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IGEC Panel Highlight: How to Succeed in Esports When You're Bad at Video Games
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.
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Hearthstone pros weigh in: What to do with the Specialist format?
Specialist has come under heavy criticism since it became the offical format. With Masters Qualifiers underway for a couple of months we decided to ask a couple of pros to weigh in on the upsides and downsides of the format. Moreover: can Specialist be improved and made work, or should it be disregarded completely?
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IGEC Panel Highlight: Mobile Esports: The World's Largest Niche Community
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.
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IGEC Panel Highlight: Pro Players and Streamers: What's the Difference?
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.
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IGEC Panel Highlight: Immortal Fighting Games: How One of the Oldest Esports Genres Has Survived Generations
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.
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IGEC Panel Highlight: The Esports Conundrum: Building an Authentic Brand When Everyone's Doing the Same Thing
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.
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IGEC Panel Highlight: The Fashionable Intersection of Esports and Streetwear
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.
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With Hearthstone Grandmasters starting tomorrow, we rank the top 10 players in the competition
Welcome to the third edition of the Inven Global Hearthstone Power Rankings. After a three month hiatus following Blizzard's changes to competitive Hearthstone's format, the power rankings are back to
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IGEC Panel Highlight: Esports Journalism: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
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.
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IGEC Panel Highlight: The Smash Bros — How an Unsupported Nintendo Game Survived as an Esport
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!
