When you think about careers in esports, becoming a professional video gamer or game designer may come to mind. But there’s so much more that goes into the world of gaming — including creating content to help promote esports teams, launch new video games, encourage people to attend events and more.  

As more and more people in the United States jump into gaming, being able to make a brand stand out in a crowded market is important. That’s why Texas Wesleyan’s Esports & Gaming program has evolved beyond being a gaming team. The University is one of the only colleges in the nation that has classes specifically on esports events and content creation and recruits members who help promote the esports team.  

Even if you’re not an avid gamer, by joining the program or taking the classes, you can learn how to market products and services. The esports program and classes are open to all majors and can even help you combine a love for gaming with your major — like Cindy Flores, an exercise science major who has completed projects to bring video games into physical therapy.

What will I learn in the esports classes at Texas Wesleyan?

In the Survey of Esports class, you’ll dive into an overview of the esports industry, learn about events, content creation, marketing and more.  

In the esports events class, you’ll get hands on practice planning an event to reach business goals, while also marketing and managing the event. The class has even had big game industry leaders around Dallas-Fort Worth come in to help, including the Director of Community Outreach for the Dallas Mavericks.  

And an additional class is coming spring 2024 that will focus on content creation for esports and gaming. During the semester, you’ll pick what content type you want to work on — like “How-To” videos or video essays — and use that to engage with an audience. You’ll learn how to build up your audience on different platforms while also promoting your products and services. 

What is content creation?

You know all those hours you spend scrolling Instagram, watching TikTok and YouTube videos and then clicking links that lead over to a blog with more info? Those photos, videos, and posts are all content! From making videos, to writing blogs and articles to crafting social media posts, content creators put out information on various platforms to help guide consumers to learn more about their goods or services. (Even this article is written by a content creator!) 

Think about it like this: Content is like a road. People can hop in their car to get on the road to go from their house to work. The road allows people to reach different places, like their homes, stores, restaurants and more. Content creation is a “road” that connects different audiences to brands, but instead of hoping into a car to get to their destination, consumers hop on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and more. 

In esports, this can look like streaming a video game to promote your team, then using that video on platforms like TikTok to attract more viewers. Or if you’re promoting a gaming event, maybe you write a “Top 5 Reasons to Attend” blog, turn that into a TikTok and Instagram Reel, create a Facebook event page and more.  

But content creation goes beyond esports, too. We’re living in the “Creator Economy” — a term that’s used to talk about how our economy in the United States relies on using content creation to make money. That means more and more companies are jumping on the latest content trends to help drive consumers to their products and services. 

Why should I learn esports content creation?

According to Insider Intelligence, esports viewers are estimated to climb to 34.8 million in the United States by 2026. That means you can create content to go in front of one of the biggest markets in the nation. 

Content creation also allows more flexibility in your gaming career. According to an article from the Washington Post, the average gamer retires in their early to mid 20’s — that’s faster than NFL players. Experts say early retirement can be from declining reflex times and hand-eye coordination to people focusing on other business ventures. By learning about content creation, you can work in the industry through a different avenue.

Do I need to be interested in gaming to take the classes?

No! These classes are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the gaming industry, creating events and designing content.  

Even if you aren’t thinking about a career in esports, knowing how to create content can help your business become more successful. Many professionals use social media platforms to promote themselves, including therapists, cooks, musicians, beauticians, doctors and much more. And if you can also tap into combining your interests with esports, you could be promoting yourself to millions of people.  

What kinds of jobs can I get in esports if I learn about content and events?

The esports industry isn’t just limited to jobs at companies like Discord, Nintendo and Electric Arts. You can land a job as a journalist who writes specifically about the various news coming from the industry or be a gaming specialist for companies like Red Bull. (Yes, they hire people who focus specifically on marketing video games!)  

Check out the other types of jobs you can get and their average salaries. 

Want to learn more about our esports classes and program? Talk to Eugene Frier — he's the guy who created Texas Wesleyan's esports program and teaches the classes. He's always happy to help