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I've been a "competitive gamer" since age 11, but for over a decade I only played one game franchise: Tribes.
It was not until the release of Quake Live that I truly began to learn that esports was already a broad phenomena with many communities, and sub-communities within.
It was not until the release of Quake Live that I truly began to learn that esports was already a broad phenomena with many communities, and sub-communities within.
I instantly got hooked on Quake, and some mutual friends and I embarked to create a "shoutcasting" entity to cover the Quake Live scene (@QuakeLive_TV).
We were not good commentators, nor good at the game, but we wanted to make a splash and were willing to put in the effort.
We were not good commentators, nor good at the game, but we wanted to make a splash and were willing to put in the effort.
I had only heard of the names djWHEAT, Slasher, and SirScoots in legends at the time. Sure, I think I had heard Marcus' voice in frag videos and once or twice when I was able to find clips of CGS on DirectTV, but I really didn't know much about who these guys were.
But when I heard about LiveOnThree, I instantly knew that it was going to open a door for me.
So I listened, and I learned from 3 veritable OGs. All of them had been doing this for nearly a decade. Mind you, modern "esports' was only really a decade old at this time.
So I listened, and I learned from 3 veritable OGs. All of them had been doing this for nearly a decade. Mind you, modern "esports' was only really a decade old at this time.
After listening to a few shows, I decided to call in and pitch our tiny little shoutcasting org's debut stream. It was shameless self promotion no doubt, but it was also clear that we had the passion and were in it for the right reasons. We were not shunned, we were supported.
This was such a crazy moment for me. These guys were so much more experienced and connected than me, but they gave me the time of the day.
Later, I messaged Marcus and Rod on IRC to see if we could get them to actually shoutcast for our first broadcast. Much to my surprise, they agreed to join us for our debut.
This put us on the map and gave us the opportunity to make a name for ourselves. My mind was blown.
This put us on the map and gave us the opportunity to make a name for ourselves. My mind was blown.
Anyway, I kept tuning in to every episode of @LiveOnThree (side note: man I miss my old routine of watching 2-3 live esports events and Lo3 simultaneously every Sunday), kept calling in, kept networking with Lo3 and the audience that tuned in every week.
Eventually, the guys that I had done QL.tv with had the idea to create a new platform (@GamesCast) with the goal of aggregating ALL live esports broadcasts. Esports was 1/1000th the size it is today, but it was still impossible to know what to watch and when.
We set forth on building this thing with the Lo3 guys as one of our first, marquee partners. It was them that introduced me to damn near everyone who was producing high quality esports broadcasts at the time. Ok, I did a lot too, but they were invaluable.
In the midst of this, @djWHEAT announced that @LiveOnThree would broadcast a fighting game event called Devastation.
I saw that @ajpotato214 and @theGunrun volunteered to help them. So... why couldn't I? I called Marcus that same day and offered to volunteer. He said yes.
I saw that @ajpotato214 and @theGunrun volunteered to help them. So... why couldn't I? I called Marcus that same day and offered to volunteer. He said yes.
Volunteering at Devastation 2009 was the first major step I took in my path towards a career in esports. I met and became friends with many in the FGC. I solidified my relationship with the Lo3 guys. My personal brand grew from a fan to someone who gets shit done.
This was also my first real test as a marketing/promotions/social media guy. Actually, my entire job was to help promote the broadcast. @Slasher was my mentor in this. Social media marketing wasn't even a thing at the time, but here we were, cracking away at it.
Flash forward to 2010. We had launched @GamesCast, and it actually worked. It was actually good. We didn't have much traffic, but hard core esports people appreciated it for what it was. I was over the moon. I worked on GC mroe in my senior year at college than I did on college.
Then, @djWHEAT announces that @LiveOnThree was to produce the WCG 2010 Los Angeles qualifier.
I had a backpacking trip scheduled that ended the day before the WCG started, but I made the decision that I couldn't pass up this opportunity.
I had a backpacking trip scheduled that ended the day before the WCG started, but I made the decision that I couldn't pass up this opportunity.
That next day I took my parents' minivan and drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles and volunteered at my second ever esports event, again doing promotion and social media with Rod.
It was great. It was my first exposure /ever/ to StarCraft 2 AND League of Legends.
I remember when the League portion came on, our viewership SKYROCKETED to 16,000 concurrent viewers. This was fucking unfathomable. Holy shit. Esports was exploding, and I was part of it???
I remember when the League portion came on, our viewership SKYROCKETED to 16,000 concurrent viewers. This was fucking unfathomable. Holy shit. Esports was exploding, and I was part of it???
At this event I met for the first time several more people who would go on to become some of my closest friends in esports: @SeltzerPlease, @EsportsTorcH, @RivingtonThe3rd, and many more.
I volunteered my time again at this event.
But would you know it. At the end, @SirScoots pulled me aside and cut me a $300 check.
But would you know it. At the end, @SirScoots pulled me aside and cut me a $300 check.
This was my first ever esports paycheck, Of course, in typical esports fashion it didn't come close to covering hotel and gas money. But fuck it felt amazing.
This exposure @ WCG led to me getting my next gig doing promotion and social media alongside @Slasher at the WCG World Finals, which happened to be in Los Angeles again.
This time, I got paid $700, and got a free mouse AND headset out of it.
In esports money, I was RICH.
This time, I got paid $700, and got a free mouse AND headset out of it.
In esports money, I was RICH.
This was the first "major" esports event I had attended. I met a lot of European folks like @greykarn and @Thooorin, @ApolloSC2, @RotterdaM08, @FollowDeman, @PaulChaloner. I shoutcasted on stage for the first time in my career (Quake Wars Online.. lul).
Given my EXP in building @GamesCast, my direct connection to esports streamers, my personal experience in streaming/commentating, and being super young and hungry, I was honestly the perfect fit.
Kevin and Emmett offered me a job within 2 weeks of our first conversation.
Kevin and Emmett offered me a job within 2 weeks of our first conversation.
All the experience I had gained, much of it directly thanks to @djWHEAT, @Slasher, and @SirScoots, led me to becoming the first "gaming" hire at Justin.tv.
4 months later we launch Twitch.
4 months later we launch Twitch.
And that, my friends, is my origin story and how @LiveOnThree got me to where I'm at today.
Thanks for listening.
Thanks for listening.
One final note,
I honestly think there's a whole generation of people working in esports who would credit Lo3 for getting them involved in the industry.
Just in my case, I personally hired @theGunrun, @Eleine_Sun, b/c I knew them via Lo3. Knock on effect is real.
I honestly think there's a whole generation of people working in esports who would credit Lo3 for getting them involved in the industry.
Just in my case, I personally hired @theGunrun, @Eleine_Sun, b/c I knew them via Lo3. Knock on effect is real.
