUp: Sports Meets Immersive
November 10, 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm CST
The world went through many phases during lock down. Some people discovered a love for cooking, others running, and still more took to the now infamous “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” on the Nintendo Switch. If you held back from joining the craze, you’d find yourself missing out on relationships with the digital islanders, paying off loans, digging up bones, and the painstaking process of collecting materials to build up your island. Action-packed, right?
Before quarantine, gaming (though some do not consider “Animal Crossing” gaming) was an activity still stigmatized and relegated to “lazy, messy boys”. Though it had been gaining popularity and acceptance, lock down created an entirely new gaming audience looking for entertainment. The eSports industry 2021 revenue is calculated at $1.08 billion, having marked a massive 50% increase since the beginning of 2020. That is where we stand today. More universities than ever are creating sponsored eSports clubs and teams. The University of Texas at Dallas actually has a competitive team that offers scholarships. The University of Oklahoma, though they still suck, does the same.
It is easy to relate eSports with the immersive industry, but there is a lot to learn and gain through this relationship. ESports is likely one of, if not the, easiest industries to experiment in with immersive experiences. The rise over a decade ago of YouTube gamers and now Twitch streamers has shown there is an audience that likes to watch games just as much as there is one that likes to play games. Fans of all sports have the distinct trait of believing they are a part of the team itself. Beyond this, athletes in more traditional sports and organizations have begun to realize they, too, can take advantage of the strides eSports technology has made. How can the immersive industry blur the line between the stands and the field? How can conventional athletes use Mixed Reality (XR) to improve their skills without even touching a court? What do sports look like 5, 10, or 50 years down the line? And what’s this about NASCAR and NFTs?
Join the Texas Immersive Institute in exploring what it takes to entertain an audience who uniquely expect the impossible. Esport Supply will also join us to talk about their efforts in creating unique experiences and shaping the eSports playing field.
TXI MeetUps happen every 1st Wednesday of each month from 6 – 7:30 PM CST to connect the Austin Media Community with students and faculty at UT through conversations and networking that we hope ignites new opportunities. At each MeetUp, there is ample time to discuss and demo ideas on the monthly topic that has impacted industries we interact with every day.
This event will be hosted in-person at The Lab in CMA 6.154 and online at TXI’s Twitch channel.
Location: CMA 6.154 and TXI Twitch
Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Time: 6- 7:30 pm
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