On Top of Their Game: How CSUDH Students Create Top-Notch eSports Content

By Ted Reyes

Esports, also known as electronic sports or competitive video gaming, is a form of organized multiplayer video game competition. These competitions can take place on various platforms, including PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, and involve players competing against each other individually or as part of a team. 

Esports tournaments and leagues can be organized at both amateur and professional levels, with players competing for cash prizes, sponsorship deals, and other rewards. These events can take place online or in-person, with live audiences and broadcasts to millions of viewers worldwide. 

The rise of eSports’ popularity in popular culture has created a new wave of creators who create multimedia content to keep their audience engaged. Content comes in various forms including: 

• Live streaming: This involves broadcasting live gameplay and commentary, allowing viewers to watch the game in real-time and interact with the player or team. 
• Event highlights: Videos that highlight the most exciting and memorable moments of a tournament or event, including key plays, big wins, and upsets. 
• Player profiles: Videos that introduce viewers to top players and teams in the esports scene, supplying background information on their history, accomplishments, and playstyle. 
• Game reviews and tutorials: Videos that review and analyze the gameplay of specific games and supply tips and tricks for players to improve their skills. 
• Esports news and analysis: Videos that cover the latest news, trends, and developments in the esports industry, and analysis of key events and tournaments. 
• Podcasts and interviews: Audio or video content that features discussions with players, coaches, and industry experts, supplying insights and perspectives on the esports scene. 

One school that is on top of their game is California State University Dominguez Hills. Aside from having one of the best eSports programs in the US, they also produce content during their Twitch livestreams. 

We spoke with Jenn Gutierrez, one of the students who runs CSDUH’s eSports broadcasts, and discussed the school’s eSports program and her creative process. 

The CSUDH eSports cabinet and club members.

 

Tell us about the CSUDH eSports program. 
 
Our Esports program here at CSUDH is booming. We have made the transition from club to program recently and we are only seeing growth from here that we are all excited for. We have 12 competitive teams currently including games like Valorant, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and more. They range from various skill levels, and we currently hold three championships for now. The competitor schools I recognize most would be Sac State, GCU, and Cal Poly Pomona. I used to compete for our Apex Legends team and plan to move to Call of Duty or Overwatch 2 next semester. 
 
In Japan there is a school that only teaches competitive video gaming. Is that something that will fly here in the US?  
 
In the present climate we are in now, I believe the US could have schools that focus on competitive gaming. Esports has grown so much in the last ten years, and we are very behind here in the US compared to countries like Japan and South Korea. I would encourage parents to send their kids there if that’s what their kids wanted and felt passionate enough to do so. Being part of competitive esports goes beyond just playing video games, you earn a sense of community and can improve your critical thinking skills. The sense of community especially works for shy kids, as it makes it easier for them to find friends. 

Can we compete better if we have something similar? 

I believe we could compete at those countries' level if ours allowed it. We have a lot of talent that range from all ages, the US just doesn’t see the potential yet. 
 
What kind of eSports content are you creating?  
 
I create content for the program running our Twitch streams (with music provided by APM, of course), I make graphics for our socials, and I personally make my own content and streams. Each week we create a stream schedule to plan for the streams and create recap graphics or videos for how the teams did in the prior week. For the school content we get all our stream assets and overlays from another student. I put in his stream assets into OBS, set up the different scenes, sponsor logos, set up my personal playlist in APM’s website to play during the Starting Soon, BRB, and End of Stream scenes, and make tiny adjustments depending on the game being streamed. 

Can you tell us how people can access your content? 
My Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube handles are all currently @xaliflornia. The Esports @ CSUDH socials including our Twitch can be found HERE. 
 
How important is music to your content?  
 
I struggled finding music before for streams, but I love how easy APM makes it to get music that fits the vibe I like our streams to have. The music is what plays when the game isn’t running, so without good music the stream doesn’t feel complete or keeps people engaged.  
 
How do you use APM music in creating your content?  

When I log onto APM’s site, I often go to the APM Playlists dropdown on the Discover tab to find music for my content. I often use EDM music as I feel it best suits livestreams to keep the hype up for the viewers. Right now, I like a lot of the music on the Music for Super Bowl LVI 2022 EDM/Club/Electronic playlist. It has all the energy the Super Bowl carries, and I love that. What I like most about APM is how convenient and simple it is to use the features it has, like making playlists, finding similar songs, or having access to similar versions of a song you already enjoy. The Twitch streams are a lot more vibrant, and we have more variety in our streams thanks to APM Music. 
 
Any advice to aspiring gamers or content creators in this space? 
 
Advice I would give to those who’d like to begin a career or content in gaming is just go for it. Don’t pay attention to the negative that would stop you from doing so. I didn’t livestream for a long time because I was scared or worried people wouldn’t watch me. Just be yourself and do what makes you happy. Especially as a woman in the gaming industry, I do not let stereotypes define who I am as a gamer. 

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More on eSports

• eSports, also known as electronic sports or competitive video gaming, has been growing rapidly in popularity in recent years. 
• The global eSports market was valued at $1.08 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $1.62 billion by 2024. 
• The number of people who watch eSports is estimated to be over 500 million worldwide. 
• The eSports industry is expected to generate $1.5 billion in revenue by 2023. 
• The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for eSports, accounting for over half of the global eSports audience. 
• The most popular games in eSports include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counterstrike: Global Offensive, and Overwatch. 
• The prize pools for eSports tournaments have been increasing rapidly, with some events offering millions of dollars in prize money. 
• Many traditional sports teams and organizations have started investing in eSports, either by creating their own teams or sponsoring existing ones.